States and cities that pay you to move — and other financial benefits

Relocation incentive programs: cities and towns that pay you to move

A handful of U.S. cities, counties, and states run programs that pay cash, grants, or stipends to new residents — usually aimed at remote workers, entrepreneurs, or homebuyers they want to attract. According to Clark.com, which says it verified these programs as active as of July 2026, the following were among the active offers:

These programs change often — budgets run out, waitlists form, and some are paused or discontinued entirely. Don't plan a move around a specific incentive without confirming current status, eligibility, and funding availability directly on the program's official site. MakeMyMove operates as a marketplace that lists currently active relocation incentive programs and can be a useful starting point for browsing what's open.

The catches

Relocation incentive programs are marketing tools for the places offering them, and they're generally structured to protect the program's investment, not to hand out free money. Common conditions include:

• Remote-job or in-person-job requirements — many programs only accept remote workers employed outside the area, while others require you to take a local job
• Income minimums, which can exclude part-time workers, freelancers with variable income, or retirees
• A required stay commitment, typically one to three years, with the grant structured to vest or pay out over that period
• Clawback provisions that can require repayment if you leave before the commitment period ends
• Possible tax treatment of the grant as taxable income
• Limited slots — popular programs can close applications or move to a waitlist well before any stated expiration date

1. Confirm the program is still active and currently accepting applications on its official website, not a secondhand listing
2. Read the full eligibility criteria — employer location, income thresholds, household size, and any required job type
3. Note the exact stay commitment and what happens if your plans change before it's up
4. Check whether the benefit is a lump sum, a grant paid over time, or tied to a specific purchase like a home
5. Ask whether the grant is taxable income and factor that into your actual net benefit
6. Get the application timeline in writing and don't commit to a moving date until you have written approval

The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend

Alaska pays eligible residents an annual dividend from the state's oil-revenue-funded Permanent Fund. It's often mentioned alongside relocation incentives, but it works very differently: it's a benefit of established residency, not a payment to move.

• The dividend amount varies year to year; Clark reported a 2025 dividend of $1,000
• Eligibility generally requires a full prior calendar year of Alaska residency and an intent to remain in the state indefinitely
• Applications are typically accepted January 1 through March 31

States with no state income tax on wages

According to TaxAct (updated July 2026), nine states currently levy no state income tax on wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

• New Hampshire repealed its tax on interest and dividends for tax years 2025 and later, having previously taxed investment income even without a wage tax
• Washington has no income tax on wages but applies a 7% capital gains tax to gains above an annual threshold for high earners (reported as $278,000 as of 2025), along with a state estate tax

"No income tax" doesn't mean "no taxes"

States without an income tax still need revenue, and they typically make it up through other taxes — property taxes, sales taxes, excise taxes, or targeted taxes like Washington's capital gains tax. A state with no income tax can still end up more expensive overall than one with an income tax, depending on your income mix, home value, and spending habits. See Cost of living: California vs. other states for a broader comparison before assuming a no-income-tax state is automatically cheaper for your situation.

Retirement-friendly tax treatment

Some states offer more favorable tax treatment of retirement income — Social Security, pensions, and retirement account withdrawals — than others, and the rules vary by income type and income level rather than being a simple state-by-state yes or no. Because these rules change and are easy to get wrong, this guide doesn't attempt a full state-by-state list here; if a specific state's treatment of your retirement income is a major factor in your decision, confirm the current rule directly with that state's tax agency or a tax professional.

For a more complete look at how retirement income and residency interact after leaving California, see Retiring out of California.

Homeowner benefits

Beyond relocation grants, some states offer ongoing homeowner tax benefits worth factoring into a comparison:

• Homestead exemptions and assessment caps, which reduce the taxable value of a primary residence in some states — Florida is a commonly cited example
• State and local housing finance agencies in many states run down-payment assistance programs for qualifying buyers, separate from any relocation-specific incentive

Rules and qualifying thresholds for these programs vary by state and county, so confirm specifics for the exact location and home you're considering rather than assuming a benefit you've read about elsewhere applies.

Profession-specific incentives

Some financial incentives are tied to your profession rather than your location decision generally. These are often more valuable than general relocation grants if you qualify, since they tend to involve larger sums tied to loan repayment rather than a flat relocation stipend.

• Loan repayment programs for healthcare workers who take positions in designated rural or medically underserved areas
• Loan forgiveness or repayment programs for teachers in shortage subject areas or underserved schools
• Kansas Rural Opportunity Zones, which have historically offered state income tax waivers and/or student loan repayment for people moving into eligible rural counties

These programs are run by state agencies, federal programs, or school/hospital systems directly, and eligibility is typically narrow — confirm current terms with the administering agency before counting on one as part of your move plan.

Where this fits in your move