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

Mercer County, Missouri offers $5,000 cash. Status: taking applications.

$5,000CashAs published by the program$5,000 cash relocation grant; package listed at $6,500

Taking applicationsOpen when we checked on October 30, 2026Apply on the official site

Who it's for: People taking a local job
What you commit to: Income $50,000+
Visit before you move: Help offered
How we checked: MakeMyMove listing

By Sol Lakein, founder of Slower Sundays.Checked October 30, 2026.How we check programs

$6,500Total valueCash plus perks
$300,000Typical home for saleStatewide

Who qualifies

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

In the program's words

New full-time job in or near Mercer County paying at least $50,000 (current job at least $20,000), living outside Mercer County now, age 18 or older. Remote, gig and self-employed workers are not eligible.

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?

The grant is the headline. The bigger number is usually what you stop paying every month.

Buying a home$31,969 a year less
The typical home in Missouri costs $300,000, against $784,778 in Boston. That's about $31,969 a year less on the mortgage^1,2.
Renting instead$1,121 a month
A 2-bedroom runs $1,121 a month across Missouri, against $2,370 in Boston, 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 Boston metro they run 8.3% above the US average⁴.

Cost of living in Missouri

Is it worth it?

The grant is the headline. The bigger number is usually what you stop paying every month.

Buying a home$29,148 a year less
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
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

2 programs in Missouri were active when we checked on October 30, 2026.

Relocate and Work Remotely in Mercer CountyMercer CountyOpen$5,000 cashTotal value: $6,500
- Remote job
- Income $50,000+

Get paid to move to Missouri: every program

Programs in other states

Questions people ask

How much does Live and Work Local in Mercer County, MO pay?

Who can apply to Live and Work Local in Mercer County, MO?

Does Live and Work Local in Mercer County, MO help you visit before you move?

Yes. Two free nights in Mercer County to house hunt before you move, with introductions to local employers and school leaders. Source: https://www.makemymove.com/get-paid/mercer-county-missouri-jobs (checked November 4, 2026).

Is Live and Work Local in Mercer County, MO still open?

Open when we checked on October 30, 2026. MakeMyMove page 2026-10-30: 'New' and 'Recruiting Now' labels. Confirm with the program before you plan a move.

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Notes on the numbers

1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, Realtor.com via FRED, Missouri statewide; we do not have town-level data for this program yet.
2Mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Census table
4Everyday prices and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024.

Sources for this page

$5,000 cashTaking applications · Mercer County

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