Imagine getting a check just for packing your bags and starting fresh somewhere new. It sounds like something out of a dream, or maybe a mildly suspicious email from a Nigerian prince. But here’s the thing – it’s completely real. Across the United States, a growing number of cities are handing out serious cash to attract new residents, and the competition is getting fierce.
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. Honestly, if you’ve ever felt stuck where you are, this list might just change your life. Let’s dive in.
1. Tulsa, Oklahoma – The Gold Standard of Relocation Incentives
Tulsa Remote is a one-year program that offers a $10,000 grant and additional benefits to eligible remote workers who move to and work from Tulsa. It’s probably the most talked-about relocation program in the entire country right now, and for good reason.
Supported by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Tulsa Remote has grown from 70 remote workers when it launched in 2018 to more than 3,400 in 2025. That kind of growth doesn’t happen unless a program is genuinely delivering on its promises.
In addition to the $10,000 grant, participants receive a 36-month membership at a local coworking space, resources for their housing search, access to health and wellness benefits, and regular community-building opportunities. Think of it less like a handout and more like an entire welcome package designed to make you stay.
A new study found that the offering has been a financial success, giving more than $4 back to the city’s residents for every $1 spent. Tim Bartik, a senior economist at the Upjohn Institute, found that the program was six times more efficient at creating jobs than a business tax incentive of the same cost.
According to Tulsa Remote’s 2024 Sustainable Growth and Economic Impact report, people who have moved to Tulsa for the grant have collectively generated $622 million in direct employment income. Meanwhile, roughly seven in ten are still there after completing the program.
To qualify, you must be at least 18 years of age, authorized to work in the United States, have current full-time remote employment outside of Oklahoma, and be able to relocate to Tulsa within 12 months of approval. Applicants must also have lived outside of the state for one full year before applying.
2. Topeka, Kansas – Up to $15,000 for the Right Candidate
Choose Topeka is a nationally recognized talent incentive program designed to attract new residents to Topeka and Shawnee County. If you take a job with a participating employer and move to the area, you could qualify for up to $15,000 in relocation assistance. That’s actually more than $10,000 – making it one of the most generous programs on this list.
The program offers up to $10,000 gross in funds for renting in the first year of a candidate’s move, and up to $15,000 gross in funds for a home purchase or rehab in Topeka or Shawnee County. Whether you’re renting or buying, there’s a meaningful chunk of cash waiting for you.
The Choose Topeka Relocation Program initiative started after Shawnee County realized that roughly four in ten people who work in Topeka do not live in the county. Their goal is to compete to get those employees back to the community in order to support their tax base and their schools.
Since Choose Topeka launched in 2019, more than 500 people have relocated to claim incentives. They came from 47 different states and several countries. That’s not a small pilot experiment anymore. That’s a movement.
Kansas has one of the lowest costs of living in the country. Housing in Topeka runs well below the national average, and so do groceries, utilities, and transportation. A $15,000 relocation bonus in Topeka stretches a lot further than the same amount in Denver or Austin.
You have to live and work in Shawnee County for at least 12 months after receiving the money. If you leave your job or move away before the year is up, you may have to pay back part of the incentive. Fair enough – they want people who genuinely want to stay.
3. The Shoals, Alabama – Music History and $10,000 in Your Pocket
The Remote Shoals initiative is a relocation program that will pay you $10,000 to live in a region of northern Alabama known as “the Shoals.” The area is comprised of the cities of Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia. I know it sounds like a place you’ve never considered, but keep reading.
Muscle Shoals already attracts residents due to its affordability and rich cultural heritage. The city is just two hours from bigger urban areas like Nashville, Birmingham, and Memphis. But the Shoals also boasts its own piece of music history with iconic recording studios and attractions like the Fame Recording Studios. Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones recorded there. That’s not nothing.
The incentive for remote workers relocating under the Remote Shoals program is a financial incentive of up to $10,000, paid in three installments. The program incentive will vary depending on your hourly or annual wage and will be paid at the time of relocation, after six months, and at the end of the 12-month term.
To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, earn a minimum annual income of $52,000, and commit to moving within six months of acceptance. It’s a pretty clean list of requirements, honestly. Not unreasonably demanding.
