As the cost of living continues to rise and housing markets become increasingly competitive, many Americans who once considered themselves financially secure are finding it challenging to make ends meet. However, despite the soaring cost of attaining the American Dream, there are still opportunities available in less crowded areas. In fact, there are states and cities in the middle of the country that are actively seeking to attract new residents and are offering financial incentives to do so.
MakeMyMove.com is a platform that assists remote workers in finding relocation programs with attractive incentives. Here are five states with strong relocation programs and affordable housing options that are worth considering. These off-the-beaten-path locations might just be the right fit for those seeking a change.
West Virginia
Home to beautiful national parks and recreation areas where outdoor activities like whitewater rafting and cross-country skiing draw fans from around the world, The Mountain State also boasts the busy college city of Morgantown, charming, artistically inclined burgs like Lewisburg and the grand, historic Greenbrier resort. The state’s Ascend WV program offers a $12,000 relocation bonus, plus a pass for a year’s worth of free outdoor activity. Some towns and regions are willing to add even more money to the pot to get you to move to their corner of Almost Heaven, bringing the total to $20,000. That, plus a median housing price of $157,272 (according to Zillow), and you’re left sitting mighty pretty — just a few hour's drive from the bustle of the Boston-Washington corridor.
Oklahoma
A short drive from both the Ozarks and fast-growing Oklahoma City, charming Tulsa offers beautiful old neighborhoods and plenty to do, while also keeping costs down — the median house price in the city is still just $196,774, according to Zillow. Better still, those thinking of moving there can tap into the Tulsa Remote program, which hands out $10,000 relocation packages to remote workers willing to move there.
Kentucky
Live music, Mammoth Caves National Park, and all the bourbon you can drink — what’s not to like? Several communities in the Bluegrass State — one of the top 5 affordable housing markets in the country right now — offer relocation packages for those who can bring their job with them. Far eastern Johnson County and the Ohio River town of Owensboro, where mutton barbecue is the local culinary specialty, are just two programs to investigate.
Indiana
Pretty much right at the heart of the Midwest and connected by rail to Chicago, the Indianapolis region has done a lot of growing in recent years — so why is the state’s median housing price still a surprisingly low $227,178? Known for a low cost of living and low unemployment rate, the state, stretching from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River, has plenty of room for new arrivals — look into towns like Marion and Angola, where cash handouts for new arrivals start at $5,000.
