The best town for working remotely in the US is Gatlinburg, TN
Three Delaware towns are in the top 10 most remote-friendly places in the country
Leland Grove, IL is the smallest town in the top 10, with 1,464 residents
As more and more people choose (or are forced) to work remotely, many are realizing they don’t necessarily have to live in the big cities where their employers tend to be based. In fact, they can move to save money. If you can work and be productive remotely, why endure a concrete jungle with barely affordable rent, high cost of living, and a crowded commute? Working from home is in.
To help all the remote workers out there, HireAHelper created an algorithm that ranks a town’s internet accessibility, cost of living, and much more in order to figure out where the best places to work remotely in 2020 are.
Lo and behold, HireAHelper’s ranking of the top places for working remotelyin the United States!
See the chart below to explore the rankings. Check how towns compare on the overall scores, plus compare the top 50 towns on individual factors.
The Top 10 Towns
The top of our table offers something for everyone. From mountainous Gatlinburg TN and Manitou Springs, CO, to the suburban Leland Grove, IL, and Collingwood, NJ.
And of all the towns, Delaware somewhat surprisingly dominates. The Diamond State, with its affordable high-speed broadband, excellent local amenities, and plenty of open green spaces, has a total of three towns land in our top 10!
Here is each town in our top 10, all perfect for your next Zoom meeting.
= Financials (i.e., cost of living, local income, property and sales tax rates, housing prices)
= Comforts (i.e., coffee shops, restaurants)
= Broadband offerings (i.e., terms of coverage, speed, and cost, & free Wi-Fi hotspots)
= Conditions (i.e., greenery, open-air, air quality)
1. Gatlinburg, TN | 



Gatlinburg, TN
Winning the #1 spot in the ranking, it’s Gatlinburg in Tennessee. On the doorstep to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this town is affordable, has a reliable 2 GB internet connection, and no shortage of places to grab a hot brew or a bite to eat. Not to mention, you have access to lots of green spaces inside one of the greatest national parks in the country.
2. New Castle, DE | 


Closely behind in second place is New Castle in Delaware. Set on the outskirts of Wilmington, New Castle offers a manageable cost of living, speedy broadband, and plenty of spots for food and coffee. It’s a town full of quaint charm, but one thing that put New Castle so high in our ranking is a relatively low house pricing compared to many other towns in Delaware, and beyond.
3. Lewes, DE | 


Another historic beach town in the state of Delaware, Lewes combines the charm of an East Coast beach town that offsets a lot of the East Coast cost of living with Delaware’s famously low taxes. Add a strong local food scene and some affordable high-speed internet, and you’ve got yourself one of the greatest towns for remote working.
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4. Collingswood, NJ | 


Despite being a proverbial stone’s throw away from Philadelphia, Collingswood in New Jersey town was able to preserve its small-town feel. Benefitting from a fair number of parks and coffee spots, here you also find some relatively affordable housing, along with the ubiquitous fast-speed broadband.
5. Leland Grove, IL | 


Leland Grove, IL
Another suburban entry on our top ten is Leland Grove, just outside Springfield in Illinois. Much like in other places at the top of our list, here the houses are affordable, coffee spots – plentiful, and broadband – cheap and fast.
6. Rehoboth Beach, DE | 


A third Delaware town in our top ten, and similarly to its counterparts, Rehoboth Beach mixes colonial history with its beach town charm. Despite the relatively high cost of living and house prices, the taxes are “Delaware low”, and with excellent internet connectivity and no shortage of coffee shops, this 1,500-strong town is firmly in the sixth spot on our list.
7. Manitou Springs, CO | 


Manitou Springs, CO
Situated in the foothills of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, the town Manitou Springs in Colorado boasts unrivaled access to scenic parks, hiking trails, and some of the freshest air in the country. On top of that, it has plenty to offer in a way of food and coffee… not to mention the fast internet and low taxes. What’s not to like?
8. Southport, NC | 



Southport, NC
Back on the East Coast, another attractive town beckons. This time, it’s Southport in North Carolina. Come for the attractive combination of good parks and glorious ocean views, stay for the burgeoning restaurant scene and affordable housing.
9. Nevada City, CA | 


