Prepared for a contemporary begin? How about one that really pays you to make a transfer? These U.S. cities are rolling out the crimson carpet with money incentives, welcome committees, and different perks to draw new residents in 2025.
Whether or not you’re a latest grad seeking to sort out pupil loans, a distant employee in search of a decrease price of dwelling, 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 serious marketing campaign to draw new expertise, enterprise, and progress 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 geared toward bringing in distant staff. Money, recreation memberships, and coworking area are all up for grabs.
A hidden gem of the South, Columbus embraces each down-to-earth dwelling and trendy conveniences. Residence to the Chattahoochee Riverwalk, Civil Battle historical past, whitewater rafting, and extra, there are limitless issues to do all inside strolling distance. Or, for a weekend journey, you may take a fast journey to close by cities like Montgomery and Atlanta. Homes solely price $200,000, too – half the nationwide common.
Initiative
Transfer to Significant
Advantages & Data
$5,000 in money, six months of coworking area, a welcome bundle, and far more.
The full bundle is valued at $8,700.
Program Necessities
To qualify, you could:
Be 18 years or older
Work full-time and have the ability to relocate whereas retaining present place
Earn at the very least $75,000 per yr from a single earnings supply
At present reside at the very least 75 miles exterior of Columbus
Transfer to Muscogee County inside six months of approval
Easy methods to Apply
Go to MakeMyMove.com.
2. Lincoln, KS
As a substitute of money incentives, Lincoln takes a singular method to draw new residents by providing free land to these seeking to put down roots. Every lot ranges from 14,000 to 35,000 sq. ft and is situated inside a completely decked-out residential improvement inside the metropolis limits. Remember that you might be answerable for the prices related to constructing a brand new house, nonetheless.
But when constructing a house isn’t for you, Lincoln is made much more enticing by its inexpensive housing market. The median sale worth for properties in Lincoln County is simply $57,000.
Initiative
Free Residence Web site Program
Advantages & Data
Variable, as plots of land vary from 14,000-35,000 sq. ft.
Program Necessities
Whereas the Free Residence Web site Program doesn’t supply a stipend, they do supply free tracts of land.
With the intention to qualify, you should be a person or household relocating to or flipping a house in Lincoln, KS.
Easy methods to Apply
Go to the Lincoln County web site for extra info.
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 cost help bundle for brand spanking new residents value $25,000. These cities are rebounding from Rust-Belt declines and boast inexpensive dwelling, rejuvenated downtowns, and easy accessibility to Detroit and Grand Rapids.
Initiatives
Welcome Residence Scholarship + 100 Properties Program
Advantages & Data
Muskegon is providing as much as $15,000 for certified academics to dwell and train within the metropolis, or $7,200 for brand spanking new distant staff.
Jackson affords $25,000 in down cost help for homebuyers seeking to construct a home and who qualify for the 100 Properties Program, plus different advantages.
Program Necessities
For the Welcome Residence Scholarship:
Be an authorized Pre-Ok-12 educator or ancillary employees (social employee, speech pathologist, and so forth.)
At present reside exterior of Muskegon County
——————————————————
For the 100 Properties Program:
Be 18 years or older
Work full-time and have the ability to relocate whereas retaining present place (or be self-employed)
Earn at the very least $70,000 per yr
Occupy your new house full time, excluding a lease or sub lease
At present reside exterior of Michigan
Easy methods to Apply
Go to MakeMyMove.com.
4. Newton, IA
Town of Newton is attracting new residents to settle into their neighborhood for the lengthy haul with a serious 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 easy accessibility to the large metropolis through Interstate 80. Rolling hills, dairy farms, and big-box shops butt up in opposition to 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 time nights.
Selecting Newton as your property additionally means extra inexpensive housing. The median house worth for house in Newton is $160,000 – lower than half the nationwide median. However if you happen to’re seeking to scope out the town earlier than making your choice, there are many leases in Newton to contemplate.
Initiative
Get to Know Newton
Advantages & Data
As much as $10,000, plus extras if you happen to qualify.
Program Necessities
With the intention to qualify for Get to Know Newton, you could buy a brand new house (not only a property) inside Newton, Iowa metropolis limits.
Rental properties are excluded.
Easy methods 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 often called the “three corners.” Town’s identify is definitely a mashup of all three place names. Famously, Texarkana’s submit workplace and courthouse constructing straddles the state line. Technically, Texarkana, TX and Texarkana, AR are separate cities with totally different faculty districts and governments, however they often operate as one.
Texarkana is seeking to develop and let folks find out about its prime quality, inexpensive way of life by means of a profitable incentive to draw distant staff. This system is named “Redi…set…MOVE!” (or REDI), and is providing incentives value greater than $18,000. It has proved in style, too. As of 2024, this system had already obtained 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 area, and extra.
The full bundle is valued at $18,100.
