ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (AP) — Lori Matthias and her husband moved to St. Augustine, Florida, in 2023 to escape the heavy traffic of Atlanta. Similarly, Mike Waldron and his wife relocated from the Boston area in 2020, seeking to be closer to their adult children. These individuals are part of a significant trend, as thousands of white-collar, remote workers have migrated to the St. Augustine area in recent years, transforming the once tourist-centric beach town into one of the leading remote work hubs in the United States.

Lori Matthias expressed her joy at the small-town atmosphere of St. Augustine, contrasting it with her previous hour-long commute in Atlanta. “The whole pace here is slower and I’m attracted to that,” said Matthias, who works in sales and marketing for a power tool company. She highlighted the convenience of her new commute, which consists of “30 steps from my kitchen to my office,” noting the relaxed and friendly nature of the area.

The history of St. Augustine is rich, with its roots traced back to Spanish colonization in the early 16th century, following the arrival of the explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. Today, the city is renowned for its stunning Spanish architecture, including terra cotta roofs and arched doorways, alongside attractions such as historic forts, alligator farms, lighthouses, and a shipwreck museum.

One of the most notable developments in St. Augustine is the population surge attributed to the pandemic. St. Johns County, where St. Augustine is located, witnessed the percentage of remote workers nearly triple, rising from 8.6% in 2018 to nearly 24% in 2023. This shift positioned St. Johns County among the top U.S. counties for remote work participation. Notably, only counties with a significant tech, finance, or government workforce, mainly in metropolitan areas like Washington, Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, and Dallas, showed a larger share of remote workers.

Scott Maynard, a vice president of economic development for St. Johns County's chamber of commerce, attributes the influx of new residents to Florida’s early lifting of COVID-19 restrictions compared to other parts of the country that remained locked down. “Many were relocating from the Northeast, Midwest, and California to ensure their children could return to in-person education,” Maynard explained. This mass relocation brought in many individuals capable of remote work, further amplifying the demographic change.

Amid this growth, public schools in St. Johns County have garnered attention for their excellence, being rated among the best in Florida based on an annual report card from the state’s Department of Education.

However, the growing popularity of St. Augustine has also led to challenges, particularly in the realm of affordable housing. The influx of new residents, many of whom are wealthier than longstanding locals, has resulted in escalating housing costs. Essential workers, including police officers, firefighters, and teachers, are increasingly needing to commute from outside St. Johns County due to high housing prices. The median home price soared from $405,000 in 2019 to nearly $535,000 in 2023, making home ownership out of reach for many local workers.

For essential workers, achieving the median home price in St. Johns County necessitates an annual income of at least $180,000. In contrast, teachers earn about $48,000 on average, while law enforcement officers average around $58,000. “People, especially those moving from up North, could sell their homes for high prices and come here to pay in cash, which led to market inflation and put constraints on local residents,” noted Aliyah Meyer, an economic researcher at the chamber of commerce.

Mike Waldron, who previously worked as a sales executive in the healthcare industry, was able to capitalize on the housing market during the pandemic. He sold his Boston home and purchased a three-bedroom, two-bath home in a gated community near a golf course outside St. Augustine, finding that living costs were significantly lower in the area. The improved internet infrastructure and the rise of online meeting platforms during the pandemic allowed him to make this move possible. “If I were still locked in an office, I would not have been able to move down here,” Waldron stated.