5 of the Best Small Towns to Work Remotely

Remote work is continuing to grow and increase. 

Obviously, the internet has given rise to more and more remote work opportunities. 

But it’s also true that more and more companies are probably going to hire remote workers, freelancers, gig workers, and contract workers in the coming years. 

This makes a lot of sense. It helps businesses to keep their costs on the ground, while also empowering them to grow their workforce without needing to literally find people who live in the same geographic area. 

Companies can literally hire people from all over the world when they hire remote workers—and this is awesome. 

Now, business travel is still alive and well. 

In fact, there’s estimated to be a rise in business travel in the next few years. 

But what if you want to work remotely?

Where is the best place to do it from?

This is a great question. And not too long ago, Global News Wire published a pretty awesome report of the top small towns for remote work. 

You may be surprised by some of their top picks!

Here are 5 of our favorites. 

1. Santa Cruz, California

As of 2023, Santa Cruz had a population of 63,859. It’s the 146th largest city in California. 

As far as California is concerned, it’s a city that offers a blend of beautiful scenery, life opportunities, and affordable living costs. 

It also offers plenty of infrastructure in terms of schools, medical care, utilities, etc. These factors work together to make it one of the very best small towns for remote workers who want to live and work in an awesome place. 

2. Auburn, Washington

Auburn, Washington, has a population of just over 92,000. It’s the 14th largest city in Washington, and grows at a rate of 1.88% annually. 

People enjoy Auburn due to its dense suburban aesthetics and private roads. Most residents in the city own their own homes, and there are quite a few coffee shops and parks—making it a place where people tend to feel happy, relaxed, and secluded from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of larger, more ‘metropolitan’ cities. 

For these reasons, Auburn is an awesome choice if you want to live somewhere and work remotely.  

3. Beaverton, Oregon

Beaverton is home to just over 98,000 residents. 

It’s also rated as one of the best places to live in Oregon. 

Beaverton offers residents a mixture of urban and suburban living. Most residents own their own homes, and there are plenty of bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and parks to experience as well. 

You can enjoy some exciting nightlife activities while also getting out into nature and having the option to plug into some ‘free wifi’ at one of the local coffee shops. 

Altogether, it’s a solid option for people who want to live in a nice place and work remotely. 

4. Bellingham, Washington

With a population of just over 94,000, Bellingham is number 4 on our list of the best small towns to work remotely from—and here’s why. 

According to many, it’s one of the best places to live in Washington. It offers a mix of urban living mixed with suburbia and offers plenty of bars, coffee shops, parks, and restaurants to give you a fun, flavorful, and utilitarian life as a remote worker. 

It’s a quaint city giving you just enough to make you feel like you have an ‘exciting’ life, without stifling you with the trappings of a major metropolitan city. 

It’s awesome. 

5. Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine has a population of just over 64,000. It’s also rated as one of the 10 best places to live in the United States, for a few different reasons. 

First of all, it boasts some pretty spectacular coastal scenery. It also gives you a healthy dose of city living, but combines this with a quintessential ‘small-town charm.’ 

As a northeastern port town, it has something for everyone. It has plenty of hangout spots, but also boasts quite a few naturally beautiful conservation areas nearby where you can explore, exercise, and connect with nature. 

Simply put—it’s a fantastic choice. 

Conclusion

There you have it. 

5 of the very best small towns to live in as a remote worker in the United States. 

You can work remotely from any of these towns, and have an amazing quality of life as you do. 

Now, all you need to do is pick one and check it out. 

Who’s up for a road trip adventure?