Though some workers have returned to offices, remote work has been normalized for others over the last three years. And some now have more autonomy to choose where they live.
For freelancers in particular, it’s becoming more common for workers to settle in a city they like and then seek contracts with companies anywhere, says Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed.
“I don’t remember a time that I have heard more comments from self-employed people that they are looking to where they live based on their quality of life,” Hall says. “They pick a place to live for their quality of life, and then manage the business around that. I think that is a significant change from 15 years ago,” when the priorities were reversed.
“That’s a fundamental shift that I think, long-term, is positive,” Hall adds.
Here’s the 2023 list of the 10 best U.S. cities for freelancers and self-employed workers. Our analysis used recent metro-area data from the U.S. Census Bureau and state-level data from the Federation of State Tax Administrators. The top cities are those where some combination of the following are true: A large percentage of the workforce is freelancing already, rent is relatively affordable, state income taxes are low, unemployment is low and job mobility is high.
Top 10 metro areas for freelancers
- McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas.
- Santa Rosa, California.
- Austin-Round Rock, Texas.
- Portland-South Portland, Maine.
- Boise City, Idaho.
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California.
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California.
- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut.
- Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee.
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