Did you know that 70% of job candidates today prefer a hybrid or remote work setup? The question then becomes where would you choose to live?
Check out the 10 cities that set telecommuters up for success (and the 10 that lack the internet backbone to support those Zoom calls) below. The comparison includes nearly 200 of the biggest U.S. cities based on remote job opportunities, internet connectivity, cost of living, and availability of personal workspace, among 20 total factors.
2022’s Best Cities for Remote Workers
Texas dominates the ranking of the Best Cities for Remote Workers. Texas claims half of the ranking’s top 10 cities and seven of the top 20, including San Francisco at No. 1. Texas cities — three of them in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex — earned many of the highest scores in the Opportunity and Connectivity categories. The lack of a state income tax also means more take-home money.
Go Big and Go Work from Home: The ranking shows that large cities tend to be safe bets for remote workers, despite the trend that claustrophobic remote workers are flocking to the suburbs for more space.
Eight of the top 10 cities have at least 250,000 residents, while the other two are mid-size cities with populations between 100,000 and 250,000.
Suburbs might offer more breathing room and mainstream amenities, but bigger cities boast more job opportunities and options in general.
Not All That Glitters Is Gold: If you’re a California-dreaming remote worker, the Golden State monopolizes the bottom of our ranking. Nine out of the worst 10 are in California, including Salinas in last place. Los Angeles is tops among California cities at No. 90 (tied with Chesapeake, Virginia). High on costs and low on good workplace factors like available personal space, California may be better for visiting than telecommuting.
Where does your city stack up?
Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. Opinions are 100% my own.