In the booming suburbs north of Dallas, Frisco has emerged as the unrivaled leader for remote workers, topping national studies with a workforce where more than one-third operate from home offices. A recent WFAA report highlighted SmartAsset’s analysis of 357 U.S. cities over 100,000 residents, using 2024 Census Bureau data, placing Frisco at No. 1 with 33.7% remote workers—about 42,133 individuals—edging out Berkeley, California at 31.5%.
This marks a slight dip from 34.2% the prior year, yet Frisco holds firm while others climbed. Average commutes for its in-office workers clock in at 27.3 minutes, with under 1% walking, underscoring a car-dependent culture optimized for flexibility. Nearby McKinney ranks seventh at 26.7%, Allen 13th at 25.5%, cementing North Texas’s grip on high rankings.
Persistent Top Rankings Across Studies
Frisco’s dominance spans multiple analyses. SmartAsset’s 2025 update pegged it at 34.16% remote workers, or 40,029 out of 117,193 adults aged 16 and older, retaining the top spot despite a drop from 46,381 in 2024, as detailed in a Local Profile article. Earlier, in 2024, it hit 39.7%, second only to Cary, North Carolina, per Dallas Morning News.
Wave Connect’s 2025 study of 40 largest remote hubs awarded Frisco a near-perfect 99/100 score, factoring remote share, pay, living costs, rent, dining, internet, coworking, and safety. It outpaced all, with Allen third and Plano sixth, according to CultureMap Dallas. Median remote salary: $111,000, download speeds at 271 Mbps, cost-of-living index 92.7—the lowest in the top 10.
Infrastructure Fuels the Remote Boom
Blazing internet stands out: Frisco boasts some of the nation’s fastest averages, up to 526 Mbps in spots, with 99.5% broadband coverage, ranking fifth nationally per Local Profile. Proximity to three major airports eases travel, while unemployment hovers at 2.4% and median income at $72,421 for remote pros.
CoworkingCafe lauded its spacious homes—rent just 15.2% of median household income—and 87.3% high-speed coverage in a hybrid work analysis, where Frisco led telecommuters at nearly 40%. Fields projects, PGA headquarters, and Universal Studios developments amplify appeal, blending work with entertainment.
Economic Engines and Corporate Magnetism
No state income tax, corporate relocations—25 Fortune 500s in DFW—and a renter surge position Frisco ideally. CultureMap Dallas noted remote workers earn 51% more than commuters in the metro. Wave Connect CEO George El-Hage stated in Audacy: “The data reveals that smaller cities can actually offer better value to remote workers.”
Frisco’s median household income hit $145,444, up 33% since 2019, with 74.2% labor participation (12th nationally), per CoworkingCafe’s small-city careers ranking where it placed 11th. Safety bolsters it: top-10 safest suburb, low crime supports family relocations.
Regional Peers and National Trends
DFW suburbs dominate: Plano, Allen, McKinney frequently top-10 across LawnStarter, SmartAsset, Wave Connect. Austin trails at 28.13% (11th nationally), while Odessa lags at 1.58%. Nationally, 22 cities exceed 25% remote, but Frisco leads shares.
Post-pandemic, remote holds at 22% of U.S. workforce despite RTO pushes, per Upwork. Frisco exemplifies how suburbs with tech infra, affordability, and quality-of-life draw talent from coastal hubs, as El-Hage noted: “If the shift to remote work continues, we might see traditional tech hubs losing residents to these more affordable destinations.”
Future Growth Amid Shifts
With $2B+ investments, 90+ company moves in 2024, and AI/tech ambitions, Frisco eyes powerhouse status. X discussions highlight its HQ density per capita alongside WFH. Challenges like housing costs persist, but remote prevalence frees budgets—annual dining spend just $2,300/person, lowest top-10.
WFAA’s January 2026 post drew buzz, confirming sustained leadership. As hybrid evolves, Frisco’s model—high earnings, connectivity, low costs—positions it to retain top billing, drawing professionals seeking balance beyond urban cores.