Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on LawnStarter.
Freedom of location is one of the biggest perks of remote work. With a strong Wi-Fi connection, you could take Zoom calls from a beachside villa, a mountaintop chalet, or a lawn chair in your backyard.
To help you find the optimal spot for your telecommuter lifestyle, LawnStarter ranked 2023’s Best Cities for Remote Workers.
We compared cities based on remote worker-friendliness factors, such as internet quality, cost of living, and access to coworking spaces.
Check out our ranking of the best cities for remote workers.
1. Plano, TX
Overall Score: 67.11
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 19
Workspace Rank: 6
Connectivity Rank: 41
Affordability Rank: 6
Safety Rank: 27
Amenities Rank: 94
2. Frisco, TX
Overall Score: 67.02
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 6
Workspace Rank: 3
Connectivity Rank: 108
Affordability Rank: 2
Safety Rank: 5
Amenities Rank: 146
3. Tampa, FL
Overall Score: 65.69
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 55
Workspace Rank: 11
Connectivity Rank: 12
Affordability Rank: 32
Safety Rank: 41
Amenities Rank: 51
4. Atlanta, GA
Overall Score: 63.99
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 31
Workspace Rank: 10
Connectivity Rank: 21
Affordability Rank: 77
Safety Rank: 149
Amenities Rank: 17
5. Seattle, WA
Overall Score: 63.48
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 8
Workspace Rank: 29
Connectivity Rank: 10
Affordability Rank: 113
Safety Rank: 180
Amenities Rank: 78
6. Durham, NC
Overall Score: 63.26
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 68
Workspace Rank: 42
Connectivity Rank: 4
Affordability Rank: 61
Safety Rank: 163
Amenities Rank: 69
7. Austin, TX
Overall Score: 63.06
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 32
Workspace Rank: 113
Connectivity Rank: 13
Affordability Rank: 36
Safety Rank: 135
Amenities Rank: 9
8. Kansas City, MO
Overall Score: 62.55
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 121
Workspace Rank: 62
Connectivity Rank: 3
Affordability Rank: 29
Safety Rank: 180
Amenities Rank: 182
9. Jacksonville, FL
Overall Score: 62.23
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 135
Workspace Rank: 114
Connectivity Rank: 5
Affordability Rank: 60
Safety Rank: 104
Amenities Rank: 4
10. Charlotte, NC
Overall Score: 62.08
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 47
Workspace Rank: 52
Connectivity Rank: 22
Affordability Rank: 45
Safety Rank: 128
Amenities Rank: 48
11. Raleigh, NC
Overall Score: 61.96
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 51
Workspace Rank: 61
Connectivity Rank: 23
Affordability Rank: 41
Safety Rank: 61
Amenities Rank: 87
12. Houston, TX
Overall Score: 61.42
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 104
Workspace Rank: 83
Connectivity Rank: 27
Affordability Rank: 19
Safety Rank: 174
Amenities Rank: 38
13. Nashville, TN
Overall Score: 61.39
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 82
Workspace Rank: 66
Connectivity Rank: 15
Affordability Rank: 65
Safety Rank: 174
Amenities Rank: 25
14. Naperville, IL
Overall Score: 61.32
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 7
Workspace Rank: 4
Connectivity Rank: 146
Affordability Rank: 7
Safety Rank: 1
Amenities Rank: 52
15. Dallas, TX
Overall Score: 61.30
Financial Incentive Rank: 7
Earning Potential Rank: 93
Workspace Rank: 153
Connectivity Rank: 7
Affordability Rank: 51
Safety Rank: 149
Amenities Rank: 10
Methodology
For each of the cities in this list, we gathered publicly available data and factors.
We then grouped those factors into seven categories: Financial Incentive, Earning Potential, Workspace, Connectivity, Affordability, Safety, and Amenities.
Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category.
Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories.
The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” (No. 1).
