New research has revealed the best states for hybrid-remote workers, with Arizona ranking second. Work management experts at Asana analyzed 16 factors across six categories in each state: internet access and affordability, hybrid-remote work opportunities, cost-of-living, housing expenditure, access to amenities, and commuting factors, to create an index revealing the best states for hybrid-remote workers. These factors include average rent, electricity costs, gasoline prices and commute times.
Arizona ranks second overall, with an average electricity cost of $0.15 per kWh, a median commute time of 25.7 minutes, and 28.32% of the population working from home at least one day per week.
The top ten best states for hybrid-remote workers
|
Rank |
State |
Index score /100 |
|
1 |
Utah |
77.92 |
|
2 |
Arizona |
64.45 |
|
3 |
Minnesota |
63.89 |
|
4 |
South Dakota |
62.12 |
|
5 |
North Dakota |
61.57 |
|
6 |
Colorado |
61.37 |
|
7 |
Nebraska |
61.31 |
|
8 |
Kansas |
60.69 |
|
9 |
Texas |
60.32 |
|
10 |
Idaho |
60.04 |
Utah takes the top spot, with an overall score of 77.92/100. Its average electricity cost of $0.12 per kWh is the second lowest in the country. Additionally, 1.57% of Utah’s jobs on Glassdoor have hybrid-remote opportunities, which is 15% higher than the national average of 1.32%.
Arizona ranks second, with an index score of 64.45/100. The state ranks particularly highly in the remote work category; out of all jobs available on Glassdoor in Arizona, 4.72% have remote and hybrid-remote opportunities, which is the highest percentage in the country. It also has a median download speed of 121.72 Mbps, which is 22% higher than America’s average.
Minnesota places third, with an index score of 63.89/100. In the state, 32.04% of people work from home at least one day per week. This is the seventh highest percentage in the US. Minnesota also ranks highly for commute safety; the number of fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2022 per 100,000 citizens was 7.37, the second lowest in the country.
South Dakota is fourth, with an index score of 62.12/100. The median commute time in the state is 18.2 minutes, the shortest in the US. Additionally, the average rent in South Dakota is $977, the seventh lowest overall.
North Dakota is next, with an index score of 61.57/100. The state has the second lowest median commute time overall, at 19.2 minutes. It also has the second fastest median download speed in the country, at 129.73 Mbps.
Colorado is sixth on the list, with an overall score of 61.37/100. The median home size in this state is 2,464 square feet, which is 23% higher than the US average. Additionally, 73.8% of the population lives within half a mile of a park, the third-highest percentage in the country.
Nebraska ranks seventh, with an index score of 61.31/100. The median commute time in Nebraska is 19.3 minutes, the third shortest in the US. Additionally, the state’s average gasoline price is $3.09 per gallon, the sixth cheapest overall.
Kansas is eighth, with an index score of 60.69/100. The average gasoline price in Kansas is $3.07, the fourth cheapest in the US. The median commute time in the state is 20.5 minutes, the eighth shortest out of all states.
Texas comes in ninth, with a score of 60.32/100. The average monthly rent in Texas is $1,266, 10% lower than the average in the US. On top of this, 25.55% of the population works from home at least once per week. This figure is the second highest in the country and 4% higher than the US average.
Idaho rounds off the top ten, with an index score of 60.04/100. The state ranks fourth overall in the cost-of-living category. The average electricity price in the state is $0.12 per kWh, the third cheapest in the US, while the average yearly personal consumption expenditure is $42,939, the fifth lowest overall.
On the other hand, the worst state for hybrid-remote workers is Maine, with a score of just 36.29/100. Closely following are Hawaii and New Hampshire, with scores of 41.57/100 and 42.16/100, respectively.
With more companies embracing flexible work models, people are drawn to the freedom hybrid-remote work offers. By analyzing a mix of economic and technological factors, this data offers a broad view of where in the US hybrid-remote work is most viable. This can help employers and employees make informed decisions about where to live and operate based on their preferred work style.
