Pack Your Bags! These 17 US Cities Will Pay You To Move There

Let's face it: Life in the U.S. isn't getting any cheaper. If you're tired of parting with too much of your paycheck in a costly city, check out these cities and towns that want you to move in. There are points in all corners of the country that provide financial incentives to take up residence there. Among them are plenty of Heartland locales, but New England, the South, the Desert Southwest, and the Great Lakes regions are well-represented. Some of these areas are eligible for state-wide incentive programs; we've uncovered a town in those states with some of the lowest costs of living.

Before your imagination runs away with you, these programs have qualifying criteria, and some spots have more attractors than others. Some overarching ways you have to qualify are not being a current resident of the city, holding a job earning a specified amount of money, and having a willingness to commit to living there for a designated amount of time. What's more, while some cities will give you actual money, others provide perks like student loan repayment or reduced housing costs.

One thing to be aware of is that places that offer these enticements are trying to revitalize their towns and cities, so they may be lacking things like optimal health care facilities and schools. Still, one of these spots might be just right for you for a year or more. If you're looking for a change of pace that comes with financial benefits, let this resource help you shop for a new city. Start making your essential moving checklist, grab some boxes and tape, and discover what's possibly the next new American hotspot.

Kansas isn't all corn and tornadoes. Topeka, the state capital, doles out the biggest monetary reward for moving here. With big payouts and refreshingly low housing prices, a stint in this town can be a financial boon for you. The city created a cash payment system for housing. Through Choose Topeka, homebuyers new to the city are gifted up to $15,000 toward their purchase through an employer match program. With a median price of $125,000 for a single-family home, this cash can go a long way. Renters aren't neglected, either; you can receive up to $10,000 for housing.

Jasper, Indiana has already begun revitalizing its downtown, serving up small-town coziness with cultural attractions and community-building to sweeten the deal. The program for remote workers has two tiers with compensation determined by your income. Those earning $50,000 or more are entitled to $5,000, and ones making between $40,000 and $49,999 receive $3,000. Remote workers aside, if you pick up a job with a local employer, you can also apply for the $5,000 payout. Receive half of the sum when you arrive and the other after living in Jasper for a year.

A beach town that'll pay you to move there? That's Benton Harbor, Michigan. The town perched at the sandy edge of Lake Michigan has struggled in the past, but it's ready to rise phoenix-style to become a highly desired coastal town. Benton Harbor and the surrounding counties both advertise incentives to move there. The town itself will pitch in $5,000 for a down payment on a home, but that's not all. Qualified new arrivals have free tuition at a community college in the town, and all transplants are entitled to support with employment, education, and child care.

Rochester hugs the shore of Lake Ontario in northwestern New York, and the town's Greater ROC Relocate program is your key to making it your new home. The city gets about 100 inches of snow each winter, ideal for winter sports enthusiasts. As the state's fourth-largest city, Rochester has no shortage of attractions and cultural offerings. Those moving from out of state or from over 300 miles from the city look forward to up to $10,000 toward relocation plus up to $9,000 more in grants toward purchasing a home.

Actually a collection of small towns in northwest Alabama, the Remote Shoals area is calling for remote workers from places beyond. The towns of Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Florence, and Sheffield are luring new residents with an initiative targeting remote workers. If chosen, beneficiaries receive up to $10,000 to settle into one of these towns. Along with an alluringly low cost of living (Alabama has some of the most affordable places to buy a home in the U.S.), the area boasts the University of North Alabama as well as a thriving music scene, craveable Southern food, and outdoor activities.

Strange-yet-interesting flex: Paducah, Kentucky is a Shangri-La of quilting. Nicknamed Quilt City USA, this crafts-y town wants remote workers in particular. With an adorable downtown and outdoor activities galore, Paducah may be tempting enough without monetary rewards. As much as $2,500 will help you move here, and for the upcoming year, enjoy as much as $70 per month to defray internet costs and a payroll tax waiver. If that's not enough, Paducah throws in a "quality of life" package worth almost $1,200 that covers certain memberships, trainings, and tickets to events.

