Shortly after the outbreak of COVID-19, the Census Bureau launched a vast initiative to measure the effects of the crisis on Americans — the Household Pulse Survey. So far, the Census released weekly results in three phases. The first phase began on April 23, 2020 and ended July 21, 2020. The second and third phases followed.
Each weekly report actually covers about two weeks of information gathered by the Census Bureau and other federal agencies. The survey asks Americans questions about many different topics, including teleworking. The goal of this part of the survey is to find out the “Percentage of adults living in households where at least one adult has substituted some or all of their typical in-person work for telework because of the coronavirus pandemic.”
24/7 Wall St. reviewed the latest Household Pulse Survey to determine the states where the most people are working from home during the pandemic. We also considered median household income and educational attainment from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and monthly unemployment rates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Depending on the state, the share of adults in households where at least one resident is working from home as a result of the pandemic ranges from as high as 51.9% in Utah to as low as 19.6% in Mississippi.
The kinds of jobs that can be done remotely are generally well paying and require some postsecondary education. Partially as a result, the states where the most people are working from home also tend to have median household incomes above the $65,712 national median. These states also tend to have bachelor’s degree attainment rates that exceed the 33.1% rate nationwide. Here is a look at the most educated city in every state.
There is a great deal of debate about whether people will return to work at an office once the pandemic is under control. Most experts believe a large portion of people will, but that some portion of the population will work remotely on a permanent basis. Here is a look at the best American city to find a job.
Click here to see the state where people are working from home.
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50. Mississippi
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 19.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.3% (2nd lowest)
> Median household income: $45,792 (the lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.3% (19th highest)
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49. Arkansas
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 25.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.3% (3rd lowest)
> Median household income: $48,952 (3rd lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.8% (20th lowest)
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48. Wyoming
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 26.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.1% (13th lowest)
> Median household income: $65,003 (19th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 5.9% (23rd highest)
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47. West Virginia
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 27.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.1% (the lowest)
> Median household income: $48,850 (2nd lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.1% (20th highest)
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46. South Carolina
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 27.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.6% (16th lowest)
> Median household income: $56,227 (10th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.8% (20th lowest)
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45. Oklahoma
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 27.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.2% (7th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,449 (8th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.1% (10th lowest)
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44. Louisiana
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 28.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.0% (4th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,073 (4th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.6% (13th highest)
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43. Montana
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 29.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.6% (19th highest)
> Median household income: $57,153 (11th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.4% (13th lowest)
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42. Alabama
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 29.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.3% (8th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,734 (5th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 3.4% (6th lowest)
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41. Hawaii
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 30.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.6% (18th highest)
> Median household income: $83,102 (4th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 8.6% (the highest)
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40. South Dakota
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 31.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.7% (17th lowest)
> Median household income: $59,533 (18th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 3.3% (5th lowest)
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39. Nevada
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 32.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.7% (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $63,276 (24th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 7.6% (7th highest)
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38. Florida
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 32.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.7% (23rd lowest)
> Median household income: $59,227 (17th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 5.3% (25th highest)
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37. North Dakota
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 32.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.4% (22nd lowest)
> Median household income: $64,577 (20th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.8% (20th lowest)
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36. Iowa
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 33.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.3% (15th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,691 (21st lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.4% (13th lowest)
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35. Tennessee
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 33.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.7% (11th lowest)
> Median household income: $56,071 (9th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 5.1% (24th lowest)
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34. Kentucky
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 33.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.1% (5th lowest)
> Median household income: $52,295 (7th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 5.0% (22nd lowest)
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33. Indiana
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 34.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.9% (9th lowest)
> Median household income: $57,603 (14th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.7% (16th lowest)
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32. New Mexico
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 34.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.7% (10th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,945 (6th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 8.0% (5th highest)
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31. Missouri
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 34.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.2% (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $57,409 (13th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.4% (13th lowest)
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30. Idaho
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 34.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.7% (12th lowest)
> Median household income: $60,999 (20th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.0% (9th lowest)
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29. Kansas
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 35.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.0% (17th highest)
