Post-Pandemic Relocation Preferences of Remote Tech Workers

Abstract

Will mass adoption of remote work lead to a mass exodus from Silicon Valley? A survey of over 660 high-tech workers in the San Francisco Bay Area ran from November 2021 to March 2022, asking about relocation interest and intended destinations. 53% of respondents expressed interest in moving or already moved, with post-pandemic preferences shifting towards suburbs and stand-alone homes. However, most moves merely represented a dispersal into Bay Area suburbs with a median relocation distance of 33.68km. The number of expected days in the office, dictated by employer remote work policies, significantly impacted relocation interest.