Special Report

Remote Workers Are Flocking to These WFH Hotspots

Evan Comen

Published: October 6, 2024 5:25 pm

24/7 Wall St. Insights

The future of remote work is uncertain. According to estimates from the BLS, the percentage of U.S. work hours performed remotely rose tenfold during the pandemic from 5% in 2019 to 50% in 2020. Companies had varying levels of success adjusting to disembodied work environments, with many reverting to hybrid schedules or full returns to the office in the last several years.

Some workers, however, fully committed to the remote lifestyle. While nationwide the number of remote workers fell 18.4% from 2021 to 2023, there are 39 cities where the remote workforce grew. Many remote workers have taken the opportunity to relocate to vacation destinations at the beach or in the mountains, or effectively gave themselves raises by moving to areas with lower cost of living.

While the nature of work is difficult to track at the national level, new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey shows where the remote workforce has grown the most since the pandemic. A look at the percentage change in remote workers from 2021 to 2023 reveals a list of cities with low cost of living and natural amenities throughout the Midwest and Southeast.

To determine the cities where the remote workforce is growing the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on commuting characteristics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Metropolitan statistical areas were ranked based on the percentage change in the number of workers 16 years and over who work from home from 2021 to 2023. Supplemental data on regional price parity is from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

39. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +0.9%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +9.9%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $50,907
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,072
• Regional price parity: 1.2% less expensive than U.S. average

38. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

Aerial View of Grand Forks, North Dakota in Autumn (Shutterstock.com) by Jacob Boomsma

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +0.9%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +8.0%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $55,550
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,896
• Regional price parity: 4.9% less expensive than U.S. average

37. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +1.3%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +12.0%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $56,998
• Median earnings for all workers: $43,977
• Regional price parity: 3.5% less expensive than U.S. average

36. Akron, OH

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +1.3%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +5.2%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $63,098
• Median earnings for all workers: $46,303
• Regional price parity: 7.9% less expensive than U.S. average

35. Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +1.4%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +2.3%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $57,009
• Median earnings for all workers: $45,225
• Regional price parity: 10.8% less expensive than U.S. average

34. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +2.0%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +11.0%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $61,818
• Median earnings for all workers: $44,696
• Regional price parity: 0.4% more expensive than U.S. average

33. Flint, MI

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +2.9%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +7.5%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $57,406
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,694
• Regional price parity: 9.3% less expensive than U.S. average

32. North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +3.0%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +5.7%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $70,209
• Median earnings for all workers: $45,964
• Regional price parity: 1.4% more expensive than U.S. average

31. Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +3.3%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +10.0%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $68,261
• Median earnings for all workers: $45,357
• Regional price parity: 6.8% less expensive than U.S. average

30. Clarksville, TN-KY

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +3.4%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +6.2%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $51,981
• Median earnings for all workers: $45,485
• Regional price parity: 8.9% less expensive than U.S. average

29. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +6.3%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +15.0%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $32,221
• Median earnings for all workers: $31,488
• Regional price parity: 13.1% less expensive than U.S. average

28. Charleston-North Charleston, SC

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +6.9%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +9.7%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $65,876
• Median earnings for all workers: $50,427
• Regional price parity: 0.9% less expensive than U.S. average

27. Rochester, MN

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +7.4%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +1.5%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $69,755
• Median earnings for all workers: $53,596
• Regional price parity: 7.9% less expensive than U.S. average

26. Kennewick-Richland, WA

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +7.5%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +3.0%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $52,813
• Median earnings for all workers: $47,647
• Regional price parity: 4.4% more expensive than U.S. average

25. Boise City, ID

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +7.6%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +6.2%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $58,547
• Median earnings for all workers: $47,152
• Regional price parity: 5.8% less expensive than U.S. average

24. Logan, UT-ID

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +8.4%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +4.5%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $44,523
• Median earnings for all workers: $39,549
• Regional price parity: 7.3% less expensive than U.S. average

