These U.S. Locations Pay Up to $10,000 to Relocate

9 U.S. Cities Offering Relocation Payments 

As living expenses, interest rates, and healthcare costs soar, the affordability of residing in the United States is dwindling. Many Americans are actively seeking ways to trim their expenses. In response, several smaller cities and municipalities across the U.S. are enticing new residents with relocation packages. These packages often include perks such as complimentary gym memberships, dinners with local officials, and cash incentives. For those considering a move, here are the top relocation options to explore.

1. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa Remote was a ground-breaking service when it launched in 2018. It promised remote employees and business owners $10,000 in exchange for a year-long transfer to Tulsa, a city in the south-central United States. Since then, around 2,900 people have joined the program. By December 2022, these members had earned nearly $307 million from their jobs. The program also brought in about $2.5 million in new sales tax for Tulsa County and $3.1 million for Oklahoma state. Justin Harlan, who manages the company, mentioned that for every two people who join the program, three more friends or family members move to Tulsa. Currently, applications are being accepted for new participants in the program. 

2. Indiana

Indiana has taken the initiative to offer incentives and relocation packages to draw in new employees. MakeMyMove reports that these packages are available in various Indiana cities and areas, and by 2023, the platform will assist around 340 households in moving to the state. There are several possibilities for people who are thinking about moving to this state. A fifteen-thousand-dollar relocation package to Noblesville, an Indianapolis suburb, consists of a $5,000 grant, a free golf season at two courses, and an opportunity to have coffee with the mayor. Qualified applicants in Evansville can take advantage of a $7,200 incentive package that includes museum passes, $5,000 in cash, and a one-year membership to the oldest urban old-growth forest in the United States.

3. West Virginia

Alys and Brad D. Smith, the former CEO of Intuit and a native of West Virginia, are the driving forces behind the innovative project Ascend West Virginia. In its third year, the program seeks to persuade individuals to relocate to West Virginia. A $12,000 monetary reward is given to participants, also known as Ascenders. In addition, they receive free passes for outdoor activities like rock climbing, ziplining, and golf. The package's total value exceeds $20,000. Over 42,500 applications have been submitted for the program thus far. Applicants to the program can select from five distinct West Virginian villages.

4. Topeka

When Choose Topeka first launched in 2019, it offered candidates enticing incentives through employer match financing of up to $15,000. Since then, more than 6,000 people have applied, and about 150 fortunate immigrants have been chosen to relocate to Kansas, sometimes referred to as the "Sunflower State." The program is not just available to remote workers; it is also open to transitioning veterans and former Topeka residents, also known as "Boomerangs," who are seeking to return to Shawnee County. If qualified candidates accept a job offer in Topeka with a minimum salary of $50,000, they will be eligible to receive direct bonuses of $5,000.

5. Kentucky

If relocating to Kentucky, also known as the Bluegrass State, is on your radar, numerous opportunities are awaiting you. According to MakeMyMove, eight towns and localities in Kentucky are actively seeking new employees. One particularly enticing offer comes from Mayfield and Graves County, where a relocation bonus of $8,800 is up for grabs. In addition to a $5,000 cash incentive, this package includes various perks such as a 50% discount on after-school childcare, a luncheon with the mayor, and a monthly delivery of free eggs. Some cities sweeten the deal even further by offering an additional $2,500 bonus to employees relocating with a spouse employed in the local healthcare or education sector.

6. The Shoals, Alabama

The Remote Shoals program, which offers qualified workers rewards up to $10,000, awaits them here, spanning four major cities and two counties. Since its June 2019 launch, the initiative has received a great deal of support; in 2022, it will receive funding for a fourth time, totaling $1 million. Participants came from 22 different states, and by February 2022, it had already received 2,300 applications from all 50 states as well as a few from outside. To be eligible, candidates must earn at least $52,000 per year, work for themselves or be employed full-time remotely outside of Colbert and Lauderdale counties, and pledge to move to the Shoals area within six months of being chosen.

7. Rochester, New York

Rochester is a great choice for remote workers looking for an escape from the bustle of New York City. Eligible participants in the Greater ROC Remote program can get up to $10,000 in grants and incentives, plus an extra $9,000 in subsidies for purchasing a property. The program, which debuted in April 2022 and was inspired by efforts such as Tulsa's, intends to draw about 600 participants over three years. Candidates must be at least eighteen years old, live more than 300 miles from downtown Rochester, work remotely, and reside in a state other than New York.

8. Alaska

Alaska, sometimes referred to as "The Last Frontier," is the least populous state in the union, with only 700,000 people living there as of the previous 10 years. Rather than offering financial incentives to attract prospective residents from other states, Alaska provides its citizens with an annual payout from the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD). Furthermore, annual variations in the amount are caused by government allotments. With a payout per inhabitant of $3,284 in 2022, the program achieved its biggest payout to date. But by 2023 and 2024, this sum had dropped to $1,312. 

9. Michigan

About 350 scholarships and internships are available through the Michigander Scholars program for the state of Michigan's expanding semiconductor, electric car, and mobility industries. Scholarships for $5,000 to $10,000 are awarded to those who successfully finish internships or land full-time positions in industries such as electronics, process engineering, software development, or computers. Under the direction of Kerry Ebersole Singh, the program carefully chooses participants to be part of a cohort and offers chances to network with possible companies, which may result in internship or employment offers. There are presently 521 students participating in the program, which has granted 62 scholarships since its inception.