The Great Remote Work Migration: Why Tech Workers Are Flocking to Long Island’s Suburban Communities in 2025
The landscape of American work has fundamentally shifted, and nowhere is this more evident than in the migration patterns of tech professionals. As 20% of remote workers plan to relocate in 2025, nearly half (49%) of those planning to move are heading to suburban areas, with Long Island emerging as a prime destination for technology professionals seeking the perfect balance between career flexibility and quality of life.
The Remote Work Revolution Continues
Remote work continues to transform how Americans live, with lasting impacts on housing choices, migration patterns, and work-life priorities, evolving into a preferred work model for employees and a strategic necessity for businesses. The growth in hybrid job postings has surged from 15% in Q2 2023 to nearly a quarter (24%) of new jobs in Q2 2025, with fully in-office jobs continuing to decline.
For tech workers specifically, this flexibility has opened unprecedented opportunities. Among remote workers surveyed, 62% identify as tech workers, making them the driving force behind this residential reshuffling. While just 19% of job seekers prefer in-office jobs, half prefer hybrid work and a quarter opt for fully remote, with the majority (70%) including hybrid in their preferred options.
Why Long Island Appeals to Tech Professionals
Long Island offers a compelling proposition for remote tech workers seeking suburban living without sacrificing access to major metropolitan opportunities. Living on Long Island offers the perfect balance — suburban space and lifestyle while still being within reach of New York City’s job opportunities and cultural attractions, with the key being finding the right commuter town to make daily trips into the city as smooth as possible.
The region’s appeal extends beyond convenience. The Long Island median price hit $650,000 in early 2025, with rent demand remaining high as professionals and family buyers who cannot buy opt for long-term leases over purchasing. Despite rising costs, tech workers find value in Long Island’s established infrastructure, excellent schools, and proximity to both natural beauty and urban amenities.
Communities like Garden City offer direct train service to Penn Station in about 35 minutes, while Rockville Centre combines great schools, express train service, and vibrant nightlife with trips to Penn Station taking about 35–40 minutes. These commuter-friendly towns allow tech professionals to maintain hybrid work arrangements while enjoying suburban benefits.
The Suburban Shift Phenomenon
The suburban shift dominated 2024 migration patterns, with 53% of movers choosing suburban areas compared to 30% moving to urban locations and 17% to rural settings. This trend reflects changing priorities among remote workers, particularly those in technology.
“Change of scene” has emerged as a primary driver, with 43% of potential movers citing it as their reason for relocating, while 29% of those planning to move are doing so to buy a house. For tech workers with newfound location flexibility, Long Island represents an opportunity to invest in property while maintaining career momentum.
Year-over-year migration shows a clear shift of people leaving the city and going to the suburbs on Long Island, with Suffolk and Nassau counties seeing migration gains of 235% and 71%, respectively.
Navigating the Move to Long Island
For tech professionals considering the move to Long Island, choosing the right moving partner becomes crucial. The transition from urban apartments to suburban homes often involves complex logistics, valuable equipment, and the need for reliable, professional service.
When searching for experienced moving companies long island new york, tech workers need partners who understand the unique challenges of relocating valuable electronics, home office setups, and the time-sensitive nature of maintaining productivity during a move.
Dunbar Moving is a full-service, fully licensed and insured moving company located in Stony Brook, New York in Suffolk County, Long Island, with experienced team members who are seasoned professionals with a thirty-year track record of local Long Island moving, proudly servicing Long Island as a full service local moving company for over 30 years.
Whether moving a few boxes or an entire household, their professional moving services provide prompt, courteous, fair and reliable service with clear pricing, understanding that moving can be stressful in any situation, whether moving from an apartment to a home, downsizing, upsizing, or renovating.
The Future of Tech Work and Suburban Living
As we approach 2025, the remote work landscape continues to evolve, shaped by rapid technological advancements, shifting workforce priorities, and growing demand for sustainable practices, with staying ahead of these trends no longer optional but a necessity for organizations aiming to remain agile and future-ready.
The Long Island Forward Housing Program directly addresses the region’s most pressing economic challenge – the lack of diverse, affordable housing options that are critical to retaining young talent and supporting small businesses, helping municipalities identify development opportunities and engage with developers to transform underutilized sites into vibrant housing developments.
For tech workers, Long Island represents more than just a change of address—it’s an opportunity to redefine work-life integration. Remote work provides flexibility and work–life balance, letting employees set schedules around life needs – from doctor appointments to childcare – improving work–life balance while cutting commuting time and stress, which enhances mental and physical health.
Making the Move
The great remote work migration to Long Island’s suburban communities reflects a broader transformation in how and where Americans choose to live and work. For tech professionals, the combination of career flexibility, suburban amenities, and proximity to major metropolitan areas creates an attractive proposition for 2025 and beyond.
Dunbar Moving knows the island and cares about their clients, providing professional moving services with prompt, courteous, fair and reliable service whether moving a few boxes, an entire household, an entire office or valuable antiques. Their trucks are always fully stocked with protective blankets, tape, boxes, shrink wrap, and other moving-related items to ensure experienced movers are always fully prepared, being meticulous in all aspects from packing to moving so clients can trust their valuable personal effects.
As this migration continues, Long Island stands positioned to benefit from an influx of skilled tech professionals seeking the perfect blend of suburban tranquility and metropolitan accessibility. For those ready to make the move, the key is partnering with experienced professionals who understand both the technical and emotional aspects of relocation in this new era of work.