BestCityFor

Best city for remote work? Raleigh, NC

A+
Score
71/100
Rank #7 (top 200 cities)
Data: ACS 2023 (5-year)

Raleigh is a top-tier fit for remote work—especially if you value typical rent (2br) and work-from-home share. Overall, it’s a top-ranked option (#7 of 200). The biggest tradeoff is commute 45+ min share.

Methodology · Sources · NC rankings

Scope note (city proper)

This page scores the incorporated city limits (Census “Place”), not the metro area. That’s why some cities can look very different vs their surrounding region.

Why Raleigh ranks here

  • Typical rent (2BR): $1,462/mo (1% higher than the national median; worse for this metric).
  • Work-from-home share: 23% (89% higher than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Broadband subscription: 94% (3% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

Watch-outs

  • Commute 45+ min share: 10% (15% lower than the national median; better for this metric).
  • Median household income: $82,424 (9% higher than the national median; better for this metric).

City snapshot

Basic demographics from ACS 2023 (city proper).

Population
470,763
Estimated total population (ACS).
Male vs female
Male 49%Female 51%

Key metrics

Values shown are from ACS 2023. National medians are computed across the ranked city set.

Typical rent (2BR)
$1,462/mo
National median: $1,441/mo
Work-from-home share
23%
National median: 12%
Broadband subscription
94%
National median: 91%
Median household income
$82,424
National median: $75,598
Bachelor’s+ rate
53%
National median: 35%
Commute 45+ min share
10%
National median: 11%

Score breakdown (by category)

Category scores are 0–100 and summarize groups of metrics used in the final score.

City
National median (dataset)
Affordability
Typical 2BR rent and housing pressure.
65/100
Connectivity
Broadband availability as a practical remote-work proxy.
94/100
Workforce
Remote-work adoption and human-capital signals.
39/100
Comfort
Commute friction and climate comfort.
90/100

Education (age 25+)

Share of adults by attainment (ACS).

8%
Less than HS
40%
HS / Some college
33%
Bachelor’s
20%
Advanced

Work style

WFH vs not WFH (ACS).

23%
Work from home
77%
Not WFH

Internet access

Household broadband subscription (ACS).

94%
Broadband
6%
No broadband

Map

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Scorecard breakdown

Bars are rescaled to 0–100 for readability (percentage metrics use their actual percent).

City
National median (dataset)
Typical rent (2BR)
National median $1,441/mo
$1,462/mo
Broadband subscription
National median 91%
94%
Work-from-home share
National median 12%
23%
Median household income
National median $75,598
$82,424
Bachelor’s+ rate
National median 35%
53%
Commute 45+ min share
National median 11%
10%

Similar cities (by score)

#5 Naperville, IL
73/100
#6 Plano, TX
71/100
#8 Gilbert, AZ
70/100
#9 Frisco, TX
70/100

FAQ

›What is Raleigh’s remote work score and rank?
Raleigh, NC scores A+ (71/100) and ranks #7 out of the top 200 US cities in this dataset.
›Is this based on Raleigh city proper or the metro area?
City proper (incorporated place). This uses Census ‘Place’ boundaries, not the metro area. Metro-level rankings can differ a lot from the city itself.
›What is the population of Raleigh, NC?
Population is about 470,763 (ACS 2023, city proper).
›What is the male vs female split in Raleigh, NC?
About 49% male and 51% female (ACS 2023).
›What is a typical monthly rent in Raleigh, NC?
Typical rent (2BR) is $1,462/mo (national median: $1,441/mo).
›What share of workers work from home in Raleigh, NC?
Work-from-home share is 23% (national median: 12%).
›How common is broadband internet in Raleigh, NC?
Broadband subscription is 94% of households (national median: 91%).
›What does the education mix look like in Raleigh, NC?
Among adults 25+, the shares are roughly: less than HS 8%, HS/some college 40%, bachelor’s 33%, advanced 20%.
›Where does this data come from for Raleigh, NC?
Metrics are from Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates (city proper / incorporated place), with optional NOAA climate normals when available.

Note: Scores are informational and depend on data coverage and methodology. Always validate against your personal constraints (job, neighborhood, commute, safety, schools, healthcare).