What states pay you to move there?

Remote work is no longer a rarity, which makes it possible for some lucky workers to live wherever they please without having to search for a new job. Certain states, cities, and counties are taking advantage of this fact and offering financial incentives to encourage people to relocate from other states. Some of these programs are only for remote workers and others include in-person workers. Often these incentives only apply to very specific areas, so it’s important that you choose the right house location to meet your needs, especially if you intend to buy a home. 

If you’re considering a change of scenery or buyomg a house in another state and you don’t have somewhere specific in mind, then you may be the right target for an incentive program. Here’s a closer look at states that pay you to move there and how much you can earn, potentially offsetting the cost of moving and then some.

States that pay you to move there

Only a few states have complete incentive programs for new residents, but some of them are substantial.

Alaska

Alaska is the country’s most wild state, with a rugged landscape that’s deeply attractive to those who love the great outdoors. However, it is very far removed from the rest of the country, making it difficult to attract people from the Continental US. Frankly, Alaska needs more people. So, they’re willing to pay for them.

Not only does Alaska not have any state income or sales tax, but the state actually pays residents an annual dividend for simply living there for a full calendar year, with the intention of being a resident indefinitely.

Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) pays residents an annual dividend based on oil and mining revenues for the year. As such, the dividend ranges each year, but in 2023 it was $1,312 per resident.

To receive the PFD, you must:

• Live in Alaska for a whole calendar year.
• Plan to live in Alaska exclusively and indefinitely after your first calendar year.
• Apply after living in Alaska for one year on the PFD website between January 1 - March 31.

West Virginia

West Virginia is another beautiful state that’s short on people and infrastructure. As such, the affordable state offers one of the most lucrative moving incentives in the country.

Ascend West Virginia focuses on the Greenbrier Valley, Morgantown, Greater Elkins, Eastern Panhandle, and New River Gorge communities. It’s a very popular program given its extraordinary generosity, so not everyone is eligible and you’ll have to qualify to receive the full benefits, valued at up to $20,000.

If you qualify for Ascend West Virginia, you’ll receive up to $12,000 in cash, plus additional benefits like free outdoor recreational equipment, professional development opportunities, and co-working space. To qualify for Ascend West Virginia, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Work remotely, full-time at a verifiable employer based outside of West Virginia (or be self-employed).
• Provide a full year’s proof of income.
• Be able to relocate to designated Ascend West Virginia areas within six months of being accepted.

Vermont

Located in the heart of New England, Vermont is a very popular vacation destination for the big city folk of Boston and New York, but it remains one of the smallest states by year-round population. Given the proximity to major economic centers, Vermont incentivizes remote workers to relocate to the state with an employment grant worth up to $7,500.

The New Remote Worker Grant offers cash awards of up to $7,500 or up to $5,000 if moving to more populous areas like Barre or Burlington. To qualify, you must:

• Be working full time remotely for an out-of-state employer.
• Relocate to Vermont and become a full-time resident.
• Earn at least $13.39/hour.
• Have incurred qualified relocation expenses.
• Be subject to Vermont income tax.
• Apply on Vermont’s Relocation Incentives page.

Kentucky

Another Appalachian state to offer moving incentives, Kentucky launched the Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) program in 2022. The program doesn’t offer as large of a cash incentive as West Virginia, but it does offer a host of extra perks to help you settle into your new life in Kentucky.

SOAR has attracted more than 1,000 applicants by offering a $5,000 cash stipend paid in two installments, as well as add-ons like concert tickets, a fitness club membership, free banjo, fiddle, or mandolin lessons, and a year of free donuts and coffee from a local shop. To qualify, you must:

• Work remotely at an out-of-state company.
• Earn at least $60,000 per year.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Move to Owensboro or surrounding counties deemed eligible by SOAR from outside the state.
• Get on the waitlist to apply here.

Cities that pay you to move there

Although there are only a few state moving incentive programs, a number of cities will pay you to move there. We break down some of the best programs here.

Topeka, KS

Launched in 2019, the Choose Topeka program is designed to incentivize people to accept jobs with local employers and relocate to the city. Rather than target remote workers, Choose Topeka is about bringing out-of-state talent to local employers.

Should you accept a job at a Topeka company, you can be eligible for up to $10,000 in rent money for the first year, or receive up to $15,000 towards buying a house. Considering the median home value in Topeka is just $190,800, that $15,000 could go a long way.

To qualify, check out the Choose Topeka website for information about participating employers. You’ll need to get the job with them first before you can apply for the program.

Hamilton, OH

One of the more unique city incentive programs, little Hamilton, OH is dedicated to building a stronger college-educated workforce by paying down student loan debts to college graduates seeking remote work out of state.

