Real estate platform study finds Topeka is a top 5 city for remote workers

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - A new study looking at home values, rental costs, web connectivity, and more found Topeka is one of the best locations in the country for remote workers.

Ownerly.com’s study methodology shows they examined 1,488 metropolitans, micropolitan statistical areas (MSA), and cities as identified by the U.S. Census Bureau. After vetting missing data and incorporating averages from MSAs and states where applicable, the final list of places and MSAs was limited to 445 cities.

They ranked metrics based on a weighted average of home values, rental costs, web connectivity, safety, park access, availability of coworking spaces, city, and state-level athletic health levels and gym options, affordability of goods and services and utilities, as well as affordability and availability of childcare services and restaurants.

According to their findings, Topeka is the 4th best city for remote workers in the United States and the number one overall in the Midwest. Topeka ranked 2nd best for medium cities (population of more than 100,000 and less than 250,000).

Go Topeka Director of Business and Talent Initiatives Trina Goss said Choose Topeka’s relocation incentive starting in fall 2020 designed to attract on-site and remote workers to Shawnee County is working.

“Since then, I think we’ve had 29 people move to Topeka to work remotely just through Choose Topeka not to mention all the people we may not have known about who have chosen to live here,” she said. “I know there’s a lot of communities hosting remote work in their community and it’s exciting that we’re in the top 5 list. That’s pretty awesome,” said Goss.

They write Topeka offers affordable housing and good access to public Wi-Fi that gives remote workers more chances to split the day outside. That more than 70% of residents have access to a park within a 10-minute walk from work compared to 60% of the Midwest cities. It’s the most affordable when looking at the average price of goods and services among the top 10 towns in the country.

“We really encourage them to be involved with volunteer opportunities and different organizations and remote work is just becoming more and more popular and to have that flexibility in a lot of cases. They possibly stay home with their children and really be more family-oriented in that way.”

Goss said this study shows the benefits of moving here.

“We’re a welcoming community and that people can feel safe, they can come here, and have some great entertainment. There’s a lot of options for families here and I think it’ll really help us to grow and build our population,” she said.

Small and mid-size cities with populations under 250,000 accounted for 20 of the top-25 cities for remote work. Wichita ranked 30th overall and 6th best for large cities with a population of more than 250,000.

“As startups and entrepreneurs consider our city for growth, the ability to work remotely is crucial,” said Stephanie Moran, GO Topeka’s SVP of Innovation. “Our future innovation campus will be built with this in mind, as coworking and collaborative spaces are key to providing the tools and resources the next generation of entrepreneurs need to succeed. As we work with startups looking to relocate, Ownerly.com’s recognition is an exciting data point that will give them confidence Topeka has what they need to thrive.”

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