These Are the Best—And Worst—States for Working From Home In 2026

Since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the ability to work from home changed across the globe, transforming from a rarity to the norm. Long gone are the days that only certain companies allowed for remote work, and now, in 2026, working from home—or a hybrid approach—is looked at as a perk that would make or break a job offer for many.

But as more time goes on from the pandemic, more and more companies have mandated “return to the office” policies—even when many teams have proven their productiveness from the comfort of their own home. If you’re someone who takes remote work very seriously, you probably want to know which states offer the best work from home conditions, to ensure your space and setup is perfect for your daily schedule.

Utah Is the Best State for Remote Working, According to New Study

Working at home | Eva-Katalin/GettyImages

Wallet Hub has published their 2026 list, including a few changes from last year’s analysis. In first place is Utah, which has one of the lowest costs of electricity in the United States, along with “reasonable” internet pricing. The study points out that the state actually has the biggest homes in the country, with an average size of an average of 2,459 square feet.

Prices on the lower end and a spacious remote setup is the perfect combination for those clocking in from the comfort of their own home; you’ll avoid breaking the bank and feeling overly cramped. Having more space in your home also opens up the possibility for a designated office, in which you can spend your 9 to 5 in an entirely different space. This creates physical boundaries from work to help improve work-life balance.

The Full List

The study analyzed factors per state such as the percentage of remote workers, internet costs, home size, house crowding, and more, to determine the ranking—including Washington, D.C.—which you can see in full below.

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Work Environment Rank	Living Environment Rank
1	Utah	70.07	9	1
2	Delaware	67.25	4	18
3	Connecticut	66.64	6	7
4	Maryland	65.65	3	31
5	Massachusetts	65.65	5	30
6	New Jersey	65.31	2	40
7	Rhode Island	64.92	7	20
8	Washington	63.99	12	11
9	Virginia	63.24	11	14
10	North Carolina	62.84	15	12
11	Minnesota	62.40	17	8
12	Tennessee	62.19	21	4
13	Georgia	61.18	28	3
14	New Hampshire	61.14	10	35
15	Pennsylvania	60.83	8	41
16	Ohio	60.49	13	32
17	Nevada	60.21	20	23
18	Arizona	60.16	22	19
19	District of Columbia	59.83	1	50
20	Oregon	59.38	26	22
21	Texas	59.31	27	13
22	Kentucky	59.17	24	26
23	Colorado	59.09	31	10
24	South Carolina	58.00	32	9
25	Florida	57.46	25	34
26	New York	57.20	14	44
27	Nebraska	57.18	37	5
28	Wisconsin	57.04	19	38
29	Michigan	56.89	16	43
30	Illinois	56.70	18	42
31	Kansas	56.45	36	17
32	California	56.35	23	39
33	Indiana	56.06	33	24
34	Alabama	55.36	34	27
35	Louisiana	54.83	35	29
36	Missouri	54.06	38	28
37	South Dakota	53.51	42	21
38	North Dakota	53.35	48	2
39	Idaho	53.14	43	16
40	Maine	52.88	29	45
41	Vermont	50.99	41	37
42	New Mexico	50.96	44	33
43	Oklahoma	50.94	46	15
44	Iowa	49.39	39	46
45	Mississippi	49.22	47	25
46	Arkansas	49.12	45	36
47	Wyoming	49.15	49	6
48	Hawaii	48.24	30	49
49	West Virginia	45.86	40	47
50	Montana	35.03	50	48
51	Alaska	22.45	51	51

Just like the 2025 list, Alaska ranks in last place for working from home. The state ranks low for the share of potential telecommuters, meaning fewer people, on average, work remotely. It also is the worst state for internet costs, estimating a whopping five times higher than Connecticut, where prices are cheapest on average.

Historically, the internet in rural parts of Alaska has proven to be more expensive and slower than in more populated areas.

If you have the opportunity to work from home, you’ll want to ensure your space is comfortable, spacious, organized, and equipped with the fastest internet, professional devices, and other essentials. Depending on where you live, it might be more difficult to establish this space, therefore hindering you from getting the most out of remote work.