Income A Factor In Internet Use

By Bill Johnson Published Dec 10, 2002 05:15 am Updated Jan 31, 2009 05:36 pm

A new survey says San Francisco Bay area residents have embraced the Internet more than many other areas in the country. But income is widening the gap in the number of users.

The annual Bay Area Poll says nearly 75 percent of local residents use the Internet at least once a week, up three percent from last year. Nationally, the average is around 60 percent.

Internet use in households with incomes of more than $80,000 rose to 90 percent, up five percent from last year. In comparison, nearly 58 percent of residents with household incomes of less than $40,000 said they used the Internet, up two percent. In computer use, the digital divide becomes more evident. It declined three percent to 65 percent for lower-income residents.

For higher-income residents, it rose five percent to 92 percent.