The highest-ranking Californian town in our rating is Nevada City. This old Gold Rush town wins its spot by offering its residents excellent internet connection for a good price, a decent selection of food and coffee, and some incredible parks and hiking trails.
10. Winter Park, FL | 


Hardly any ranking is complete without an entry from the Sunshine state, and the one on our list is Winter Park. Close to Orlando, it might not be the cheapest around, but it’s renowned for its vast green spaces and has excellent amenities in terms of coffee, Wi-Fi, and not to mention high-speed home internet. And it’s hard to beat that Florida sunshine.
What Are the Best Remote-Friendly Places in My State?
America’s best places for remote work might not be in your state, but don’t worry, we found that each state has a town or a small city suitable for working away from the office.
Check out our handy city-finder map down below. You can search through the highest-rated remote-friendly location in your part of the country.
Affordable, Connected, Green: How We Ranked the Towns (and 382 More Great Places) 
To get started with the places we were going to choose from, we rounded up some of the most beautiful towns in America. (If you’re going to move somewhere to work remotely, it might as well be beautiful, right?). To do this, we relied on various articles, like this one from The Culture Trip, to find the most attractive places in each of the 50 states to work from home in.
Then, using the data from the US Census Bureau, we filtered anywhere with a population less than 1,000 and more than 50,000, leaving 392 towns on our final list.
To rank them all, we crunched the numbers on four different factors, then aggregated them.
To get a sense of what living in each town is like financially, we gathered the estimates of the cost of living, local income, property, and sales tax rates, as well as housing prices.
A speedy and reliable Internet connection is critical to successful remote set-up, so we looked up each town’s broadband offering in terms of coverage, speed, and cost. Plus, we counted up the free Wi-Fi hotspots in the area.
Living in a small town doesn’t have to mean missing out on good food and coffee, so we estimated the number of coffee shops, restaurants, and food delivery options for each town in our selections.
Finally, the big draw of living in a small town is fresh air and access to green spaces, which is why we looked at the number of parks and hiking spots around each town, took in data on air and water quality, and threw in an estimate of weather comfort to round off the rankings.
If you’re keen to explore the data in more detail, check out the full table below with all 392 towns we profiled.
Sources and Methodology
The sources of data used in the piece are as follows:
List of towns – The Culture Trip
Population – U.S. Census Bureau
Cost of Living – BestPlaces
State Taxes – The Tax Foundation
Internet Speed, Cost, and Coverage – BroadbandSearch
Coworking Spaces – Coworker.com
Free Wi-Fi Spots, Coffee Shops, Restaurants, Delivery Options, Parks – Yelp
Water Quality, Air Quality, Weather Comfort – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, BestPlaces
The overall score has a maximum of 100 points and is based on a selection of 16 factors, which were weighted as follows:
Financials:
Cost of Living – 10 points,
Local Tax Burden – 5 points
House Price – 5 points
Work Amenities:
Broadband Speed – 10 points
Broadband Cost – 5 points
Broadband Coverage – 5 points
Coworking Spaces per 1,000 residents – 5 points
Free Wi-Fi Spots per 1,000 residents – 5 points
Comforts:
Coffee Shops per 1,000 residents – 10 points
Restaurants per 1,000 residents – 10 points
Food Delivery Options per 1,000 residents – 5 points
Libraries per 1,000 residents – 5 points
Conditions:
Parks per 1,000 residents – 10 points
Weather Comfort – 5 points
Air Quality – 3 points
Water Quality – 2 points
Image credits:
Gatlinburg, TN, photo by Evan Nichols, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Leland Grove, IL, photo by Jim Roberts, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Manitou Springs, CO, photo by vanitea, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0).
Southport, NC, photo by by Space Mule, license under the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)
Illustrations by Chelsea Beck
FAQs
Where should I move as a remote worker? ›
Overall Rank (1=Best) | City | Overall Score |
---|---|---|
1 | Plano, TX | 67.11 |
2 | Frisco, TX | 67.02 |
3 | Tampa, FL | 65.69 |
4 | Atlanta, GA | 63.99 |
- Bozeman, Montana. ...
- Savannah, Georgia. ...
- San Diego, California. ...
- New York City, New York. ...
- Rapid City, South Dakota. ...
- Asheville, North Carolina. ...
- Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. ...
