Mansfield and Ashland rank nationally as top home locations for remote workers
For remote workers, the Buckeye State is the best place to live nationwide, and the most prime region to call home is arguably North Central Ohio.
That was supported this spring when Ashland and Richland counties received top marks in the "Zoom Towns USA: America's Best Cities for Remote Workers" study completed by Ownerly.com, a company that helps owners understand the value of their properties.
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Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo were all included as "cities that offer a lot to remote workers," but the more important local news is that Ashland ranked 11 and Mansfield 36 on the list.
"Affordable housing, high-speed Internet, outdoor green space, childcare options and more," are factors the website lists as having been important to the study, and residents of Ashland and Mansfield think that describes their cities — and the entire region — very well.
What cities are good for remote work?
The COVID-19 pandemic shook up the work landscape in the United States, and it's quite likely that change is permanent.
"While more employers bring workers back to the office as the pandemic appears to wind down, the tight labor market suggests flexible work options are here to stay," the study reads. "Many companies have permanently embraced remote work."
Many workers seem willing change jobs, cities and even states for better conditions — in February alone of this year, 4.5 million people nationwide quit their jobs.
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"Where are the best cities to live if you are no longer tethered to a work commute?" the study asks. "Ownerly analyzed 445 cities across the nation, looking at rent and housing prices, cost of living, safety data, level of broadband and free Wi-Fi coverage."
The study revealed that cities with populations of less than 100,000 are preferred by remote workers, that the midwestern and northeastern portions of the country are attractive to people from the West Coast, and that the top destinations nationwide are Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
Ashland has attractions and infrastructure
Being ranked No. 11 in the nation has become a point of pride for Matt Miller, the mayor of Ashland, but it's not a recognition that surprised him.
"Over the last several years, my focus has been to do whatever we need to do to make sure Ashland is one of the most livable cities around," Miller said. "We want Ashland to be the place everyone wants to live."
It's a city of 19,225 nestled within a county of 52,447, according to data collected during the 2020 Census.
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The mayor said that unique events and festivals bring the community together and make it attractive to newcomers. Factor in picturesque scenery, and he thinks it's a no-brainer for an individual, couple or family wanting to find a new home.
"We are focused on making Ashland as much like a hallmark movie as possible," Miller said. "People might chuckle when they hear that, but there's a reason we are all drawn to those movies."
The infrastructure has allowed those dreams to become a reality — Ashland is serviced by fiberoptic cable lines that continue to be upgraded and is located along I-71 between Cleveland and Columbus.
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"You can have a wonderful quality of life and still work for a company that may be headquartered in a larger metropolitan area," Miller said. "The good news is we have all of the technology in place."
Several new residential construction projects in the city are a testament that people want to live, work and play in Ashland, and the mayor is happy to meet all of the newcomers.
"There's something to be said about the cultures we have here in these communities like Ashland and like Mansfield," Miller said. "It's not like this everywhere."
Mansfield filled with opportunities for newcomers
The checklist of amenities that make Mansfield and Ashland attractive to homebuyers can be extended to cities in neighboring counties as well, according to Clint Knight, the director of workforce development for the Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development.
"Our region matches the characteristics that remote workers are looking for," Knight said.
Mansfield, ranked No. 36 nationally, has a population of 47,534 people, which is more than a third of the 124,936 who call Richland County home, based on Census data.
It's a great place to discover, and Knight has firsthand experience doing so — he moved here from Atlanta a decade ago.
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"This region has been incredibly welcoming," Knight said. "It's afforded me a lot of opportunity I never would have realized in Atlanta."
Workers age 45 and younger tend to seek out communities where they can have an impact on their school boards, in their churches and through civic organizations. He said Mansfield gives them those chances.
Proximity to other large cities through U.S. 30 and I-71 make Richland County an accessible location that is still surprisingly tucked away.
"There are people who are moving out of metropolitan areas, but still doing work in metropolitan areas," Knight said. "You have access to metropolitan things, but you're not surrounded by all of the things that come along with it."
ztuggle@gannett.com
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Twitter: @zachtuggle
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield and Ashland rank nationally as top places for remote work