If you've never been to Iowa, you'd be surprised by its rolling, tree-filled landscape. At just over 35 minutes northeast of Des Moines (certainly an underrated city) along convenient I-80, Newton, Iowa could be your next hometown. The Newton Economic Development housing initiative encourages new residents to build or purchase new homes worth at least $240,000. (This doesn't include the cost of land.) Along with the benefits to buying a new construction home, you'll procure a payment of $10,000. As an additional incentive, the city includes a package that offers discounts at various local businesses and attractions.

A well-known city with a median home cost of just over $200,000, Tulsa, Oklahoma is a good candidate for a new home base. The city has put together Tulsa Remote, a program that provides a $10,000 cash grant given after you've purchased a home, and the money can also go toward rent. In order to receive the payout, you also have to purchase a three-year membership in a co-working space, so the financial benefits may be somewhat diminished. However, the low cost of living compared to other U.S. cities may tip the balance in Tulsa's favor.

It may not be considered the best place to live in Maryland, but it's no slouch. With Baltimore's proximity to D.C., the Atlantic coast, and other East Coast perks, a move there is pretty appealing. The city's thrice-yearly lottery for potential homebuyers doles out $5,000 toward closing costs on a home along with a 5-year forgivable loan. To be eligible for the drawing, you must attend the Live Baltimore Trolley Tour Event, complete event requirements, and purchase a home within 10 days of the tour.

Outdoor activities abound in the cruise port of Ketchikan, Alaska. While tourists crowds are significant, the kayaking, hiking, and snow sports may make the summer influx worth it. Settle into Ketchikan for a year or more, and the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend will present you with up to $2,000. Cost of living in Alaska is higher than in other spots in the U.S., but clean air, good schools, low taxes, and sublime scenery may make up for it.

Another outdoor lover's paradise, Ontario, Oregon sits on the Snake River and rubs shoulders with the Boise National Forest. Water and snow sports might draw you here for a vacation, but the $10,000 bonus for building a new residence here will keep you around. As long as the house is at least 1,600 square feet, has two or more bathrooms, and you move in within two years of starting the build, this chunk of change is sure to make building a new home more affordable.

Texarkana, a city that spans the border of Texas and Arkansas has a lot to commend itself. Housing costs and taxes are appealingly low, and it serves up four seasons without too many extremes (and not much snow!). The town's REDI...Set...Move! campaign provides a generous welcome package that's worth nearly $19,000. Along with $5,000 cash to help you set up residence, the town throws in educational, cultural, and recreational perks like reduced tuition to Texas A&M Texarkana, tickets to the symphony, and gym memberships.

Not every town that will pay you to move there is ideal for families, but Hermitage, Pennsylvania is one of the few. Tucked a bit over an hour north of Pittsburgh and hugging the Ohio border, Hermitage is willing to part with more than just $5,000 to help you move. Their welcome package caters to all members of the family, with recreational offerings ranging from public pool and golf passes to free summer camp.

West Virginia's country roads will take you home to Morgantown, a university town that will hand over nearly $20,000 worth of incentives for you to settle here. Niched within a rolling river valley, Morgantown is storybook picturesque and brimming with history, culture, and natural beauty. A stipend of $12,000 plus services valued at an additional $8,000 that include recreational opportunities and job assistance will welcome you to Morgantown.

So close to its neighbor that it shares a metro area with Phenix City, Alabama, Columbus, Georgia is another southern university town with plenty of draws, like outdoor and professional sports, dining and nightlife, and many other attractions. The town is ponying up $5,000 to help remote workers relocate. While it might not seem like much, it'll go a long way in Columbus; the town's median home value is a bit under $165,000.

If canoeing on a placid lake and night skies rippling with northern lights are your ideas of heaven, Bemidji, Minnesota is the place for you. The town's modest relocation package of $1,000 plus memberships to the chamber of commerce, a concierge service, and a coworking space could pique your interest, but four seasons of outdoor activities and indoor fun might seal the deal.

Tucson might sound like nothing more than a dusty, sun-baked desert city, but this southern Arizona locale is overflowing with things to do. The sun shines 300 days per year in Tucson, it's home to the University of Arizona and Saguaro National Park, and its arts and food scene is sure to satisfy new arrivals. Eligible new Tucsonians can receive $1,500 to help them move, free internet for a year, and discounts on dining and attractions.