Why These Are the Most Freelancer-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

Even before the pandemic changed the way we work and what we want out of a job and a workplace, people were opting to leave their 9-5s and going freelance in increasing numbers. Read more...

AbJimroe AbJimroe
May 8, 2022 - 21:02
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Why These Are the Most Freelancer-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

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Even before the pandemic changed the way we work and what we want out of a job and a workplace, people were opting to leave their 9-5s and going freelance in increasing numbers.

According to data from the Statista Research Department, the number of freelancers in the United States has been increasing steadily since 2014. At that point, there were approximately 53 million Americans who were freelancing. By 2020, it was 59 million.

And, as anyone who has freelanced full-time knows, some places are better to live than others. Of course, there are many factors to consider, including tax rates, the number of co-working spaces, and the availability of wifi hotspots. That’s exactly what the team at ToolTester did, in an attempt to find the best U.S. cities for freelancers. Here are their top five, and a few notable features in each city.

1. Dallas, Texas

Score: 79.4

Notable features:

50 co-working spacesEach co-working spot is an average of 0.1 miles from public transportationCo-working space costs an average of $267 per month

2. Jacksonville, Florida

Score: 76.4

Notable features:

No personal income taxCo-working space costs an average of $244 per month10 co-working spaces

3. Houston, Texas

Score: 76.0

Notable features:

62 co-working spaces Each co-working spot is an average of 0.3 miles from public transportationCo-working space cost an average of $254 per month

4. Memphis, Tennessee

Score: 76.0

Notable features:

No income tax24 co-working spaces Co-working space cost an average of $310 per month

5. Indianapolis, Indiana

Score: 74.8/100

Notable features:

46 co-working spaces Co-working space cost an average of $229 per monthOn average, it costs $29.25 per hour to rent a meeting room

Although the information in this report is helpful, if you’re contemplating a move to a new city as a freelancer, you’ll also want to take the cost of housing into consideration.

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