Program Necessities
To qualify for this system you could:
Be 18 years outdated or older and eligible to work within the U.S.
Have a minimal earnings of $75,000 per yr
Work full-time and have the ability to relocate whereas retaining present place (or be self-employed)
Transfer to Texarkana inside six months of approval
Easy methods to Apply
Go to MakeMyMove.com
6. Cities in The Shoals, AL Area
For those who’re a distant employee searching for a change of surroundings, a vibrant meals scene, and riverside parks, think about the Shoals area in Northwest Alabama. The Shoals is made up of 4 totally 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 through Boutique Airways, giving you quick access to main cities.
With low property taxes and below-average home costs, the price of dwelling in these cities is considerably decrease than different equally sized metro areas within the state. However if you happen to’re having bother choosing and wish to check drive every metropolis, you may as well think about renting an condo 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:
Be 18 years outdated or older and eligible to work within the U.S.
Have a minimal earnings of $52,000 per yr
Have full-time distant or self-employed work which is predicated exterior of the Colbert and Lauderdale counties in Alabama
Transfer to Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, or Tuscumbia, AL inside six months of approval
Easy methods to Apply
Go to the Distant Shoals web site.
7. Topeka, KS
Recognized for its arts and out of doors scene, transferring to Topeka, KS, could possibly be a call that pays off in spades. The Select Topeka Initiative affords money funds and extra to distant staff transferring from out of state for an “on site” place, in addition to to distant staff who relocate so long as their employer is situated exterior 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 dwelling in Topeka in comparison with different main cities. The median house worth in Topeka is $159,500, lower than half the nationwide median, and the town boasts a ten% decrease price of dwelling in comparison with the nationwide common.
Able to make the transfer? Begin your property search by wanting up residences for lease in Topeka, in addition to properties 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:
Be 18 years outdated or older and eligible to work within the U.S.
Transfer to Topeka for a full time place (or work remotely for an out-of-state employer). You need to confirm that your employer participates within the Select Topeka program
Buy or lease a house in Shawnee County inside a yr of being employed or transferring
Take part in a Select Topeka Immersion program
Full the Select Topeka survey after one yr
Easy methods to Apply
Go to the Select Topeka web site to use.
8. Tulsa, OK
Oklahoma is paying to relocate distant staff by means of a program known as Tulsa Distant. With a low price of dwelling, a thriving distant work neighborhood, and numerous alternatives to discover the town, it’s no surprise Tulsa has been attracting a gradual stream of latest residents. In actual fact, Tulsa Distant alone has introduced 3,500 folks to the world and generated tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars}, whereas saving newcomers 1000’s. It has been remarkably profitable.
A affluent oil city, Tulsa has quite a bit going for it. From Artwork Deco structure within the Deco District, to a gleaming museum in an Italian villa, there’s lots to get pleasure from. Plus, if you happen to’re seeking to purchase a home in Tulsa, costs are properly beneath the nationwide common ($228,000 in comparison with $427,000). And thru Tulsa Distant, you’ll obtain money and different advantages to your Oklahoma relocation.
However if you happen to’re not able to make the leap to homeownership, no worries. Think about renting an condo in Tulsa or testing homes for lease to get a really feel for what it’s prefer to dwell in Tulsa earlier than placing down roots.
Initiative
Tulsa Distant
Advantages & Data
$10,000 relocation incentive.
Renters obtain $10,000 by means of month-to-month disbursements. Consumers have the choice to obtain a lump sum after buying a house.
Recipients additionally obtain a one-year membership at a metropolis coworking website, in addition to housing and neighborhood sources.
Program Necessities
To qualify for Tulsa Distant, you could:
Be 18 years of age or older
Are approved to work within the U.S.
Have full-time distant or self-employed work based mostly exterior the state of Oklahoma
Have lived exterior the state of Oklahoma for a full yr
Be capable to transfer to Tulsa inside 12 months of making use of
Easy methods to Apply
Go to Tulsa Distant’s web site.
Closing ideas
As distant work continues to reshape how and the place folks dwell, incentive applications provide the uncommon likelihood to spice up each your profession and private funds. With state and native governments sweetening the deal for newcomers, you could possibly end up benefitting from decrease prices, steady job alternatives, and an additional test in your pocket. It’s a contemporary win-win: Transfer someplace that aligns along with your way of life, and let that place spend money on your future. For those who’re prepared for a change of surroundings – and a possible increase to your financial institution steadiness – these ten cities simply is likely to be your subsequent nice journey.
There are lots extra affords and incentives for folks keen to relocate, however most others require particular schooling or different necessities. Go to MakeMyMove to see a full listing.
Disclaimer: Program particulars and housing knowledge as of February 2025. This text is for informational functions solely. Redfin doesn’t endorse any of the applications talked about. Redfin strongly recommends that customers make knowledgeable choices, and independently confirm {that a} state, metropolis, or monetary providing will meet their wants.
