{"id":31855,"date":"2021-08-31T15:00:50","date_gmt":"2021-08-31T12:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/?p=31855"},"modified":"2025-03-25T14:29:59","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T11:29:59","slug":"best-cities-for-working-remotely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-cities-for-working-remotely\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Cities for Working Remotely in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Prior to the pandemic, remote working was more of a perk for corner-office types, grinders who proved themselves, creatives and freelancers. In fact, since the industrial revolution, the only occupations that worked from home with any sort of regularity were farmers and those in creative occupations, like writers, painters and sculptors. Even the post-World War II era saw the invention of multi-level marketing, which allowed women to put their skills to work selling products out of their homes.<\/p>\n

Nowadays, we live in a completely different world \u2014 one that seems to be changing by the day. A year and half after the onset of the pandemic \u2014 and subsequent transition to working from home for those who could \u2014 72% of white-collar workers are still working from home, according to a May 2021 Gallup poll<\/a>. Granted, this percentage is likely to fall as the virus and its variants subside and vaccination rates increase. But, will we go back to the pre-pandemic world where working from home was a scarcity? Or, will we find a new happy medium?<\/p>\n

For those who find themselves in a position to work from home full-time indefinitely, the country \u2014 indeed, the world \u2014 is open to them. Whether it\u2019s the big city, out in the suburbs, the rural back roads, the beach or the mountains, it doesn\u2019t matter. They can work from anywhere. However, not all places are created equal with regards to what\u2019s necessary to work from home. For instance, a great internet connection is essential. Amenities such as restaurants and grocery stores nearby are also wonderful to have because cooking or ordering delivery are the best lunch options. Even local flexible coworking offices come in handy when you need a change of scenery and the local caf\u00e9 is too busy to hold Zoom meetings.<\/p>\n

So, we created a list of the top 20 cities for digital nomads and those who work from home full-time. Which cities have the best internet speeds? Which have the best assortments of restaurants? Which are more affordable and have low crime rates? Keep reading to find out or jump to the end to check out our methodology.<\/p>\n

Valley of the Sun a Top Location for Remote Workers<\/h2>\n

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The Phoenix Valley is a top choice for those working from home. Scottsdale and Gilbert hold the first and second spots on our list, respectively, with Chandler coming it at #18. There\u2019s a lot to be desired in these cities, too \u2013 320 days of sun per year, exceptional amenities and no humidity \u2013 add in the proximity to SoCal and Las Vegas, and you have yourself the definition of \u201csweet spot.\u201d Plus, it also has one of the highest median earning averages on our list at $60,600.<\/p>\n

According to the 2019 census, more than 11% of the total workforce in Scottsdale was working from home at the time, a number that more than doubled in just four years. Meanwhile, more than 14% of Gilbert\u2019s workforce worked from home that same year, an increase of 30% between 2015 and 2019. Chandler, on the other hand, hasn\u2019t seen the growth in remote work to the same extent that its neighbors have, with just 5.8% of the city\u2019s workforce working from home regularly, up only 2% since 2015. If anything, this quiet, family-friendly Phoenix suburb is primed for future work-from-home needs.<\/p>\n

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Additionally, all three cities also scored fairly high on our Remote Work Friendliness Index, which takes into account the speed of the internet, how many professional Phoenix offices for rent are available per capita, how many restaurants are available for delivery, home size and average monthly housing costs. For this metric, Scottsdale<\/a> scored 63 out of 100 points, behind only Atlanta. Gilbert<\/a> came in with 55.6 points and Chandler earned 46.7 points.<\/p>\n

Part of the reason these Arizona cities scored so high on our list overall was that they also scored high for quality of life, as well \u2014 between 85 and 90 points each. Our Life Quality Index measures aspects such as crime rate, education quality, average housing value and unemployment. Indeed, all three cities report lower crime rates overall; great schools and jobs; and housing markets that are on fire.<\/p>\n

Working from Home with Big-City Vibes<\/h2>\n

Digital nomads are environment chameleons, and not everyone wants to work from the \u2019burbs or the beach (is the beach even practical long-term?). To that end, the energy of a larger city is a serious draw for many digital nomads \u2014 especially younger workers who are thirsty for opportunities to network and mingle.<\/p>\n

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At #3 on our list overall, Atlanta is the top city for remote working in cities with more than 300,000 residents. More than 4% of Atlanta\u2019s workforce was working from home in 2019, an increase of 38% in four years. It also scored the highest in our Remote Work Friendliness Index. More precisely, the city scored 67.3 points, highlighting Atlanta’s office availability<\/a>, fast internet, low housing costs, and thriving social and entertainment scene.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Nashville <\/a>may be #20 on our list, but it likely won\u2019t be for long: In 2019, 6.2% of the city\u2019s workforce was working from home \u2014 representing a whopping 113% increase in just four years. Here, the pandemic \u2014 combined with the quality of life in Nashville \u2014 could cause the number of digital nomads (and other people working from home) to continue to skyrocket.<\/p>\n

Further east, Raleigh, N.C.<\/a> enters our list at the #8 spot with 7.7% of its workforce working remotely \u2014 up 43% in four years. It\u2019s worth noting that the city\u2019s population is nearly half a million, so those numbers are pretty impressive. The quality of life here approaches that of Scottsdale and Gilbert: Low crime, great schools and low unemployment.<\/p>\n

Austin, Texas, comes in at #12 on our list of best cities for working remotely. Nearly 8% of Austin\u2019s 1 million residents were working from home in 2019, an increase of a whopping 51% in just four years. Currently, the city is a magnet for tech companies, with major players like Apple, Google and Tesla opening up regional offices in Austin<\/a>. With that kind of clout, you know the amenities and internet speeds are legit.<\/p>\n

Looking for more remote-friendly big cities? Check out Henderson, Nev.<\/a> (#9), Charlotte, N.C.<\/a> (#14) and Pittsburgh <\/a>(#19).<\/p>\n

Suburbs Naturally Draw Work-from-Home Talent<\/h2>\n

Not to be outdone, the suburbs were made for working from home \u2014 quieter than the city, but still close enough to order takeout. And, no matter the climate, prime suburban cities exist to fit everyone\u2019s preferences, from St. Petersburg, Fla., (#17) to Bellevue, Wash.<\/a>, (#5) and everywhere in between.<\/p>\n

Check out the table below to see how the top 20 cities for remote workers scored by each metric.<\/p>\n

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