The idea of getting paid to pick up your life and move somewhere new sounds almost too good to be true. Yet across the United States, towns and cities are doing exactly that, handing out thousands of dollars in cash and perks to attract fresh residents. In recent years, a number of U.S. cities and states have started programs to offer financial incentives to certain individuals, particularly those engaging in remote work, to relocate. While some of these programs existed before the COVID-19 pandemic, several expanded dramatically during that time as many professions adjusted to allow workers to live anywhere. The trend has grown into a genuine movement, and the numbers behind it are hard to ignore.
More than just a headline, the concept of cities offering incentives for people to relocate has gained significant momentum in recent years. According to MakeMyMove, more than 5,000 remote workers have made the jump to new states since 2019, and collectively they have snagged over $50 million in cash and perks. A surprising 68% of full-time workers say they’d be better off living in a different U.S. city or town, a sign that a majority of the workforce believes they could benefit from a new backdrop. Here are five standout towns that are actively writing checks to make that happen.
1. Tulsa, Oklahoma – $10,000 to Call the Oil Capital Home
Tulsa Remote, launched in 2018 with funding from the George Kaiser Family Foundation, provides $10,000 to eligible remote workers who relocate to Tulsa and commit to stay for at least one year. The program has become the most well-studied relocation initiative in the country, drawing participants from across all 50 states. Oklahoma has embraced relocation incentives through Tulsa Remote, which provides over $10,000 in incentives including cash and community perks for remote workers moving to the city. In addition to the cash, participants receive coworking memberships, community event invitations, and local discounts that sweeten the deal considerably.
2. Topeka, Kansas – Up to $15,000 for Renters and Buyers Alike
Topeka, Kansas, with a population of around 125,000, offers new residents up to $15,000 as part of the Choose Topeka program. The initiative offers on-site workers up to $10,000 if they rent in the area and up to $15,000 to those who buy a home. The program casts a broad net, welcoming remote workers, on-site employees, and even people with local ties who want to return. Transitioning military service members and former residents who return to the city are also eligible to receive $5,000, and to qualify, workers need to rent or purchase a home as their primary residence within a year of moving to Shawnee County.
With a typical home value of around $186,706 and a median rent of just $950, Topeka represents one of the most affordable entry points of any relocation-incentive city in the country. The combination of low housing costs and a five-figure cash incentive means newcomers can genuinely feel the financial difference from day one. Kansas has spent over a decade encouraging people to move to rural areas of the state, many of which have seen consistent population declines, and Topeka’s program is the most prominent urban example of that statewide effort to reverse the trend.
3. Morgantown, West Virginia – $12,000 Plus a Year of Free Adventure
The Ascend WV program pays full-time remote workers $12,000 to relocate to five different communities across the Mountain State. To receive the full incentive, applicants have to live in West Virginia for at least two consecutive years. Morgantown is one of the flagship Ascend communities, offering a lively college-town atmosphere alongside the program’s signature outdoor recreation perks. Beyond the monetary benefits, Ascend WV offers a year of free access to outdoor recreational activities including whitewater rafting, skiing, rock climbing, and horseback riding, valued at over $2,500. The program also offers free gear rentals and a complimentary coworking space.
Ascend West Virginia is the first and only multi-location talent attraction and recruitment program in the United States. Together with its companion program First Ascent, both programs have drawn nearly 65,000 applicants, relocated upwards of 950 new residents, and kept 60 graduates in West Virginia, boasting above a 96% retention rate. Ascend members carry an average annual individual income exceeding $97,000, and each participant relocates to West Virginia with an average of 1.9 accompanying individuals, meaning each accepted applicant typically brings an entire household into the state’s economy.
4. The Shoals, Alabama – $10,000 for Remote Workers Earning $52K or More
Tuscumbia, Florence, Muscle Shoals, and Sheffield, known collectively as “the Shoals,” are located along the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama. The Shoals Economic Development Authority’s Remote Shoals Program provides up to $10,000 in incentives for qualified applicants who make $52,000 or more per year as full-time remote employees or independent contractors. The area sits close to Nashville and Birmingham, giving residents proximity to major metros without the price tag that comes with living in them. With a typical home value of around $246,673 in Muscle Shoals and a median rent of $1,400, the region remains accessible even before the cash incentive kicks in.
The Shoals gives residents options across four different cities and places them in close proximity to Birmingham, Nashville, and Memphis. Residents of this area enjoy a relatively low cost of living compared to most big cities. The Remote Shoals program distributes its $10,000 payment in installments over the course of the qualifying period, encouraging new residents to put down proper roots rather than collect the check and leave. Applications for the program reopen periodically, and the Shoals area covers Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, with the four main cities being Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia.
5. Tulsa, Oklahoma – $10,000 Cash Plus a Full Year of Support
Tulsa Remote might be the most well-known relocation incentive program in the entire country, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. The program offers $10,000 in cash to remote workers who move to Tulsa, Oklahoma, paid out over the course of a year, plus access to a coworking space, a community of fellow transplants, and local perks designed to make settling in as smooth as possible. What makes Tulsa stand out from the other towns on this list is that it doesn’t just hand you a check and wave goodbye – it genuinely tries to integrate newcomers into the community through organized events, mentorship, and local connections. Since launching in 2018, Tulsa Remote has attracted thousands of applicants and accepted hundreds of participants, many of whom ended up staying long after the program ended. The city itself is surprisingly vibrant, with a booming arts scene, a strong food culture, and neighborhoods like the Pearl District drawing comparisons to trendier urban areas at a fraction of the cost. The median home price in Tulsa hovers around $185,000, which feels almost unreal compared to coastal cities. If you’ve been on the fence about leaving a pricey metro, Tulsa makes a genuinely compelling argument.
<p>The post These 5 U.S. Towns Are Paying People to Move There first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>