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St. Augustine Emerges as a Remote Work Haven
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Families are choosing to relocate to St. Augustine, Florida, escaping the hustle of cities like Atlanta and Boston. For Lori Matthias, the move to St. Augustine in 2023 meant trading the notorious Atlanta traffic for a calm environment where she enjoys a more leisurely pace of life. Similarly, Mike Waldron and his wife moved from the Boston area in 2020, seeking a location closer to their adult children while still maintaining their professional commitments.
They are part of a growing trend of white-collar, remote workers flocking to St. Augustine, a city that has recently established itself as a leading remote work destination in the country.
Matthias has embraced the close-knit community vibe of her new hometown, where casual encounters with friends and neighbors during her errands replace the long hours spent in traffic. “The whole pace here is slower and I’m attracted to that,” she shared, reflecting on her new work dynamic that transforms her commute to a mere 30 steps from her kitchen to her office.
St. Augustine, with its rich history dating back to its claim by the Spanish crown in the early 16th century, is best known for its stunning Spanish architecture, historic landmarks, and vibrant tourism scene, complete with fortifications, lighthouses, and a shipwreck museum.
A Rising Trend in Remote Work
The shift to remote work in St. Johns County, where St. Augustine is located, has been pronounced. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the percentage of workers who reported working from home surged from 8.6% in 2018 to nearly 24% in 2023. This positions the county among those with the highest rates of remote work in the nation.
While larger metropolitan areas like Washington D.C., Atlanta, and Austin had a higher concentration of remote workers, St. Johns County, home to around 335,000 residents, has seen a remarkable influx of individuals seeking a different lifestyle as the population rose by over 20% in the last decade.
Scott Maynard, a vice president at the local chamber of commerce, cited the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Florida in the fall of 2020 as a key factor for this migration. Many individuals moving from the Northeast and Midwest were looking to resume in-person schooling for their children while maintaining their own remote work flexibility. St. Johns County’s reputation for having some of the best public schools in Florida has further attracted families.
Challenges of Rapid Growth
The surge in new residents has not come without challenges, particularly regarding affordable housing. Many newcomers, typically more affluent than the long-term residents, are outbidding locals in the housing market.
This real estate boom has forced essential workers—like teachers, police officers, and firefighters—to commute from more affordable areas, as median home prices jumped from approximately $405,000 in 2019 to nearly $535,000 in 2023, according to census data. This trend has made homeownership increasingly unattainable for many local workers, who would need to earn around $180,000 annually to afford the median-priced home.
Aliyah Meyer, an economic researcher at the chamber, noted that many incoming residents were capitalizing on high home sale prices in their previous locations, enabling cash purchases in St. Augustine, which inadvertently inflated the local housing market.
Mike Waldron, a healthcare sales executive, exemplifies this trend. He sold his home in Boston during the pandemic and secured a more affordable property in St. Augustine, noting that the overall cost of living was significantly lower in Northeast Florida.
The rapid adoption of high-speed internet and reliance on virtual meeting tools during the pandemic have also played a crucial role in enabling such relocations. “If I was still locked in an office, I would not have been able to move down here,” Waldron explained, highlighting how workplace flexibility has changed the dynamics of living and working.
Source
www.yahoo.com