Key Takeaways:
- Miami is the top large metro with a balanced coworking distribution due to its flex workspaces in more than one-quarter of its zip codes.
- The East Coast is home to the most mid-sized metros with evenly distributed coworking spaces and with Durham, NC, in the lead.
- 27% of zip codes in Naples, FL, have coworking spaces, the largest share among small metros – a total of nine that are spread evenly throughout.
The rise in remote and hybrid work in the last few years has made coworking an increasingly accessible solution for workers that faced long commutes to downtown company offices or disparate tech campuses on the other side of town. Many professionals are looking at coworking spaces in or around their neighborhoods and so, the availability of those spaces is now an important factor to weigh in. Simply put, when it comes to coworking, the more balanced the space distribution in a city, the higher the chances of finding a coworking space close to home and, ultimately, shortening one’s commute.
So, to determine the exact locations where workers have the best chances of finding a coworking space close to their homes, we leveraged proprietary data and examined the number and distribution of coworking spaces on a metro level. Specifically, we divided the more than 350 metros analyzed into three different brackets based on their population and then compared them accordingly: large metros with populations of more than 1 million; mid-sized metros with 500,000 to 1 million residents; and smaller metros with populations of less than 500,000. We then ranked the metros according to the highest shares of zip codes that had coworking spaces. The percentages of these zip codes may seem small, but it’s how they are dispersed throughout the whole metro that makes these coworking spaces close to home.
Miami Leads Among Large Metros with Coworking Spaces in More Than One-Quarter of Its Zip Codes
1. Miami, FL – 26% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
Boasting almost 300 zip codes and more than 200 coworking spaces at its core, Miami took the lead among large metros due to its coworking spaces in more than 26% of its total zip codes. More precisely, 77 zip codes in the Miami metro area had at least one coworking space available for residents, enabling them to find a flex workspace close to home or their area of interest. And, while downtown Miami is known for its thriving business district (with many coworking spaces located on the coveted Brickell Avenue) one of our previous studies showed that coworking spaces were also plentiful in some of Miami’s suburbs — like Doral, Coral Gables and even as far south as Cutler Bay — thereby catering to remote and hybrid workers who prefer to retreat to the cul-de-sac at the end of the work day.
2. Raleigh, NC – 24% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
Despite having a far lower number of zip codes than Miami — only 81 — in the Raleigh metro area, 23.5% of those zip codes hosted coworking spaces. In fact, residents can choose from 19 dispersed zip codes in and around Raleigh if they want to find an ideal flex workspace for their everyday needs based on their home location or an area that interests them. And, while the highest number of coworking spaces is concentrated in the downtown area, the surrounding areas also logged a fair stock of coworking spaces for Raleigh residents, especially the north toward Millbrook and east toward Cary and the Research Triangle.
3. Denver, CO – 22% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
With a total of 119 coworking spaces, the Denver metro area scored third among large metros as 22% of its total number of zip codes included coworking spaces. What’s more, these flex workspaces are easy to find in 43 zip codes in Denver and benefit from a balanced geographical distribution. Here, more than 80% of Denver’s coworking space supply sat outside of its main central business district (CBD), which makes it easy for workers to avoid a lengthy commute to the downtown area. For instance, many coworking spaces can be found around Denver’s Lakewood area and Broomfield, as well as down south near the Denver Tech Center.
4. Las Vegas, NV – 21% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
More than one-fifth of the zip codes in the Las Vegas metro area had coworking spaces among their cores, placing the bustling metro in the fourth position in our ranking: With a total of 124 zip codes, Las Vegas residents can find a coworking space in 26 of them. And, while many of those spaces were located in Las Vegas’ northwest region, the Spring Valley and Paradise areas also claimed a healthy supply of flex workspaces.
5. Boston, MA – 19% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
Despite coming in fifth place among large metros, Boston recorded one of the highest numbers of zip codes with coworking spaces (81) among all of the metros we analyzed, even more than Miami. In fact, Boston was surpassed by only Los Angeles and New York in terms of zip codes that included flex workspaces. However, given the high total number of zip codes across Boston (418), the share of those with coworking spaces stood at 19.4%. And, while commuting in Boston is hassle-free even for residents without a personal car, having a coworking space close to home surely comes in handy for those who want to save valuable time. Finally, apart from having a high concentration of coworking spaces in its downtown area, Boston also logged a solid inventory in the Back Bay area and up north around Kendall Square.
