After the pandemic started in 2020, working from home became the norm for millions of Americans overnight. Although many employees are now being called back into the office, there’s no denying it: remote work is here to stay. In fact, new data suggests that 25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022, with opportunities set to increase in 2023. But which cities are best-equipped to support remote workers?
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To find out, LawnStarter compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on 20 remote worker-friendliness factors, from cost of living to internet quality. These factors were then grouped into seven categories: Affordability, Amenities, Connectivity, Earning Potential, Financial Incentive, Safety, and Workspace. Cities were ultimately ranked according to their average scores across all categories.
Southern charm pervaded the study, with 8 out of the 10 top cities for remote workers being situated in the region. The area’s budget-friendliness and large, open spaces helped contribute to its success here. Most of the U.S. Southern cities in the top 10 rank highly in Connectivity, Affordability, Earning Potential, and Workspace.
Taking first place in Lawnstarter’s study is Plano, Texas. While low crime rates, high broadband coverage, and spacious homes gave Plano an edge, it truly stood apart in terms of its financial appeal. It has the 19th-highest average household income, as well as the 10th most affordable rent. Like all other Texas cities, there’s no state income tax!
Fellow Dallas suburb Fresno, Texas follows closely behind, dropping one spot from its No. 1 position in 2021. The city has the second-best affordability ranking in the entire study, as well as the third-best workspace ranking.
Coming in third place is Tampa, Florida. The Sunshine State locale is a participating city in Airbnb’s Live and Work Anywhere program, which aims to provide a sustainable infrastructure for remote workers. Atlanta, Georgia and Seattle, Washington trail closely behind in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
Here’s the complete top 10 list:
You can view LawnStarter’s full study here.
