New Jersey is the fifth-best state for working from home, according to a report released Monday by online financial information service WalletHub.
WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two important areas, “Work Environment” and “Living Environment.”
Within those categories, the financial news service used 12 metrics to determine its list. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the best infrastructure. Factors such as “energy costs, internet speed, home sizes and how many people live together can greatly impact people’s savings and productivity,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. WalletHub said the best work-from-home conditions include low costs, reasonable comfort and a high level of security.
New Jersey attained its level by ranking second in work environment and 18th in living environment. New Jersey also ranked fifth in households’ Internet access. What hobbled the Garden State from appearing higher in the WalletHub rankings was its Internet cost, which is the second highest in the nation.
East Coast states and the District of Columbia occupy eight of the top 10 places in the ranking.
More than 13% of the workforce in top-ranked Delaware works from home and another 26% have a hybrid schedule.
Second-ranked Utah has the lowest electricity prices in the country, earning its ranking because of low Internet costs and it has the biggest homes in the country, at an average of 2,800 square feet, contributing to a productive work environment.
WalletHub culled data and information from the U.S. Census Bureau, Global Workplace Analytics, HighSpeedInternet.com, Internet Crime Complaint Center, Wakefield Research, U.S. Energy Information Administration, BroadbandNow, Allconnect, American Home Shield Corporation and Zillow to compile its report.
