Broadband penetration has increased more than 300 percent since 2002, according to a new analysis from Scarborough Research.

In 2002, 12 percent of U.S. adults had a broadband connection in their household. Now, close to half (49%) have broadband. DSL connections have grown more than cable modems, but both have seen significant growth. Since 2002, cable modem penetration increased 188 percent and DSL connections increased 575 percent.

San Francisco is the top local U.S. market for broadband penetration with 62 percent of adults living in a household that has a broadband Internet connection. Other cites with high levels of broadband penetration include Boston and San Diego, both with 61 percent penetration.

Cities with high levels of broadband penetration are also in high Internet usage markets. Adults in San Francisco, Boston and San Diego are more likely than the average person to have gone online in the past month, and they are also more likely to have spent 10 or more hours online in the past week.

Broadband subscribers are more likely than other Internet users to be engaged with Internet content. They are 30 percent more likely than total Internet users to have downloaded podcasts in the past month, 29 percent more likely to download TV programs and 27 percent more likely to have downloaded audio clips in the same time period.

Additionally, broadband subscribers are more likely than other Internet users to go online for sports content. They are 23 percent more likely than other Internet users to have participated in fantasy sports during the past month and 15 percent more likely to have checked sports scores online during the same timeframe.

“There is obviously an increasing need for more high-speed Internet connectivity as it enables fast and efficient delivery of rich media content,” said Gary Meo, senior vice president of digital media services, Scarborough Research.

“Consumers clearly are demanding more speed in order to upload, download, post and interact with content in a Web 2.0 environment.”

Scarborough Local Market Analysis: Top Markets for Broadband Penetration

*DMA or Designated Market Area is a trademark of Nielsen Media Research