Key facts
- Muncie, Indiana, offers $5,000 cash incentives to remote workers to relocate.
- Brianna Beyrouti moved to Muncie, Indiana, from Portland, Oregon, saving $600 per month.
- Elena Chrysostomou moved to Jacksonville, Illinois, from San Diego, California, receiving $5,000 and a $4,000 quality of life package.
- Muncie's population was 65,466 last year, an increase from 65,194 in 2020.
- The MakeMyMove program helped 1,000 people relocate across the US last year.
Several US towns are actively seeking to attract remote workers by offering financial incentives, aiming to boost population growth and revitalize local economies. Muncie, Indiana, is one such city, providing $5,000 to individuals who relocate there. Brianna Beyrouti, a single parent earning $107,000 annually, moved from Portland, Oregon, to Muncie, finding that the lower cost of living allowed her to save $600 per month and purchase a home, a feat she found impossible in Portland where she paid $1,290 in rent.
Similarly, Elena Chrysostomou, a scientist, relocated from San Diego, California, to Jacksonville, Illinois, a town of 17,700 people. She received $5,000 in cash and a $4,000 quality of life package from the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation. This move enabled her to buy a home with a mortgage of $1,868, a significant improvement from her $3,000 monthly rent in San Diego, alongside a 22% salary increase and a drastically reduced commute.
These relocation programs are part of a broader trend where smaller cities are experiencing population growth after decades of decline, as the high cost of living in major metropolitan areas pushes people to seek more affordable options, further facilitated by the widespread acceptance of remote work since the Covid-19 pandemic. While both Beyrouti and Chrysostomou express satisfaction with their moves, they acknowledge drawbacks such as fewer activity and dining choices, and the challenges of leaving behind friends and family. Beyrouti also noted an increased reliance on her car in Muncie compared to Portland.