Remote Work Is Reshaping Where Virginians Choose to Live
More families are looking beyond traditional suburbs—and communities surrounding Williamsburg may benefit.
For decades, where people lived was largely determined by where they worked. The morning commute shaped everything from neighborhood growth to home values.
Remote work is beginning to change that equation.
A recent presentation before the Virginia Housing Commission found that the ability to work remotely is encouraging more Virginia families to move beyond traditional suburbs and consider smaller communities and rural counties.
Hamilton Lombard, a demographer with the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, explained that many of Virginia’s smaller counties had been losing residents for years. Today, some are becoming the Commonwealth’s fastest-growing destinations.
According to the presentation, nearly 40% of American workers now work from home at least once a week. Among white-collar workers, some surveys put that number considerably higher. Despite highly publicized return-to-office policies, remote and hybrid work remain important factors in where people choose to live.
Why Buyers Are Looking Farther Out
For many buyers, the appeal is straightforward: their housing dollars often go further outside major metropolitan areas.
Someone who only needs to commute once or twice a week may be willing to live considerably farther from Richmond, Hampton Roads or Northern Virginia. That can open the door to communities offering larger lots, more privacy and a quieter lifestyle—often at a more approachable price than homes closer to major employment centers.
This does not necessarily mean buyers want to live in the middle of nowhere. Most still want convenient access to shopping, healthcare, restaurants and recreation. Reliable high-speed internet is also essential.
What has changed is the distance many buyers are willing to accept between their home and workplace.
Lombard compared the effect of remote work to the construction of the interstate highway system after World War II. Interstates allowed people to live farther from their jobs. Remote work may be creating another shift by reducing—or sometimes eliminating—the daily commute altogether.
What This Could Mean for the Williamsburg Region
Here in Greater Williamsburg, we are well positioned to benefit from this trend.
Williamsburg, James City County and York County already attract buyers seeking history, recreation, good healthcare and an appealing quality of life. But I am also seeing more people willing to explore beyond the immediate Williamsburg area.
New Kent and Charles City offer access to both Williamsburg and Richmond while providing a more rural setting. Toano, Lanexa and portions of upper James City County offer additional opportunities for land and privacy. Gloucester, Mathews and the Northern Neck can appeal to buyers looking for water access or a slower pace of life.
For someone who works remotely—or only needs to visit an office occasionally—these locations suddenly become much more practical.
I have helped buyers who began their search focused on a very small geographic area, only to discover that expanding the map gave them more options and sometimes a completely different lifestyle. A longer drive may feel manageable when it is made once a week instead of twice a day.
The Market Is Still Moving
Virginia’s housing market continues to show activity despite higher mortgage rates and economic uncertainty. WTKR reported that statewide home sales were running approximately 5% ahead of last year, although inventory remained limited.
That combination is important. More homes may be reaching the market, but Virginia still has not built enough housing in many of the places where people want to live.
The state’s population is also aging, and many longtime homeowners are choosing to remain in their homes rather than downsize. That reduces turnover and limits the supply available to younger buyers and growing families.
The Virginia Housing Commission presentation noted that approximately three-quarters of Americans in their 80s still live in single-family homes. Demand for detached housing is therefore likely to remain strong even as Virginia’s population changes.
The challenge is not simply building more homes. It is creating the right mix of housing—including starter homes, smaller detached homes, townhomes and age-friendly communities—in places where residents can access transportation, utilities and essential services.
Rural Living Requires Some Homework
Moving farther out can offer tremendous advantages, but buyers need to understand the tradeoffs.
Properties outside suburban utility areas may rely on private wells and septic systems. Internet and cellular coverage can vary from one road to another. Emergency services, healthcare, grocery stores and schools may be farther away.
Long driveways, private roads, drainage, flood zones, agricultural activity and property maintenance should also be considered. A five-acre property may sound wonderful until a buyer realizes how much time and money it takes to maintain it.
That does not make rural property a poor choice. It simply means the property needs to be evaluated as carefully as the house itself.
My construction and remodeling background often helps clients look beyond finishes and staging to understand the practical aspects of a property—from roofs, crawlspaces and drainage to wells, septic systems and future renovation possibilities.
Affordability Remains the Larger Challenge
Remote work may allow buyers to search across a wider area, but it does not solve Virginia’s housing shortage.
State and local leaders will still need to work together to encourage a broader range of housing while balancing infrastructure, transportation and community character. Simply pushing development farther into rural counties can create new problems if roads, schools, broadband and public services are not prepared for the growth.
The goal should be thoughtful growth that gives people more choices—not growth for its own sake.
My Take
After 25 years in real estate, I have watched buyer priorities change many times. What we are seeing with remote work feels more significant than a temporary market adjustment.
The daily commute is no longer the deciding factor it once was for many households. Buyers are increasingly asking a different question:
If I can work from almost anywhere, where do I actually want to live?
For many people, the answer may be Williamsburg—or one of the smaller communities surrounding it.
That shift could bring new life and investment to parts of Virginia that spent years losing residents. At the same time, it will place additional pressure on housing supply, infrastructure and affordability.
Remote work has not eliminated geography, but it has redrawn the map.
Sources: Virginia Housing Commission—Demographic Trends and Housing in Virginia
About the Author
Every Home Has a Story.
I’m John Womeldorf, better known as Mr. Williamsburg. I’m a Virginia native, longtime Williamsburg resident and full-time Realtor® with Liz Moore & Associates. For more than 25 years, I have helped buyers and sellers understand not only the homes they are considering, but also the neighborhoods, market trends and lifestyle surrounding them.
I write these articles to help people better understand the changes shaping Williamsburg and communities throughout Virginia—from Richmond to Hampton Roads and beyond.
If remote work has given you the freedom to reconsider where you live, I would be happy to help you explore Williamsburg, James City County, York County, New Kent, Charles City or one of the region’s more rural communities.
John Womeldorf | Mr. Williamsburg
Realtor® | Liz Moore & Associates
Call or text: 757-254-8136
Email: John@MrWilliamsburg.com
Website: MrWilliamsburg.com
Liz Moore & Associates office locations: Williamsburg, Oyster Point/Newport News, Richmond/Short Pump, Kilmarnock, Virginia Beach, Northern Neck and the Peninsula.