Best States for Remote Workers (2026)
Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.
Top 10 States for Remote Workers
All 50 States Ranked for Remote Workers
| Rank | State | Grade | Remote Workers Score | Overall | 🏠 Affordability | 💰 Economy | 🏞️ Outdoor Access | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | A+ | 65.5 | 80.2 | 84.5 | 70.3 | 45.8 | Midwest |
| 2 | Wyoming | B+ | 64.1 | 68.2 | 72.4 | 48.4 | 95.7 | West |
| 3 | Idaho | B+ | 63.0 | 69.2 | 73.4 | 49.8 | 50.2 | West |
| 4 | Montana | B+ | 62.1 | 70.8 | 71.8 | 46.1 | 71.7 | West |
| 5 | North Dakota | A | 60.7 | 77.1 | 84.7 | 67.7 | 39.1 | Midwest |
| 6 | Maine | A | 59.0 | 76.8 | 56.9 | 49.7 | 45.0 | Northeast |
| 7 | New Hampshire | A+ | 57.8 | 86.6 | 44.3 | 84.5 | 43.0 | Northeast |
| 8 | Vermont | A+ | 57.8 | 77.5 | 54.4 | 62.9 | 55.6 | Northeast |
| 9 | Nebraska | A | 57.3 | 74.5 | 82.8 | 60.0 | 22.0 | Midwest |
| 10 | Iowa | B+ | 55.7 | 68.7 | 85.0 | 56.1 | 22.4 | Midwest |
| 11 | Utah | A+ | 55.2 | 81.5 | 65.0 | 68.7 | 38.3 | West |
| 12 | Minnesota | A+ | 54.6 | 77.1 | 62.9 | 63.6 | 30.7 | Midwest |
| 13 | Virginia | A | 53.4 | 74.3 | 57.4 | 72.2 | 20.1 | South |
| 14 | Wisconsin | B | 53.0 | 63.7 | 73.4 | 56.2 | 23.9 | Midwest |
| 15 | Colorado | B+ | 52.1 | 67.4 | 50.3 | 63.6 | 44.5 | West |
| 16 | Kansas | B | 51.8 | 59.5 | 82.4 | 49.2 | 30.4 | Midwest |
| 17 | North Carolina | C+ | 51.1 | 53.5 | 74.9 | 43.5 | 13.5 | South |
| 18 | Tennessee | C | 51.0 | 45.3 | 78.7 | 43.5 | 13.3 | South |
| 19 | Oregon | B | 49.6 | 60.0 | 50.3 | 27.1 | 53.4 | West |
| 20 | Oklahoma | C | 49.4 | 41.8 | 90.8 | 40.0 | 12.7 | South |
| 21 | Rhode Island | B+ | 49.3 | 69.3 | 46.1 | 46.9 | 37.4 | Northeast |
| 22 | Indiana | C+ | 49.2 | 49.6 | 81.2 | 42.4 | 9.8 | Midwest |
| 23 | Texas | C | 48.9 | 45.9 | 75.8 | 39.6 | 4.7 | South |
| 24 | Georgia | C+ | 48.8 | 51.3 | 74.1 | 47.9 | 7.6 | South |
| 25 | Maryland | B+ | 48.7 | 66.9 | 54.6 | 83.6 | 11.8 | Northeast |
| 26 | Washington | B | 48.7 | 63.2 | 36.3 | 46.9 | 35.4 | West |
| 27 | Alaska | D | 48.6 | 39.3 | 45.5 | 35.0 | 100.0 | West |
| 28 | Delaware | C+ | 48.1 | 52.4 | 67.3 | 32.1 | 23.9 | Northeast |
| 29 | Missouri | C+ | 48.1 | 48.7 | 83.1 | 45.7 | 15.0 | Midwest |
| 30 | Florida | C+ | 47.6 | 51.7 | 59.9 | 36.7 | 27.8 | South |
| 31 | Alabama | C | 47.0 | 39.4 | 84.2 | 47.6 | 6.6 | South |
| 32 | Ohio | C+ | 46.7 | 49.1 | 83.8 | 31.7 | 10.0 | Midwest |
| 33 | South Carolina | C | 46.7 | 43.2 | 77.0 | 38.6 | 8.9 | South |
| 34 | Nevada | D | 46.6 | 39.2 | 62.0 | 18.4 | 39.3 | West |
| 35 | Arizona | C | 46.5 | 44.3 | 60.7 | 39.7 | 37.7 | West |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | B | 46.1 | 58.2 | 68.6 | 41.8 | 19.8 | Northeast |
| 37 | New Mexico | D | 46.0 | 32.6 | 79.5 | 26.9 | 44.3 | West |
| 38 | Connecticut | A | 45.5 | 73.5 | 42.2 | 59.8 | 23.8 | Northeast |
| 39 | West Virginia | D | 44.1 | 32.5 | 87.2 | 13.9 | 16.7 | South |
| 40 | Massachusetts | B+ | 44.0 | 70.3 | 26.0 | 57.9 | 32.0 | Northeast |
| 41 | Hawaii | B | 43.9 | 64.8 | 9.1 | 90.0 | 36.3 | West |
