Definition: Zoom town

A town within the U.S. that increased in population due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As remote work became commonplace, many people moved from the big cities to small towns nearby with a lower cost of living as well as to vacation destinations. Depending on the job, if it entails viewing a computer screen all day, it may make little difference where the computer is.

With Zoom towns springing up all over the U.S., home prices rose quickly. The following towns (in alphabetical order) have been cited as Zoom towns at one time or another. There are many more. See Zoom videoconferencing.

  Bellingham and Bellevue, Washington
  Boise, Idaho
  Burlington, Vermont
  Carmel, Indiana
  Cary, North Carolina
  Centennial, Colorado
  Fremont and Carlsbad, California
  Frisco, Texas
  Kingston, New York
  Olathe, Kansas
  Roanoke, Virginia

The Pandemic Changed Everything

This 2021 issue of PC Magazine highlighted many cities with good Internet service and comfortable living. In developed countries, the COVID pandemic dramatically changed the workplace. (Image courtesy of PCMag.com.)