With the cost of living at an all-time high, certain U.S. cities have decided to appeal to homeowners by offering a financial incentive to move there.
And now that the election is behind us, more than 20 percent of Americans say they are now more likely to move than ever before, according to a recent survey. Redfin study.
Kansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama and West Virginia are all participating in the new trend, as some have targeted specific demographics directly.
Cities like Tulsa, Columbus, several communities in West Virginia and The Shoals – a group of cities in Alabama – are trying to attract people who work from home, while offering them thousands of dollars to move there.
Meanwhile, Kansas has launched its own initiative, the Choose Topeka Program, allowing residents to receive up to $15,000 for simply moving there, even if they don’t work remotely.
Topeka, the state capital in the Midwest, currently has a population of about 125,000, but the area could very well grow with new housing supply.
While new residents are eligible for up to $15,000, on-site workers can also earn $10,000 if they choose to rent in the area.
Residents who decide to purchase a home in Topeka can earn up to $15,000, while transitioning military personnel, or those re-entering civilian life, are eligible for $5,000.
Topeka, Kansas (pictured) has launched a new program that allows anyone from across the country to move there and earn up to $15,000
Tulsa, Oklahoma (pictured) also has a program specifically for full-time remote workers who can receive a $10,000 grant if they move there
Former Topeka residents are also eligible to receive $5,000 through the new program.
To qualify, employees must purchase or rent a home as their primary residence within one year of moving to Shawnee County.
The typical cost of a home in the city is $186,706 as of October, while the average rent is $950 as of December, according to Zillow.
In Tulsa, with a population of approximately 411,000, remote workers may qualify for a $10,000 grant through the Tulsa Remote Program.
To obtain the grant, people must have a full-time remote job outside of Oklahoma, and must have lived out of state for at least a year before they can apply.
Once people are accepted into the program, which has welcomed “more than 3,000 talented remote workers” to date, people will have a year to move there.
The unique program’s mission is to “attract and retain remote workers whose skills and passions make Tulsa a more diverse and vibrant place,” according to the website.
The average rent in Tulsa is $1,395 in December, while the cost of owning a home there is estimated at $202,495, Zillow reported.
In The Shoals, Alabama – home to the cities of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle – remote workers have the opportunity to move there for up to $10,000. (Image: Exterior of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals)
Columbus, Georgia is offering a similar deal through his company Enter the Columbus programwhere full-time work from home workers can receive $5,000 in cash for their moving expenses.
The program is specifically intended for workers who earn at least $75,000 on one income, and who live at least 75 miles outside the city at the time of application.
Those who receive the generous offer will have six months to pack up and move to Muscogee County, where Columbus is located.
Applications for 2024 have since closed but will reopen in January 2025.
The city currently has a population of about 200,000 and has a median home value of $163,916 and a median rental value of $995, according to Zillow.
In The Shoals, Alabama – home to the cities of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and Muscle – remote workers have the opportunity to move there for up to $10,000.
Home-based workers who earn more than $52,000 or more annually may qualify for the Remote Sholas Programand have six months to move there once elected.
People can see if they qualify in the next round of applications, which will reopen on March 1, 2025, according to the website. The official selections for the program will be announced in June.
Through the Ascend West Virginia program, full-time telecommuters can receive $12,000 if they move to five different counties, including Morgantown (pictured)
Currently, approximately 155,000 people live in the metropolitan area. The average rent in Muscle Shoals is $1,400, while the average price of a home there costs $246,673, according to Zillow.
Americans who decide to move to specific cities in West Virginia also have the opportunity to make money.
Through the Climb West Virginia full-time remote workers “seeking a high-quality lifestyle” in the mountains could receive $12,000.
Employees have the opportunity to relocate to five different communities, including New River Gorge, Greenbrier Valley, Morgantown, the Eastern Panhandle and Greater Elkins, according to the website.
Those accepted into the program will also have access to “free outdoor recreation” and have six months to move there.
The typical home value in Morgantown currently costs $268,416, while the average rent there is $1,200, according to Zillow.