Remote work has seen a slight decline in major U.S. cities, falling from 15.7% of workers in 2023 to 13.45% in 2024. While working from home remains popular in some regions, other cities show low adoption, and commuting patterns continue to shape where productivity and economic activity concentrate.
SmartAsset analyzed 357 U.S. cities, ranking them by the percentage of workers who are remote, mean commute times for in-person employees, and the prevalence of walking as a commuting option. The findings provide insight into how remote work trends vary geographically and how they may affect local communities, businesses, and workers.
Top Cities for Remote Work
| Rank | City | Remote Work (%) | Remote Workers | Total Workers | Mean Commute (min) |
| 1 | Frisco, TX | 33.7 | 42,133 | 125,051 | 27.3 |
| 2 | Berkeley, CA | 31.5 | 17,595 | 55,882 | 27.2 |
| 3 | Cary, NC | 30.6 | 29,140 | 95,290 | 23.2 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | 29.8 | 16,800 | 56,473 | 18.2 |
| 5 | Scottsdale, AZ | 28.0 | 35,739 | 127,769 | 21.2 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | 26.8 | 39,191 | 146,397 | 27.5 |
| 7 | McKinney, TX | 26.7 | 32,798 | 122,639 | 31.8 |
| 8 | Fishers, IN | 26.7 | 14,784 | 55,453 | 27.6 |
| 9 | Boca Raton, FL | 25.9 | 13,607 | 52,589 | 20.9 |
| 10 | Carlsbad, CA | 25.7 | 14,043 | 54,554 | 26.5 |
Cities With Fastest Growth in Remote Work (2023–2024)
- St. George, UT: 10.3% → 17.0%
- Conroe, TX: 9.3% → 15.5%
- San Tan Valley, AZ: 9.7% → 15.3%
Longest Commutes for In-Person Workers
| City | Average Commute (min) |
| Hesperia, CA | 50.0 |
| Tracy, CA | 43.8 |
| Antioch, CA | 41.5 |
| Menifee, CA | 41.4 |
| Moreno Valley, CA | 41.2 |
| Palmdale, CA | 41.1 |
| New York City, NY | 40.6 |
| Jersey City, NJ | 39.0 |
Workers in these regions save significant time when working remotely, highlighting one benefit of flexible work arrangements.
Top Cities for In-Person Work
| City | Remote Work (%) |
| Salinas, CA | 2.5 |
| Santa Maria, CA | 3.6 |
| Brockton, MA | 4.3 |
| Paterson, NJ | 4.6 |
| Odessa, TX | 4.8 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 4.9 |
| Pasadena, TX | 4.9 |
| Tyler, TX | 5.9 |
| Killeen, TX | 6.0 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 6.0 |
These cities continue to rely heavily on in-person work, which may affect local commuting infrastructure, business distribution, and community services.
What the Data Shows
- Remote work is unevenly distributed across the country, with Texas, California, and parts of the Mountain West leading adoption.
- Cities with high walkability — like Cambridge, Mass., and Boulder, Co. — often have moderate remote work prevalence, suggesting proximity to amenities remains valuable.
- While remote work offers flexibility and reduced commute times, declining rates in large cities reflect the push in return to office mandates and a shift to hybrid models.
