Prepared for a recent begin? How about one that truly pays you to make a transfer? These U.S. cities are rolling out the pink carpet with money incentives, welcome committees, and different perks to draw new residents in 2025.
Whether or not you’re a current grad trying to sort out pupil loans, a distant employee searching for a decrease value of residing, or just craving new surroundings, you’ll wish to try these communities. On this Redfin article, we’ll take a more in-depth have a look at eight cities that pay you to maneuver there.
>> Learn: 8 States That Pay You to Transfer There in 2025
8 cities that pay you to maneuver there in 2025
- Columbus, GA
- Lincoln, KS
- Muskegon + Jackson, MI
- Newton, IA
- Texarkana, TX + AR
- The Shoals, AL area
- Topeka, KS
- Tulsa, OK
1. Columbus, GA
Columbus is embarking on a significant marketing campaign to draw new expertise, enterprise, and development to the area, known as Columbus 2025. It’s a complete plan to let the nation know that there’s one thing for everybody in Columbus. A part of this advertising and marketing overhaul includes an incentive program aimed toward bringing in distant employees. Money, recreation memberships, and coworking house are all up for grabs.
A hidden gem of the South, Columbus embraces each down-to-earth residing and fashionable conveniences. House to the Chattahoochee Riverwalk, Civil Battle historical past, whitewater rafting, and extra, there are infinite issues to do all inside strolling distance. Or, for a weekend journey, you possibly can take a fast journey to close by cities like Montgomery and Atlanta. Homes solely value $200,000, too – half the nationwide common.
| Initiative | Transfer to Significant |
| Advantages & Data | $5,000 in money, six months of coworking house, a welcome bundle, and far more.
The full bundle is valued at $8,700. |
| Program Necessities | To qualify, you could:
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| The best way to Apply | Go to MakeMyMove.com. |
2. Lincoln, KS
As a substitute of money incentives, Lincoln takes a singular strategy to draw new residents by providing free land to these trying to put down roots. Every lot ranges from 14,000 to 35,000 sq. toes and is situated inside a completely decked-out residential improvement inside the metropolis limits. Take into account that you might be liable for the prices related to constructing a brand new dwelling, nonetheless.
But when constructing a house isn’t for you, Lincoln is made much more engaging by its reasonably priced housing market. The median sale worth for houses in Lincoln County is simply $57,000.
| Initiative | Free House Web site Program |
| Advantages & Data | Variable, as plots of land vary from 14,000-35,000 sq. toes. |
| Program Necessities | Whereas the Free House Web site Program doesn’t supply a stipend, they do supply free tracts of land.
To be able to qualify, you have to be a person or household relocating to or flipping a house in Lincoln, KS. |
| The best way to Apply | Go to the Lincoln County web site for extra data. |
3. Muskegon and Jackson, MI
Southwest Michigan needs you to expertise its famously snowy winters, pleasant folks, and lakeside views. Muskegon and Jackson are providing money, employment, and a big down fee help bundle for brand spanking new residents value $25,000. These cities are rebounding from Rust-Belt declines and boast reasonably priced residing, rejuvenated downtowns, and quick access to Detroit and Grand Rapids.
| Initiatives | Welcome House Scholarship + 100 Properties Program |
| Advantages & Data | Muskegon is providing as much as $15,000 for certified academics to reside and train within the metropolis, or $7,200 for brand spanking new distant employees.
Jackson affords $25,000 in down fee help for homebuyers trying to construct a home and who qualify for the 100 Properties Program, plus different advantages. |
| Program Necessities | For the Welcome House Scholarship:
—————————————————— For the 100 Properties Program:
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| The best way to Apply | Go to MakeMyMove.com. |
4. Newton, IA
Town of Newton is attracting new residents to settle into their group for the lengthy haul with a significant housing initiative. With the Get to Know Newton program, you’ll obtain a stipend quantity based mostly on the worth of the house you purchase. So, if you happen to pay $240,000 or extra for a house, you’ll obtain a $10,000 money incentive, in addition to the Get to Know Newton welcome bundle.
Newton is a small metropolis situated 30 miles east of Des Moines, with quick access to the large metropolis by way of Interstate 80. Rolling hills, dairy farms, and big-box shops butt up towards a small arboretum, well-known racetrack, and some streamside parks, giving residents loads of choices. Prairies for so far as the attention can see make for unforgettable summer season nights.
Selecting Newton as your private home additionally means extra reasonably priced housing. The median dwelling worth for dwelling in Newton is $160,000 – lower than half the nationwide median. However if you happen to’re trying to scope out the town earlier than making your determination, there are many leases in Newton to think about.
| Initiative | Get to Know Newton |
| Advantages & Data | As much as $10,000, plus extras if you happen to qualify. |
| Program Necessities | To be able to qualify for Get to Know Newton, you could buy a brand new dwelling (not only a property) inside Newton, Iowa metropolis limits.
Rental properties are excluded. |
| The best way to Apply | Go to Newton’s official web site. |
5. Texarkana, AR + TX
Texarkana is a twin metropolis situated in each Arkansas and Texas, simply 35 miles from Louisiana – a area referred to as the “three corners.” Town’s identify is definitely a mashup of all three place names. Famously, Texarkana’s put up workplace and courthouse constructing straddles the state line. Technically, Texarkana, TX and Texarkana, AR are separate cities with completely different college districts and governments, however they typically perform as one.
