As the COVID-19 pandemic scatters people from some of America’s largest cities to suburbs, rural areas and smaller cities, there has been a great deal of media coverage about the fact that some locations will pay people to move there. Why? Probably to increase the tax base, eventually, after payments to move have run out. Also, small cities may want to build demand for local merchants. Whatever the reason, at least one city is willing to pay people $20,000 to come there and be permanent residents.
According to MakeMyMove, Morgantown, West Virginia, will pay people $20,000 to move there. Of this, $12,000 is a cash payment. The balance is in various credits. The plan targets people who can work remotely, since the city has no large businesses that employ thousands of people. The program is run by Ascend WV, which works to identify and screen candidates.
Not everyone qualifies for the incentive. There is an application process. People can be rejected, and some will be, presumably. What is called the Ascend Morgantown says applications start May 31. It will begin to accept people in August.
The program has many conditions, which potentially makes it unattractive. Benefits are taxable. Final payments for the money earned by moving are not made until the end of the second year of residence. People must stay for two consecutive years. Only 50 spots are open.
The program says the population of Morgantown is 137,251. Almost 90% of the population is white, so it is not a diverse community. The median household income, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is $56,395, about 90% of the national average. The poverty rate is 20.1%, over one and a half times the national number.
Is the Morgantown deal a good offer? If people want to live in a small town with a low cost of living, then perhaps. If they are interested in a racially diverse population, then probably not.
To identify the city that will pay you $20,000 to move there, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the cash or other incentive offers listed on MakeMyMove.com. Total population is from the American Community Survey 2019 5-year estimates.
Click here to see which city will pay you $20,000 to move there.
Las Vegas, Nevada
> Population: 634,773
> Total incentive value: $1
> Incentive package: Gift: various amenities
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Chattanooga, Tennessee
> Population: 179,690
> Total incentive value: $1
> Incentive package: Program in development
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San Juan, Puerto Rico
> Population: 2,448,000
> Total incentive value: $1
> Incentive package: Various incentives
Janesville, Minnesota
> Population: 2,507
> Total incentive value: $1,730
> Incentive package: Tax Credits
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Savannah, Georgia
> Population: 145,403
> Total incentive value: $2,000
> Incentive package: Relocation reimbursement
Buffalo, New York
> Population: 256,480
> Total incentive value: $2,500
> Incentive package: Home construction in discounted city lot
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Honolulu, Hawaii
> Population: 342,933
> Total incentive value: $2,500
> Incentive package: Relocation reimbursement
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Curtis, Nebraska
> Population: 811
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot, $1,000 in cash
Mankato, Kansas
> Population: 829
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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La Villa, Texas
> Population: 2,720
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
Osceola, Iowa
> Population: 5,103
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Elwood, Nebraska
> Population: 829
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
Claremont, Minnesota
> Population: 779
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free property
Lincoln, Kansas
> Population: 2,926
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Wilson, Kansas
> Population: 708
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
New Richland, Minnesota
> Population: 1,136
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Manilla, Iowa
> Population: 895
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
Marquette, Kansas
> Population: 801
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
Halstad, Minnesota
> Population: 581
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Juneau, Alaska
> Population: 32,227
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: $1,000 in cash
Osborne, Kansas
> Population: 1,575
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Bemidji, Minnesota
> Population: 15,132
> Total incentive value: $4,000
> Incentive package: $2,500 relocation reimbursement, $1,500 gift
Charleston, West Virginia
> Population: 48,006
> Total incentive value: $5,000
> Incentive package: Relocation incentive
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
> Population: 19,569
> Total incentive value: $5,000
> Incentive package: $2,500 in cash, $2,500 in various benefits
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West Lafayette, Indiana
> Population: 48,551
> Total incentive value: $5,000
> Incentive package: Various incentives
Baltimore, Maryland
> Population: 609,032
> Total incentive value: $5,000
> Incentive package: $5,000 in home ownership
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Natchez, Mississippi
> Population: 14,981
> Total incentive value: $8,500
> Incentive package: $2,500 relocation reimbursement, $6,000 in home ownership
Bloomfield, Iowa
> Population: 2,658
> Total incentive value: $10,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 tax credit
The Shoals, Alabama
> Population: 72,528
> Total incentive value: $10,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 in cash
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Britt, Iowa
> Population: 1,893
> Total incentive value: $10,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
Ontario, Oregon
> Population: 10,966
> Total incentive value: $10,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 in home construction
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Northwest, Arkansas
> Population: 205,646
> Total incentive value: $10,750
> Incentive package: $10,000 in cash, free mountain bike
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Topeka, Kansas
> Population: 126,397
> Total incentive value: $11,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 in home ownership, free Jimmy Johns
Tulsa, Oklahoma
> Population: 402,324
> Total incentive value: $11,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 in cash
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Harmony, Minnesota
> Population: 976
> Total incentive value: $12,000
> Incentive package: $12,000 in home construction
Newton, Iowa
> Population: 15,164
> Total incentive value: $12,500
> Incentive package: $10,000 in home ownership
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Montpelier, Vermont
> Population: 7,477
> Total incentive value: $15,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 in cash
Augusta, Maine
> Population: 18,605
> Total incentive value: $15,660
> Incentive package: Tax Credits
Southwest, Michigan
> Population: 9,843
> Total incentive value: $16,000
> Incentive package: $15,000 in home ownership
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Morgantown, West Virginia
> Population: 30,712
> Total incentive value: $20,000
> Incentive package: $12,000 in cash, various gifts and incentives
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