Employ
Recruit
Key Takeaways
- Georgia leads the nation in remote work searches, driven by its booming tech scene and affordable living options.
- Mississippi and other Southern states rank high, suggesting that residents seek remote work to escape limited local job opportunities.
- Texas and Florida attract remote workers with their low taxes, growing tech sectors, and appealing climates.
- New York and California rank surprisingly low, likely due to strong local job markets in industries that prefer in-office work.
- States like South Dakota and Vermont rank the lowest, reflecting their rural economies, which focus on industries requiring physical presence.
A new study has ranked the states with the most interest in working from home, with Georgia topping the list.
Remote work has transformed the workforce, offering flexibility and access to jobs beyond local markets. Google search trends reveal that people are increasingly exploring remote opportunities to improve work-life balance, escape high-cost areas, or find better-paying jobs.
To find out which states are leading the charge in remote work interest, the research team at Remote People analyzed over 20K search terms on Google Trends, such as “work from home jobs,” “remote work hiring,” “working from home,” and “how to find remote jobs,” to figure out which states are most interested in working from home in 2026.
Additionally, the team calculated the number of search terms for each state per 100K people.
Georgia
Georgia ranks at the top with a score of 96.58. Home to Atlanta’s thriving business scene, Georgia’s top ranking isn’t surprising.
With affordable living in suburban areas and the option to tap into high-paying remote jobs, Georgia residents are leveraging their position between urban and rural America to benefit from the best of both worlds.
North Carolina
Second on the list is North Carolina with a score of 73.77, recording nearly 9K monthly searches per 100K people. Its strong economy, including sectors like technology, offers a variety of remote work opportunities.
In addition, the state’s lower cost of living compared to some other regions may make it more affordable for remote workers.
Mississippi
Mississippi is next in third place with a score of 68.97. Mississippi’s affordability, coupled with its slower pace of life and natural beauty, may attract remote workers seeking a more relaxed and enjoyable work environment.
Tennessee
Tennessee ranks fourth with a score of 64.75. While Nashville grabs the spotlight with its booming entertainment industry, Tennessee’s high search index indicates that people in the state’s smaller towns and rural areas are also seeking remote roles.
This reflects a trend of people wanting to stay close to home while accessing jobs that would normally require relocation.
Nevada
Nevada is fifth with a score of 59.64. The state’s desert climate might make the idea of working from home, instead of braving sweltering commutes, especially attractive.
Florida
With its mix of retirees, young professionals, and digital nomads, Florida with a score of 59.10 is already a hot spot for those looking to combine work with leisure, ranking sixth. Its sunny beaches and growing tech scene make it a popular choice for remote workers seeking both career growth and quality of life.
South Carolina
With a score of 58.26, South Carolina ranks seventh. Its historic cities and coastal charm draw residents who want to work in tech or corporate roles without leaving the state’s natural beauty.
Arizona, Alabama, Texas
Following closely behind and rounding out the top 10 states most interested in working from home are Arizona (56.21), Alabama (53.98), and Texas (52.15).
Texas, in particular, has long been known as a land of opportunity, and its appeal to remote workers only strengthens that image.
Major cities like Austin are already tech hubs, but the sheer size of Texas means many residents outside of the big cities are seeking remote jobs to bypass commuting and access more lucrative roles.
States with Low Interest in Remote Work
On the flip side, South Dakota is least interested in remote work. Its small, close-knit communities may also see fewer opportunities or need for remote roles, especially as traditional sectors still dominate.
Vermont is next second to the bottom, with its small population and a strong focus on local industries like tourism and agriculture meaning fewer residents are seeking remote work, while Massachusetts completes the bottom three.
Paradoxically, California, the birthplace of much of the remote work technology, has fewer people searching for remote jobs compared to other states, as high salaries in the local tech industry can make it less necessary.
States With Remote Work Search Index
| Rank | State | Search Index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 96.58 |
| 2 | North Carolina | 73.77 |
| 3 | Mississippi | 68.97 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 64.75 |
| 5 | Nevada | 59.64 |
| 6 | Florida | 59.10 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 58.26 |
| 8 | Arizona | 56.21 |
| 9 | Alabama | 53.98 |
| 10 | Texas | 52.15 |
| 11 | Louisiana | 50.88 |
| 12 | Delaware | 50.57 |
| 13 | Maryland | 46.06 |
| 14 | Virginia | 45.39 |
| 15 | Kentucky | 42.18 |
| 16 | Arkansas | 41.03 |
| 17 | Utah | 31.31 |
| 18 | Kansas | 30.59 |
| 19 | Colorado | 29.90 |
| 20 | Missouri | 29.68 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 29.48 |
| 22 | Indiana | 28.55 |
| 23 | Oklahoma | 28.06 |
| 24 | Illinois | 27.60 |
| 25 | Wyoming | 26.56 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | 26.21 |
| 27 | West Virginia | 26.02 |
| 28 | Ohio | 25.98 |
| 29 | New York | 20.53 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | 20.39 |
| 31 | Nebraska | 17.99 |
| 32 | Michigan | 16.90 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | 15.54 |
| 34 | New Mexico | 15.38 |
| 35 | Hawaii | 15.17 |
| 36 | Idaho | 14.95 |
| 37 | Washington | 14.80 |
| 38 | North Dakota | 14.01 |
| 39 | California | 13.94 |
| 40 | Connecticut | 13.69 |
| 41 | Montana | 12.56 |
| 42 | Oregon | 11.58 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | 8.79 |
| 44 | Alaska | 8.77 |
| 45 | Iowa | 7.72 |
| 46 | Maine | 7.37 |
| 47 | Minnesota | 7.20 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 4.89 |
| 49 | Vermont | 4.72 |
| 50 | South Dakota | 3.42 |
See RemotePeople’s full study here:
https://remotepeople.com/states-with-the-most-interest-in-working-from-home/
