Brianna Beyrouti, a single mother from Portland, Oregon, made a major life change last year by moving 2,000 miles east to Muncie, Indiana. She took advantage of a relocation program that offered $5,000 to help cover the costs of moving. In Portland, Brianna was struggling to make ends meet, working paycheck to paycheck to provide for her two children. After the move, she continues to work remotely for the same bank, earning an annual salary of $107,000. For the first time, she now owns a home, with monthly expenses for mortgage, insurance, and taxes totaling $1,100—significantly less than the $1,290 she spent on rent in Portland. Lower state income tax, reduced car insurance, and lower energy bills have helped her save an additional $600 a month, and she says her overall quality of life has improved. Brianna is not alone in choosing a smaller city over a big one. According to a 2025 report by the National Association of Realtors, affordability is the main reason people are moving to different states. This trend has led to population declines in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Portland, while smaller cities such as Muncie have seen modest population increases after years of decline. Muncie’s population reached 65,466 last year, up slightly from 65,194 in 2020, though it remains below its population of 71,828 in 1990. To attract remote workers, Muncie’s local government offers a program called MakeMyMove, which gives $5,000 in cash to relocating families. The program also lists relocation support options from other small towns across the U.S. Last year, around 100 families moved to Muncie using the program, with plans to increase that number to 1,500 in 2026. Additional incentives include free cinema tickets, restaurant vouchers, and even bottles of wine, aimed at easing the transition for new residents. Scientist Elena Chrysostomou made a similar move, relocating from San Diego, California, to Jacksonville, Illinois. She used a similar relocation program run by the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC), which provided her with $5,000 in cash and a "quality of life package" worth $4,000, including free gym memberships and golf passes. In San Diego, she was spending $3,000 a month on rent, but now owns a three-bedroom home with a mortgage of $1,868. She also received a 22% increase in salary and enjoys a much shorter commute—now just one minute instead of 15. Both Brianna and Elena acknowledge that their new lives have some downsides. They have fewer activities and restaurant choices, have left behind friends and family, and face challenges in helping their children adjust to new schools. Brianna now relies on her car for transportation, unlike in Portland, where she could walk to shops and parks. Despite these challenges, both women are happy with their new lives, citing improved financial stability and greater independence as major benefits of their moves.