10 American Towns Ideal for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers
Many Americans that used to work in an office are now settling down in places they previously couldn’t consider, including small and midsize towns across the United States. These spots, dubbed “zoom towns,” have recently seen a big increase their population.
Financial technology company SmartAsset gathered data on the best zoom towns in the United States.
Zooming In
To determine the best zoom towns for remote workers, SmartAsset analyzed data for almost 300 cities and towns across the US. They analyzed several metrics, including but not limited to:
- Frequency of electricity outages
- Percent of the population working from home
- Two-year point difference in remote workers
- Housing costs as percent of income
1: South Jordan, Utah
Just a 20-minute drive from Salt Lake City, SmartAsset ranks South Jordan as the number one best zoom town for remote workers. Of its 80,000 residents, roughly 29% are remote workers. In addition to being close to Utah’s capital, this picturesque city has plenty of recreational parks, perfect for taking a lunch break in nature. It also saw the third-highest increase in number of homes between 2019 and 2021.
2: Eagan, Minnesota
Remote workers looking for a laid-back lifestyle close to big city life have been packing their bags for Eagan. With easy access to the Twin Cities, 28% of this affordable city’s population are remote workers. Equally as impressive? Eagan experienced an 8% increase in remote workers between 2019 and 2021.
3: Arlington Heights, Illinois
As a suburb of Chicago, Arlington Heights has grown especially popular with remote workers. Roughly 29% of Arlington Heights workers opt to stay away from the office, and with 6% cheaper housing costs than Chicago, it’s easy to see why. From 2019 to 2021, Arlington Heights’ population of remote workers grew 23.6%.
4: Naperville, Illinois
Naperville experienced the most significant population growth of remote workers in the top ten, reaching 26.4% between 2019 and 2021. More than a third of Naperville’s working population does so from home. Plus, it’s another Illinois-based city with cheaper housing costs than Chicago.
5: Overland Park, Kansas
Overland Park is a haven for remote workers, just a short drive away from peaceful attractions like the Overland Park Arboretum and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art. Nearly 32% of Overland Park’s population consists of remote workers, and the city saw an influx of over 5,800 people moving there between 2019 and 2021.
6: Olathe, Kansas
Olathe has been named one of the best places to live in Kansas, attracting many remote workers looking to enjoy the amenities of a modern city in a quieter landscape. Between 2019 and 2021, Olathe’s remote worker population grew by 16.8%.
7: Bloomington, Illinois
In Bloomington, working remotely doesn’t mean sacrificing community and a fulfilling work-life balance. One in four residents work from home. In their downtime, remote workers can enjoy nearby attractions like the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts, Miller Park, and the lively downtown center. Bloomington also offers the sixth-lowest housing costs relative to annual income.
8: Skokie, Illinois
Just over 21% of workers in Skokie are remote, an increase of 18.2 percentage points in two years. Skokie is the fourth and final Illinois destination on this list of best towns for remote workers. It’s even seen a 12.05% increase in housing units to account for its popularity.
9: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Roughly 95% of households in Gaithersburg have access to broadband internet, allowing the city to comfortably accommodate its population of remote workers. Over 34% of the Gaithersburg population works from home. If the power goes out, don’t fret; the average duration for outages there is a relatively short 80 minutes, and there are plenty of local hot spots to explore in your free time.
10: Dearborn, Michigan
Despite being 15 minutes from Detroit, Dearborn enjoys a relatively cheaper housing market than its neighbor. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of housing units grew 14.17%. The rate of remote workers has also gone up, accounting for 21.6% of the working population.
Zoom Boom
SmartAsset pointed out that suburbs in California and Washington saw the most significant influx of remote workers. In Redmond, WA, and Mountain View, CA, more than half of the workers operate remotely, and over 50% of that population growth occurred between 2019 and 2021. However, the high cost of living in these states is among the reasons they didn’t make it on this list of the best zoom towns.
Power Problems
When your laptop is your livelihood, WiFi access becomes more than a luxury. Remote workers be warned: On average, power outages in Louisiana and Virginia can last more than four hours. Not only are the outages there the longest in the nation of the cities SmartAsset surveyed, but they also happen more frequently than anywhere else.
Comparing Costs
While housing costs are often comparatively low in zoom towns compared to nearby big cities, the cost of living in the top ten towns on this list is only about 5% cheaper than average.
Tip of the Iceberg
The work-from-home wave is only getting started in the eyes of some analysts. According to Forbes Advisor, over 32 million Americans are projected to be part of the remote work category by 2025.
34 Cities With Sky-High Rent Prices
Apartment finder platform Zumper ranked the top 35 cities with high rent prices for a one-bedroom apartment. If you’re curious how much money fellow Americans pay to rent a one-bedroom apartment, or if you’re thinking of moving soon, you need to see the results.
34 Cities With Sky-High Rent Prices for 1 Bedroom Apartments
How Much Money It Takes To Be in the Top 10%
Whether you dream of being in the top 10% or think you might already be there, one thing is certain: The income a household makes to be in the top 10% club varies by state. Here’s how much you need to make to have a higher income than 90% of Americans.
