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.
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
Las Vegas, Nevada
> Population: 634,773
> Total incentive value: $1
> Incentive package: Gift: various amenities
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Source: Kruck20 / Getty Images
Chattanooga, Tennessee
> Population: 179,690
> Total incentive value: $1
> Incentive package: Program in development
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Source: dennisvdw / Getty Images
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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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
Savannah, Georgia
> Population: 145,403
> Total incentive value: $2,000
> Incentive package: Relocation reimbursement
Source: Jacek_Sopotnicki / Getty Images
Buffalo, New York
> Population: 256,480
> Total incentive value: $2,500
> Incentive package: Home construction in discounted city lot
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Source: Art Wager / Getty Images
Honolulu, Hawaii
> Population: 342,933
> Total incentive value: $2,500
> Incentive package: Relocation reimbursement
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Curtis, Nebraska
> Population: 811
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot, $1,000 in cash
Source: "Mankato, KS First National Bank from SE 2" by Ammodramus under (CC0 1.0) / Wikimedia Commons
Mankato, Kansas
> Population: 829
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Source: iStock / Getty Images
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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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
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
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
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
Source: minnesotalocalhistory / Flickr
New Richland, Minnesota
> Population: 1,136
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Source: "Manilla, Iowa aerial 02A" by Joe Mabel under (CC BY-SA 3.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en) / Wikimedia Commons
Manilla, Iowa
> Population: 895
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
Source: "Hans Hanson House Marquette KS" by Swampyank at English Wikipedia under (CC BY-SA 3.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en) / Wikimedia Commons
Marquette, Kansas
> Population: 801
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
Source: Willard / Getty Images
Halstad, Minnesota
> Population: 581
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Source: sorincolac / iStock via Getty Images
Juneau, Alaska
> Population: 32,227
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: $1,000 in cash
Source: "Osborne County Courthouse, Osborne, KS" by Jmorgan1959 under (CC BY-SA 3.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en) / Wikimedia Commons
Osborne, Kansas
> Population: 1,575
> Total incentive value: $3,000
> Incentive package: Free lot
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Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Bemidji, Minnesota
> Population: 15,132
> Total incentive value: $4,000
> Incentive package: $2,500 relocation reimbursement, $1,500 gift
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
Charleston, West Virginia
> Population: 48,006
> Total incentive value: $5,000
> Incentive package: Relocation incentive
Source: Jupiterimages / Getty Images
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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Source: akrassel / iStock via Getty Images
West Lafayette, Indiana
> Population: 48,551
> Total incentive value: $5,000
> Incentive package: Various incentives
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
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
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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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Source: nameinfame / iStock via Getty Images
Northwest, Arkansas
> Population: 205,646
> Total incentive value: $10,750
> Incentive package: $10,000 in cash, free mountain bike
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Source: LawrenceSawyer / Getty Images
Topeka, Kansas
> Population: 126,397
> Total incentive value: $11,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 in home ownership, free Jimmy Johns
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
Tulsa, Oklahoma
> Population: 402,324
> Total incentive value: $11,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 in cash
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Source: "2009-0528-Harmony" by Bobak Ha'Eri under (CC BY-SA 3.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en) / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: haveseen / iStock via Getty Images
Montpelier, Vermont
> Population: 7,477
> Total incentive value: $15,000
> Incentive package: $10,000 in cash
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
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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Source: BackyardProduction / Getty Images
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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