In today’s competitive market, where talent is scarce and every dollar counts, choosing the right location can make or break your business.

From boosting employee morale to improving your bottom line, every decision around your office choice has a ripple effect. So, how do you make sure you’re choosing wisely? Let’s dive into the must-have factors that will set your business up for success and ensure you’re not just surviving but thriving in a challenging landscape.

In this article, you’ll learn:

1. What unexpected factor is making your employees quit?
2. Why workforce talent access makes hiring easier.
3. How to boost the success of a return-to-office movement
4. Why crime has emerged as a top decider of where to (not) place an office.
5. How to identify cities on the brink of a collapse

1. Accessibility: No One Likes a Long Commute

If there’s one thing your workforce will thank you for, it’s an easy commute. Long travel times don’t just lead to unhappy employees—they also affect productivity and turnover. This is especially true in a hybrid-dominated environment. According to UC Today, nearly half of workers would consider quitting if their employer enforced a full-time, in-office policy.

This sentiment is echoed among higher-level employees as well. Research from Gartner HR highlights that one-third of executives would contemplate leaving their positions if required to work in the office full-time.

So it turns out, your commute might be the real dealbreaker. Going even deeper, the University of West England found that for every extra minute spent commuting that employees are not even less happy but are more likely to quit.

So, what does good accessibility look like?

• Commute Time: Aim for an average commute of 30 minutes or less for most employees. Use mapping tools to analyze traffic patterns and public transit options.
• Transit Proximity: Offices within a 0.5-mile radius of a transit hub attract higher employee attendance and punctuality.
• Parking Availability: In car-dependent cities, parking is king. Evaluate whether the site has enough parking and what it costs—especially if 80% of your workforce drives to work.

Why it Matters: Happy employees are productive employees, and a well-placed office can help you recruit and retain top talent.

2. Workforce Talent Access

When it comes to building a high-performing team, location is key.

Being near talent hubs—like top universities and thriving industry clusters—gives you a direct pipeline to skilled professionals. Just look at Silicon Valley, where the tech boom has been fueled by a combination of major industry players and institutions like Stanford University. This synergy has created a deep, continuous talent pool that provides an anchor for the region’s future success in this industry. 

And now, this precedent set has expanded into the numerous AI company leases cropping up in the area. Read more about how this process has been sped up the fire-sale of office properties in the Bay area in the wake of the pandemic: 3 Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing Real Estate.

• In San Francisco, over 30% of the workforce is employed in tech, creating a concentrated talent pool that’s easily tapped into.
• New York City boasts more than 200,000 financial sector workers, making it a prime destination for firms in finance and related industries.

3. Local Amenities

The surrounding amenities play a huge role in the employee experience, influencing everything from job satisfaction to retention rates. Obviously, this is true especially if you want to bring your employees back into the office.

According to Gartner, nearly 60% of employees say that proximity to dining, retail, and wellness facilities directly impacts their happiness at work. In fact, Harvard Business Review found that companies with easy access to these amenities have 30% higher employee satisfaction and a 25% increase in retention rates.

Key Metrics:

• Dining and Retail Options: Aim for locations with at least 20 dining and retail establishments within a 1-mile radius. This provides employees with a variety of lunch options, convenient shopping, and easy access to errands, all of which help improve their workday experience.
• Fitness and Wellness Facilities: Proximity to fitness centers within 0.5 miles can have a significant impact on employee well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that employees who engage in regular physical activity are 27% more productive and take 40% fewer sick days. So many businesses feature fitness centers on-property. 
• Childcare and Healthcare Services: Having childcare and healthcare services within a 1-mile radius supports employees’ work-life balance. According to a Gallup poll, 53% of working parents consider on-site childcare or nearby facilities essential to staying in their current job. Read about why Daycare Centers in Offices are Leading as Modern Amenities

When you choose a location with these amenities, you’re not only making life easier for your employees but also investing in their overall well-being, which directly translates to increased satisfaction, productivity, and retention.

