Studies have revealed that lower-income and rural communities are less likely to have physical access to high-speed internet and advanced technology when compared to their urban and more affluent counterparts. Consequently, certain individuals and communities may find themselves deprived of the same educational, economic, and social prospects that technology-enabled access affords others. Furthermore, the digital divide is also observable along the lines of age and race. Older adults and specific racial and ethnic groups are often less inclined to possess access to, or proficiency in, technology and the internet.

The Pew Research Center has identified that 45% of individuals attribute their lack of broadband internet to the high monthly costs, with 1 in 5 considering this as the primary reason, while 37% cite the expense of acquiring a computer. Research conducted by the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) has likewise identified both the monthly cost of internet service and the cost of acquiring a device as significant barriers to adoption. In CETF's 2021 statewide survey, 68% cited "excessive cost" as their reason for not having home broadband access, and 38% regarded cost as their foremost impediment.