9 Cities That Will Actually Pay You to Live There
If you’re looking for a new place to call home, have the option to work remotely, want to seek out new opportunities—or all of the above, you may be interested in checking out these places that offer some compelling incentives to move. Below, you’ll find 10 cities and states that will pay you to live there.
1. Tulsa, Oklahoma
The Tulsa Remote Program pays remote workers $10,000 to move to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for one year. As part of a series of efforts to attract new talent, the program hopes to bring diverse and talented individuals to the city for community building and collaboration. A co-working membership, up to three months of discounted rent in Tulsa’s renowned Arts District, plus plenty of networking events, are all part of the perks.
2. Candela, Italy
This serene retreat by acclaimed Italian designers Ludovica+Roberto Palomba, carved out of a 17th-century oil mill in Salento, demonstrates the charm of historic Italy.
This small Italian town is paying people $2,350 (2,000 euro) to move there. To help recover the town's population loss, the city’s mayor is offering up money to encourage people to relocate there and regain the town's reputation as "Little Naples." What was once filled with booming streets of tourists, merchants, and vendors, has diminished to just 2,700 residents. Baroque buildings, winding alleys, and picturesque terraces await new Candela residents.
3. Baltimore, Maryland
Nestled between Frederick Law Olmstead’s Patterson Park and Baltimore’s historic waterfront, Tap House emerges as a typical, unassuming, 16-foot-wide corner rowhouse common to the urban fabric of Baltimore.
Baltimore, Maryland, is hoping to get rid of its dilapidated neighborhoods and vacant lots. The historic port city is offering up to $10,000 for individuals to buy a vacant lot and develop it through Live Baltimore. Additional incentive programs, such as loans for home upgrades and rehabs of historic properties, hope to encourage and increase homeownership. All you have to do is attend a Trolley Tour to become eligible.
4. New Richland, Minnesota
The ever-changing, lush wooded surroundings of Minnesota, such as those experienced at this 8,000-square-foot Type Variant House outside of Minneapolis designed by Coen and Partners, are right near the small town of New Richland.
Looking for free land to build the home of your dreams? The small town of New Richland, Minnesota—with a population of just 1,200—may be the perfect new stomping grounds. Just off 1-35 and near Minnesota’s major cities, lakes, golf courses, and trails lies the opportunity to acquire an 86-foot by 133-foot lot. Build a new home within a year after the property is deeded to you, and the land is free.
5. Wellington, New Zealand
Inspired by the small scale of Japanese residences—in particular, Makoto Masuzawa’s 1952 Minimum House—architect Andrew Simpson designed his own economical 538-square-foot home set into a wooded site in Island Bay, a coastal suburb outside Wellington, New Zealand.
Known as "Silicon Welly," Wellington, New Zealand. is looking to recruit 100 talented technology candidates across the globe with a focus on U.S. citizens. A program known as LookSee Wellington hopes to connect individuals with leading technology companies, creative people, and a great lifestyle. It is a place where people can make a positive impact, and a chance to connect with prospective employers.
6. St. Louis, Missouri
The St. Louis Arch (1965), Saarinen's most recognizable architectural feat, is located in the heart of St. Louis.
For just $1, you can purchase city-owned property in St. Louis, Missouri. As part of an effort to reduce the number of vacant lots and in hopes of revitalizing fading neighborhoods, the St. Louis Dollar House Program has been implemented as a 1-year pilot program to sell single-family residential properties. With 18 months to renovate the property and 551 eligible properties, a dollar goes a long way here.
7. Pipestone, Manitoba
The rural municipality of Pipestone in Southwestern Manitoba, Canada, will pay you a grant of up to $32,000 to transform your ideas into a business. Or, if building a home is more your speed, you can get a grant to help you build or buy a residence within the municipality. Pay a deposit of $1,000, and you can buy a lot for just $10. These are just two of the many initiatives designed to build a stronger, healthier community by encouraging residential and commercial development in this picturesque region along the Saskatchewan border.
8. Vermont
Architects Joan Soranno and John Cook of HGA developed five site-specific cabins that tread lightly on the land at Marlboro College in rural Vermont. These deceptively simple structures update the regional vernacular. Every year, Marlboro College hosts the Marlboro Music Festival in which classical musicians join together to hone their craft. These cabins help support the musicians that live, work, and rehearse together.
Governor Phil Scott of Vermont has approved a piece of legislation that will pay 100 people up to $10,000 to move to Vermont with the new Remote Worker Grant Program. Aimed at remote working, the campaign hopes to attract new residents in a world of ever growing co-working capabilities.
9. Marquette, Kansas
Located in Springfield, Missouri, this modern farmhouse designed by Kansas-City based firm Hufft Projects exudes the traditional vernacular of Kansas with an updated take on the conventional form. The rolling hills and expansive land resemble the tone of quaint Marquette.
If a small town is more your scene, the forward-thinking community of Marquette, Kansas is a great option to live and raise a family, right in the heart of America. Surrounded by wide-open rolling hills, expansive vistas, and just over 600 residents, the town has plenty of free land waiting to be built upon.
Related Reading: Now You Can Buy a Historic Home in Italy For Just €1
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