4. Crime Rates

Safety is non-negotiable. If your office is in a high-crime area, you’re not just risking your employees’ well-being—you’re driving your business into the ground.

As crime rates climb, Propmodo reports, office vacancies follow suit, and companies abandon urban centers for safer, more stable neighborhoods.

But it’s worse than just relocating—this shift triggers an urban dystopian spiral. As businesses flee, retail establishments close, and the very amenities that employees need to feel connected to the office disappear. Without vibrant surroundings, you can kiss those return-to-office plans goodbye.

Key metrics:

• Crime Rate Comparison: Look for areas with crime rates at least 20% lower than the city average. A lower crime rate means less risk for your employees during their commute and workday, and it shows potential clients that you prioritize safety.
• Crime-Related Vacancy Rates: Research the percentage of vacancies in areas with rising crime. According to Propmodo, crime spikes directly contribute to a 10-15% increase in office vacancies in high-crime neighborhoods. 

5. Economic Trends and Property Value Stability 

Like discussed, where your office sits in a location is a reflection of the broader economic health of that area. If property values are dropping and vacancy rates are climbing, it’s a warning sign: the local economy is struggling, and your business might be next.

As vacancy rates climb, not only do property values take a hit, but the entire market starts to feel the strain—empty buildings lead to empty streets, less foot traffic, and less demand. Again, without these vibrant external amenities, you risk a cycle of economic decay—a death spiral that’s tough to reverse.

Let’s take a look at some cities where this trend is playing out in real-time:

• Dayton, Ohio: The CBD vacancy rate stands at a crippling 37.5%. With outdated office stock and a declining manufacturing sector, the market is struggling.
• Dallas, Texas: The CBD vacancy rate is a staggering 34%. Overdevelopment during the city’s boom years has created an oversupply of office space that is now hard to fill.
• Louis, Missouri: The CBD vacancy rate is 33%. Slow population growth and rising unemployment signal broader economic struggles.
• San Antonio, Texas: The CBD vacancy rate is 31.4%, fueled by the city’s heavy reliance on government and military sectors. The lack of economic diversification has hindered efforts to revitalize the downtown area.
• Las Vegas, Nevada: The CBD vacancy rate sits at 31%.  The city’s reliance on a tourism-driven economy has left it vulnerable, especially as remote work reduces demand for traditional office spaces.

In cities like these, the deterioration of office space is just the beginning. As vacancy rates climb and property values fall, businesses risk being caught in the crossfire of broader economic instability.

6. Infrastructure and Building Features

When you’re looking for office space, location is just the tip of the iceberg.

Pay attention to the building’s infrastructure—whether it’s energy-efficient features, solid internet speeds, or the ability to grow with your business. These factors play a huge role in your long-term success, and they’re a big reason why Class A offices continue to lead the market with lower vacancy rates.

A building with outdated systems isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it can slow down operations and eat into your bottom line. For example, if we look at energy efficiency as a component of modern building

infrastructure, it’s more than just a buzzword—it can actually save tenants up to 30% in operational costs per property.

So, think about smart HVAC systems, better insulation, and energy-efficient lighting—these are small upgrades that make a big difference in the long run.

Then, there’s the question of internet connectivity. In today’s world, fast, reliable internet isn’t optional—it’s essential. Your office should have speeds of at least 100 Mbps to handle video calls, cloud-based tools, and remote work without any hiccups. Anything less than that, and you risk frustrating your team, causing delays, and ultimately losing productivity. Nobody has time for lagging internet when deadlines are on the line.

Takeaways for Tenants

Choosing the right office location requires a comprehensive approach, balancing factors like accessibility, proximity to talent, available amenities, safety, economic stability, and robust infrastructure. By prioritizing these data-driven metrics, tenants can ensure long-term operational success and employee satisfaction.

For more actionable strategies on navigating today’s evolving real estate landscape, download our guide, Surviving the Office Apocalypse. It’s your key to thriving in an unpredictable market.