Passion projects often represent an opportunity to unleash creativity and spend time doing something that sparks genuine joy. Finding a city that provides support and easy access to the tools needed to bring passion projects to life is important. Whether you are pursuing a hobby in a new city or launching a creative venture, establishing a digital presence on Squarespace can help your projects thrive.
We analyzed over 100 cities to identify which U.S. locations help passion projects thrive the most. Our ranking considers the cost-of-living index, self-employment rate, state income tax rate, and search volume for “passion project.”
Additionally, we analyzed over 30 passion projects to find which are the most profitable. Our ranking used search volumes for “[passion project],” YoY search growth, average annual income, hourly wage, and the number of freelance and job postings for the passion project.
The Top 10 Cities for Passion Projects
1. Houston, Texas
For those looking to pursue a passion project, Houston, Texas, is the place to be. With no state income tax, residents can keep more of their profits. Houston’s cost-of-living index of 96.9 is lower than the national average, making it cheaper to run a business since a dollar goes further. Additionally, a high search volume of 2,140 for “passion projects” and a self-employment rate of 12.30% signal a healthy economic environment, with most of the 288,947 residents self-sufficient and not dependent on a single employer. Together, these factors showcase a high quality of life in Houston, which is needed for passion projects to thrive.
2. New York, New York
New York is a place where you can turn creative ideas into reality, so it should be no surprise that the hub for passion projects is ranked as the #2 city where passion projects thrive, especially since search volume for “passion projects” is 3,720, the highest of the ranking. A cost-of-living index of 172.5 may be one of the highest on the list, but that doesn’t stop New Yorkers from pursuing projects. Additionally, New York has a self-employment rate of 10.70% and a moderate state income tax rate of 5.40%, indicating the strength of the city’s economy.
3. Dallas, Texas
Coming in at #3 is Dallas, Texas, for cities that help passion projects thrive. The city is one of the more expensive cities, with a cost-of-living index of 100.2, but a state income tax of 0.00% allows businesses to keep more of their profits. Additionally, a self-employment rate of 12.30% and a search volume of 1,520 for “passion project” all suggest that passion projects will benefit greatly from being based in Dallas.
4. San Antonio, Texas
Following close behind is San Antonio, Texas, one of the more affordable major cities in the state, with a cost-of-living index of 91.3. With a 0% state income tax and a 12.30% self-employment rate, it allows passion projects to thrive. Also, a search volume of 1,300 for “passion project” shows a local interest in turning creative ideas into reality.
5. Los Angeles, California
Known as a city for dreamers and creatives, Los Angeles, California, is the #5 top city for passion projects. Although the city may be expensive for the average person, with a cost-of-living index of 161.7 and a state income tax of 6.00%, that doesn’t stop it from being a place where passion projects thrive. There’s a 13.70% self-employment rate and a 2,440 search volume for “passion project” showing that with hard work and determination, passion projects can thrive in the home of Hollywood.
6. Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, is the #6 top city for passion projects and, just like other Texas cities, has a self-employment rate of 12.30% and a state income tax rate of 0.00%. Although it’s on the pricier side, a cost-of-living index of 129.1 and the city’s countless opportunities for those pursuing projects in the entertainment or tech industries make it worth it. Also, locals are clearly interested in pursuing their own projects since search volume for “passion project” is high.
7. Memphis, Tennessee
With a 0% state income tax and a 11.70% self-employment rate, Memphis, Tennessee, ranks as the #7 top city for passion projects. The cost-of-living index is 85.8, making it an accessible and affordable place for those pursuing projects. On top of this, a search volume of 850 for “passion project” indicates growing local interest in passion projects.
8. Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas, comes in at #8 for cities where passion projects thrive. Fort Worth’s cost-of-living index of 101.5 is on the higher side, but the absence of state income tax allows residents to keep more of their profits, which helps their projects flourish. Additionally, a high search volume of 1,130 for “passion projects” and a self-employment rate of 12.30% signal a healthy economic environment in which many residents are self-sufficient. For many creatives and entrepreneurs turning passion projects into their own businesses, tools like Acuity Scheduling can help simplify appointment booking and client management so they can focus more on growing their project.
