Workers Are Fleeing Big Cities and Taking Their Jobs With Them

Instead of living paycheck to paycheck in the big city, a group of workers are fueling a renaissance in cities that lie outside major job hubs by moving and working at home.

People who do their jobs from home, freelance or constantly travel for work are migrating away from expensive urban centers such as Los Angeles and San Francisco toward cheaper cities including Boise; Denver; Austin, Texas; and Portland, Ore., according to economists and local residents.

That has brought a boom to these cities, and while the ultimate effects aren’t yet clear, the development comes with a few downsides. Many places are dealing with growing pains like fast-rising home prices and traffic congestion, but aren’t accruing all the economic benefits, such as the deep investments companies often make in the areas where they are based.

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