Cities That Pay You to Move There: How These Programs Work
The short answer: yes, a number of US cities and counties really do pay people to relocate, usually remote workers, with incentives that run from cash grants of $5,000 to $15,000 to free land or mortgage assistance. The catch is always in the conditions: you generally must move within a set window, stay for one to three years, hold a qualifying remote job, and not already live in the state. Programs also open, change, and close without much notice, so treat any list, including this one, as a starting point to verify rather than a current offer sheet.
Below are the programs that put this idea on the map, along with the terms they launched with. Confirm current amounts and eligibility directly with the program before you plan around them.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma built the best-known program of the group, aimed squarely at remote workers, with the goal of making the city a talent hub rather than a place people leave.
- Launched offering full-time remote workers $10,000, plus a housing stipend.
- Funds paid out over the course of the first year.
- Applicants had to be 18 or older, employed remotely, and not already Oklahoma residents, with a move completed inside a set window.
Northwest Arkansas (Benton and Washington Counties)
The Arkansas program targets the Bentonville and Fayetteville corridor, and is unusual in pairing cash with an outdoor-recreation perk.
- Full-time remote workers offered $10,000 to relocate to Benton or Washington County.
- A bicycle or equivalent recreation credit included.
- One grant per household, so a two-remote-worker couple qualifies once, not twice.
Marquette, Kansas
Rather than cash, this small Kansas town has offered free residential lots on its west side to reverse population decline. The trade is straightforward: you build, and you stay.
- Build a home on the donated lot within roughly a year.
- Remain in the home for an additional year after construction.
North Platte, Nebraska
North Platte took a different route, tying the incentive to local employment rather than remote work. Local employers and the city split a signing bonus, so accepting a qualifying job carries a five-figure benefit.
- Employer and city each contribute to a combined bonus of roughly $10,000.
- Eligibility has required a minimum hourly wage and a multi-year residency commitment.
Topeka, Kansas
The Choose Topeka program has offered relocation money scaled to whether you buy or rent, with the larger amount reserved for home purchases and payment contingent on completing a full year of residency.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga has courted tech workers with a package combining a relocation payment and forgivable mortgage assistance, part of a broader push to grow its technology sector on the back of the city’s municipal fiber network.
Before You Commit, Check These Four Things
- Is the program still open and funded? Several relocation incentives launched during the remote-work boom have since paused or closed. Confirm directly with the administering organization.
- What is the clawback? Most programs pay over time and require you to repay if you leave early. Read the residency term before you sign.
- How is it taxed? Relocation grants are generally treated as income. Budget for that.
- What does the move actually cost? A $10,000 grant looks different after moving expenses, and housing costs vary enormously between these markets.
Getting Your Car There
Most of these destinations are a long drive from the coastal metros people relocate from, and driving it yourself puts a thousand miles or more on a vehicle you may want to sell later, on top of fuel, lodging, and time off work. Shipping the car protects the odometer and lets you fly in on your own schedule. It is also the practical answer for a two-car household making the move with one driver.
Ship A Car, Inc. has moved more than 50,000 vehicles since 2012 and holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Call 866-821-4555 to talk through your route, or price it in seconds with the instant calculator.
