Tampa among top cities in US for remote working

Tampa ranks among the top 20 cities in the U.S. for telecommuting, a new national study has found, with roughly 20% of its total workforce logging in remotely. 

The study, performed by coworking company CoworkingCafe, analyzed all U.S. cities with more than 200,000 residents to find the best environments for remote workers, ranking each city based on four categories: remote work, economy, connectivity and infrastructure. According to a release, data used in the rankings come from sources including the U.S. Census bureau, RentCafe and Walk Score. 

The study, released Thursday, ranks Tampa as No. 17 in the nation and No. 3 in Florida for those working remotely, citing the city’s strong digital infrastructure, affordability and collaborative culture “built for the future of work.”

The study found that 19.9% of Tampa’s workforce are telecommuters, the 32nd highest share in the nation. However, the city has the 17th highest density of coworking spaces in the U.S., with nearly 13 spaces per 100,000 residents, making it easy for those working remotely to find temporary office space when needed. 

Tampa’s median income of $50,842 and 3.3% unemployment rate helped bolster its position among the top 20 cities for telecommuters, signaling stability and opportunity, the study states. 

The city also comes out on top when ranking infrastructure and connectivity. Tampa boasts 55.5% fiber coverage and a high public Wi-Fi density, with 17.5 hotspots per 100,000 residents, the study found. The study also ranked Tampa as having the 25th highest concentration of entertainment options, with 508 per 100,000 residents, helping workers unwind after a day’s work. 

CoworkingCafe ranked Atlanta as the best city in the U.S. for remote workers, followed by Frisco, Texas, and Boulder, Colorado.