COVID-ictionary: Zoom towns — (noun) referring to housing markets that are experiencing a “boom,” as remote work options continue to rise. 🏡 Also: another phrase to add to your pandemic glossary.

You may have seen this term thrown around recently, as many workers are telecommuting more due to the global pandemic. This shift has provided many work-from-homers with new and ample opportunities to live where they please, regardless of where their office may be located.

In many cases, this means people are fleeing the hustle and bustle of larger metropolitan areas in favor of more spacious, tranquil, and affordable locales to practice their craft. Does this ring a bell for anyone? We’re thinking of a certain warm-ish weather city, situated just about equidistant from the Smoky Mountains and the Atlantic Coast + boasting plenty of small town charm and big city culture.

As you may have guessed, the Triangle has been making national headlines recently for its desirability as a Zoom town (and desirability in general, if you ask us) — along with some other places you may have heard of, including Knoxville, TN; Charleston and Greenville, SC; Virginia Beach, VA; plus Charlotte and Greensboro just down the road. So let’s see exactly how we measure up.

○ Raleigh was ranked #3 on USA Today’s recent list of 20 Cheap American Cities That Are Seeing a Boom of Move-ins this Year. The research compared local costs of living to the national average, and our area was found to be 3.4% lower than most other metros. And the majority of potential buyers prospecting our city? They’re from the northeast: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

○ Durham was also named among the top 10 cities to relocate to during the pandemic, according to a survey commissioned by Airbnb.

And while only time will tell if these “Zoomers” are here to stay, we like to think that one thing’s for certain — home is where the heart is, and our hearts are right here with you all. Click here to see some of the reasons we think people have chosen to settle in our city.