ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — In 2023, Lori Matthias and her spouse decided to leave behind the hectic traffic of Atlanta for the picturesque charm of St. Augustine, Florida. Meanwhile, Mike Waldron and his wife relocated from the bustling Boston area in 2020, choosing to settle in what is proudly advertised as “the nation’s oldest city,” primarily to be closer to their grown children.
Their story is not unique, as they join thousands of remote-working professionals who have flocked to St. Augustine in recent years, transforming it from a tourist haven into one of the premier remote working hubs in the country.
Matthias has embraced St. Augustine’s quaint, small-town vibe, trading her once hour-long commutes in Atlanta for chance encounters with locals during her daily errands. “Everything moves at a slower pace here, and that’s something I’m drawn to,” commented Matthias, who works in sales and marketing for a power tool company. “Now, my commute is merely a few steps from the kitchen to my office—a change that’s both relaxed and welcoming.”
Long before becoming a center for remote work, St. Augustine was historically claimed by the Spanish crown in the early 1500s following explorer Juan Ponce de Leon’s journey. Today, it’s renowned for its beautiful Spanish-style architecture, complete with terra cotta roofs and arched doorways, along with its historical attractions like a fort and shipwreck museum.
The impact of the pandemic has driven a population surge in the area. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the home-based workforce in St. Johns County, where St. Augustine is located, nearly tripled from 8.6% in 2018 to almost 24% in 2023. This rise placed it among leading U.S. counties for remote work, alongside major tech and finance hubs. Despite having smaller populations compared to metro giants, the area has experienced growth over a fifth this decade.
Scott Maynard, a vice president for economic development at the local chamber of commerce, credits the initial wave of newcomers to Florida’s relatively quick lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020. “Many families came here from the Northeast, Midwest, and California for their children to resume in-person education,” Maynard explained. This move attracted remote workers eager for their children to return to traditional schooling.
However, the population increase has brought challenges. The demand for housing, fueled by wealthier new residents, has driven up prices, making it difficult for essential workers like teachers and firefighters to afford homes locally. From 2019 to 2023, the median home price escalated from $405,000 to nearly $535,000, according to Census data.
To afford a median-priced home, essential workers would need an annual income of approximately $180,000, a far cry from the average earnings of local teachers and law enforcement officers. Aliyah Meyer, an economic researcher, stated, “Newcomers, particularly from northern states, were able to cash in on their homes and drive up the local market, outbidding long-time residents.”
Despite these concerns, some new arrivals like Waldron have found financial relief by relocating, selling their homes in expensive markets and buying properties for less in desirable communities around St. Augustine, aided by the increased reliance on remote work technology during the pandemic. “Had I been bound to an office, moving here wouldn’t have been an option,” Waldron emphasized.
