Live and Work Local in Mercer County, MO: get paid to move to Mercer County

Who qualifies

• A remote job is not required
• A track for people who take a local job
• Household income of at least $50,000

Perks: Welcome basket, 1-year Chamber membership, Stacy Center family membership, 1 year of internet service, 2-night house-hunting stay, free residential lot if building in Princeton or Mercer within 2 years

Visit before you move: Two free nights in Mercer County to house hunt before you move, with introductions to local employers and school leaders. Program page, checked November 4, 2026.

Run by: Mercer County Area Development Corporation (MCAD)

Read the official rules and apply →

Listed on MakeMyMove, which handles applications for this community; the community has no program page of its own that we could find. Programs change often: confirm the amount and deadline with the program before you plan a move.

Is it worth it?

• Buying a home$29,148 a year less
  Typical home in Missouri$300,000

  New York metro$742,000

  The typical home in Missouri costs $300,000, against $742,000 in New York. That's about $29,148 a year less on the mortgage^1,2.

• Renting instead$1,121 a month
  2-bedroom across Missouri$1,121

  New York metro$1,997

  A 2-bedroom runs $1,121 a month across Missouri, against $1,997 in New York, utilities included³.

• Program cash$5,000

  The program adds $5,000 in cash, $6,500 in total value.

• Everyday prices9% cheaper than average

  Everyday prices in Missouri run 9.2% below the US average. In the New York metro they run 12.6% above the US average⁴.

Cost of living in Missouri

Living in Mercer County

Home values, rent, local jobs, things to do and remote jobs you can bring: our guide to moving to Mercer County.

Other Missouri programs

Get paid to move to Missouri: every program

Programs in other states

• 100 Homes Program (City of Jackson down payment assistance)Jackson, MIOpenHome-buying help, not cashUp to $60,000 toward a home
  • Income $70,000+
  • Must buy a home
• Come Home to River CountryCrawford County, WIOpen$30,000 cash
  • Income $55,000+
• Choose Topeka Relocation IncentiveTopeka, KSOpen$15,000 cash
  • Local job track
  • Stay 12 months
• Hamilton Talent Attraction Program (TAP) reverse scholarshipHamilton, OHUnclear$15,000 cash
  • Local job track
• Driftless BoundVernon County, WIOpen$12,500 cash
  • Income $55,000+
• Creative Professionals Talent Recruitment InitiativeAppleton and the Fox Cities, WIOpen$12,500 cash
• Every program 104 programs

Questions people ask