Think Maine is Perfect for Working from Home? Study Says Not Really

Ah, working from home—the dream scenario where you roll out of bed, grab a coffee, and be productive in your pajamas. Before 2020, it was a rare privilege, like finding an empty treadmill at the gym in January. But then the pandemic hit, and suddenly, your dining table became your office, and your cat became your nosy coworker.

If you're picking the best states to work remotely, you'd probably want somewhere quiet, near schools and stores, with little traffic. That sounds a lot like Maine, right? Plenty of people moved here for that exact reason—to swap city chaos for coastal calm while still collecting those sweet remote paychecks.

But according to WalletHub, Maine is actually one of the worst states to work from home. We ranked a dismal #42. Last year, WalletHub put us at #43... baby steps? So, what’s dragging us down? Well, apparently, it costs a small fortune to keep the lights on and the Wi-Fi running. They stated in 2024 that Maine ranks 47th in both electricity and internet costs. And home sizes? We’re at #44. Translation: You're paying a premium to squeeze your home office between the kitchen and the laundry room.

Let's not forget internet. Parts of Maine, rual areas in particular, are still struggling with internet speeds, making working from home for some even more challenging.

So, while Maine nails the "simple life" aspect—peace, safety, and no insane traffic, well comparatively speaking anyway—it’s also one of the more expensive places to work in your slippers. If WalletHub releases a ranking for "Best States to Work from a Coffee Shop Because Your Home Office is Too Pricey", we would probably rank much higher.

Meanwhile, our next door neighbors in New Hampshire cracked the top 10 best states to work from home. Who snagged #1? Wallethub says that honor goes to New Jersey. Here's how the rest of the country shook out.