18 Best Internet Providers in Story County, IA
Find internet availability by address in Story County, IA
Jump to: Best Internet Provider | Availability Maps | Customer Reviews | Story County ISP Report Card | Business Internet in Story County
| Story County ISP Report Card | B+ | |
| Download Speed for Most Households | 3,632 Mbps | |
| Number of Internet Service Providers | 18 | |
| Real Story County Customer Ratings | 6 |
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from January 06, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of June 30, 2025.
This page reflects the most recent FCC update from January 06, 2026, based on the Broadband Data Collection as of June 30, 2025.
Story County has 18 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, and DSL internet are available in the county. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Story County.
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Story County has 18 internet service providers, they are sorted by coverage, available speed, and customer rating from our unbiased internet provider report. Cable, Fiber, Fixed Wireless, and DSL internet are available in the county. Reviews are grouped by provider and the type of service they offer, covering all 4 available internet technologies in Story County.
Compare Providers Ranked by Coverage, Speed, and Customer Ratings
Mediacom
Connection
Customer Rating
Cable
Centurylink
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
DSL
MetroNet
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
ICS Advanced Technologies
Connection
Customer Rating
Fiber
Fixed Wireless
Above are the top 4 providers in Story County, IA for most people based on high speed internet coverage, speeds, and customer reviews. Click below to see all providers in your county.
Speed and technology may vary by address for all providers. Please note we may have a financial relationship with some of the providers above, which does not impact the customer ratings displayed. Customer ratings listed above are national ratings, local Story County ratings may vary and are shown below.
Who is the Best Internet Provider in Story County, IA?
MetroNet is the best internet provider in Story County based on Iowa customer satisfaction ratings and reviews. Based on our extensive and unbiased survey, MetroNet had the best reviews at the local, state, and national levels versus all available providers in Story County, making it a solid recommendation among providers with reviews. MetroNet is an option for 58.59% of the county.
or call 1-833-875-1366
The chart and table below show average customer ratings from customers in Story County, Iowa, and customers throughout the country.
Top Rated Internet Providers in Story County
Local, State, and National Ratings for all Story County Internet Providers
| ISP / Tech Type | Story County Overall | Iowa Overall | National Overall | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colo Telephone Company | (1) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| MetroNet | (1) | (2) | (38) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (1) | (4) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (1) | (3) | (87) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (20) | (84) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (1) | (10) | (163) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (4) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| ICS Advanced Technologies | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (14) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (42) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (11) | View Plans | ||
| Minerva Valley Companies | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Stratford Mutual Telephone Company | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Huxley Communication | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Based on 51 reviews from Iowa internet customers, MetroNet is the best internet service provider for Story County residents. MetroNet was rated at an average of 4.50 out of 5 in our report for overall customer satisfaction. Colo Telephone Company wins for second-place in Iowa, with 5.00 out of 5 stars and 4.6% coverage in Story County.
At a national level, based on 2436 national reviews for any of the providers listed above, GigFire is rated higher than any other provider, with a rating of 3.00 out of 5.
Which Providers are Available at my Home in Story County?
a different provider.

Internet Availability Key
Speeds and coverage vary within the county, and sometimes even from block to block. The map shows speeds per provider and where each provider is available.
Who is the Fastest Internet Provider in Story County?
Based on both FCC data and unbiased customer ratings in Story County, the fastest internet in the county comes from MetroNet.
Data Reported to FCC by ISPs: Average Maximum Available in Story County
| ISP / Tech Type | Max Advertised Speed | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| MetroNet | 5,120 Mbps | ||
| Quantum Fiber | 2,000 Mbps | ||
| Windstream | 2,000 Mbps | ||
| Minerva Valley Companies | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Colo Telephone Company | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Stratford Mutual Telephone Company | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Huxley Communication | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Nextlink | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| ICS Advanced Technologies | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Centurylink | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Mediacom | 1,000 Mbps | ||
| Verizon | 300 Mbps | ||
| GigFire | 150 Mbps | ||
| Rise Broadband | 100 Mbps | ||
| EarthLink | 100 Mbps | ||
| AT&T | 100 Mbps | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | 100 Mbps | ||
| Viasat | 100 Mbps | ||
| US Cellular | 100 Mbps | ||
| HughesNet | 25 Mbps |
Customer Ratings for Internet Provider Speeds in Story County
| ISP / Tech Type | Story County Speed | Iowa Speed | National Speed | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colo Telephone Company | (1) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| MetroNet | (1) | (2) | (38) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (1) | (3) | (87) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (1) | (4) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (20) | (84) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (1) | (10) | (163) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (4) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| ICS Advanced Technologies | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (14) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (42) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (11) | View Plans | ||
| Minerva Valley Companies | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Stratford Mutual Telephone Company | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Huxley Communication | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Based on data reported by Story County ISPs to the FCC, the fastest speeds in the county are available through MetroNet. The company offers speeds up to 5,120 Mbps in Story County. Therefore, the average customer can get up to 5,120 Mbps if they're willing to purchase the fastest subscription tier available at their homes.