- San Francisco, California. San Francisco was one of US News' top picks for best places to live in 2021.
- Highest.
- Washington, D.C. 48.3%
- Seattle. 46.8%
- San Francisco. 45.6%
- Austin. 38.8%
- Atlanta. 38.7%
- Lowest.
- Fresno, California. 12.2%
- Madison, Wisconsin. Coming in at No. ...
- Rogers, Arkansas. ...
- Des Moines, Iowa. ...
- Grand Rapids, Michigan. ...
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin. ...
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ...
- Omaha, Nebraska. ...
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Join a travel and remote work program, like Remote Year.
- Be present and communicative with colleagues and clients.
- Create and stick to a remote work schedule or remote work routine.
- Strive to maintain your long-distance relationships.
- Join a coworking space.
it is prohibited to use a tourist visa while working remotely - this may lead to legal actions against the employee and the employer. often they depend on nationality other than residency (or the employer's residency)
Which country has the most remote workers? ›Germany is the top ranked country for remote working, followed by Denmark and the US, according to cybersecurity software firm NordLayer. European countries make up the remainder of the top 10, aside from Singapore which ranks ninth.
How can I get digital nomad visa? ›- Digital nomad visa application form.
- Your passport.
- Identity pictures.
- Proof of health insurance.
- Proof of financial income (its source, the amount, etc.).
- Evidence of remote work (clients, work contract, business license).
America's Most (& Least) Affordable Cities In 2022
Above you'll see that Sioux Falls, SD is the big winner in 2022, with the best total score and the top ranking among all US cities.
Digital nomads are people who are location-independent and use technology to perform their job, living a nomadic lifestyle. Digital nomads work remotely, telecommuting rather than being physically present at a company's headquarters or office.
Where can I work at remote beach? ›
- Brades, Montserrat. ...
- The Valley, Anguilla. ...
- Zadar, Croatia. ...
- Lagos, Portugal. ...
- Taghazout, Morocco. ...
- Saint George's, Bermuda. ...
- Goa, India. ...
- Flic en Flac, Mauritius.
LinkedIn data showed 15.9% (about 1 in 6) of U.S. paid job postings offered remote work in August 2022, decreasing steadily from a high of 19.8% in March 2022 but still up from 13.2% in August 2021 last year.
Where can I find real remote jobs? ›- FLEXJOBS. ...
- Arc. ...
- REMOTE.CO. ...
- JUSTREMOTE. ...
- VIRTUAL VOCATIONS. ...
- PANGIAN. ...
- WE WORK REMOTELY. ...
- REMOTIVE.
Anywhere remote jobs can be done from anywhere in the world. Remote jobs by state lets you find jobs that you can do from specific states in the U.S.
Can US companies hire foreign workers remote? ›Yes, US companies can hire foreign workers either as full-time employees or independent contractors, with the option of either working remotely in their home country or relocating to the US with the relevant labor certification and visa.
How long can you work remotely in another state? ›In California, it's 45 days. Some states have a first-day rule, which means that if you work there for even one day, you owe state income tax. So, working remotely in your new home and traveling back to your old office could open you up to tax liability in both states.
How do I get paid travel work remotely? ›- Instagram Agency.
- Travel Coaching.
- Virtual Travel Assistant.
- Managing Social Media for companies.
- Publish a book.
- Teach English Online.
- Affiliate Marketing.
- Freelance Writing.
Remote Access: A remote access VPN means your employees can log on to your company network from anywhere that has access to the Internet. Whether they are in the coffee shop, traveling, or (hopefully) social isolating at home, a VPN allows your employees to access all the resources they need to get the job done.
Do I need a work permit to work remotely in US? ›Foreign employees who work for a US company remotely from their own country do not need a visa or work permit, as long as they work outside of the US. However, they would need a business visa if the US company wanted to bring them to the US for an extended stay or training purposes.
Do I need a visa if I work remotely? ›A digital nomad visa, or remote working visa, is a permit or visa that will allow you to live and work in a foreign country, and without needing to apply for residency or citizenship. You must be engaged and work for a foreign company, not a business in your host country.
Can I work remotely on B1 B2 visa in USA? ›
