Need a change of scenery? Check out the 10 best small cities for remote workers

With every company that chooses to make remote work a permanent option for its employees, an increasing number of workers are reconsidering the place they call home. Without a required commute to corporate HQ, are smaller cities the more cost-effective answer to work-life balance? 

A recent study conducted by Upwork found that 9.3% of people — approximately 18.9 million Americans — are planning to move because of remote work. But where to? Virtual work experience platform Forage recently crunched the numbers and curated a list of small cities that successfully meet remote workers' needs. 

"We don't expect the work-from-home trend to fully dissipate in 2023," says Jenna Bellassai, lead data reporter at Forage. "While some companies will push to bring employees back to the office next year, others recognize that flexible work environments are key when it comes to attracting top talent. But relocating is a big decision, even for people who are currently working remotely." 

Read more: The best benefit for 2023: A hybrid work schedule

The platform studied 134 U.S. metropolitan cities and scored them based on criteria that's relevant to remote workers, including the price of homes, unemployment levels and the availability of entertainment and reliable wifi. In first place is Davenport, Iowa, which registered low real estate prices, with the average home costing around $161,300. Only 27% of the city's residents spend 30% or more of their income on housing, among the lowest of all the cities Forage examined.

But affordability isn't the only thing on potential movers' minds. How feasible it is to successfully work from home matters, too. For example, Metairie, Louisiana, made the top 10 due to super-strong wifi: 99.43% of residents having access to over 250 Mbps download speeds or greater. 

"[Remote workers should] make sure they research prospective cities so they fully understand their job markets, cultures and other facets before making their move," Bellassai says. 

See what other small cities made Forage's list: