These Four Places Will Pay You Up to $18,900 to Move There: How to Apply
Dozens of places in the U.S. are now offering relocation incentive packages to attract new residents, especially remote workers.
Many of these programs are actively recruiting through MakeMyMove, a relocation marketplace that connects workers with communities offering cash, housing help and lifestyle perks in exchange for relocating.
Newsweek compiled a list of four of locales, each offering up to $18,900 in total incentives, while examining who qualifies for each.
Why It Matters
Municipalities paying people to move reflects how remote work has fundamentally changed the competition for residents and tax dollars.
Instead of courting large employers with tax breaks, many communities are now targeting individual workers who can bring their jobs with them, particularly higher‑earning remote employees. In many cases, even a modest number of new households can have an outsized impact on local economies through their property taxes and everyday spending at local businesses.
Texarkana (Texas-Arkansas): $18,900+
One of the largest incentive packages available is the Call Texarkana Home program, which offers more than $18,900 in total value for eligible new residents.
What's included:
- Cash relocation payments
- Housing‑related assistance and reimbursements
- Access to coworking spaces
- Community and lifestyle perks designed to encourage long‑term settlement
The program targets remote workers and certain professionals willing to relocate to Texarkana, which straddles the Texas‑Arkansas border and promotes a lower cost of living alongside urban amenities.
Applications are submitted through MakeMyMove, where eligible applicants are matched and guided through the process by a local program coordinator.
Huntington County, Indiana: $15,000+
Huntington County is recruiting new residents with an incentive package worth more than $15,000, making it one of the most generous offers available for those open to relocation.
What's included:
- Cash relocation assistance
- Housing and moving‑related reimbursements
- Coworking access and curated community programming
The goal for local leaders is to attract professionals who can strengthen the tax base and population in a largely rural region.
Applicants must live outside Indiana and apply through MakeMyMove, and selection is competitive and depends on income and employment status.
Northeast Indiana: $11,700+
Another Indiana program, Live and Work Locally in Northeast Indiana, offers a package valued at over $11,700 and is also recruiting now.
What's included:
- Cash incentives tied to relocation milestones
- Employer and community networking opportunities
- Lifestyle benefits like fitness, recreation and cultural credits
This program spans multiple communities and emphasizes long‑term retention rather than one-time payouts.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids has also drawn widespread attention for paying remote workers to move, with a cash portion of $5,000 and total perks typically valued around $9,000, depending on availability.
“The hope is the benefit will be mutual: the location gets another resident that could grow their tax base, and the individual and/or family relocating gets a one-time cash boost, as well as a potential decrease in their overall cost of living,” Alex Beene, financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
“While data remains mixed on the actual effectiveness of these initiatives, the proposition is absolutely a good one if someone is actively looking to relocate and has a job, either in the town or city or work from home, ready to go. Otherwise, moving for a one-time incentive with no other game plan is probably not the best idea.”
How These Relocation Programs Work
Most incentive programs follow a similar structure. Municipalities either partner with MakeMyMove or run independent application portals, and applicants must meet income, employment and residency requirements.
Typically, incentives are paid after arrival or home purchase. Cash is rarely paid up-front in a single check, and programs typically stagger payments to encourage longer stays.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Eligibility varies by location, but common requirements include full‑time remote or location‑flexible employment. There are also typical minimum income thresholds (often $55,000-$80,000-plus) as well as a commitment to relocate within a set time frame. Some programs exclude freelancers, but others welcome self‑employed workers if income can be verified.
According to MakeMyMove, more than 4,000 people have relocated using its platform since launching in 2021.
Local officials are typically able to generate high returns from their programs based on what the residents bring in terms of local spending and property taxes.
Funding generally originates from a mixture of sources, including city and county economic development funds or public‑private partnerships.
What Happens Next
Many of these relocation programs are open for a limited time and can pause or close once funding caps are reached, meaning availability may change quickly as demand rises.
Locales routinely open new recruitment rounds throughout the year, while others adjust their financial incentives or eligibility rules.
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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 4:55 PM.