> Median household income: $62,087 (24th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 3.8% (7th lowest)
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28. North Carolina
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 36.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.3% (25th highest)
> Median household income: $57,341 (12th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.6% (15th lowest)
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27. Michigan
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 36.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.0% (18th lowest)
> Median household income: $59,584 (19th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 5.2% (25th lowest)
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26. Delaware
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 36.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.2% (21st highest)
> Median household income: $70,176 (16th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.6% (13th highest)
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25. Pennsylvania
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 37.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.3% (24th highest)
> Median household income: $63,463 (23rd highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 7.3% (8th highest)
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24. Alaska
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 37.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.2% (20th lowest)
> Median household income: $75,463 (12th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 7.1% (11th highest)
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23. Maine
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 37.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.2% (22nd highest)
> Median household income: $58,924 (16th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 5.4% (24th highest)
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22. Arizona
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 38.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.2% (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $62,055 (23rd lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.5% (16th highest)
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21. Texas
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 38.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30.8% (24th lowest)
> Median household income: $64,034 (22nd highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 7.2% (9th highest)
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20. Nebraska
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 39.2%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.2% (20th highest)
> Median household income: $63,229 (25th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 2.8% (the lowest)
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19. Wisconsin
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 39.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 31.3% (25th lowest)
> Median household income: $64,168 (21st highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.8% (20th lowest)
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18. Ohio
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 39.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.3% (14th lowest)
> Median household income: $58,642 (15th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.9% (21st lowest)
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17. Vermont
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 39.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.7% (7th highest)
> Median household income: $63,001 (25th lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 3.3% (5th lowest)
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16. Illinois
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 41.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.8% (12th highest)
> Median household income: $69,187 (17th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 7.1% (11th highest)
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15. Washington
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 41.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.0% (11th highest)
> Median household income: $78,687 (7th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.1% (20th highest)
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14. Oregon
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 41.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.5% (16th highest)
> Median household income: $67,058 (18th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.5% (16th highest)
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13. Georgia
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 41.8%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.5% (23rd highest)
> Median household income: $61,980 (22nd lowest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.0% (9th lowest)
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12. California
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 42.4%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.0% (13th highest)
> Median household income: $80,440 (5th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 8.2% (4th highest)
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11. Rhode Island
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 42.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.8% (14th highest)
> Median household income: $71,169 (15th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 7.2% (9th highest)
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10. New York
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 43.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.8% (8th highest)
> Median household income: $72,108 (14th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 8.5% (2nd highest)
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9. Colorado
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 44.3%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 42.7% (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $77,127 (9th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.5% (16th highest)
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8. Virginia
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 45.6%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 39.6% (6th highest)
> Median household income: $76,456 (10th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 5.1% (24th lowest)
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7. New Hampshire
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 45.7%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.6% (9th highest)
> Median household income: $77,933 (8th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 3.2% (3rd lowest)
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6. Minnesota
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 45.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.3% (10th highest)
> Median household income: $74,593 (13th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 4.5% (14th lowest)
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5. Connecticut
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 46.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 39.8% (5th highest)
> Median household income: $78,833 (6th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 8.3% (3rd highest)
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4. Maryland
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 46.5%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.9% (4th highest)
> Median household income: $86,738 (the highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.0% (22nd highest)
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3. Massachusetts
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 50.0%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 45.0% (the highest)
> Median household income: $85,843 (2nd highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 6.6% (13th highest)
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2. New Jersey
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 51.1%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 41.2% (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $85,751 (3rd highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 7.8% (6th highest)
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1. Utah
> Adults in households with workers telecommuting due to pandemic: 51.9%
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.8% (15th highest)
> Median household income: $75,780 (11th highest)
> Unemployment, March 2021: 2.9% (2nd lowest)
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