How a $5,000 cash incentive drove Americans to trade big cities for small towns

The soaring cost of living in major American metropolitan areas is driving a noticeable shift in population as remote workers abandon expensive cities in favor of smaller towns offering financial incentives to relocate. Among the destinations gaining traction is Muncie, Indiana, where local officials are distributing $5,000 cash bonuses to new residents through a platform called MakeMyMove.

Brianna Beyrouti, a single mother who previously lived in Portland, Oregon, describes her former life as financially precarious. Despite working remotely for a bank with an annual salary of $107,000, she found herself living paycheck to paycheck in a city of 2.5 million people. Rents were high, and unexpected expenses, such as replacing her children’s shoes, created significant stress.

Last year, Beyrouti moved 2,000 miles east to Muncie, a city of roughly 65,000 residents. She qualified for the $5,000 relocation grant, which helped offset the costs of her move. The financial impact has been immediate: her monthly housing costs dropped significantly. While she paid $1,290 a month in rent for an apartment in Portland, her mortgage, property insurance, and taxes for a detached home in Muncie total only $1,100. When combined with lower state income taxes and reduced costs for car insurance and energy bills, Beyrouti reports saving approximately $600 per month.

“I’m able to live my life more than I was before,” Beyrouti said. “When my kids want something, I’m much more inclined to say yes. My quality of life has increased dramatically.” She noted that she has achieved the largest savings of her life and was even able to take her family on a vacation for the first time in her youngest child’s life.

Beyrouti is part of a broader trend. A 2025 report from the National Association of Realtors identified affordability as the primary motivator for individuals moving to a different state. Consequently, major urban centers including New York, Los Angeles, and Portland have experienced population declines, a trend accelerated by the widespread acceptance of remote work following the pandemic.

Conversely, places like Muncie are seeing population growth after years of decline. Official figures indicate Muncie’s population rose to 65,466 last year, up from 65,194 in 2020, though still below its 1990 peak of 71,828. The MakeMyMove platform, which lists various relocation schemes across the US, helped facilitate about 1,000 relocations last year and aims to reach 1,500 in 2026. Other incentives offered by participating towns include complimentary cinema tickets, restaurant vouchers, and free wine.

Scientist Elena Chrysostomou experienced similar benefits after moving from San Diego, California, to Jacksonville, Illinois, a rural town of 17,700 people. Backed by a $5,000 cash grant and a $4,000 “quality of life” package from the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation, Chrysostomou traded a $3,000 monthly rent for a three-bedroom home with a mortgage of $1,868. She also secured a 22% salary increase and reduced her commute from 15 minutes to one minute.

“I never thought that I’d be able to afford a house on my own,” Chrysostomou said. “It’s just more freeing. There’s more security and independence.”

Both women acknowledge trade-offs associated with their moves, including fewer dining and entertainment options, distance from friends and family, and the challenges of adjusting to school systems. Additionally, reliance on automobiles has replaced the walkability they enjoyed in larger cities. Despite these drawbacks, the financial relief and improved standard of living have resulted in no regrets for either resident.