Which U.S. Cities Have the Largest (and Smallest) Remote Workforce?

The coronavirus pandemic had a colossal and unprecedented impact on many aspects of daily life around the world. Quarantines and other contact-limiting measures became necessary to combat the devastating impact of the virus, forcing us to change the way we live and work. Adapting to working from home became vital for both the health of the nation and the health of the economy. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the amount of people working from home tripled between 2019 and 2021 from 5.7% (9 million people) to 17.9% (27.6 million people). Although estimates vary on where that percentage stands now, it is still significantly higher prior to the pandemic. Remote work opportunities have become increasingly valuable to employees as well; according to a Bankrate study, 64 percent of full-time workers support fully remote schedules, 22 percent have no preference, and only 14 percent oppose it. The demographic breakdown of those who support remote work are 68 percent of Gen Z, 69 percent of Millennials, 62 percent of Gen X, and 50 percent of Baby Boomers. So which cities have the most people working from home? The team at Qualtrics has conducted an analysis of working from home statistics to create this eye-opening visualization:

Which U.S. cities have the most people working from home?

The city with the most people working from home is Cary, North Carolina with an impressive 41.4 percent of the total workforce working from home. Cary also received Niche’s 2024 Best Places to Live in North Carolina accolade! It received an A+ for Public Schools, A- for Housing, A+ for Good for Families, B for Crime and Safety, A- for Nightlife, and an A for Diversity. There is also an abundance of green spaces and recreational opportunities that may make it appealing for those who value the flexibility and balance of remote work. The median household income of Cary, North Carolina is $125,317, which is significantly higher than the national average of $74,580.

Here are the top ten cities with the most remote workers (by percentage of total workforce):

1. Cary, NC remote workforce – 41.4%
2. Frisco, TX remote workforce – 39.7%
3. Bellevue, WA remote workforce – 38.6%
4. Berkeley, CA remote workforce – 36.4%
5. Seattle, WA remote workforce – 36%
6. Arlington, VA remote workforce – 35.8%
7. Fremont, CA remote workforce – 35.2%
8. Scottsdale, AZ remote workforce – 34%
9. Carlsbad, CA remote workforce – 33.8%
10. Washington, DC remote workforce – 33.8%

What are the pros and cons of working from home?

What are the benefits of working from home? Of course, how an individual benefits from working from home will vary, but overall, remote work data seems to indicate that people working from home are generally happier than those in office. Here are some supporting studies of the benefits of remote work:

• A scholarly study conducted in the German banking sector found that employees working from home showed significantly higher values in three of the four “happiness dimensions” analyzed, including “meaningfulness,” “self-actualization,” and “community professional.” Remote workers were also shown to be more committed to their employer.
• Another work-life survey found that 65% of remote workers said they were “extremely satisfied’ with their jobs versus just 34% of office-based employees.
• A 2022 Cisco survey of 28,000 employees worldwide reported that 78% of respondents said that remote and hybrid work enhanced their overall wellbeing, and 79% felt they enjoyed a better work-life balance.
• A study by The Hill found a 13 percent increase in overall productivity. This may seem counterintuitive, but remote workers actually spent nine percent longer on average working. They also took shorter lunch breaks and fewer sick days and had four percent more output per minute.
• According to a study by Cornell and Microsoft, remote workers can have a 54% lower carbon footprint versus onsite workers.
• Remote work advantages for employers may include a wider candidate pool to choose from, financial incentives (such as saving money on commercial property), and increased productivity and retention, according to Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics.
• In 2019, the American Psychological Association featured this headline and article: “The future of remote work: when it’s done right, telework can improve employee productivity, creativity and morale, psychologists’ research finds.”

However, there have been some studies and articles that highlight the potential disadvantages of working from home. Let’s get into the drawbacks:

• Fully remote (40 percent) and hybrid work (38 percent) may be associated with a greater likelihood of depression and anxiety symptoms compared to in-person work (35 percent). However, it is worth noting that mental health issues have been a growing concern across the entire workforce. This startling decline was first seen at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and there has not been significant improvement since.
• Employees may experience less human interaction when working remotely. These interactions can contribute to a sense of loyalty and motivation to succeed. Fortunately, there are some creative solutions to building a healthy remote company culture.
• A study by the Society of Human Resource Managers reported that remote workers are 35% more likely to face lay-offs than in-office peers.

If you are struggling with working from home effectively, here is a collection of resources to help you succeed as a remote worker:

• 8 Tips for Working From Home Effectively – Harvard Business School
• Working from Home: How to Optimize Your Work Environment and Stay Healthy – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• 5 Ways to Work from Home More Effectively – Harvard Business Review
• The Ultimate Guide to Working From Home (+ Remote Work Tips) – HubSpot
• How To Work Effectively From Home in 24 Unique Ways – Indeed

We hope these work from home tips help you thrive and have the ultimate remote employee experience.

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U.S. Cities Ranked by Percentage of Population Who Are Remote Workers

Between 2019 and 2021, the number of people primarily working from home TRIPLED from 5.7% to 17.9%. Now, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that around 1 in 5 employees work from home.

IMPORTANT: Data is sourced from the 2022 U.S. Census Bureau and includes 344 U.S. cities with populations over 100,000.

Top 20 Cities With the Most Remote Workers

Top 20 Cities with the Least Remote Workers

Sources:

https://smartasset.com/data-studies/work-from-home-2024

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2022/people-working-from-home.html