| 42 | New York | B | 43.7 | 56.8 | 35.4 | 43.7 | 30.2 | Northeast |
| 43 | Michigan | C | 43.1 | 45.0 | 75.7 | 25.1 | 17.8 | Midwest |
| 44 | Arkansas | F | 43.0 | 29.9 | 92.6 | 22.9 | 14.7 | South |
| 45 | Mississippi | D | 42.4 | 31.4 | 93.9 | 26.7 | 14.7 | South |
| 46 | Kentucky | D | 42.3 | 38.0 | 87.6 | 22.7 | 9.9 | South |
| 47 | New Jersey | B | 40.4 | 65.1 | 44.4 | 55.1 | 6.5 | Northeast |
| 48 | Illinois | C+ | 38.5 | 50.5 | 67.4 | 39.2 | 5.8 | Midwest |
| 49 | Louisiana | F | 37.6 | 25.2 | 90.8 | 20.6 | 10.3 | South |
| 50 | California | C | 31.1 | 42.9 | 7.2 | 41.3 | 40.8 | West |
Best States for Remote Workers in 2026: What the Data Shows
South Dakota leads our rankings for remote workers with a score of 65.5 out of 100. Close behind are Wyoming (64.1) and Idaho (63.0). These top-ranked states consistently score well across the categories that matter most to remote workers: affordability, economy, outdoor access.
Key Findings
The gap between the #1 and #50 state is 34.4 points — a substantial difference that translates to real quality-of-life differences. The median state scores 48.7/100, meaning the top half of states cluster in the 49-66 range.
For remote workers, the most important category is Affordability (20% weight), followed by Economy (15%) and Environment (12%). States that score above 70 in these top categories almost always place in the top 15.
Regional Patterns
For remote workers, Midwestern states lead with an average persona score of 52, followed by the West (50.6), Northeast (49.1), and South (46.7).
Surprise Rankings
Oklahoma jumps from #41 overall to #20 for remote workers — a gain of 21 spots. Meanwhile, New Jersey drops from #19 to #47, losing 28 spots when remote workers priorities are applied.
States Facing Challenges
At the bottom of the list, California (31.1), Louisiana (37.6), and Illinois (38.5) face the biggest challenges for remote workers. Lower scores in affordability and economy are the primary drivers.
Methodology
These rankings use the same real government data as our overall state rankings — from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, FBI, and America's Health Rankings — but re-weighted to reflect the priorities of remote workers. The top-weighted categories are Affordability (20%), Economy (15%), Environment (12%). Categories with 0% weight are not included in the calculation. See our full methodology for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best state for remote workers in 2026?
South Dakota ranks #1 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 65.5/100. The top 3 are South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho.
What are the worst states for remote workers?
The lowest-ranked states for remote workers are California, Louisiana, Illinois. These states score lower on the categories most important to remote workers.
How are "best for remote workers" rankings calculated?
We re-weight the 11 scoring categories based on what matters most to remote workers. Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.