15 Top Rural Communities for Remote Workers
By Natalia Wolting • Sep 30, 2024
Competitive housing markets, overcrowding and a lack of community connection are all just some of the reasons why remote workers are leaving large metro areas for a better quality of life in small towns across the U.S. Many of these rural communities are stepping up to attract digital nomads, offering a blend of a lower cost of living, accessible amenities, award-winning school systems and small-town charm.
Remote workers tell us that moving to a rural community comes with its unique set of considerations. Amenities that are commonplace in larger cities - like reliable high-speed internet and grocery stores - are not a given in small towns and need to be investigated. Our criteria for selecting top rural communities evaluates the amenities that are most needed and appreciated by remote workers who are moving rural. Here's a look at MakeMyMove’s top picks for rural towns for remote workers, including 5 that pay you to move there.
Athens, Maine
Population: 952
Distance to Major Metro Area: 102 miles (Portland, ME)
Internet speed: 2 Gbps
Grocery store in town: No, the nearest grocery store is in Hartland, Maine, 12 miles away.
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 5 to 6 days
Schools: Athens Community School is ranked #4 in the state for best public elementary schools.
Nearby Titcomb Mountain is known as a popular spot for skiing and snowboarding.
Remote workers who enjoy experiencing four seasons will love Athens. (Photo by Jan Roberts for the Daily Bulldog)
Bonesteel, South Dakota
Population: 254
Distance to Major Metro Area: 149 miles (Sioux Falls, SD)
Internet speed: 1 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 5 to 6 days
Schools: Part of the South Central School District ranked #1 in the state.
Despite its micro size, Bonesteel is a very active community with events like the annual Christmas Fair, a weekly farmers market and afterschool programs.
Brevard, North Carolina
Population: 7,818
Distance to Major Metro Area: 34 miles (Asheville, NC)
Internet speed: 1 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 1 to 2 days
Schools: Transylvania County Schools are known for their focus on technology integration.
Named one of the "50 Best Places to Live in the U.S." by Money Magazine in 2024. Brevard offers an outdoor enthusiasts’ paradise without sacrificing connectivity.
Brevard, North Carolina is known for it's endless hiking trails.
Fairfield, Iowa
Population: 9,464
Distance to Major Metro Area: 58 miles (Iowa City, IA)
Internet speed: 1 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 1 day
Schools: Fairfield Community School District Is lauded for its innovative programs.
Named one of the "Best Small Towns in America" by Smithsonian Magazine - Fairfield's unique blend of Midwestern charm and global influences creates a distinctive atmosphere for remote workers.
Jerome, Arizona
Population: 465
Distance to Major Metro Area: 27 miles (Sedona, AZ)
Internet speed: 220 Mbps
Grocery store in town: No, the nearest grocery store is in Cottonwood, Arizona, 9 miles away.
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 3 to 5 days
Schools: Part of Clarkdale Jerome School District, which supports diversity through Native American Education
Known as a true “ghost town” Jerome is perched on the side of a mountain, offering stunning views and a unique blend of old-world charm and modern amenities.
Residents of Jerome enjoy a peaceful lifestyle surrounded by nature.
Lawrence, Michigan
Population: 1,049
Distance to Major Metro Area: 30 miles (Kalamazoo, MI)
Internet speed: 1 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 1 day
Schools: Part of the Van Buren Intermediate School District which is ranked #7 in the state by Niche.com
Home to Oak Cove Resort located on 16 wooded acres, Lawrence is a charming small town offering a peaceful lakeside lifestyle with access to beautiful beaches and a friendly community.
Lincoln, Kansas
Population: 3,367
Distance to Major Metro Area: 128 miles (Wichita, KS)
Internet speed: 1 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 2 to 3 days
Schools: Lincoln High School has a 95.5 graduation rate
Remote worker relocation incentives up to: $5,750
Lincoln’s commitment to maintaining a strong community speaks to its appeal for remote workers seeking a high quality of life. The town is eagerly welcoming remote workers like Ayenna Gomez who recently relocated from Atlanta, Georgia. "When I visited Lincoln, Kansas everyone was welcoming. I immediately met someone who invited me to attend a yoga class with other ladies. Everyone was friendly. From that point on, I knew I had found my new home," Gomez says.
Lincoln is known for it's strong school system and community support.