This question lies squarely at the intersection of immigration & tax law, and the short answer is no. There is no law that allows working remotely in the U.S. for a foreign employer. Chapter 3 of IRS Publication 519, US Tax Guide for Aliens spells out why such remote work is not permitted.
What industries have the most remote jobs? ›- Customer Support. ...
- Banking and Finance. ...
- Health and Wellness. ...
- Pharmacology. ...
- Medical Science. ...
- Arts & Entertainment. ...
- Legal.
26% of U.S. employees work remotely, as of 2022. There are expected to be 36.2 million American employees working remotely by 2025. 40% of workers believe that they've been more productive while working at home during the pandemic, as opposed to the office. 16% of U.S. companies are fully remote.
Which country is best for digital nomads? ›Spain, Thailand, Italy, and Colombia are four popular and affordable countries with digital nomad visas in the works.
Do digital nomads pay tax? ›This is complicated as it depends on your host country. Nomads who stay away for short periods will probably continue to pay tax as normal in their home country, and will not be liable for local taxes.
Can a digital nomad visa lead to permanent residency? ›This new digital nomad visa allows foreign remote workers to live in Hungary while working for foreign employers. The White Card is valid for one year and can be extended for an additional year. But that's it, a maximum of two years. So this isn't a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship.
How much is a digital nomad visa? ›Work. Life. Bliss.” The visa is available to single digital nomads, families and university students. Visa Length: 91 days-12 months with a cost of $2000 USD for individuals and students and $3000 for a family of four ($250 for each additional dependent).
Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in USA? ›Augusta, a small city near Georgia's border with South Carolina, is one of the cheapest and safest places to live in the USA. It has a low crime rate and a low cost of living, making it perfect for those looking to live comfortably and save money.
What US city has lowest cost of living? ›It can be extremely expensive to live in big cities like New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. However, living in places, like Fort Wayne, Indiana, or Brownsville, Texas, can be more affordable. Fort Wayne, Indiana, was named the city with the lowest cost of living for 2022.
Where is the safest and cheapest place to live? ›- Albania.
- Portugal.
- Costa Rica.
- Panama.
- Mexico.
- Thailand.
- Malaysia.
- Vietnam.
How do I become a digital nomad with no experience? ›
The key to becoming a digital nomad with no experience is to start small. Don't quit your current job and jump right into learning these new skills for your new digital nomad job. Instead, create a plan or schedule to acquire certain skills by a specific date. Spend an hour after work attending an online course.
What are the main downsides for digital nomads? ›The downsides of being a digital nomad
However, digital nomadism is not without its complications. Sure, the term evokes images of people working on the beach while sipping on a pina colada, but the reality is that being a digital nomad involves questions of taxation, visa issues, health insurance and even loneliness.
According to FlexJobs studies, one in five digital nomads makes between $50,000 and $99,000 a year. Generally, remote workers make between $10 and $30 per hour. According to SDC International Shipping, digital nomads in the marketing industry earn about $40,000 and $99,000 a year.
Does Airbnb hire remote? ›Airbnb extends this mission across its workplace by offering eligible employees the opportunity to live and work where they want while maintaining the collaboration and in-person connection that “makes Airbnb special.” The employer has posted optional, hybrid, and 100% remote jobs with freelance and part-time ...
Can I work remotely from the Bahamas? ›Bahamas. Bahamas is also running an 'Extended Access Travel Stay' programme allowing workers and students to work or study remotely from any of the country's 16 islands for up to a year.
Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico? ›No passport or visa required
But unlike many destinations promoting remote work, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory with no passport or work visa needed for U.S. travelers.
41% of those workers are fully remote. This is a dramatic increase from the 17% percent of U.S. employees that worked from home 5 days or more per week before the pandemic, per Statista.
Are companies slowing hiring? ›A robust job market that has defied expectations for years is showing more concrete signs of slowing. Companies' job postings have fallen sharply. Layoffs are creeping up. And new data released Friday show that U.S. job creation has slowed to its lowest level in nearly a year and a half.
