Survey finds over half of NYC renters would leave if they could WFH

More than half of New York City renters have one foot out the door, or at least wish they did. A new survey from roommate matching site SpareRoom found that over half of New Yorkers queried would leave the city if they could work remotely.

SpareRoom talked to over 3,000 U.S. renters in the past two months and over half (53 percent) of New York renters say would move out of the city if they could still keep their jobs.

What place would beat NYC for these renters? Most of them (42 percent) would move to a new city, with Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles the most popular destinations. Twenty percent said they'd leave the U.S. altogether and settle overseas and 10 percent wouldn't settle in one place at all.

“The pandemic has shown that most of us can work from anywhere, opening up the opportunity for people to choose a place to live because it suits their lifestyle, rather than their commute,” says Matt Hutchinson, director at SpareRoom. “What’s clear from this research is that renters are eager for a lifestyle change, with the majority wanting to make a move if their employers allow remote working.”

What’s less known, he says, is how New Yorkers will feel with the city is fully open and entertainment options are in full swing. “That might make city living more appealing again,” he says.

The grass may be greener on the other side. The survey found that in Los Angeles, 71 percent of renters in LA said they'd leave, with 39 percent opting for a new city—with New York and San Diego the favorite options for relocation.

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