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States ranked
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11
Scoring categories
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Rankings are computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets, supplemented by a handful of published indexes (such as the Tax Foundation, Child Care Aware of America and Zillow Research). Figures are used as each source publishes them, including the FBI's own state crime estimates; nothing is synthetic or modeled by us, and every source is cited below.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS annual averages·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, estimated crimes by state·
  • CDC NCHS U.S. State Life Tables·
  • CDC BRFSS·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (table S2701)·
  • NAEP, The Nation's Report Card·
  • EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate (NCES)·
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  • Cook Political Report, PVI·
  • Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures·
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  • WalletHub Tax Burden Study·
  • Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities·
  • EPA AirData, Median AQI by County·
  • EIA State Electricity Profiles·
  • FEMA National Risk Index·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Broadband Subscriptions·
  • National Park Service API·
  • USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year Commuting·
  • FHWA Highway Statistics·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • EIA residential electricity prices·
  • EIA State Energy Data System, motor gasoline prices·
  • EIA Natural Gas Prices, residential·
  • Child Care Aware of America, Price & Supply·
  • Tax Foundation, State Income Tax Rates and Brackets·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, goods·
  • NCES Common Core of Data (CCD)·
  • EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates·
  • NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33)·
  • BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9)·
  • NASBO Fiscal Survey of States·
  • Census Bureau State Government Finances·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, State Pension Funding·
  • S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia·
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES·
  • IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS State-to-State Migration Flows·
  • Zillow Research, Home Values, Rents & Market Metrics·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, city police agency reports·
  • CDC PLACES, city health estimates·
  • NOAA U.S. Climate Normals·
  • EPA National Walkability Index
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Home/TN/Best for Remote Workers
Tennessee · best for remote workers · #14 of 50 states

Best Cities for Remote Workers in Tennessee

Tennessee ranks #14 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 59.5. Franklin is its best city for remote workers at 65.4.

See all 50 states for remote workers →

#1 city in TN for remote workers
Franklin65.4
Remote Workers score out of 100
Tennessee, all states
#14 of 50
Population
87,133
Open Franklin →
Cost of living
91.9
BEA RPP · 100 = avg
Broadband
92.5%
Households subscribed · Census ACS
Work from home
12.7%
Census ACS
Tax burden
6.38%
% of income
Outdoor score
13/100
Parks + trails + land

Why Tennessee Works for Remote Workers

Tennessee ranks #14 out of 50 for remote workers — a strong option for those whose income isn't tied to local job markets. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. On that front, Tennessee's cost-of-living index of 91.9 is well below the national average — a remote worker earning a coastal salary here gains significant purchasing power.

The high work-from-home rate of 12.7% suggests an established remote work culture with coworking spaces and digital infrastructure already in place. Broadband subscriptions reach 92.5% of households, below the 50-state average — check service at a specific address, especially in rural areas.

The tax environment is favorable at 6.38% of income, letting remote workers keep more of their earnings. Housing affordability (score: 78/100) is a clear advantage — the typical home is worth $334,108, a manageable ratio for most remote salaries.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers

#  CityGradeRemote Workers scoreOverallAffordabilityEconomyPopulation
1FranklinA+65.469.5477987,133
2ColliervilleA+64.467.6618651,515
3Spring HillA63.763.4577655,765
4BrentwoodA+62.368.0289245,556
5LebanonB+61.260.3685744,788
6Johnson CityC+60.955.6814972,222
7SmyrnaB60.658.3676356,692
8HendersonvilleB+60.061.5626963,091
9GallatinB+59.558.9675948,532
10BartlettB+58.459.1696756,876
11MurfreesboroB58.257.16561161,445
12ColumbiaC+57.354.1724745,441
13ClarksvilleC+57.153.47651176,456
14ClevelandC56.351.6814548,829
15KingsportC56.351.3854456,262
16KnoxvilleC55.851.87848195,185
17ChattanoogaC53.250.97651185,783
18NashvilleC52.250.46360690,130
19JacksonD49.544.4834268,435
20MemphisF44.537.48137618,980

City remote workers scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.

Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings

  • NebraskaRemote Workers score 67.2#9
  • IowaRemote Workers score 63.9#10
  • UtahRemote Workers score 60.5#11
  • WisconsinRemote Workers score 59.9#12

Also See: Tennessee for Other Lifestyles

  • FamiliesFamilies score 62.5#30
  • RetireesRetirees score 60.3#28
  • Young ProfessionalsYoung Professionals score 60.0#16
  • Small BusinessSmall Business score 73.5#8
  • Outdoor EnthusiastsOutdoor Enthusiasts score 28.8#44

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tennessee a good state for remote workers?

Tennessee ranks #14 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 59.5/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (78/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (13/100).

What is the best city for remote workers in Tennessee?

Franklin ranks #1 in Tennessee for remote workers with a score of 65.4/100, followed by Collierville and Spring Hill.

What factors are most important for remote workers in Tennessee?

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.