Moving to a new place can be quite a costly endeavor. You have to pay for the services of professional movers, a sizable truck or two, a whole bunch of packing materials, new furniture and appliances…the list goes on.
Of course, Moving Day would be a happier occasion if you could find some way to avoid these costs. Like, say, some financial incentive from your new city or town.
Believe it or not, there are local communities out there that will pay you—either in cash or in kind—to become a resident!
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why cities and towns would do such a thing. Human resources are essential to the growth of any locale, whether through the payment of taxes or the expansion of businesses and companies. Heck, there might be towns out there that would pay a hefty sum to entice an actual rocket scientist to relocate!
As you may expect, there are conditions to be met. Some cities will have requirements pertaining to age, educational attainment (e.g., a college diploma), or nature of work (e.g. remote work). If you happen to meet these conditions, grab the opportunity to cash in on payments of $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, or even higher (depending on the town you’re moving to).
Get this: There are local communities that offer alternative forms of payment, such as a free lot or cryptocurrency!
If you want to discover where these cities and towns are, check out the list below. We’re guessing that if you do decide to move to any of these places, you’ll be cutting that packaging tape with a smile on your face.
Albinen, Switzerland
$25,000
Terms: Must be under 45 and commit to live in the town for 10 years.
Source
Antikythera, Greece
$565
Terms: Must be a family; Greek citizens have priority.
Source
Any Alaskan city, Alaska
$1,600
Terms: Must be resident in Alaska for at least one year.
Source
Augusta, Maine
$10,000
Terms: Must have graduated college since 2008.
Source
Baltimore, Maryland
$10,000
Terms: Must be a first-time homebuyer.
Source
Bemidji, Minnesota
$2,500
Terms: Must be a telecommuter moving from at least 60 miles away and become a full-time resident.
Source
Bloomfield, Iowa
$15,000
Terms: Must build a home.
Source
Bloomington, Indiana
$2,200
Terms: Must be full-time remote worker or self-employed.
Source
Britt, Iowa
Land worth $10,000
Terms: Must be remote worker and build a home.
Source
Calabria, Italy
$33,000
Terms: Must become an active resident.
Source
Candela, Italy
2,000 euros
Terms: Must become an active resident.
Source
Charleston, West Virginia
$5,000
Terms: Must be seeking or have accepted a job in Charleston, or be a full-time remote worker.
Source
Chattanooga, Tennessee
$10,000
Terms: Must buy a house.
Source
Curtis, Nebraska
Free lot
Terms: Must build a single-family home.
Source
Elmwood, Nebraska
Free lot
Terms: Must build house within two years.
Source
Emilia Romagna, Italy
$34,000
Terms: Must be under 40.
Source
Grafton, Illinois
$5,000
Terms: Must buy a house.
Source
Grant County, Indiana
$7,500
Terms: Must buy a house.
Source
Hamilton, Ohio
$10,000
Terms: Must be a recent graduate (seven years) of a STEAM program.
Source
Harmony, Minnesota
$12,000
Terms: Must build a new home or rebuild a dilapidated house.
Source
Honolulu, Hawaii
$2,500
Terms: Must work remotely and relocate for 30 days or more.
Source
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
$5,000
Terms: Must be a remote worker.
Source
Juneau, Alaska
$3,000
Terms: Must be a resident of Alaska.
Source
La Villa, Texas
$3,000
Terms: Must own the land for five years or more.
Source
Lafayette, Indiana
$5,000
Terms: Must be a selected, qualified applicant.
Source
Lewisburg, West Virginia
$20,000
Terms: Must work remotely for a company based outside West Virginia.
Source
Lincoln, Kansas
Free Land
Terms: Must buy or build a house.
Source
Luserna, Italy
Free home
Terms: Must commit to do charitable work for the community.
Source
Mankato, Kansas
Free Land
Terms: Must build a single-family home.
Source
Mauritius, Africa
20,000 Mauritian Rupees
Terms: Must have a startup idea approved by a committee.
Source
Mishima, Japan
$800
Terms: Must be under 55.
Source
Montpelier, Vermont
$15,000
Terms: Must work full-time.
Source
Morgantown, West Virginia
$12,000
Terms: Must be a remote worker moving from outside of West Virginia.
Source
Natchez, Mississippi
$2,800
Terms: Must buy property worth $150,000 or more and work for an employer from elsewhwere.
Source
New Haven, Connecticut
$10,000
Terms: Must buy a house.
Source
New Richland, Minnesota
Free land
Terms: Must build a house within one year.
Source
Newton, Iowa
$10,000
Terms: Must build a house.
Source
Niagara Falls, New York
$7,000
Terms: Must live and work in the region for two years.
Source
North Platte, Nebraska
$5,000
Terms: Must accept a job in the city.
Source
Northwest Alabama, Alabama
$10,000
Terms: Must be a telecommuter earning at least $52,000.
Source
Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas
$10,000
Terms: Must be 24 or over and work full-time with two years’ continuous employment, and move from outside Arkansas.
Source
Ontario, Oregon
$10,000
Terms: Must build a house within two years.
Source
Orange County, Indiana
$5,000
Terms: Must be a current resident and have lived in Orange County for two years or more.
Source
Paducah, Kentucky
$6,500
Terms: Must be a remote worker and agree to live in Paducah for two years.
Source
Ponga, Asturias
$6,000
Terms: Must be a young couple.
Source
Rochester, New York
$19,000
Terms: Must be a full-time remote worker moving from over 300 miles away.
Source
Santa Fiora, Italy
$44,000
Terms: Must buy a house.
Source
Santiago, Chile
$50,000 for your startup
Terms: Must have a startup with an interesting idea.
Source
Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Italy
$52,022
Terms: Must live and operate a business in town for five years and be between 18 and 40.
Source
Saskatchewan, Canada
$15,257
Terms: Must be a recent graduate (seven years) and be a resident or in the process of moving.
Source
Savannah, Georgia
$2,000
Terms: Must be a tech worker with three years’ experience.
Source
Sicily, Italy
$6,000
Terms: Must renovate a home.
Source
Southern Indiana, Indiana
$5,000
Terms: Must be a remote worker making $30,000-$50,000 per year.
Source
Southwest Michigan, Michigan
$15,000
Terms: Must be a remote worker outside Michigan and buy or build a home for at least $200,000.
Source
St. Clair County, Michigan
$15,000
Terms: Must be a recent graduate (ten years) of a STEAM program.
Source
Stillwater, Oklahoma
$5,000
Terms: Must be a remote worker and buy a home.
Source
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The Scottish Islands, Scotland
$65,000
Terms: Must move to a qualifying island.
Source
Topeka, Kansas
$15,000
Terms: Must rent or buy a home in Topeka.
Source
Tucson, Arizona
$7,500
Terms: Must be a remote worker with an income of $65,000 or more.
Source
Tulsa, Oklahoma
$10,000
Terms: Must be a remote worker or self-employed and move to Tulsa within a year.
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