Exploring the Interplay Between Telework, E-Shopping and Residential Preferences: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped daily life, making telework and e-shopping central to work and consumption patterns. This study examines their interplay with residential preferences using a mixed-methods approach, where insights from 30 interviews (June–July 2022) informed the design and interpretation of a survey of 1,900 individuals (Oct 2023–Jan 2024) in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Portugal). Telecommuters report higher satisfaction mainly due to improved work–life balance and time and cost savings, with 41.6% wishing to telework more often. Among e-shoppers, teleworkers engage more frequently in online grocery purchases and meal deliveries than non-teleworkers. Those considering relocation are less satisfied with proximity to family, friends, and schools. A suburban house is preferred by 42.1% of respondents, reflecting valued attributes such as easy parking, car accessibility, green spaces, privacy, and quietness. These results also support interview insights that suburban relocation may increase motorized travel due to the importance placed on parking and car accessibility.