23. Knoxville, TN

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +8.8%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +9.5%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $53,842
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,984
• Regional price parity: 8.7% less expensive than U.S. average

22. Fort Wayne, IN

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +9.2%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +12.5%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $61,228
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,583
• Regional price parity: 7.3% less expensive than U.S. average

21. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +11.6%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +7.8%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $51,911
• Median earnings for all workers: $46,546
• Regional price parity: 11.1% less expensive than U.S. average

20. Columbia, SC

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +13.6%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +5.2%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $60,137
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,143
• Regional price parity: 6.4% less expensive than U.S. average

19. Jacksonville, FL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +14.0%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +6.2%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $68,814
• Median earnings for all workers: $47,868
• Regional price parity: 1.5% less expensive than U.S. average

18. Corpus Christi, TX

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +15.2%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +10.7%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $36,304
• Median earnings for all workers: $40,336
• Regional price parity: 6.4% less expensive than U.S. average

17. La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN

La Crosse Commercial Historic District (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Wikideas1

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +16.0%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +21.9%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $52,766
• Median earnings for all workers: $44,348
• Regional price parity: 8.9% less expensive than U.S. average

16. Lubbock, TX

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +16.0%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +10.9%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $40,912
• Median earnings for all workers: $40,041
• Regional price parity: 8.2% less expensive than U.S. average

15. Gainesville, GA

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +17.3%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +4.9%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $52,022
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,969
• Regional price parity: 3.1% less expensive than U.S. average

14. Killeen-Temple, TX

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +18.7%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +9.5%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $45,987
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,782
• Regional price parity: 8.4% less expensive than U.S. average

13. Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +19.6%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +1.5%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $52,247
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,967
• Regional price parity: 7.3% less expensive than U.S. average

12. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +20.4%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +8.0%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $60,649
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,880
• Regional price parity: 1.7% more expensive than U.S. average

11. Columbia, MO

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +20.8%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +5.2%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $56,549
• Median earnings for all workers: $44,101
• Regional price parity: 12.0% less expensive than U.S. average

10. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +21.6%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +8.8%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $32,061
• Median earnings for all workers: $32,663
• Regional price parity: 14.6% less expensive than U.S. average

9. Mobile, AL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +24.8%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +1.6%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $47,598
• Median earnings for all workers: $39,745
• Regional price parity: 12.7% less expensive than U.S. average

8. Port St. Lucie, FL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +27.2%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +9.9%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $51,142
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,807
• Regional price parity: 1.7% less expensive than U.S. average

7. Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +27.5%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +16.8%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $52,313
• Median earnings for all workers: $41,443
• Regional price parity: 3.8% less expensive than U.S. average

6. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +31.6%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +46.6%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $80,793
• Median earnings for all workers: $47,324
• Regional price parity: 1.4% less expensive than U.S. average

5. Kahului-Wailuku, HI

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +35.0%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +3.8%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $60,227
• Median earnings for all workers: $45,867
• Regional price parity: 8.4% more expensive than U.S. average

4. Savannah, GA

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +41.5%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +6.6%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $62,136
• Median earnings for all workers: $45,343
• Regional price parity: 3.8% less expensive than U.S. average

3. Naples-Marco Island, FL

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +47.1%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +6.8%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $66,084
• Median earnings for all workers: $42,123
• Regional price parity: 2.5% more expensive than U.S. average

2. Terre Haute, IN

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +51.0%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: -8.3%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $46,633
• Median earnings for all workers: $40,310
• Regional price parity: 13.1% less expensive than U.S. average

1. Wilmington, NC

• Change in remote workforce, 2021 to 2023: +77.3%
• Change in total workforce, 2021 to 2023: +55.8%
• Median earnings for remote workers: $67,059
• Median earnings for all workers: $44,854
• Regional price parity: 3.0% less expensive than U.S. average