PC Magazine has ranked Longmont among the 20 best cities in the nation for working from home, citing the city’s NextLight  municipal broadband service as one of the reasons. Longmont ranked no. 17 on the list.

“Longmont is a more affordable alternative to expensive Boulder, with 300 days of sunshine each year, a municipal fiber provider and an easy drive to both Boulder and Denver,” the magazine said in its write-up. A resident quoted for the article also referenced the community’s downtown shops and restaurants, local breweries and availability of free public parking.

The magazine has repeatedly ranked NextLight itself among the fastest internet providers in the nation since 2018, with last year’s list placing NextLight at no. 3 in the U.S. The 2022 speed rankings are expected to be published this summer.

“With more people than ever working remotely, reliable and affordable high-speed internet is crucial to daily life,” said Valerie Dodd, NextLight’s executive director. “We’re proud to support Longmont’s residents and businesses with the quality service they need and are excited to see how they use NextLight’s fiber internet every day to work, learn and relax.”

PCMag analyst Chris Stobing grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and worked in New York, but now makes his home in Colorado. He has “vastly more” space than he did in New York, and said the area is spectacular for outdoorsy types, with trail running, climbing studios, yoga, and snowboarding all nearby.

Longmont Mayor Joan Peck is extremely proud of the Top 20 recognition because it highlights both the incredible advantages of city-owned fiber internet and the quality of municipal employees who have helped to create an incredible quality of life in Longmont.

“Even though the coronavirus shut down our everyday routines, City of Longmont staff rolled up their sleeves and transitioned many City services online to keep serving our community,” Peck said. “From recreation fitness classes to permit applications and City Council meetings, we used technology to bring the City — and its essential services — into the homes and businesses of our community.”

The PCMag story can be found at https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-best-work-from-home-cities-for-2022.

About Longmont, Colorado
Longmont, Colorado, is a 29-square-mile city with more than 300 days of sunshine and a spectacular vista of the Rocky Mountains. With a population of nearly 100,000, Longmont sits at an elevation of 4,979 feet above sea level. With more than 1,800 acres of parks and open space, a robust craft beverage scene, thriving art culture, fresh dining opportunities, and a Main Street teeming with new energy, Longmont is perfect for everyone from young families to those young at heart. Longmont is also home to several high-tech companies and a nationally recognized school district. Longmont is located in Boulder County conveniently situated 37 miles from Denver, 16 miles from Boulder and 30 miles from Rocky Mountain National Park.

About NextLight
NextLight is Longmont’s community-owned fiber-optic internet service, empowering a fully-connected Longmont with the resources for life.  NextLight has made Longmont the first “gigabit city” in Colorado and been nationally recognized for its speed, affordability and quality.  To learn more, visit www.mynextlight.com.