The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a trend already well on its way to changing the workplace forever.
More people than ever work from home or in public coffee shops, co-working spaces, and other areas with high-speed WiFi connectivity. Indeed, remote working is standard in many industries, ranging from finance to tech.
But if you’re looking to join the remote workforce, it’s a good idea to consider where you'll work to maximize your benefits and peace of mind. Does the city offer a low cost of living? Are there many cafes with free WiFi, and how exciting is the year-round nightlife? Another thing to consider, especially in cities like Austin, Texas, or Los Angeles, California, is how much time you’d save commuting vs. working from home.
Let's look at three of the best cities to work remotely in the U.S.
What Should You Look for When Working Remote?
Whenever you work remotely and you’re looking for a new home base or city, you should try to find a place with a few key attributes. These qualities will allow you to make the most of your living conditions and benefit from the flexibility inherent in remote work.
Variety of Outdoor Activities
For starters, try to find a city with many potential outdoor activities. When you have to work in the office, you don’t always feel like taking a hike, going for a stroll, or walking your dog on your lunch break.
But if you work from home, you’ll suddenly have plenty of extra free time to explore the outdoors and stay healthy.
Outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, and swimming are excellent for remote workers. Plus, they offer opportunities to socialize and engage with others: a key concern, given that you won’t be socializing with your coworkers in the office anymore.
Plenty of Shops
You’ll also want to find a city that is funny of shops for you to browse. You’ll need something to do on your days off, as you’ll probably want to get out of your house (since you’ve been there all week).
A city with a good downtown area or places to spend your hard-earned cash is a good bet. Try to find cities with shops that carry items you are interested in, like restaurants, outdoor supplies, cinemas, antiques, or breweries.
Lots of Social Hot Spots
As mentioned above, remote working means you won’t socialize with your coworkers as much as before. So it’s a good idea to find a city with many local social hotspots, like bars, picnic areas, and game centers.
On the weekends and after work, it’ll be up to you to seek out social interaction and make friends outside the office.
Cities that give you as many opportunities to do so are much better for remote workers than cities that don’t have a lot of fun places for young professionals to get together and meet each other.
Where Are the Best Places To Live for Remote Work in the U.S.?
While there are dozens of high-quality cities throughout the country, only some U.S. cities are top choices for remote workers of all stripes. In our opinion, the best places to live for remote work in the U.S. are Knoxville, Tennessee; Denver, Colorado; and Alexandria, Virginia.
Knoxville, TN
Knoxville, Tennessee is a beautiful and popular place to live compared to the rest of Tennessee and the eastern U.S. It's the third largest city in Tennessee after Nashville and Memphis, and it was the state's first capital.
There's a lot to like about Knoxville, making it an excellent place for remote workers in all industries. For example, it has a warm climate during the summer and throughout the year, and summers average temperatures of 78.4°F.
Knoxville isn't dominated by exceptionally tall architecture, but the downtown area has beautiful architectural styles from multiple historical periods. Walking down Knoxville's city streets, you can find art styles like Art Deco, Gothic, neoclassical, and Victorian.
Knoxville is further filled with plenty of notable neighborhoods. Even more importantly, the median price for a home in Knoxville is relatively affordable at $295,000.
Need something to do when not working remotely? Knoxville has you covered there, as well. Knoxville has a vibrant arts community, and there are lots of festivals that occur throughout the year.
You can visit the Knoxville Opera and the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, established in 1935, or check out the underground music scene.
All in all, Knoxville is beautiful, has ample entertainment options, and is affordable: a vital to consider if you want to maximize your budget working remotely and want to buy property in the future.
Denver, CO
Denver, Colorado, isn't just located in the healthiest state in the country. It's also the capital of Colorado overall, making it a bustling metropolitan hub with lots to see and do, mainly if you are a fan of outdoor activities.
Located just at the border of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is a gateway to ample hiking, camping, and other outdoor excursions and adventures.
Because of this, you can efficiently work remotely throughout the week and take a weekend hiking trip with your friends, family members, or significant other without driving too far.
But you don’t have to leave the city to enjoy Parks and Recreation. Denver has 29 recreation centers, ideal for remote workers tired of being cooped up at their home offices.
There are plenty of city parks to check out and work on your computer while enjoying some sunshine — as a bonus, Denver gets tons of sunlight each year, as cloudy days and rainstorms are very infrequent in this part of the country.
On the downside, Denver's housing market isn't as affordable as other cities in the country. That all said, Denver does have an excellent public school system, as well as a whole host of colleges and universities. So if you want to start a family, Denver could be one of the best places to do so.
Alexandria, VA
You can head back east and move to Alexandria, Virginia, an independent city in the state's northern area. Alexandra is close to Washington, DC, which has resulted in business and architectural influences.
Old Town Alexandria features a charming combination of antique shops, boutiques, restaurants, and theaters, making it a major cultural draw for everyone in the area.
More importantly, Alexandria and many of its subsidiary neighborhoods are compact and very walkable: perfect for remote workers who prefer to bike or walk around rather than drive a car.
Like Knoxville, Tennessee, Alexandria has many artistic and cultural activities and sites to see. For example, the Scottish Christmas Walk occurs yearly; it’s a fun and dazzling parade that goes through Old Town Alexandria.
On your days off, you can also visit many landmarks and museums, like the George Washington Masonic National Memorial or even Washington’s historic Mount Vernon estate.
What’s the Best Way To Relocate?
No matter which of these cities you choose, you’ll need to relocate strategically. You should:
- Have a house already waiting for you when you move to your new city.
- Have your work lined up for you a few days or a week after you move.
- Have your vehicle shipped to your destination so you can rent a moving truck without coordinating with multiple drivers.
Shipping a car from your current place to these cities is affordable and accessible with a service like Carvaygo.
Carvaygo can pick up your vehicle at your door and deliver it wherever you need it, like your home's driveway. If you have a fancy or expensive vehicle, we can also accommodate you with enclosed car hauling to protect your car in transit from inclement weather and other debris.
The Bottom Line
There are many great places to live if you plan on working remotely for the foreseeable future. Knoxville, Denver, and Alexandria offer a wealth of outdoor activities, coworking spaces with incredible internet speeds, and other amenities to draw in full-time digital nomads working remote jobs.
Since the zoom revolution in the workplace, other popular cities for digital nomads and freelancers include:
- New York City
- Seattle
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Atlanta
- Portland
Moving to these areas, however, will require a lot of planning and preparation in and of itself. For example, you’ll need to know how to get your vehicle from your current location to its final destination in your city of choice. For that, you can contact Carvaygo.
As knowledgeable and experienced car hauling experts, Carvaygo can help you move your vehicle anywhere in the country at affordable prices and in a reasonable timeframe. Contact us today to learn more.
Sources:
Remote Work Is Here To Stay And Will Increase Into 2023, Experts Sas | Forbes
Knoxville Housing Market: House Prices & Trends | Redfin
10 States With the Healthiest Populations | US News & World
