Greenbay, Raleigh top U.S. cities for remote workers
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — A new study by Yahoo! Life has identified the top 10 U.S. cities for remote workers in 2024.
The report ranked 100 U.S. cities based on affordability at 50%, quality of life at 30%, and internet speed at 20%.
Topping the list is Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a median home sale price of $245,000. The city’s high affordability ranking, coupled with a respectable quality of life rating and above-average internet speeds, makes it an attractive destination for remote workers.
Green Bay’s affordability score of 100 – the highest possible – underscores its appeal to those seeking a balance between cost of living and work-life quality.
Tech hubs and hidden gems
Raleigh, North Carolina, secured the second spot, boasting the highest internet speed among the cities studied at 342.86 Mbps.
While it’s one of the pricier options with a median home sale price of $388,000, its high quality of life rating of 7.2 out of 10 compensates for the cost.
Other cities in the top 10 include Madison, Wisconsin; South Bend, Indiana; and Fayetteville, Arkansas. South Bend stands out with one of the lowest median home prices at $145,000, offering exceptional value for remote workers.
Here are the top 10 U.S cities for remote workers:
- Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Madison, Wisconsin
- South Bend, Indiana
- Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Manchester, New Hampshire
- Wichita, Kansas
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Richmond, Virginia
Remote work lowest since 2020
Despite a decline in work-from-home arrangements since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 30% of American employees’ paid workdays were still remote as of December 2023, according to WFH Research.
Among full-time employees, 13% were fully remote, 26% hybrid, and 62% fully on-site. The information/technology and finance/insurance sectors had the highest share of remote workers at 69% and 66% respectively, averaging 2.2 work-from-home days per week.
However, industries such as retail and hospitality continue to report minimal remote work, with 0.6 to 0.7 remote days per week, necessitating physical presence for effective operation.
Geographically, Greater Los Angeles led with 34.4% of workdays remote, followed by Greater Houston (32%), San Francisco Bay Area (32%), Washington D.C.-Baltimore (30.7%) and New York metro area (30.7%).
