Reviewed Jul 2026 · database-ranked

Best Cities for Remote Workers Where to live when your office is anywhere

Discover the top US cities for remote work based on cost of living, internet quality, coffee culture, and coworking options.

This page is generated from OCity’s city database rather than interviews, personal visits or unverified survey claims. It is intended as a transparent starting point for comparing city-level records; review the linked city profiles and current local sources before making a relocation decision.

2026 Rankings at a Glance

Rank City State Population Median Income Action
1
Sunnyvale ★ Top Pick
CA 151,973 $189,443
2
IN 102,091 $143,676
3
IL 151,220 $152,181
4
CA 131,075 $166,228
5
CA 226,211 $170,934
6
WA 151,579 $158,253
7
TX 225,009 $141,129
8
TX 108,511 $133,144
9
NC 178,883 $129,607
10
CA 101,328 $152,913
11
IN 101,789 $121,382
12
CA 123,458 $139,172
13
TX 111,627 $126,549
14
CA 969,615 $136,229
15
MA 118,208 $134,307

How We Ranked These Cities

Eligible rows have more than 100,000 residents plus positive population, median-household-income and cost-of-living fields. Ordering is calculated from the category-specific city fields in the OCity database, with city and state used only as deterministic tie-breakers. These are exploratory screening proxies, not direct measurements of individual outcomes, job openings, venues or neighborhood conditions.

  • Database values remain the source of truth; generated prose cannot change rank or displayed statistics.
  • Missing or non-finite scores are excluded instead of being presented as measured results.
  • Rows with equal scores are ordered by city and state for reproducible output.
  • Review data-use notes and OCity research methods.

Detailed City Profiles

#1

Sunnyvale, CA

View Full Analysis
Population
151,973
Med. Income
$189,443
Cost of Living
112.9
Home Price
$1,712,500

Sunnyvale, CA ranks #1 in this city-level screening with a population of 151,973 and a median household income of $189,443. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 112.9 is above the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Sunnyvale city guide →

#2
Population
102,091
Med. Income
$143,676
Cost of Living
94.6
Home Price
$630,000

Carmel, IN ranks #2 in this city-level screening with a population of 102,091 and a median household income of $143,676. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 94.6 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Carmel city guide →

#3

Naperville, IL

View Full Analysis
Population
151,220
Med. Income
$152,181
Cost of Living
102.6
Home Price
$620,000

Naperville, IL ranks #3 in this city-level screening with a population of 151,220 and a median household income of $152,181. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 102.6 is near the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Naperville city guide →

#4

Santa Clara, CA

View Full Analysis
Population
131,075
Med. Income
$166,228
Cost of Living
112.9
Home Price
$1,632,500

Santa Clara, CA ranks #4 in this city-level screening with a population of 131,075 and a median household income of $166,228. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 112.9 is above the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Santa Clara city guide →

#5
Population
226,211
Med. Income
$170,934
Cost of Living
118.2
Home Price
$1,460,625

Fremont, CA ranks #5 in this city-level screening with a population of 226,211 and a median household income of $170,934. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 118.2 is above the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Fremont city guide →

#6
Population
151,579
Med. Income
$158,253
Cost of Living
113
Home Price
$1,535,000

Bellevue, WA ranks #6 in this city-level screening with a population of 151,579 and a median household income of $158,253. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 113 is above the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Bellevue city guide →

#7
Population
225,009
Med. Income
$141,129
Cost of Living
103.3
Home Price
$652,500

Frisco, TX ranks #7 in this city-level screening with a population of 225,009 and a median household income of $141,129. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 103.3 is near the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Frisco city guide →

#8

Sugar Land, TX

View Full Analysis
Population
108,511
Med. Income
$133,144
Cost of Living
100.2
Home Price
$567,750

Sugar Land, TX ranks #8 in this city-level screening with a population of 108,511 and a median household income of $133,144. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 100.2 is near the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Sugar Land city guide →

#9
Population
178,883
Med. Income
$129,607
Cost of Living
98
Home Price
$643,000

Cary, NC ranks #9 in this city-level screening with a population of 178,883 and a median household income of $129,607. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 98 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Cary city guide →

#10

San Mateo, CA

View Full Analysis
Population
101,328
Med. Income
$152,913
Cost of Living
118.2
Home Price
$1,797,500

San Mateo, CA ranks #10 in this city-level screening with a population of 101,328 and a median household income of $152,913. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 118.2 is above the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full San Mateo city guide →

#11
Population
101,789
Med. Income
$121,382
Cost of Living
94.6
Home Price
$430,000

Fishers, IN ranks #11 in this city-level screening with a population of 101,789 and a median household income of $121,382. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 94.6 is below the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Fishers city guide →

#12

Thousand Oaks, CA

View Full Analysis
Population
123,458
Med. Income
$139,172
Cost of Living
113.5
Home Price
$1,147,500

Thousand Oaks, CA ranks #12 in this city-level screening with a population of 123,458 and a median household income of $139,172. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 113.5 is above the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Thousand Oaks city guide →

#13
Population
111,627
Med. Income
$126,549
Cost of Living
103.3
Home Price
$510,000

Allen, TX ranks #13 in this city-level screening with a population of 111,627 and a median household income of $126,549. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 103.3 is near the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Allen city guide →

#14
Population
969,615
Med. Income
$136,229
Cost of Living
112.9
Home Price
$1,298,000

San Jose, CA ranks #14 in this city-level screening with a population of 969,615 and a median household income of $136,229. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 112.9 is above the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full San Jose city guide →

#15

Cambridge, MA

View Full Analysis
Population
118,208
Med. Income
$134,307
Cost of Living
111.6
Home Price
$1,126,500

Cambridge, MA ranks #15 in this city-level screening with a population of 118,208 and a median household income of $134,307. Its recorded cost-of-living index of 111.6 is above the 100 reference point. This rank is a screening result, not a prediction of personal fit.

Explore the full Cambridge city guide →

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