With a large segment of the workforce working from home at least part of the time, the personal-finance company WalletHub released its report on the Best States for Working from Home, as well as expert commentary, showing where people can save the most money and be most comfortable while working remotely.
WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics. The data set ranges from the share of workers working from home to internet cost and cybersecurity. The study also considered factors like how large and how crowded homes are in each state. Together, these metrics show how feasible working from home is in terms of cost, comfort and safety.
The top five states for remote work are Utah at number one, followed by Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland and Massachusetts. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the five worst states for working from home are Wyoming, Hawaii, West Virginia, Montana and Alaska.
Working from Home in California (1=Best, 25=Avg.):
Overall Rank: 32nd
11th – Share of Population Working from Home
36th – Share of Potential Telecommuters
13th – Households’ Internet Access
40th – Average Home Square Footage
50th – Cybersecurity
38th – Average Retail Price of Electricity
16th – Internet Cost
For the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-for-working-from-home/72801
“Working from home can save people a lot of money on transportation expenses, as well as make their work environment a lot more comfortable and their hours more flexible. However, things like energy costs, internet speed, home sizes and how many people live together can greatly impact people’s savings and productivity. While work-from-home jobs can be done anywhere, certain states make the practice much better than others,” explained WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo. “Utah is the best state for working remotely, and it has one of the lowest electricity prices in the country, which plays a big part in minimizing the cost of staying home all day. It also has some of the cheapest internet prices in the country and very high access to broadband internet. Around 18 percent of Utah’s workforce currently works from home, but over 95 percent of the workforce has the potential to telecommute.”
Expert Commentary
With Andrew Burnstine, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Lynn University
What is the work from home outlook for 2026 and beyond?
The future of work has settled into a structural shift, with nearly 25 percent of all paid workdays in the United States now performed remotely. Facts from 2026 labor data show that while some companies are pushing for a return to the office, 16 percent of the workforce remains fully remote with no plans to ever return to a traditional desk. This trend has stabilized, proving that the decentralization of the office is a permanent fixture of the modern economy.
Should companies invest more of their resources in establishing a functional work-from-home alternative for their employees?
Investing in a digital headquarters is a critical financial strategy because companies can save up to $11,000 per employee each year by reducing real estate and operational costs. Facts from Global Workplace Analytics show that the office is not dead but simply downsized, with 93 percent of executives now viewing a high-quality tech stack as the single most important factor for business success. Companies with robust remote options see a 25 percent lower turnover rate than strictly in-office competitors. This investment is not just about convenience but about building a resilient organization that can tap into global talent while lowering fixed overhead.
What are the most important advantages and disadvantages of working from home?
The primary advantage of remote work is the massive boost to personal time, with the average American saving 72 minutes per day on commuting alone. Facts from NBER research show that workers reallocate 40 percent of that saved time back into their primary jobs, leading to notable productivity gains. However, the disadvantages include a growing sense of isolation and a higher risk of burnout, which currently affect 86 percent of full-time remote workers. Without the physical separation of an office, many employees struggle to unplug, leading to blurred boundaries that can harm long-term mental health.
Does working from home affect employee engagement?
Remote work actually drives higher levels of engagement when managed with trust, as 38 percent of remote employees report feeling actively engaged, compared to only 19 percent of in-office workers. Facts from Gallup show that employees with the autonomy to choose their workspace are 14 times less likely to quit because they feel more empowered by their leadership. While there is a risk of loneliness, the overall boost in life satisfaction and the ability to manage personal responsibilities lead to much higher levels of company loyalty. Moving toward outcome-based metrics allows managers to support their teams without the need for constant visual surveillance.
