Remote work is becoming a norm as time goes by. SmartAsset looked at the prevalence of remote work across the United States, and an analysis was focused on 344 of the most populous cities with resident counts exceeding 100,000.
The data was from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1-Year American Community Survey. The cities were assessed based on the proportion of individuals aged 16 and above who engaged in remote work, with rankings determined by the percentage of remote workers relative to the total workforce. Surprisingly, around 1/3rd of the top 25 biggest remote workforces are present in California.
We will present a list of the top 20 cities, starting with the city that has the lowest percentage of remote workers within these 20 and progressing to the city with the highest percentage of remote workers relative to its population.
Another metric we’ll mention is the average time it takes to get to work, as individuals in larger cities can spend up to 80 minutes commuting to their workplace and back. In contrast, the cities we’ll be mentioning tend to average around the 20-30 minute mark, making them more work-friendly for remote and office-based workers.
1. Austin, Texas
Austin’s professional landscape reflects a city at the forefront of the tech industry. It thrives as a tech hub, with 30.7% of its workforce engaged in remote activities, comprising 181,680 individuals.
The mean travel time for commuters to their workplace is 22.4 minutes, emphasizing the city’s role as a vibrant center for technology and innovation, seamlessly integrating remote work options with efficient commuting practices.
2. Oakland, California
Oakland reflects urban diversity and remote work harmony, with 30.7% of its workforce participating in remote activities, totaling 70,598 individuals. The mean commute to work is 29.6 minutes.
3. Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte’s status as the Queen City extends to its role as a thriving center for remote work in the southeastern United States. It showcases remote work prowess, with 30.9% of its workforce actively engaged in remote activities, constituting 152,076 individuals.
The mean travel time for commuters to get to their office is 24.1 minutes.
4. Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria combines historic charm with remote work synergy, boasting a remote work participation rate of 30.9% among its workforce, totaling 30,015 individuals. The mean travel time for commuters to get to their workplace is 28.7 minutes.
5. Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs flourishes as a hub for remote work, with 32.1% of its workforce choosing this flexible option, comprising 19,936 individuals. The mean travel time to work for commuters is 27.0 minutes, reflecting a city that seamlessly integrates the benefits of remote work with efficient traditional commuting practices.
6. San Fransisco, California
San Francisco’s professional landscape showcases a city where cutting-edge technology meets the practicality of traditional work routines. It boasts a robust remote work culture, with 32.5% of its workforce engaged in remote activities, totaling 151,314 individuals, and a mean travel time to work of 29.5 minutes.
7. Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge integrates academic excellence with remote work, boasting a remote work participation rate of 30.1% among its workforce, totaling 21,085 individuals. The mean travel time for commuters to get to their office is 24.3 minutes, highlighting a city that successfully combines its status as an academic hub with a commitment to fostering remote work flexibility.
8. Boulder, Colorado
Boulder’s professional environment reflects a unique fusion of outdoor appreciation and a commitment to remote work flexibility. 32.5% of the workforce opts for remote work, comprising 19,180 individuals. The mean travel time for commuters to get to their workplace is a notable 18.1 minutes, highlighting a city where the influence of nature seamlessly blends with a thriving remote work culture.
9. Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Highlands Ranch showcases remote work efficiency, with 33.2% of its workforce participating in remote activities, totaling 18,496 individuals. The mean travel time to work for commuters is 25.0 minutes.
10. Allen, Texas
Allen stands out, with 33.2% of its workforce embracing remote work, encompassing 18,942 individuals. The mean travel time for commuters to get to their office is 27.4 minutes, indicating a city that successfully balances the benefits of remote work with the structured commuting routine.
Allen’s professional landscape reflects a Texas oasis where residents can enjoy the flexibility of remote work while maintaining efficient traditional commuting practices.
11. Washington, District of Columbia
Washington, D.C., stands as a testament to the coexistence of remote work in a city known for its traditional government and corporate sectors.
The nation’s capital showcases a robust remote work culture, with 33.8% of its workforce actively engaged in remote activities, constituting 126,259 individuals. The mean travel time for commuters to head to their office is 30.1 minutes.
12. Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad embraces remote work harmony, with 33.8% of its workforce choosing this flexible option, totaling 18,575 individuals. The mean travel time to work for commuters to head to their office is 31.7 minutes, reflecting a city that combines the allure of coastal living with a commitment to fostering a remote work-friendly atmosphere.
13. Scottsdale, Arizona
34.0% of Scottsdale’s workforce engages in remote activities, encompassing 43,272 individuals. The mean travel time to get to work for commuters is a commendable 22.5 minutes.
14. Fremont, California
Fremont’s professional landscape reflects a city where residents can seamlessly navigate between the convenience of working from home and the structured routine of commuting.
It embraces a remote work culture, with 35.2% of its workforce choosing the flexibility it offers, totaling 39,339 individuals. The mean travel time to work for commuters is 27.1 minutes.
15. Arlington, Virginia
Arlington’s strategic location near the nation’s capital adds an extra layer of significance to its role as a hub for remote work.
It boasts a commendable 35.8% of its workforce participating in remote work, comprising 53,843 individuals. With a mean travel time of 26.6 minutes for commuters to get to work, the city presents a harmonious blend of remote work flexibility and efficient traditional commuting.
16. Seattle, Washington
Seattle positions itself as a remote work epicenter, with 36.0% of the workforce actively engaged in remote activities, amounting to an impressive 165,175 individuals.
The mean travel time for work for commuters is 25.8 minutes, showcasing a city that seamlessly integrates remote work options with efficient traditional commuting methods.
17. Berkley, California
In Berkeley, 36.4% of the workforce opts for remote work, comprising 21,643 individuals. Despite the city’s creative and innovative atmosphere, commuters experience a mean work travel time of 28.7 minutes.
18. Bellevue, Washington
Bellevue stands out with a substantial 38.6% of its workforce engaging in remote work, encompassing 32,045 individuals. The city boasts a mean travel time to work of 23.1 minutes, reflecting the efficiency and streamlined nature of both remote and traditional work methods.
19. Frisco, Texas
In Frisco, 39.7% of the workforce embraces remote work, totaling 46,381 individuals. Despite the prevalence of remote work, commuters in Frisco experience a mean travel time of 27.6 minutes to get to the office.
20. Cary, North Carolina
Cary emerges as a thriving hub for remote work, with an impressive 41.4% of its workforce choosing the flexibility of working from home. This gives it the largest remote workforce. This equates to a substantial 40,900 individuals contributing to the city’s dynamic remote work landscape.
Additionally, the mean travel time to work for commuters stands at a commendable 22.2 minutes.
