What Are the Best States for Remote Workers in 2026? All 50 Ranked
South Dakota is the best state for remote workers in 2026 with a weighted score of 66.3/100, followed by Wyoming (64.7) and Idaho (63.7). Custom rankings weight affordability, economy, outdoor access based on what this group cares about most.
Top 10 states for 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.
South Dakota leads the remote workers rankings with a persona-weighted score of 66.3/100. Wyoming (64.7) and Idaho (63.7) round out the top three.
The gap between #1 and #10 is 10.1 points. What separates these states from the rest is consistent strength across the categories that matter most for remote workers: affordability, economy, outdoor access.
| Rank | State | Remote Workers Score | Affordability | Economy | Outdoor Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Dakota | 66.3 | 84.5 | 70.3 | 45.8 |
| #2 | Wyoming | 64.7 | 72.4 | 48.4 | 95.7 |
| #3 | Idaho | 63.7 | 73.4 | 49.8 | 50.2 |
| #4 | Montana | 62.3 | 71.8 | 46.1 | 71.7 |
| #5 | North Dakota | 60.5 | 84.7 | 67.7 | 39.1 |
| #6 | Maine | 59.3 | 56.9 | 49.7 | 45.0 |
| #7 | Vermont | 58.8 | 54.4 | 62.9 | 55.6 |
| #8 | New Hampshire | 58.4 | 44.3 | 84.5 | 43.0 |
| #9 | Nebraska | 57.5 | 82.8 | 60.0 | 22.0 |
| #10 | Iowa | 56.2 | 85.0 | 56.1 | 22.4 |
#1: South Dakota
South Dakota leads the remote workers rankings with a weighted score of 66.3/100. The state scores 84.5 in affordability, 70.3 in economy, 45.8 in outdoor access. Overall rank: #2 (81.8/100, A+ grade). Median income: $72,280. Cost of living: 88.
South Dakota's weakest area for this ranking is outdoor access at 45.8, but the weights for remote workers put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 2%. Violent crime: 330/100K. Life expectancy: 78.5 years.
#2: Wyoming
Wyoming scores 64.7/100 for remote workers, with strength in affordability (72.4) and economy (48.4). The state ranks #16 overall and offers a cost of living index of 91 with $484,000 median homes.
Wyoming's weakest area for this ranking is education at 36.7, but the weights for remote workers put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 3.5%. Violent crime: 203/100K. Life expectancy: 77.5 years.
#3: Idaho
Idaho scores 63.7/100 for remote workers, with strength in affordability (73.4) and economy (49.8). The state ranks #13 overall and offers a cost of living index of 91 with $485,000 median homes.
Idaho's weakest area for this ranking is education at 40.8, but the weights for remote workers put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 3.2%. Violent crime: 214/100K. Life expectancy: 78.5 years.
#4: Montana
At #4, Montana scores 62.3/100. Affordability: 71.8. Economy: 46.1. Outdoor Access: 71.7. Overall rank: #12. The state's affordability score of 71.8 is a standout.
Montana's weakest area for this ranking is economy at 46.1, but the weights for remote workers put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 3.7%. Violent crime: 377/100K. Life expectancy: 77.8 years.
#5: North Dakota
At #5, North Dakota scores 60.5/100. Affordability: 84.7. Economy: 67.7. Outdoor Access: 39.1. Overall rank: #7. The state's affordability score of 84.7 is a standout.
North Dakota's weakest area for this ranking is environment at 38.5, but the weights for remote workers put less emphasis on that category. Unemployment: 2.2%. Violent crime: 267/100K. Life expectancy: 79 years.
How these rankings differ from overall rankings
Our overall state rankings weight all categories equally. Remote Workers rankings shift the emphasis to what this group cares about most: affordability (20%), economy (15%), environment (12%). Categories like health and education carry zero weight.
This means a state can rank poorly overall but well for remote workers if its strengths align with the weighted categories. South Dakota ranks #2 overall but #1 for remote workers — in this case, both rankings agree.
States to avoid for remote workers
The bottom of the remote workers rankings: California (31.1), Louisiana (38.0), Illinois (39.2). Lower scores in affordability and economy are the primary reasons.
California scores 31.1/100 with affordability at 7.2, economy at 41.3, outdoor access at 40.8. These aren't necessarily bad states — they just don't align well with what remote workers prioritize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:What is the best state for remote workers in 2026?
South Dakota ranks #1 for remote workers in 2026 with a weighted score of 66.3/100, followed by Wyoming (64.7) and Idaho (63.7). The ranking weights categories that matter most to remote workers: affordability (20%), economy (15%), environment (12%). South Dakota scores 84.5 in affordability, 70.3 in economy, 45.8 in outdoor access. The gap between #1 and #10 is 10.1 points, showing meaningful differences in how well states serve this lifestyle.
Q:What categories matter most for remote workers?
The top-weighted categories for remote workers are affordability (20%), economy (15%), environment (12%). Categories like health and education carry zero weight because they are less relevant to this specific lifestyle profile. This means a state can rank poorly overall but well for remote workers if its strengths align with the weighted categories. The weighting reflects real-world priorities — different life stages and lifestyles genuinely value different things, and a one-size-fits-all ranking can miss important nuances.
Q:How do remote workers rankings differ from overall rankings?
Our overall state rankings use a standard weighting across all 11 categories. Remote Workers rankings shift the emphasis to what this group cares about most: affordability (20%), economy (15%), environment (12%). This means a state that ranks #1 overall might rank significantly lower for remote workers if its strengths don't align with the weighted categories, and vice versa. South Dakota ranks #2 overall but #1 for remote workers — in this case, both rankings agree.
Q:Which state ranks worst for remote workers?
California ranks last for remote workers with a score of 31.1/100, primarily due to low affordability (7.2) and economy (41.3) scores. Louisiana (38.0) and Illinois (39.2) also rank near the bottom. These aren't necessarily bad states overall — they just don't align well with what remote workers prioritize. A state that ranks poorly for one lifestyle may rank well for another, depending on which categories are weighted.
Q:Can I customize these rankings for my own priorities?
Our remote workers rankings use a specific weighting that reflects typical priorities for this lifestyle. While we don't offer fully customizable weights on the site, you can use our state comparison tool at /compare to evaluate any two states side by side across all 11 categories. For a more tailored analysis, look at individual category rankings at /rankings — if you care most about safety and education, compare those specific rankings. Our city-level data at /cities also provides more granular information for the 1,000 largest cities. For households focused on finances, the affordability calculator at /affordability lets you model costs for specific income levels.