Mid-Sized Metros on East Coast Have Most Evenly Distributed Coworking Inventories; Durham, NC, in Lead
1. Durham, NC – 20% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
With a total of 28 coworking spaces, the Durham metropolitan area stood out as the top mid-sized metro with a balanced distribution of coworking spaces. Specifically, while only eight zip codes had such flex workspaces among their cores, that still represented a 19.5% share of the total number of zip codes in Durham. Despite a higher concentration in the downtown area, Durham also had coworking spaces spread across its southern area in Research Triangle Park, as well as its eastern region (especially around Chapel Hill) to cater to working residents who want to work outside of the hustle and bustle of the central business district.
2. Bridgeport, CT – 16% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
Despite being part of the small state of Connecticut, the Bridgeport metro area boasts a large population of nearly 1 million residents, as well as one of the highest numbers of zip codes among mid-sized metros (95). Of that total number, 15 zip codes claimed coworking spaces for a 15.8% share of the total zip codes, which placed Bridgeport in the runner-up position. Here, the downtown and eastern areas were the most prominent in terms of coworking space supply, but options could also be found down the coast in the Black Rock area.
3. Charleston, SC – 15% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
Nine out of 59 zip codes in Charleston boasted coworking spaces, which was a 15.3% share — the third-highest among our mid-sized metros. As such, Charleston had 22 coworking spaces ideal for remote and hybrid workers from basically any area of the metro. With options starting from the north near the Charleston International Airport and going down to the French Quarter, finding a coworking space close to home is unlikely to be an issue in the Charleston metro.
4. Oxnard, CA – 14.6% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
With a metro area that expands to the Thousand Oaks region, Oxnard had a total of seven coworking spaces evenly distributed across seven zip codes. Considering the metro’s total number of zip codes (48), this accounted for a share of 14.6%. Furthermore, with the vast majority of its coworking spaces located across the 101 Highway, residents in Oxnard are sure to have a shorter commute to work if they choose a flex workspace here.
5. Albuquerque, NM & Fort Myers, FL – 13% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
A tie rounded out the top five mid-sized metros: With an even distribution of coworking spaces, Albuquerque had 11 zip codes with at least one flex workspace each out of its total 88 zip codes for a 12.5% share. Granted, that might not seem like much compared to metros in other population brackets, but they’re distributed across downtown and along interstates 25 and 40.
Similarly, Fort Myers had the same percentage of zip codes with coworking spaces out of its total number. Here, numerous coworking spaces were spread out across the metro and around Cape Coral and Fort Myers itself.
Another Florida Area Stands out Among Small Metros with Coworking Spaces in Almost One-Third of Its Zip Codes
1. Naples, FL – 27% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
Leading among small metros, as well as large area, Florida made its presence known in this population bracket through Naples — a smaller metro area that had the highest percentage of zip codes with coworking spaces of all of the metros analyzed at 26.9%. Here, there were nine coworking properties that were quite evenly distributed along the whole coast, from north Naples all the way to south of downtown. Aside from those found in the French Quarter and the Park Shore area, Naples also boasted coworking spaces in its eastern area among several parks, golf clubs, and other facilities that make it easy for workers to combine their work and personal lives without wasting valuable time on a commute.
2. Ann Arbor, MI – 21% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
More than one-fifth of the zip codes in Ann Arbor were home to coworking spaces, thereby placing the metro second in the smaller population bracket. Specifically, four zip codes out of a total of 19 here made it more likely for residents to find a flexible work solution to their remote or hybrid needs without having to travel a long distance. More precisely, a solid stock of coworking spaces could be found northwest of the University of Michigan, which is good news for working students or graduates. Even so, the metro area also boasted flex workspaces in the south close to the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport.
3. Bend, OR – 20% of Zip Codes Have Coworking Spaces
With 20% of its zip codes having coworking spaces, Bend had a fairly even distribution — which enables workers to find an ideal workspace close to their homes. Even with only three coworking spaces distributed among its zip codes — and as a smaller metro with a population of only 200,000 — Bend is still catering to the flexible work needs of residents through coworking spaces in the city center, the west end and the Summit West area, as well as down south near Riverbend Park.
Methodology
- For the purposes of this study, we used proprietary data from CoworkingCafe.com that was extracted on July 12, 2023.
- We analyzed more than 350 metros across the U.S. and categorized them based on population: large metros with populations of more than 1 million; mid-sized metros with 500,000 to 1 million residents; and smaller metros with populations of less than 500,000.
- Within each metro, we extracted the number of zip codes with coworking spaces and compared them to the total number of the metro’s zip codes to determine the percentage of zip codes with coworking spaces.
Fair Use & Redistribution
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