Best Places to Live for Remote Workers
The global pandemic caused a seismic shift in how and where the labor workforce performs their duties. Most companies had to adopt remote work in 2020, and now more people are working from home than ever before. This trend provides some advantages in terms of environmental impact and worker freedom, even worker productivity in most cases, and many companies have decided that this model is here to stay.
The biggest advantage for the individual worker is freedom. The freedom to perform their vocational duties when and where they want (to an extent) has opened up a world of possibilities that were previously unavailable. For some that means they don’t even have to live in the city of their employer anymore, and as a result more people are relocating than ever before.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a New York city salary and be able to take advantage of the lower cost of living in Florida? It’s these possibilities that has driven a mass migration of the population away from the country’s most expensive markets into more affordable cities and states. Here are some of the best places to live for remote workers.
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte is one of the fastest growing metros in the nation due to it’s low cost of living and tremendous expansion of the job market over the past decade. For remote workers, it provides access to a world class international airport and a great climate year round. Home prices are below the national average, and it provides great schools and safe neighborhoods for families. For this reason, living in Charlotte is a great option for remote workers.
Tampa Bay, FL
Like Charlotte, Tampa Bay has seen a big influx of new residents in recent years. That growth was accelerated in 2020 as many new residents came to town from areas in the northeast most affected by COVID. For remote workers, living in Tampa provides a reasonable cost of living, good schools, and great weather year round. It’s also located in Florida, where there is no state income tax.
Dallas, TX
Speaking of fast growing metros, Dallas has been absorbing thousands of residents from all over the country over the past decade. Similar to the previous 2 cities on this list, the city has a great affordability index in terms of house prices and average rents. Co-working space is pretty common in Dallas, which provides remote workers the opportunity to meet and work with other telecommuters, which makes living in Dallas a great pick for telecommuters.
Seattle, WA
Unlike the first three on this list, living in Seattle isn’t the cheapest option, but it is one of the best for remote workers. The city has reliably fast broadband and freelance work is engrained into the culture. There are countless coffee shops and internet cafes (think free WiFi), and there is an abundance of opportunity for remote workers in the tech space.