Texarkana is trying to develop and let folks find out about its prime quality, reasonably priced way of life by a profitable incentive to draw distant employees. This system known as “Redi…set…MOVE!” (or REDI), and is providing incentives value greater than $18,000. It has proved widespread, too. As of 2024, this system had already acquired greater than 1,800 candidates.
| Initiative | Redi… set… MOVE! |
| Advantages & Data | $5,000 in money, tuition reductions at Texas A&M Texarkana, arts memberships, breakfast with the mayor, a yr of free coworking house, and extra.
The full bundle is valued at $18,100. |
| Program Necessities | To qualify for this system you could:
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| The best way to Apply | Go to MakeMyMove.com |
6. Cities in The Shoals, AL Area
In case you’re a distant employee searching for a change of surroundings, a vibrant meals scene, and riverside parks, take into account the Shoals area in Northwest Alabama. The Shoals is made up of 4 completely different cities that border the Tennessee River: Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. All 4 are lovely and are accepting purposes for brand spanking new residents within the Distant Shoals program.
Can’t half with the hustle and bustle of city life? No worries. The Shoals is simply a two-hour drive from Birmingham, Nashville, and Memphis, and an hour flight to Atlanta by way of Boutique Airways, giving you quick access to main cities.
With low property taxes and below-average home costs, the price of residing in these cities is considerably decrease than different equally sized metro areas within the state. However if you happen to’re having hassle choosing and want to check drive every metropolis, you may as well take into account renting an house in Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, or Tuscumbia.
| Initiative | Distant Shoals |
| Advantages & Data | As much as $10,000. You’ll obtain 25% of the stipend earlier than your transfer, one other 25% six months after you relocate, and the remaining 50% one yr after your transfer. |
| Program Necessities | To qualify for Distant Shoals, you could:
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| The best way to Apply | Go to the Distant Shoals web site. |
7. Topeka, KS
Identified for its arts and out of doors scene, transferring to Topeka, KS, could possibly be a choice that pays off in spades. The Select Topeka Initiative affords money funds and extra to distant employees transferring from out of state for an “on web site” place, in addition to to distant employees who relocate so long as their employer is situated outdoors of Shawnee County. Incentives prime $15,000 and allow you to discover the town’s fantastical Nineteenth-century structure.
There’s additionally no denying the financial savings that include residing in Topeka in comparison with different main cities. The median dwelling worth in Topeka is $159,500, lower than half the nationwide median, and the town boasts a 10% decrease value of residing in comparison with the nationwide common.
Able to make the transfer? Begin your private home search by wanting up flats for lease in Topeka, in addition to houses on the market in Topeka.
| Initiative | Select Topeka |
| Advantages & Data | As much as $10,000 if renting a house, and as much as $15,000 if shopping for a house.
Further $5,000 for transitioning navy service members. |
| Program Necessities | To qualify for Select Topeka, you could:
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| The best way to Apply | Go to the Select Topeka web site to use. |
8. Tulsa, OK
Oklahoma is paying to relocate distant employees by a program known as Tulsa Distant. With a low value of residing, a thriving distant work group, and numerous alternatives to discover the town, it’s no surprise Tulsa has been attracting a regular stream of recent residents. In reality, Tulsa Distant alone has introduced 3,500 folks to the realm and generated tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars}, whereas saving newcomers hundreds. It has been remarkably profitable.
A affluent oil city, Tulsa has rather a lot going for it. From Artwork Deco structure within the Deco District, to a gleaming museum in an Italian villa, there’s a lot to take pleasure in. Plus, if you happen to’re trying to purchase a home in Tulsa, costs are nicely beneath the nationwide common ($228,000 in comparison with $427,000). And thru Tulsa Distant, you’ll obtain money and different advantages in your Oklahoma relocation.
However if you happen to’re not able to make the leap to homeownership, no worries. Take into account renting an house in Tulsa or trying out homes for lease to get a really feel for what it’s wish to reside in Tulsa earlier than placing down roots.
| Initiative | Tulsa Distant |
| Advantages & Data | $10,000 relocation incentive.
Renters obtain $10,000 by month-to-month disbursements. Patrons have the choice to obtain a lump sum after buying a house. Recipients additionally obtain a one-year membership at a metropolis coworking web site, in addition to housing and group sources. |
| Program Necessities | To qualify for Tulsa Distant, you could:
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| The best way to Apply | Go to Tulsa Distant’s web site. |
Ultimate ideas
As distant work continues to reshape how and the place folks reside, incentive packages provide the uncommon likelihood to spice up each your profession and private funds. With state and native governments sweetening the deal for newcomers, you would end up benefitting from decrease prices, steady job alternatives, and an additional examine in your pocket. It’s a contemporary win-win: Transfer someplace that aligns together with your way of life, and let that place put money into your future. In case you’re prepared for a change of surroundings – and a possible enhance to your financial institution stability – these ten cities simply is perhaps your subsequent nice journey.
There are a lot extra affords and incentives for folks keen to relocate, however most others require particular training or different necessities. Go to MakeMyMove to see a full record.
Disclaimer: Program particulars and housing information as of February 2025. This text is for informational functions solely. Redfin doesn’t endorse any of the packages talked about. Redfin strongly recommends that customers make knowledgeable choices, and independently confirm {that a} state, metropolis, or monetary providing will meet their wants.