Lindsborg, Kansas
Population: 3,801
Distance to Major Metro Area: 72 miles (Wichita, KS)
Internet speed: 1 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 1 to 3 days
Schools: Smoky Valley USD 400 school system is known for its strong community involvement.
Known as "Little Sweden USA" and featured in Smithsonian Magazine, Lindsborg's unique cultural heritage and welcoming community create a distinctive environment for remote workers.
Livingston, Montana
Population: 8,790
Distance to Major Metro Area: 29 miles (Bozeman, MT)
Internet speed: 1 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 4 days
Schools: Livingston School District focuses on individualized learning.
Named one of the “6 Most Beautiful Small Towns in Montana” by World Atlas in 2024. Livingston's stunning natural beauty and thriving arts scene make it a haven for creative remote workers.
Loogootee, Indiana
Population: 2,592
Distance to Major Metro Area: 50 miles (Bloomington, IN)
Internet speed: 1,000 Mbps*
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 2-days
Schools: Has one of the only U.S. FAA-approved drone programs in the state.
Remote worker relocation incentives up to: $5,500
Loogootee offers a quaint, small-town atmosphere with a strong school system that offers courses in engineering, biomedical science and cybersecurity. Additionally, Loogootee East was recently named a 4-Star School for the third year.
Loogootee is perfect for remote workers who seek a slower pace of life.
Monticello, Indiana
Population: 5,483
Distance to Major Metro Area: 30 miles (Lafayette, IN)
Internet speed: 2,000 Mbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 1 to 2 days
Schools: The award-winning Twin Lakes School Corporation is known for its commitment to empowering students.
Remote worker relocation incentives up to: $10,700
Home to Indiana Beach Amusement & Water Park Resort, Monticello combines lakeside living with a robust local economy, making it an attractive option for remote workers seeking a balance of recreation and productivity.
Pikeville, Kentucky
Population: 7,358
Distance to Major Metro Area: 116 miles (Beckley, WV)
Internet: 1.2 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 2 to 3 days
Schools: Pikeville High School was named as 1 of 4 high schools in Kentucky to receive a “College Success Award” from Greatschools.org in 2022.
Remote worker relocation incentives up to: $5,000
Named one of the “Most Charming Small Towns in Kentucky” by Southern Living in 2023, Pikeville's commitment to education and economic development makes it a standout choice for remote workers, especially those with families.
It's not hard to see why Pikeville was named "One of the most charming cities in Kentucky".
Taos, New Mexico
Population: 6,442
Distance to Major Metro Area: 70 miles (Santa Fe, NM)
Internet speed: 2,000 Mbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 1 to 3 days
Schools: Local options include the Taos International School where students can earn an International Baccalaureate Program.
Home to the community of Taos Pueblo, a living Native American community containing 19 pueblos, Taos offers a unique blend of Native American culture and a laid-back lifestyle.
Tell City, Indiana
Population: 7,447
Distance to Major Metro Area: 54 miles (Evansville, IN)
Internet speed: 2,000 Mbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 1 to 2 days
Schools: Tell City Junior Senior High School was announced the winner of the Excellence in College Readiness award by the Indiana Department of Education in 2024.
Remote worker relocation incentives up to: $9,200
Tell City's rich history and scenic location on the Ohio River make it a unique destination for remote workers looking for inspiration in their surroundings.
With affordable housing and a low cost of living, Tell City is the perfect place to call home.
Travelers Rest, South Carolina
Population: 8,486
Distance to Major Metro Area: 9.7 miles (Greenville, SC)
Internet speed: 5 Gbps
Grocery store in town: Yes
Amazon Delivery Timeframe: 2-days
Schools: Part of the highly-rated Greenville County School District.
Named one of the "15 Best U.S. Small Towns for a Summer Vacation " by Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2024, this picturesque town offers easy access to outdoor recreation while maintaining strong connectivity for remote work.
*Internet speed is measured in Mbps (megabits per second) or Gbps (gigabits per second). One gigabit is equivalent to 1,000 megabits, 100 Mbps will support multiple devices and is more than sufficient for working remotely.
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About MakeMyMove
Remote work has freed millions of Americans to live where they want, and many are making the move to places that better match their lifestyle. In turn, cities and towns across the country are offering incentives like cash, perks and programming to remote workers who move and work from their communities. At MakeMyMove, you can explore all the places, get personalized help to find the one that’s right for you, connect with locals, and access support to make your move a piece of cake.
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