In one embodiment, a load-balancer in a computer network receives an end-device request for a particular network-based resource, and determines a popularity of the particular network-based resource being requested in comparison to other network-based resources requested by end devices in the computer network. In response to the particular network-based resource being popularly requested, the load-balancer forwards the end-device request into a Fog network to cause the Fog network to respond to the end-device request with particular network-based resource. Conversely, in response to the particular network-based resource not being popularly requested, the load-balancer forwards the end-device request into a Cloud network to cause the Cloud network to respond to the end-device request with particular network-based resource.