Connected Communities: Wi-Fi, IoT, and Resident Experience

Multifamily and planned communities are adopting smart technologies to attract residents and enhance operational efficiency. This study identifies consumer demand for property-provided Wi-Fi, smart home amenities, and resident-facing platforms. It quantifies consumer spending on retail, bulk, and managed Wi-Fi offerings and evaluates the impact of next-generation connectivity benefits, like instant internet activation at move-in, on satisfaction. It also assesses the impact of IoT features on leasing decisions, satisfaction, and retention. The research identifies key use cases—such as access control, automation, and energy savings—and tracks consumer openness to integrated, tech-forward living environments.

This study draws from Parks Associates’ Q1 2026 survey of 8,000 U.S. internet households. The survey is demographically representative of US internet households, with quotas for age, income, and gender.

Key questions addressed:

1)What is the landscape for bulk and managed Wi-Fi adoption in multifamily properties?

2)What are the drivers of resident satisfaction and dissatisfaction with bulk internet and Wi-Fi?

3)How does resident interest in bulk and managed Wi-Fi compare to other amenities?

4)What is resident preference when it comes to bulk versus retail internet services?

5)What is the difference in consumer-reported spending on bulk vs. retail internet services?

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Methodology & Key Terms

Executive Summary

Internet Adoption Model Among

Multifamily Residents

Wi-Fi Accessibility in Multifamily

Communities

Connection Process

Smart Amenities and Resident Platforms

Resident Interest in Wi-Fi vs. Other Resident Amenities

Resident Attitudes Towards Internet

Multifamily Market Sizing

Appendix

•Defining Internet households

•Guide to reading Parks Associates charts

•Additional research from Parks Associates

Published by Parks Associates
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Disclaimer: Parks Associates has made every reasonable effort to ensure that all information in this document is correct. We assume no responsibility for any inadvertent errors.

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Yilan Jiang

Senior Director of Consumer Analytics

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Kristen Hanich

Senior Director of Research

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Sharon Jiang

Consumer Insights Manager

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Yuting Mu

Consumer Insights Analyst II

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Parks Associates

Market Research and Consulting Company

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Connected Communities: Wi-Fi, IoT, and Resident Experience