Why do people want remote jobs? ›Increased Productivity and Performance
Add in the lack of a commute, and remote workers typically have more time and fewer distractions, which leads to increased productivity—a huge benefit of working from home for both employees and employers alike.
Spain, Thailand, Italy, and Colombia are four popular and affordable countries with digital nomad visas in the works.
Where can I work remotely in London? ›
- The British Library. The British Library. ...
- Picturehouse Central. Looking for a quiet, spacious spot to get some work done in central London? ...
- Granary Square. For a gorgeous outdoor working space, head to Granary Square near King's Cross.
it is prohibited to use a tourist visa while working remotely - this may lead to legal actions against the employee and the employer. often they depend on nationality other than residency (or the employer's residency)
How can I work remotely abroad? ›Another option for people working remotely from abroad is a digital nomad visa. Countries such as Barbados, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia and Iceland are among those that offer visas for remote workers.
How much money do you need to be a digital nomad? ›However, I've found a good estimate for a monthly living to be around $1000 to $2000 if you want a pretty comfortable living with your own place and not just hostels – though it can be achieved for both less and more.
Do digital nomads pay tax? ›This is complicated as it depends on your host country. Nomads who stay away for short periods will probably continue to pay tax as normal in their home country, and will not be liable for local taxes.
Do I need a visa if I work remotely? ›A digital nomad visa, or remote working visa, is a permit or visa that will allow you to live and work in a foreign country, and without needing to apply for residency or citizenship. You must be engaged and work for a foreign company, not a business in your host country.
Where can I go to work on my laptop near me? ›- Local Library. The peace and quiet that libraries provide make them a favorite location for freelancers. ...
- Bookstores. If you enjoy the vibe that a library offers, but don't enjoy the complete silence, then consider working at a bookstore. ...
- Coffee Shops. ...
- Neighborhood Bar. ...
- Diners/Restaurants. ...
- Hotels. ...
- Grocery Stores. ...
- Local Park.
- House Cleaner In London | Full Time Or Part Time. Housekeep4.4. ...
- Cleaner In Bermondsey | Full Time Or Part Time. Housekeep4.4. ...
- Cleaner In Aldgate | Full Time Or Part Time. ...
- Support Worker - Non Experienced - We Train You. ...
- Young Person's Worker. ...
- Live in carer. ...
- Personal fashion shopper. ...
- Exam Invigilator.
- Online Tutor. new. ...
- Freelance First Aid Trainer. Tutorcare Ltd. ...
- Bedroom Installer. Sharps Bedrooms Limited. ...
- Quickbooks certified Bookkeeper - Part Time. Paul Marks & Co - Chartered Accountants. ...
- Freelance Marker. ...
- Minicab Dispatcher. ...
- Freelance Writer in London wanted. ...
- Programme Planner.
Paying taxes while working remotely for a US company
Most countries will allow foreign remote workers to stay and work remotely for up to 183 days in a year without becoming tax liable. After that period, a person becomes a tax resident in that country on their worldwide income.
Can I work remotely in the US from another country? ›
Can I Work Remotely From Another Country? It is legal to work from many countries throughout the world even if you aren't a resident of that country. However, you'll need to comply with your chosen country's visa and tax requirements in order to stay there legally.
Can I work remotely on B1 B2 visa in USA? ›This question lies squarely at the intersection of immigration & tax law, and the short answer is no. There is no law that allows working remotely in the U.S. for a foreign employer. Chapter 3 of IRS Publication 519, US Tax Guide for Aliens spells out why such remote work is not permitted.
Where do I pay taxes if I work remotely? ›A permanent remote worker will file their personal income taxes in their state of residence, whether they are a W-2 employee or a 1099-NEC independent contractor.
How long can you work remotely in another state? ›In California, it's 45 days. Some states have a first-day rule, which means that if you work there for even one day, you owe state income tax. So, working remotely in your new home and traveling back to your old office could open you up to tax liability in both states.
How long can you remote work from abroad? ›The number of days the employee is present in the host country over a 12-month period (however briefly and irrespective of the reason) must not exceed 183 days.