The Shoals area is the perfect place for remote workers, with affordable real estate, low property taxes, and a low cost of living overall. With a median housing price around $204,917 in 2022, the Shoals is one of the most affordable metro areas of its size in Alabama.
It’s worth noting that the Remote Shoals program website currently states the cash incentive program has concluded, so if you’re interested, check the official site for the most current status. Although the incentive program has ended, the demand for skilled professionals remains strong, and the Shoals continues to prioritize attracting talent and supporting the region’s ongoing growth and economic development.
4. Newton, Iowa – $10,000 for Putting Down Roots
First launched in 2014, the Newton Housing Initiative in Newton, Iowa, was designed to stimulate new home construction, enhance housing quality, and fuel the city’s tax base. The program offers up to $10,000 cash and a “Get to Know Newton” welcome package to buyers of newly built, owner-occupied single-family homes valued at $240,000 or more.
Newton suffered when Whirlpool acquired Maytag in 2006, shuttering its headquarters and eliminating roughly 3,000 local jobs. By 2011, no single-family permits were issued. A housing study confirmed the community’s fears: families were leaving, the population was aging, and few young households were moving in. That context matters. These programs aren’t just feel-good gestures. They’re survival strategies.
Choose Newton and get up to $10,000 toward a new home. A “Get to Know Newton” welcome package includes discounts at local restaurants and shops valued at over $2,500. The welcome package is a nice touch that shows the city genuinely wants new residents to feel connected from day one.
The Newton Housing Initiative began in 2014 and runs through 2026. It offers individuals who build single-family homes valued at $240,000 or more within the city limits a $10,000 cash incentive. The goal is to create momentum for housing development within the community and to develop and ensure a stable and growing population.
Newton is located about 30 miles east of Des Moines, so you’re not completely isolated from city life either. House prices in Iowa are extremely affordable, which is a bonus in this otherwise unaffordable national housing market. That $10,000 incentive goes a long way here.
5. Jackson, Michigan – $25,000 in Down Payment Assistance for New Homebuyers
Jackson, Michigan, might be the sleeper pick on this entire list. It goes well beyond $10,000, and it’s a genuinely compelling place to live. Qualifying homebuyers can receive up to $25,000 in down payment support through the City of Jackson’s 100 Homes program – an initiative focused on revitalizing neighborhoods and increasing homeownership opportunities across the city.
Launched in fall 2023, the 100 Homes Program will help build 100 new single-family homes on vacant City-owned lots. The program is fueled by $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds. This isn’t a small side project. It’s a full-scale urban revitalization effort backed by federal money.
Homes in the Jackson 100 program are priced at $175,000. The city of Jackson will provide $25,000 in down payment assistance per home. Applicants are also encouraged to apply for an additional $10,000 of down payment assistance through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Stack those together and you’re looking at a remarkable deal on a brand-new home.
Located between Ann Arbor and Lansing, Jackson blends small-town charm with urban energy and natural beauty. Known for its vibrant arts scene, historic architecture, and a growing network of local businesses, Jackson offers a lifestyle that’s both welcoming and full of opportunity. Residents enjoy easy access to parks, lakes, walkable neighborhoods, and a revitalized downtown.
All homes are sold to qualified buyers earning up to 120 percent of the Area Median Income. Residents and current non-residents can purchase these homes with a traditional mortgage, and all homes must be owner-occupied. If you’ve been priced out of homeownership nearly everywhere else, Jackson might just be your answer.
Should You Actually Do It?
Let’s be real for a second. These programs are genuine, but they aren’t unconditional gifts. You need to commit to living in your newly chosen location for a set period before moving again. A 12-month minimum is common. You could be required to pay back some or all of the initial cash incentive if you leave before the allotted minimum time as a resident is reached.
A surprising roughly two-thirds of full-time workers think 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. If you’re already feeling that pull, then a $10,000 bonus to make the leap is more than just a nice sweetener. It’s a genuine reason to stop hesitating.
Communities across the U.S. are now competing to attract new residents who are fully employed but can live anywhere, offering increasingly large cash incentives to lure remote workers. That competition is only going to grow. The window to cash in on these programs while they’re still this generous may not last forever.
So – which city would you pack your bags for? Sometimes the best move you ever make is just that. A move.
