Sick of the grind? These 5 affordable states will pay you to move there right now

Had enough, yet?

As the cost of living skyrockets and housing markets tighten along crowded coastlines, Americans who even recently thought of themselves as financially stable are suddenly struggling to make ends meet.

And while attaining the American Dream may now cost $1 million more than the average worker makes in a lifetime, that doesn’t mean the United States is out of opportunity — you might just have to get a little creative.

For every overheated metropolis, there’s another that could do with an infusion of new blood, or so it seems — particularly in the middle of the country, states and cities that have lost population in recent years are not only trying to attract new talent, they’re willing to pay for it, too.

That’s according to MakeMyMove.com, which helps match remote workers with financial incentives being offered right now, for those ready to up sticks and go.

Here are just five states with strong relocation programs worth knowing about — not only that, their housing prices are positively retro, too. Could one of these off-the-beaten-path finds be right for you?

West Virginia

Home to beautiful national parks and recreation areas where outdoor activities like whitewater rafting and cross-country skiing draw fans from around the world, The Mountain State also boasts the busy college city of Morgantown, charming, artistically inclined burgs like Lewisburg and the grand, historic Greenbrier resort. The state’s Ascend WV program offers a $12,000 relocation bonus, plus a pass for a year’s worth of free outdoor activity. Some towns and regions are willing to add even more money to the pot to get you to move to their corner of Almost Heaven, bringing the total to $20,000. That, plus a median housing prices of $157,272 (according to Zillow), and you’re left sitting mighty pretty — just a few hours drive from the bustle of the Boston-Washington corridor.

Oklahoma

A short drive from both the Ozarks and fast-growing Oklahoma City, charming Tulsa offers beautiful old neighborhoods and plenty to do, while also keeping costs down — the median house price in the city is still just $196,774, according to Zillow. Better still, those thinking of moving there can tap into the Tulsa Remote program, which hands out $10,000 relocation packages to remote workers willing to move there.

Kentucky

Live music, Mammoth Caves National Park, and all the bourbon you can drink — what’s not to like? A number of communities in the Bluegrass State — one of the top 5 affordable housing markets in the country right now — offer relocation packages for those who can bring their job with them. Far eastern Johnson County and the Ohio river town of Owensboro, where mutton barbecue is the local culinary specialty, are just two programs to investigate.

Indiana

Pretty much right at the heart of the Midwest and connected by rail to Chicago, the Indianapolis region has done a lot of growing in recent years — so why is the state’s median housing price still a surprisingly low $227,178? Known for a low cost of living and low unemployment rate, the state, stretching from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River, has plenty of room for new arrivals — look into towns like Marion and Angola, where cash handouts for new arrivals start at $5,000.

Kansas

Anyone moving to Kansas can apply for a state income tax waiver — how’s that for a welcome gift? That, plus affordable housing, and cities like Topeka offering up to $15,000 in incentives make for a mighty tempting package.