However, actual customers in the county rated their satisfaction with internet speed highest with MetroNet. This indicates MetroNet reliably delivers speeds expected by the customer based on the plan they are paying for.
Who is the Cheapest Internet Provider in Story County?
Iowa customers rate MetroNet as the cheapest internet service provider in state. Data comes from customers in the state rating their satisfaction with pricing. This feedback is valuable because it considers price changes and whether the speeds paid for are worth it.
MetroNet received a local rating of 5.00 out of 5, which is higher than the average across all internet providers in the country. Verizon is rated in second place for affordability by the company’s Story County customers with an average price rating of 5.00 out of 5.
The chart and graph below show how customers in Story County, Iowa, and the United States rated the affordability of their internet service.
Rated Affordability in Story County
| ISP / Tech Type | Story County Affordability | Iowa Affordability | National Affordability | For Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MetroNet | (1) | (2) | (38) | View Plans | ||
| Verizon | (1) | (4) | (723) | View Plans | ||
| Centurylink | (1) | (10) | (163) | View Plans | ||
| Windstream | (1) | (3) | (87) | View Plans | ||
| Colo Telephone Company | (1) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Mediacom | (1) | (20) | (84) | View Plans | ||
| US Cellular | (0) | (3) | (15) | View Plans | ||
| T-Mobile Home Internet | (0) | (4) | (284) | View Plans | ||
| AT&T | (0) | (1) | (924) | View Plans | ||
| Nextlink | (0) | (1) | (14) | View Plans | ||
| HughesNet | (0) | (1) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| ICS Advanced Technologies | (0) | (1) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Quantum Fiber | (0) | (0) | (42) | View Plans | ||
| GigFire | (0) | (0) | (1) | View Plans | ||
| Rise Broadband | (0) | (0) | (18) | View Plans | ||
| EarthLink | (0) | (0) | (12) | View Plans | ||
| Viasat | (0) | (0) | (11) | View Plans | ||
| Minerva Valley Companies | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Stratford Mutual Telephone Company | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans | ||
| Huxley Communication | (0) | (0) | (0) | View Plans |
Story County Internet Health Assessment
ISP Reports evaluates the technological infrastructure across the United States. This includes assessing a grade for ISP providers and infrastructure in the county and setting an index number for the digital connectivity of its residents. You can view the ISP Report Card and the Digital Connectivity Index for Story County below, including the metrics used and how Story County compares to the rest of Iowa and nation.
| Metric
(hover for details)
|
Story County | Iowa | USA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber Availability Percent The percentage of households in Story County that have a Fiber internet connection available to their home. | 82.51% | 78.64% | 67.25% | ||
| Average Download SpeedThe maximum download speed most households can get on average. This is measured by availability in a block group and weighted by the population in that area. | 3,632 Mbps | 2,759 Mbps | 3,293 Mbps | ||
| Provider CountThe number of providers available for most people. This is a weighted average by block rather than a total for Story County. | 7.7 | 7.3 | 6.8 |
| Average Household SizeA larger household size in a county indicates that there will be a greater need for bandwidth due to simultaneous usage, multiple devices, and network congestion. | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | ||
| Work From Home PercentA higher percent of the population working from home indicates bandwidth requirements being more widely needed rather than consolidated to commercial portions of the city. | 11% | 11% | 14% | ||
| Households with DevicesA higher percentage of households with computing devices in the home indicates a higher level of infrastructure needed to support those households. | 97% | 94% | 95% | ||
| Households with InternetA higher percentage of households with internet indicates a higher need for usage and connectivity in people’s daily lives. | 77% | 88% | 90% | ||
| Households with BroadbandA higher percentage of households with a broadband connection (defined as speeds above 25 Mbps) indicates heavier usage needs within these households. | 67% | 71% | 75% | ||
| Broadband Usage vs. AvailabilityThis measures what percentage of households who have a broadband connection to their home actually have an active subscription to that service. | 73% | 71% | 76% |
Our demographic data is sourced from the latest 5-year release of the American Community Survey by the US Census Bureau.
