Best States for Remote Work 2026: Broadband & Cost of Living
Which states are best for remote workers? Ranked by broadband access, cost of living, safety, and quality of life metrics.
Where remote workers thrive
Remote work broke the link between where you work and where you live. If your paycheck doesn't depend on proximity to an office, the calculation changes completely. Instead of commute time and proximity to an employer, what matters is internet speed, cost of living, safety, and whether you actually enjoy living there.
We ranked all 50 states using a weighted combination of broadband coverage (30%), affordability (25%), safety (15%), livability (15%), and existing remote work adoption (15%). South Dakota leads the pack with 93.2% broadband and a cost of living index of 88.
The average broadband coverage nationally is 91.2%. All 10 of our top states exceed that, and most break 90%. Without reliable internet, the rest of the equation doesn't matter.
| Rank | State | Broadband % | Cost of Living | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Dakota | 93.2% | 88 | 66.9 |
| #2 | North Dakota | 98% | 89 | 62.5 |
| #3 | Iowa | 94.5% | 89 | 66.9 |
| #4 | Wyoming | 87.8% | 91 | 79.8 |
| #5 | Nebraska | 92.2% | 90 | 65.7 |
| #6 | Maine | 87.3% | 97 | 89.6 |
| #7 | Idaho | 87.5% | 91 | 80.5 |
| #8 | New Hampshire | 95.7% | 105 | 93.5 |
| #9 | Pennsylvania | 94.3% | 98 | 71.6 |
| #10 | Ohio | 92.3% | 92 | 60.5 |
#1: South Dakota
South Dakota leads our remote work rankings with 93.2% broadband coverage, a cost of living index of 88, and a safety score of 66.9/100. The median home runs $320,000, and 8.5% of workers already work from home. For someone earning a $100K salary remotely, living here instead of a high-cost state could mean saving $16000/year in cost-of-living differences alone.
South Dakota ranks #2 overall (81.8/100). The strongest category is education at 89.8.
#2: North Dakota
North Dakota combines 98% broadband with a cost of living index of 89 and $281,000 median homes. Already 6.3% of the workforce is remote. Safety score: 62.5. Livability: 47.3. Income tax at 2.5% is manageable.
North Dakota ranks #7 overall (76.6/100). The strongest category is affordability at 84.7.
#3: Iowa
Iowa combines 94.5% broadband with a cost of living index of 89 and $228,000 median homes. Already 9.3% of the workforce is remote. Safety score: 66.9. Livability: 34.9. Income tax at 3.8% is manageable.
Iowa ranks #15 overall (69.5/100). The strongest category is affordability at 85.0.
#4: Wyoming
Wyoming combines 87.8% broadband with a cost of living index of 91 and $484,000 median homes. Already 7.7% of the workforce is remote. Safety score: 79.8. Livability: 57.2. No income tax is the cherry on top.
Wyoming ranks #16 overall (69.4/100). Outdoor access scores 95.7 — a real perk when your commute is 30 feet to the spare bedroom.
#5: Nebraska
At #5, Nebraska offers 92.2% broadband, a cost of living of 90, and homes at $289,000. The 8.9% remote work rate and 65.7 safety score make a solid case.
Nebraska ranks #8 overall (74.9/100). The strongest category is education at 83.7.
#6: Maine
At #6, Maine offers 87.3% broadband, a cost of living of 97, and homes at $381,000. The 12.3% remote work rate and 89.6 safety score make a solid case.
Maine ranks #5 overall (77.3/100). Livability scores 61.8 — restaurants, arts, and community make up for the lack of office-cooler socializing.
#7: Idaho
At #7, Idaho offers 87.5% broadband, a cost of living of 91, and homes at $485,000. The 10.8% remote work rate and 80.5 safety score make a solid case.
Idaho ranks #13 overall (70.7/100). The strongest category is safety at 80.5. Net migration of +8.3/1,000 shows other remote workers have already figured this out.
#8: New Hampshire
At #8, New Hampshire offers 95.7% broadband, a cost of living of 105, and homes at $483,000. The 13.1% remote work rate and 93.5 safety score make a solid case.
New Hampshire ranks #1 overall (87.8/100). The strongest category is health at 100.0.
#9: Pennsylvania
At #9, Pennsylvania offers 94.3% broadband, a cost of living of 98, and homes at $283,000. The 11.8% remote work rate and 71.6 safety score make a solid case.
Pennsylvania ranks #23 overall (60.3/100). The strongest category is education at 79.6.
#10: Ohio
At #10, Ohio offers 92.3% broadband, a cost of living of 92, and homes at $241,000. The 9.8% remote work rate and 60.5 safety score make a solid case.
Ohio ranks #34 overall (49.1/100). The strongest category is affordability at 83.8.
Beyond broadband: what remote workers actually need
Fast internet is table stakes. After that, remote workers care about cost of living (especially if they're earning a salary pegged to an expensive metro), safety (you're home more hours of the day), community (working alone gets lonely), and outdoor access (you need reasons to leave the house). 1 of our top 10 score above 60 for outdoor access.
Tax policy matters too. 3 of the top 10 have no state income tax. For a remote worker earning $120K, living in a no-tax state versus one with 5% income tax saves $6,000/year. Over a decade, that's a down payment on a house.
Where remote workers are actually moving
Net migration data shows where people are voting with their feet. South Carolina (+12.7/1K), Idaho (+8.3/1K), Delaware (+7.9/1K) have the highest net domestic migration rates. Not all of these movers are remote workers, but the correlation between remote-friendly states and high in-migration is hard to miss.
The states losing the most people tend to have high costs of living, high taxes, or both. When remote work removes the job tether, the only reason to stay in an expensive state is personal — family, friends, attachment. For everyone else, the financial case for moving is compelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What is the best state for remote work?
South Dakota ranks #1 with 93.2% broadband, a cost of living index of 88, and a safety score of 66.9/100.
Q:How important is broadband for remote work?
It's the baseline requirement. National average broadband coverage is 91.2%. All of our top 10 states exceed that. Without reliable high-speed internet, other factors don't matter.
Q:Do remote workers save money by moving to cheaper states?
Often yes. A remote worker earning $120K in a state with a COL index of 90 instead of 130 saves roughly $24K/year in real purchasing power, plus potential income tax savings.
Q:Which states have the most remote workers?
States with high work-from-home percentages include Colorado (16.5%), Washington (15.5%), Oregon (15%).