Boulder Has Third Most From-Home Workers In The Country

BOULDER, CO -- Boulder's professionals have earned many accolades over the years, but "most likely to work in pajamas" had never been one of them, until now. According to an analysis of 2017 U.S. Census data by online life insurance agency Haven Life, Boulder came in as the city with the third-highest percentage of home-based workers nationwide. In the statewide rankings, Colorado was number one.

Among Boulder adults, 13.4 percent report working from home. Across the state, just over 8 percent of adults work from home, compared to a nationwide average of 5.2 percent. Remote workers are most likely to be employed in professional, technical, or scientific services, according to the data.

Remote workers are also more plentiful in highly educated and highly affluent communities. Boulder, where in 2017, 78.2 percent of adults have a bachelor's degree and the median income was $66,524 dollars, met both criteria handily.

"With its easy access to hiking, cycling, fantastic restaurants, and a plethora of cultural attractions, Boulder could be considered paradise for workers with flexible hours," the Haven Life report noted.

Factors such as improvements in communications technologies and increased rent costs for companies have spurred a decade-long increase in telecommuters, though some major nationwide employers such as Yahoo and Bank of America have tried to rein in work-from-home programs to boost company performance.

Other Colorado cities making the 2017 top ten list include Highlands Ranch in tenth and Centennial in seventh.

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