Yelp, Zillow Combine Data to Pick the Top US Metro Areas for ‘Digital Nomads’

As the prospects of more people working from home on a permanent basis continue to increase, business directory and crowdsourced review forum Yelp and online real estate marketplace Zillow teamed up to compile a list of the top destinations in the U.S. for “digital nomads.” The two companies defined digital nomads as people who are able to move from location to location while staying connected digitally to work ad family, and they cited the 2020 State of Independence study from Independent talent provider MBO Partners in saying that nearly 11 million Americans currently consider themselves to be digital nomads, up 49% from 2019. Yelp and Zillow combined their datasets to create the Digital Nomad Index, which ranked the top metropolitan areas in the U.S. by criteria including available, affordable and flexible rental housing, as well as community amenities including outdoor adventure and city perks. The top 10 metropolitan areas on the Digital Nomad Index were: Jacksonville, Fla.: Typical rental rates were $960 per month, and the area boasts scenic views, year-round beach weather and easy access to services a digital nomad may require, such as furniture assembly and shared office space. Vacation getaways including Amelia Island, Jacksonville beach and Ponte Vedra are nearby.Austin, Texas: Typical rental rates were $1,323 per month. Yelp and Zillow cited its artistic, cultural and music amenities, and a Zillow survey of economic and real estate experts named it one of the country’s hottest housing markets in 2021. Page views of Austin rental listings were up 93% compared with the first quarter of 2020.Boise, Idaho: Typical rental rates were$1,495 per month. The Rocky Mountains and several lakes, rivers and trails provide the scenery, and Boise is also one of the top metropolitan areas for digital nomad-type services like recreational vehicle dealers, parking, repair and trailers. The market ranked second among all metropolitan areas in the U.S. in year-over-year increases in rental listings offering lease terms of less than one year.Nashville, Tenn.: Typical rental rates were $1,369 per month. Yelp and Zillow cited country music, hot chicken and a great shopping scene, adding that page views of rental listings in the market were up 18.6% year over year.Charleston, S.C.: Typical rental rates were $1,645 per month. The “immense amount” of available rentals boosted Charleston among the rankings, as did beach destinations including Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island.San Jose, Calif.: Typical rental rates were$2,511 per month. An international food scene including offerings from Ethiopia, India and Vietnam boosted the hub for technology companies, as did the third highest inventory levels of rental units offering lease terms of under one year.Fort Collins, Colo.: Typical rental rates were $1,795 per month. “Colorado’s craft beer capital” also offers a vibrant biking culture and access to nature areas, as well as sunshine most of the year.Asheville, N.C.: Typical rental rates were $1,782 per month. The median list prices for relevant rentals rose 8% year over year, with the Appalachian Mountains and live bluegrass likely playing a role.Las Vegas: Typical rental rates were $1,275 per month. Las Vegas had the second highest affordability score and, besides the Strip, offers hiking trails in Red Rock Canyon and shopping in downtown Summerlin.Salt Lake City: Typical rental rates were $1,761 per month. It’s all about the outdoors, with biking, camping, fishing, hiking and skiing all within 30 minutes. Yelp trend expert Tara Lewis said in a statement, “These destinations boast a mix of outdoor adventure and city perks that are appealing to the many young professionals who have transitioned to the nomadic lifestyle due to their newfound ability to work from anywhere. They’re great for digital nomads and offer a variety of highly-rated local businesses and activities these folks are looking for, like shared office spaces, furniture rental, hiking, RV repairs, paddle boarding and more.” Zillow economic data analyst Nicole Bachaud added, “It is clear that this past year has caused many to reconsider their housing needs and wants—and sometimes that means not wanting to be tied to one spot for too long. Amenity-rich places with a lot of affordable rental units with shorter leasing terms are appealing to many people who no longer have to punch in at the office. More than one in 10 Americans have already moved in the past year, but we think the ‘Great Reshuffling’ is just getting started.”

Life After Lockdown

Yelp, Zillow Combine Data to Pick the Top US Metro Areas for ‘Digital Nomads’

Jacksonville, Fla., topped the list

David Cohen

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