Looking to relocate? Wondering where your next adventure is taking you? Lucky for you, some of the most incredible places in the U.S. will also pay you to move there! Hundreds of thousands of Americans have been switching to remote work and certain states and cities are wanting to cash in on the new wave of available relocators. The states benefit from having a larger tax base, and the relocators benefit from receiving a stipend, moving expenses, or dividends from the state.
Before you jump into buying New York real estate or moving to a huge metropolis in California, consider the following states that will pay you to move there.
States That Pay You To Live There
These are the states that pay a specific amount to relocators who stay in the area for a certain amount of time:
Alaska
Initiative: Permanent Fund Dividend
Benefits: A variable amount, depending on what Alaska’s government approves per year. In 2021, the dividend totaled at $1,114 per person.
Requirements: In order to receive the initiative benefits, residents must live in Alaska for a full calendar year and must plan to stay in the state indefinitely. You must reside in Alaska for the full year before you can apply for the PFD initiative.
Where to apply: You can apply for this initiative on the PFD’s website between January 1st and March 31st.
If you want to live somewhere with an abundance of natural beauty surrounding you, Alaska real estate is your best choice. Between an atmosphere that can’t be found anywhere else, no state tax, and a lower home price than the national average, there are so many good reasons to relocate to Alaska. If you’re ready to make your move, check out the homes for sale in Anchorage or Fairbanks to start your search.
Maine
Initiative: Maine Smart Buy Program
Benefits: Up to $40,000 in student loan forgiveness
Requirements: Maine’s relocation initiative offers up to $40,000 in student loan forgiveness for first-time homebuyers. Here are the requirements:
- Credit score at or above 640
- Purchase a home in Maine that is valued from $86,600 – $131,100
- Be a first-time homebuyer
- Not a current resident of Maine
- Live in the home for five or more years
- Treat the home as your primary residence
- Have student debt totaling between $5,000-$40,000
Where to apply: Visit Maine’s Housing Website for more information.
A coastal state at the tippy top of the U.S. map, Maine offers breathtaking scenery, some of the country’s freshest seafood, and an abundance of employment opportunities. Homes for sale in Maine often list at a price lower than the national average as well, so if you’re looking to buy regardless, why not get your student loans taken care of in the process? This initiative is state wide, so whether you settle on Portland or Bar Harbor real estate, you could be eligible.
Vermont
Initiative: New Relocating Worker Grant + New Remote Worker Grant
Benefits: Up to $7,500
Requirements: For the New Relocating Worker Grant, recipients must fill a qualified position with a state employer. For the New Remote Worker Grant, recipients must work remotely for a company located outside of Vermont.
Where to apply: You can see information and applications for both grants on Think Vermont’s website.
A hub for artisanal cheeses, craft beer, farmers’ markets, and more, Vermont real estate is accessible to daily needs while feeling worlds away from big urban cities. If you work remotely in Vermont, the scenic atmosphere of the Green Mountains turns your home office into a natural oasis. As a bonus, the homes in Vermont are below the national median price, so it’s an affordable place to relocate.
West Virginia
Initiative: Ascend West Virginia
Benefits: If you qualify, you can expect to receive up to $12,000, plus additional benefits such as co-working space and outdoor recreational equipment, a package valued at $20,000 total.
Requirements: To apply for Ascend West Virginia, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have full-time, verifiable employment
- Work remotely for a company based outside of West Virginia
Where to apply: Apply on the Ascend West Virginia website.
If you enjoy outdoor adventure, West Virginia provides the perfect relocating opportunity, especially since the Ascend West Virginia Initiative offers recipients free outdoor gear rentals. Whether you like to spend your off-time rafting, zip lining, rock climbing, or mountain biking, the homes for sale in West Virginia are in the middle of it all. West Virginia also has an abundance of cities with a lower cost of living than most other places in the U.S., including Morgantown and Bridgeport.
States That Pay You To Move There
The following are the states that provide payment for moving expenses to those who are part of that states relocation incentive programs:
Northwest Arkansas
Initiative: Life Works Here Initiative
Benefits: $10,000 in cash or cryptocurrency + support in finding community, jobs, and housing
Requirements: To qualify, you must be willing to move to Benton or Washington County in Arkansas and stay for at least 12 months to receive full benefits.
Where to apply: Visit https://findingnwa.com/incentive/ to apply.