Story County ISP Report Card & Digital Connectivity Index
The ISP Report Card in Story County is B+, which is better than other counties. The local demand for broadband internet connectivity in Story County is high with a score of 48 / 100 in our Digital Connectivity Index. This means that internet service providers operating in Story County have done a average job meeting the needs of its residents.
The Story County ISP Report Card evaluates the county on availability and speed metrics compared to other counties in the United States. ISP Infrastructure can vary greatly and on its own isn’t a perfect measure of what a county needs. Please see our ISP Report Card along with the Digital Connectivity Index above to evaluate how well the connectivity demand is met by the existing infrastructure.
77% of Story County households have an internet connection despite having 91.77% availability. 67% of households have fiber, cable, or DSL, 5% have satellite, 0% are still on dial-up, and 19% of households have internet but don’t pay for a subscription because it’s subsidized by the Affordable Connectivity Program.
As you can see in the table above, while 67% of households have a broadband connection such as fiber, cable or DSL available to their home, 73% subscribe to it. A large amount of Story County residents are taking advantage of the available internet infrastructure.
For more details, please visit our ISP Report Card and Digital Connectivity Index pages.
How do Neighboring Counties Compare to Story County?
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 50 / 100
- ISP Report Card: A-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 50 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 46 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 39 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 42 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 62 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 44 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 68 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C
- Digital Connectivity Index: 30 / 100
How Much Speed does a Story County Household Need?
Higher speed is typically preferred, but that comes at a higher price. The average size of a household in Story County is 2.3, which is smaller than the Iowa average of 2.4 and smaller than the national average of 2.7. Story County's average household income is $74,373 which is higher than the Iowa average of $80,609 and about average for the national average of $90,606. Homes with fewer people living in them and with higher incomes tend to indicate a fairly average device usage pattern.
Story County also has 36% of its population enrolled in school between the 6th grade and college level, this is higher than the Iowa average of 16%. Additionally, 11% of residents work from home, which is higher than the 11% of residents in Iowa who work from home. This and other factors you can see above show us that the community of Story County has an average need for internet connectivity and speeds.
Compared to the rest of the country, Story County households are more technology-engaged. 97% of households have some sort of computing device, 92% have desktops or laptops in the home, and 94% have smartphones. To see what speeds you are currently getting, please visit our internet speed test tool.
Which Fiber Internet Providers are Available in Story County?
MetroNet Fiber in Story County, IA
MetroNet offers Fiber service to 58.6% of Story County homes. Across the county, MetroNet Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 5,120 Mbps
ICS Advanced Technologies Fiber in Story County, IA
ICS Advanced Technologies offers Fiber service to 25.4% of Story County homes. Across the county, ICS Advanced Technologies Fiber has speeds up to 717 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for ICS Advanced Technologies Fiber.
Huxley Communication Fiber in Story County, IA
Huxley Communication offers Fiber service to 8.7% of Story County homes. Across the county, Huxley Communication Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Stratford Mutual Telephone Company Fiber in Story County, IA
Stratford Mutual Telephone Company offers Fiber service to 5.9% of Story County homes. Across the county, Stratford Mutual Telephone Company Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Windstream Fiber in Story County, IA
Windstream offers Fiber service to 5.8% of Story County homes. Across the county, Windstream Fiber has speeds up to 1,798 Mbps, with speeds from 1,000 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds are symmetrical, meaning they are exactly the same as download speeds for Windstream Fiber. Windstream Fiber is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Story County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
Quantum Fiber in Story County, IA
Quantum Fiber offers Fiber service to 5.5% of Story County homes. Across the county, Quantum Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,340 Mbps, with speeds from 940 Mpbs up to 2,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 940 and as high as 1,000, with an average of 963 Mbps throughout the county.
Centurylink Fiber in Story County, IA
Centurylink offers Fiber service to 5.0% of Story County homes. Across the county, Centurylink Fiber has speeds up to 929 Mbps, with speeds from 40 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 40 and as high as 1,000, with an average of 850 Mbps throughout the county. Centurylink Fiber is rated higher than other types of internet service available in Story County from Centurylink in terms of customer satisfaction.
Colo Telephone Company Fiber in Story County, IA
Colo Telephone Company offers Fiber service to 4.6% of Story County homes. Across the county, Colo Telephone Company Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Minerva Valley Companies Fiber in Story County, IA
Minerva Valley Companies offers Fiber service to 1.3% of Story County homes. Across the county, Minerva Valley Companies Fiber is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which Cable Internet Providers are Available in Story County?