9. Lincoln, Nebraska
Coming in at #9 among the top cities for passion projects, with a search volume of 1,340 for “passion project,” is Lincoln, Nebraska. The city’s cost-of-living index of 92.6 makes it a more affordable place to pursue passion projects, especially since the state’s income tax is a low 4.55%. A self-employment rate of 12.80% shows many locals’ projects have thrived in Lincoln.
10. El Paso, Texas
Finishing up the top ten best cities for passion projects is El Paso, Texas. In line with other major Texas cities, El Paso has a self-employment rate of 12.30% and a state income tax rate of 0%, allowing locals to keep more of their profits. While the search volume for “passion project” is 600, the city remains a place where passion projects thrive due to its vast opportunities across industries.
The Top 5 Passion Projects
1. App Development
Coming in at #1 as the passion project is App Development, which has seen year-on-year search growth of 119%. With an average annual income of $119,786 and an hourly wage of $57.59, those who pursue app development tend to thrive because they see a high return on their efforts. This passion project has a monthly search volume of 1,160 and a moderate 2,204 in freelance/job postings, which are strong indicators that App Development is in demand.
2. 3D Printing/Maker Projects
With an average annual income of $101,249, 3D Printing/Maker Projects is the #2 passion project. A monthly search volume of 12,210 indicates that many Americans are interested in this passion project, even though its year-over-year search growth is -5.00%. Those who pursue 3D Printing/Maker Projects see an hourly wage of $48.68, which is above the national average, and 2,787 freelance/job postings shows a strong demand for those pursuing this project.
3. Pottery/Ceramics
Known as one of the most popular creative hobbies, it’s no surprise that Pottery/Ceramics is the #3 top passion project. A 18.00% year-on-year search growth and 1,000 freelance/job postings may be on the lower side compared to others in the ranking, but a 4,290 monthly search volume shows how interested people are in it. With hard work, this passion project can bring in an average annual income of $106,858 and an hourly wage of $51.37.
4. Author/Writer
Author/Writer ranks as the #4 top passion project, with a monthly search volume of 10,230. This passion project has been popular for decades, and a year-on-year search growth of 189.00% and 7,201 freelance/job postings indicate that pursuing this passion project offers a high opportunity for growth. Additionally, an average annual income of $81,001 and an hourly wage of $38.94 shows that this passion project can be quite lucrative for those who pursue it.
5. Web Design/Development
Rounding up the top 5 is Web Design/Development, with a high monthly search volume of 11,530. Between 13,141 freelance/job postings and a 111.00% year-on-year search growth, Web Design/Development is the perfect passion project for those who are looking for something in demand. Although it has a steep learning curve, it offers great rewards, including an average annual income of $72,500, an hourly wage of $34.86, and the satisfaction of knowing you made something others can use.
Choosing a Place Where Passion Projects Will Flourish
The right environment can be a spark that turns an after-work hobby into a meaningful project. Whether it’s the affordability of a less expensive city or the collaborative opportunities of a lively one, where you choose to pursue your passions matters as much as the work itself.
No matter what type of project you choose or where you choose to pursue it, your online presence is an important asset. Squarespace makes it simple to build a website that showcases your work and connects you with others, so you can stay focused on what matters most, wherever you call home.
To determine which cities are best for passion projects and which projects are most profitable, we used ZipRecruiter to find the average hourly and annual earnings for each project. We analyzed city affordability using cost-of-living data from Best Places and included tax-related factors from the U.S. Census ACS, Visual Capitalist, and the Tax Foundation.
We also used Keywordtool.io to find Google search interest around “passion projects” search growth for each passion project category. Finally, we used Indeed to find the number of freelance job postings.