One of the best areas for job opportunities (Forbes) and nationally ranked for its low cost of living and high quality of life, Northwest Arkansas provides an excellent relocation spot. Some of the cities within Northwest Arkansas that qualify for the Life Works Here Initiative include Bentonville, Rogers, and Fayetteville. Need a fresh way to explore your new town? The program will also throw in a dirt or mountain bike so you can easily get acquainted!
Alabama
Initiative: Remote Shoals
Benefits: $10,000 – 25% before you move, 25% six months after you move, and 50% one year after your move.
Requirements: To qualify, you must
- Move to Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, or Tuscumbia, AL
- Be 18 years old or older
- Be eligible to work in the US
- Move to the Shoals area within 6 months of approval
- Have a minimum income of $52,000 per year
- Have full-time remote or self-employed work which is based outside of the Colbert and Lauderdale Counties in Alabama
Where to apply: Apply on the Remote Shoals website.
The northwest corner of Alabama is warmly referred to as The Shoals, and here you’ll find quaint river cities that are booming with potential. What initially look like small, southern towns now come alive in the evening with exciting events, live music, and outdoor activities. Homes for sale in Alabama with a peaceful backdrop along the water are plentiful in cities like Florence and Tuscumbia. If you start to feel antsy after your move, The Shoals is conveniently located within two hours of Birmingham, Nashville, and Memphis, and it’s a one-hour flight from Atlanta.
Other Relocation Incentives Across the U.S.
In addition to the listed states, certain cities across the country also have relocation grants and programs. The following are additional options for places that will pay you to move there:
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Initiative: Tulsa Remote
Benefits: You’ll receive a total of $10,000; getting $2,500 up front and the rest within your first year of moving to Tulsa. In addition, you will also receive a complimentary one-year membership to a local co-working site.
Requirements: To qualify, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be eligible to work in the US
- Have full-time remote or self-employed work which is based outside the state of Oklahoma
- Be able to move to Tulsa within 12 months of applying
Where to apply: Apply on Tulsa Remote’s website
Newton, Iowa
Initiative: Get To Know Newton
Benefits: Up to $10,000, plus possible extras – Your stipend will depend on the value of the home you buy; For a home between $100K and $179,999, you’ll receive $5000 cash, and for a home valued at $180K or more, you’ll receive $10,000.
Requirements: You must purchase real estate in Newton, Iowa, valued at $100K or more to qualify for the Get To Know Newton Incentive.
Where to apply: Visit https://newtongov.org/ to apply.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Initiative: Geek Move Program
Benefits: $1,250 in relocation expenses and a $10,000 forgivable mortgage
Requirements: To qualify for Chattanooga’s Geek Move Program, you must be a computer developer currently living at least 50 miles outside of the area and be willing to relocate to Chattanooga.
Where to apply: Visit the Geek Move Program website to learn more and apply.
Topeka, Kansas
Initiative: Choose Topeka Initiative
Benefits: Up to $15,000 – For on-site positions in Shawnee County, recipients can receive up to $10,000 for renting or $15,000 for buying a home in Topeka. For remote workers, the Choose Topeka Initiative provides up to $5,000 for rent in the first year and up to $10,000 toward a home purchase.
Requirements: Anyone with a full-time remote work position based outside of Shawnee County is eligible for the initiative.
Where to apply: Visit the Choose Topeka website for the application.
Lincoln, Kansas
Initiative: Free Home Site Program
Benefits: Varied amounts of plots of land ranging from 14,000 to 35,000 square feet.
Requirements: To qualify for the Free Home Site Program you must be relocating to or flipping a home in Lincoln, KS.
Where to apply: Apply on the Lincoln Housing website.
Hamilton, Ohio
Initiative: Talent Attraction Program (TAP)
Benefits: If accepted, you’ll get a dividend of $300 per month up to $10,000 in total. This means if you live in Hamilton for three years, you’ll get your full scope of available payment.
Requirements: The qualifications for Hamilton’s Talent Attraction Program are:
- You must have graduated from a collegiate/university STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) program within the last seven years
- You are not currently living in Hamilton
- You must plan to move to Hamilton
- You must have full-time, remote employment OR have employment within Butler County, OH.
Where to apply: Check out TAP’s website to apply.
In Conclusion…
If you’re ready to relocate and haven’t landed on a specific location, consider the places on this list that will pay you to move there. The effects of remote work on the homebuying process are varied, and these are just a few examples of how you can make your employment situation work for you. If you like what you see with one of these cities, contact a local real estate agent to start looking for your new home!