Mediacom Cable in Story County, IA
Mediacom offers Cable service to 77.5% of Story County homes. Across the county, Mediacom Cable is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps
Which DSL Internet Providers are Available in Story County?
Centurylink DSL in Story County, IA
Centurylink offers DSL service to 59.5% of Story County homes. Across the county, Centurylink DSL has speeds up to 42 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 140 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 100, with an average of 4.8 Mbps throughout the county. Centurylink DSL is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Story County from Centurylink in terms of customer satisfaction.
Windstream DSL in Story County, IA
Windstream offers DSL service to 19.1% of Story County homes. Across the county, Windstream DSL has speeds up to 87 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 200 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 52, with an average of 23 Mbps throughout the county. Windstream DSL is rated lower than other types of internet service available in Story County from Windstream in terms of customer satisfaction.
Which Fixed Wireless and LTE Internet Providers are Available in Story County?
US Cellular Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
US Cellular offers Fixed Wireless service to 90.4% of Story County homes. Across the county, US Cellular Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 49 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 8.7 Mbps throughout the county.
T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
T-Mobile Home Internet offers Fixed Wireless service to 90.1% of Story County homes. Across the county, T-Mobile Home Internet Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 69 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 13 Mbps throughout the county.
EarthLink Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
EarthLink offers Fixed Wireless service to 69.1% of Story County homes. Across the county, EarthLink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 37 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 5.6 Mbps throughout the county.
AT&T Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
AT&T offers Fixed Wireless service to 69.1% of Story County homes. Across the county, AT&T Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 37 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 3.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 5.6 Mbps throughout the county.
Verizon Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
Verizon offers Fixed Wireless service to 67.9% of Story County homes. Across the county, Verizon Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 300 Mbps
Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
Rise Broadband offers Fixed Wireless service to 28.7% of Story County homes. Across the county, Rise Broadband Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 43 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 5.0 and as high as 20, with an average of 8.6 Mbps throughout the county.
Nextlink Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
Nextlink offers Fixed Wireless service to 10.7% of Story County homes. Across the county, Nextlink Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 728 Mbps, with speeds from 300 Mpbs up to 1,000 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 100 and as high as 1,000, with an average of 614 Mbps throughout the county.
GigFire Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
GigFire offers Fixed Wireless service to 3.4% of Story County homes. Across the county, GigFire Fixed Wireless is the only type of service available from the company, with speeds up to 137 Mbps, with speeds from 100 Mpbs up to 150 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 20 and as high as 130, with an average of 100 Mbps throughout the county.
ICS Advanced Technologies Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
ICS Advanced Technologies offers Fixed Wireless service to 2.4% of Story County homes. Across the county, ICS Advanced Technologies Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 10 Mbps, with speeds from 10 Mpbs up to 50 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 1.0 and as high as 50, with an average of 1.5 Mbps throughout the county.
Windstream Fixed Wireless in Story County, IA
Windstream offers Fixed Wireless service to 1.6% of Story County homes. Across the county, Windstream Fixed Wireless has speeds up to 80 Mbps, with speeds from 25 Mpbs up to 100 Mbps depending on the address. Upload speeds differ from download speeds, and are as low 4.0 and as high as 10, with an average of 8.5 Mbps throughout the county.
Which ISP Should You Choose in Story County?
The right ISP for you depends upon your needs, but in general we can make the following suggestions:
- The best all-around internet service provider in Story County is MetroNet.
- The fastest internet provider should be MetroNet. Considering speed for the money and reliability in speeds, MetroNet may be a better choice based on real-world local customer feedback.
- The most affordable internet provider in Story County is MetroNet.
- US Cellular, Viasat, and HughesNet has the broadest coverage in Story County, and is most likely to cover your home. To find out exactly what's available at your home, please use our address search tool.
How does Story County compare to other cities with a similar population?
To see how Story County stacks up on the national level, it's useful to look at some other cities with similarly sized populations. Below you can see a list of these cities and how they compare to Story County's B+ ISP Report Card and 48 / 100 Digital Connectivity Index.
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 54 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 47 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 60 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 49 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B
- Digital Connectivity Index: 74 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 57 / 100
- ISP Report Card: C-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 53 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B-
- Digital Connectivity Index: 67 / 100
- ISP Report Card: B+
- Digital Connectivity Index: 55 / 100
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