Hamilton’s Talent Attraction Program (TAP) offers approved applicants $400 per month towards student loan payments, for a grand total of $15,000. For many graduates, that may be nearly three years’ worth of payments.

TAP qualification requirements, however, are particular. To qualify, you must:

• Have graduated from a collegiate/university STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) program within the last seven years.
• Not be a current Hamilton resident.
• Plan to move to Hamilton soon.
• Have full-time, remote employment OR be employed within Butler County, OH.
• Apply on the TAP website.

Newton, IA

This small suburb of Des Moines is putting on the full court press to attract new residents. The Get to Know Newton program offers a stipend amount based on the value of the home you buy. Pay $240,000 or more for a home, you’ll get a $10,000 cash incentive, plus a welcome package to the city. Talk about hospitality.

To qualify for Get to Know Newton, you must purchase a new home in Newton, IA. Apply on Newton’s town website.

The Shoals, AL

Interested in living in the vibrant food scene and outdoor adventures of the Deep South? The Shoals region of Alabama is comprised of four cities about two hours from Birmingham, Nashville, and Memphis: Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. All four participate in the Remote Shoals program, which offers a cash incentive of up to $10,000.

The program has a few stipulations and is a little more complicated to qualify for than others. First, you’ll receive 25% of the stipend before your move, another 25% six months after your move, and the final 50% one year after the move, making it a less instant incentive than other programs. To qualify, you must:

• Be 18 years old or older and eligible to work in the U.S.
• Earn at least $52,000 per year.
• Have full-time remote or self-employed work based outside of the Colbert and Lauderdale counties in Alabama.
• Move to Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, or Tuscumbia, AL within six months of approval.
• Apply on the Remote Shoals website.

Tulsa, OK

One of the largest cities to offer a relocation incentive, that’s just one of the reasons why Tulsa is one of America’s fastest-growing cities. The affordable town is rich in history and has a thriving remote community, with more than 3,000 people brought in through the Tulsa Remote program.

Tulsa Remote offers a $10,000 relocation incentive, with $2,500 upfront and $7,500 within your first year of moving to Tulsa. Approved applicants also get a one-year membership at a city coworking sit and housing and community resources. To qualify, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Have full-time remote or self-employed work outside the state of Oklahoma.
• Have lived outside the state of Oklahoma for a full year.
• Be able to move to Tulsa within 12 months of applying.
• Apply on Tulsa Remote’s website.

Countries that pay you to move there

It’s not just the US that offers relocation incentives. Many countries around the world offer incentives to entrepreneurs or business owners interested in starting companies — especially in tech. You may not be a tech founder, however, so these foreign incentives may be more worth your time.

Italy

Italian cities are booming at the expense of the countryside. Italy’s spectacular rural towns are being left behind, so the national government has offered incentives to move to parts of rural Italy. Participating towns include:

• Candela: $879 for new single residents, up to $2,197 for families with children, as well as tax breaks on waste disposal and nursery care. To qualify, you must live in town, rent a house, and earn at least $8,240 per year.

• Molise: $769 per month for up to three calendar years to anyone who opens a business in one of the villages with fewer than 2,000 people. (There are 100 to choose from.) Applicants must be 18-40 years old and a resident of Italy or the EU. Americans eligible to become EU residents may also qualify.

• Sambuca di Sicilia: Famously, this Sicilian village is selling historic homes for just $1.10. The chase, however, is that new owners must spend at least $16,480 refurbishing the home and put down a $5,493 deposit that is refunded after the work is complete. The average home in Sambuca di Sicilia sells for more than $40,000, making this a good deal for motivated buyers.

Spain

Like Italy, Spain has rapidly urbanized in the last few decades. And, like Italy, the nation is trying to lure people back to rural towns and villages. Some of the programs include:

• Ponga: Young couples can make $3,296 for relocating to Ponga, plus get an additional $3,296 for every child they have. You must agree to live in town for at least five years, however.

• Rubia: Families can receive $164 per month for relocating to Rubia.

• Griegos: Newcomers can get three months of rent free, and then only $247 per month. Families can also earn a $55 subsidy for every child aged 4-18.

Spain also has an entrepreneurial incentive program called the Entrepreneur Visa, which offers $50,000 or more to foreigners interested in setting up a new business in the country.

Canada

Canada is a very popular immigration destination, especially for Americans. Unfortunately, not all provinces are as attractive as others. As such, the province of Saskatchewan offers up to $20,000 in tax breaks to college graduates willing to live and work in the province. However, the program is only available to graduates from an approved list of schools who intend to stay as permanent residents.