Those struggling to come up with a down payment for a home or their first month’s rent plus security deposit might be relieved to know there are places in America that are paying people to relocate there.

Some smaller cities and states are offering incentives, worth up to $15,000, to those who can work remotely to move there. While relocation incentive packages vary greatly, some are throwing in cash, free gym memberships, museum passes—and even dinner with the mayor.

These incentives appear to be working. More than 50,000 people applied for these programs in 2023, according to the online marketplace MakeMyMove.com, as reported by CNN.

It’s easy to see why—getting paid to move somewhere seems like a dream gig. But how much will you spend once you get there? Is it really as great of a deal as it seems?

To help you decide whether it makes good financial sense, we uncovered the median list prices in the places offering relocation incentives.

The good news: The money these programs offer will stretch a bit further in many of these locations, where home prices tend to be significantly less than the national median list price of $415,500, according to the most recent Realtor.com® data.

But keep in mind that when it comes to these programs, “the fine print is a little bit tricky,” cautions Lisa Sturtevant, the chief economist of Bright MLS, the multiple listing service for the mid-Atlantic region. (Each program has its own set of rules, eligibility requirements, and stipulations for how long participants must live in these areas.)

Sturtevant also urges folks interested in moving to these locales to spend a few weeks there before packing their belongings and uprooting their lives.

“Moving is always a big undertaking,” she says. This way, “you can be more confident that you’re making the right choice.”

So how much will you shell out after you’re paid big bucks to move? Take a look.

1. Tulsa, OK

Median home list price in February: $299,350*

Tulsa snagged headlines in 2018 when the city began luring remote workers and entrepreneurs with the promise of a $10,000 grant. That money will go far in the city, where about half of the homes for sale cost less than $300,000.

The Tulsa Remote program has resulted in nearly 2,200 people relocating to the city as of December 2022, according to the program.

Applicants must be 18 years old, eligible to work in the U.S., and have full-time, remote jobs. They must also have lived outside of the state for at least one year before they apply to the program.

2. Topeka, KS

Median home list price in February: $230,000

Topeka followed Tulsa’s lead and started offering grants of up to $15,000 in 2019. Remote workers, military veterans, and former Topeka residents are eligible for $5,000 if they accept a job in the city that pays them at least $50,000.

Renters who receive an employer match can receive up to $10,000 in their first year to help them with their housing costs. Homebuyers can put $15,000 toward their purchase through the program.

3. The Shoals, AL

Median home list price in Colbert County, AL, in February: $281,175
Median home list price in Lauderdale County, AL, in February: $319,925

The Shoals, an area in northwestern Alabama that encompasses Colbert and Lauderdale counties, is offering new residents up to $10,000.

The Remote Shoals program touts the area’s relatively low cost of living, the University of North Alabama in Florence, and the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

Applicants must be self-employed or work remotely and earn a minimum of $52,000. They must also be eligible to work in the U.S.

4. Rochester, NY

Median home list price in February: $143,725

Bargain hunters might want to check out Rochester, which has the cheapest homes of any of the places on this list. Folks who relocate to the city through the Greater ROC Remote program can receive $10,000 in grants and an additional $9,000 if they buy a home.

That money will go a long way in the city, which is home to the University of Rochester

Remote workers who are eligible to work in the U.S. must live within 300 miles of downtown Rochester to be eligible.

5. West Virginia

Median home list price in February: $231,000

Lovers of the outdoors might want to explore the state’s Ascend West Virginia program. It provides participants with a $10,000 cash incentive in their first year and an addition $2,000 in their second—plus free activities like whitewater rafting, downhill skiing, and access to a co-working space.

To be eligible, applicants must be remote workers or own their own business outside of West Virginia.

Fun fact: The founders of the program are Brad D. Smith, the former CEO of Intuit, and his wife, Alys Smith.

7. Indiana

Median home list price in February: $280,750

There are dozens of cities and regions with incentive programs, according to CNN. In the Indianapolis suburb of Noblesville, new residents can receive a $5,000 grant, a 12-month membership to a co-working space, a season pass for golfing, a $500 health and wellness stipend—and coffee with the mayor.

The total package is estimated to be worth about $15,000.

8. Kentucky

Median home list price in February: $299,450

Those who would be open to moving to Kentucky have plenty of incentives to choose from. Eight cities and towns in the Bluegrass State are offering relocation benefits for new residents.

Mayfield and Graves County is offering those moving in $5,000 to help with relocation costs, half off of local childcare, a YMCA membership, lunch with the mayor, and a family pass to a local performing arts center. They’re even throwing in a dozen locally sourced eggs, free, every month.

9. Michigan

Median home list price in February: $259,900

Those who hope to forge careers in the electric vehicle, mobility, and semiconductor industries might want to check out Michigan. The state is offering college students and recent graduates about 350 scholarships, worth between $5,000 and $10,000, and internships through The Michigander Scholars Program.

The winners must live in Michigan for at least one year and work full time at a participating company.

10. Alaska

Median home list price in February: $396,500

Alaska doesn’t offer an incentive program like many of the others on this list, but residents still get paid to live there.

Full-time residents of the Last Frontier State receive a yearly payment from Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend if they qualify.

Last year, every resident of Alaska got $1,312, according to CNN.

* Data is as of February from Realtor.com.

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