Prior to COVID-19, if someone wanted to make a lot of money, that generally meant you had to live and work in a big city. For years, operating in New York, Los Angeles, or Miami was regarded as having made the big time.
Recently, the picture has shifted. First, many cities have grown overpopulated; they’ve suffered extremely high housing prices and a spike in the cost of consumer goods. Cities that once flourished, such as San Francisco, are now known for their persistent homeless problem.
On top of that, many companies realized that working remotely is not that inconvenient, and sometimes a cheaper option. Thousands of workers have since fled the big cities and settled in smaller communities where the cost of living is much lower.
Although this is definitely a trend, it’s still not the rule. Some large cities are flourishing even though the world has changed substantially in the past two years.
Take a look at them:
- Boise, Idaho
Population: 240,000
Boise has seen nearly 20% growth since 2010. Many of the new residents came from California and were looking to escape the heat and settle in a community that is not a concrete jungle.
Boise is notable for its proximity to nature and laidback lifestyle. Though there isn’t a ton of commerce, per se, the area has witnessed a substantial hike in tech jobs. More than anything, though, Boise provides the perfect “I work virtually” community for those who seek an escape.
- Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville)
Population: 500,000 (52,000)
While Bentonville itself reports a population just north of 50,000, the surrounding region just surpassed the half-million mark a few years ago. In fact, when people there get asked where they are from, they generally say Northwest Arkansas–similar to how residents of Irvine, California might say they live in Orange County.
Northwest Arkansas is the headquarters of JB Hunt, Tyson, and an unassuming firm you may have heard of known as Walmart. Over the past fifteen years, and especially the last ten, Walmart has grown into the dominant superstore in the US, and even across the world.
In this country alone, more than 2.3 million people work for Walmart. As the company has grown, many vendors have chosen to shift their home office, or at least a branch, to Northwest Arkansas.
You can find a ton of business opportunities in the Bentonville region, and the area’s growth is not apt to slow down any time soon.
- Utah County (Lehi, American Fork, Orem, and Provo)
Population: 621,000
Similar to Northwest Arkansas, Utah County is one large area that cannot be divided into distinct and easily recognized towns and cities. The only real landmarks are the painted mountains.
Above Provo, you’ll spot a giant “Y” that represents BYU (Brigham Young University). In Pleasant Grove, there’s a giant “G” for the high school’s Grovarians mascot, and so on.
Utah County is currently the HQ for an array of companies, including DoTerra, NuSkin, Vivant, Qualtrics, BUILT, and Ancestry. All of these firms are rapidly growing and doing business across the country.
Utah County is also home to what many call the Silicon Slopes, a selection of tech startups recognized all over the US. Add all of this to the beautiful mountains and Utah Lake, and you can see why so many people want to call Utah County their home.
- Austin, Texas
Population 970,000
Along with Las Vegas, Austin has become a go-to destination for people looking to relocate east of California. In fact, there have been reports that entire neighborhoods have filled with people primarily from the Golden State who sought better weather and cheaper housing.
Since 2010, the Austin area has grown more than 22% and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Aside from the great weather and (comparatively) inexpensive housing, Austin is also right in the center of the country.
Many companies have relocated their offices to the Austin area so they can more readily bridge the two coasts. The city is also located in one of the central time zones, which makes it more convenient for remote employees to work from either coast.
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Population: 185,000
Whether Miami’s getting too big, or it’s close to the beach, boasts a lower cost of living (relative to other coastal cities), and has an expanding business sector, Fort Lauderdale is one city that’s booming right now. The only obstacles that discourage it from growing further are the proximity of other cities and the terrain.
In just the last seven years, commercial growth and land for expansion has increased by an astounding 2000%, which suggests a massive population surge may be just around the corner.
It also helps that geographically, this city is between two major tourist destinations: Orlando and Miami. It offers locals who are sick of all the tourist traffic a somewhat calmer place to live and work.