If affordability and jobs are your keys to making a move then Topeka, Kansas might be a place to consider. Programs such as Choose Topeka, a relocation incentive and talent attraction program is one of dozens of similar initiatives run by municipalities, counties, and states aiming to lure out-of-state professionals and remote workers with cash grants and mortgage assistance. Topeka is particularly attractive, according to a recent article on Realtor.com, because its housing is attainable for the average worker.
Per the article, "The latest Realtor.com® housing data analysis shows that the median listing price in the Topeka metro was $267,000 in May, sitting more than $160,000 below the national number. This impressive affordability stems from a winning combination of low home prices, relatively high incomes, and a cost of living estimated to be approximately 15% below the national average. Under these conditions, a local household earning a median income would spend just 25.3% of its earnings on housing, well below the traditional 30% affordability threshold. This high purchasing power places Topeka near the top of the most budget-friendly housing markets across the nation's 300 largest metros."
As the state capital, Topeka has lots of well-paying government jobs. It is also a regional healthcare hub and it hosts major corporate headquarters and manufacturing operations for companies such as Goodyear Tire, Mars Wrigley, and Frito-Lay. These are all things to consider if you are up for a move away from the beach.
