
How Micropolitan Communities Are Expanding Housing Access and Economic Opportunity



For decades, homeownership served as one of America’s most reliable pathways to economic stability and long-term wealth, particularly for middle-class households that form the backbone of the U.S. workforce. Recently, however, structural affordability challenges - soaring home prices, tight inventory, and elevated mortgage costs - have pushed ownership and access further out of reach for many median-income families, even as employment and earnings remain relatively stable. A Bankrate analysis finds that more than 75% of homes on the U.S. market are unaffordable to a typical household at median income levels in 2025.

MakeMyMove’s proprietary mover dataset combined with U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS) data

 reveals a countervailing trend: relocation to rural-adjacent and micropolitan communities is emerging as a viable pathway into homeownership—one that preserves monthly affordability, improves housing quality, and supports long-term equity accumulation. These moves are not driven by economic distress, but by a growing disconnect between income and housing access in major metropolitan markets.

Remote workers represent a visible early cohort within this shift. Their geographic flexibility allows them to respond more quickly to housing constraints, making them a leading indicator rather than an exception. While not all middle-class households have the same mobility options, the behavior of remote workers offers insight into how economically stable families respond when traditional ownership pathways narrow and alternatives become available.

Remote workers are no longer trading lifestyle for income — they’re escaping the tradeoff entirely.

Through mobility, many households are maintaining similar monthly housing costs while entering larger, higher-quality homes—reframing relocation as an economic mobility strategy rather than a lifestyle preference.

What distinguishes this wave of relocation is its 

. Movers are not reacting to job displacement or housing instability; they are making deliberate decisions about where and how to live as they reassess what stability and success look like. Increasingly, that reframing includes:

Reduced commute strain and daily friction

Greater access to recreation and quality-of-life amenities

Stronger connection to place and community

Career remains essential, but it is no longer the sole organizing principle of geography. Remote workers, as early adopters of geographic flexibility, offer a preview of how economically stable households respond when income can be decoupled from location. Their movement illustrates a broader shift underway: migration as a 

strategic response to housing access constraints

, not a rejection of work or opportunity.

The Housing Context: Why Mobility Now Matters

The broader U.S. housing market has become increasingly inhospitable to traditional homeownership patterns, particularly for middle-class and median-income households. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Home Ownership Affordability Monitor, monthly payments on a typical home—including taxes and insurance—have grown far less manageable for households near the national median income. At the same time, national home prices in many large metropolitan areas have consistently outpaced wage growth, pushing price-to-income ratios to historic highs and compressing access to ownership even among financially stable families, while rising rents and limited availability increasingly constrain rental options as well.

These pressures are reflected in market outcomes. Existing home sales have fallen to near 30-year lows amid affordability constraints, while the median age of first-time buyers has climbed to 40—suggesting not a declining desire for ownership, but increasing difficulty in achieving it. For many working households, the challenge is no longer whether they can sustain monthly payments, but whether they can secure an entry point into ownership at all within their local housing market, as rental markets grow increasingly costly and competitive.

Against this backdrop, geographic mobility is emerging as a rational economic response. Rather than signaling a shift in values or lifestyle priorities, relocation reflects how middle-class households adapt when the traditional relationship between income, housing, and stability breaks down. Micropolitan communities, in particular, offer housing markets where monthly mortgage parity, home size, and long-term affordability realign more closely with earnings.

Remote workers, by virtue of their flexibility, are among the first to act on these conditions. Their movement does not represent a separate housing story, but an early expression of broader middle-class pressures—highlighting how access to ownership increasingly depends on where households are able to live, not simply how much they earn.

The profile of the modern mover underscores that this migration is 

, but by strategic choice in the face of mounting affordability barriers. Movers are largely economically stable households whose characteristics align with traditional homeownership pathways, even as access to ownership has become increasingly constrained in high-cost markets.

, aligning with life stages traditionally associated with first-time and early homeownership.

two-thirds hold bachelor’s or graduate degrees, and many earn $100,000–$150,000 annually

—well positioned to pursue homeownership in theory, but increasingly constrained by affordability in their origin markets.

These are households positioned to buy—but increasingly unable to do so where they started.

This demographic foundation provides essential context for the housing and economic patterns that follow, reinforcing that observed migration reflects structural access constraints, not diminished earning power or changing aspirations.

Housing: Monthly Stability, Better Outcomes

The housing outcomes observed in this analysis primarily reflect the experience of 

middle-class households—the backbone of the American workforce

—whose incomes remain relatively stable but whose access to ownership has become increasingly constrained in major metropolitan markets. Rather than indicating a willingness to accept higher monthly housing costs, the data shows that relocation allows many median-income and working households to 

re-enter a more favorable affordability distribution

, where a greater share of available homes fall within attainable monthly mortgage and rental ranges, as reflected in national housing cost distributions published by the 

 and affordability benchmarks tracked by the 

One of the most consistent patterns in the data is that movers frequently maintain 

similar monthly mortgage or housing obligations after relocation

, while substantially improving housing outcomes. Rather than stretching budgets, relocation allows working and middle-income households to shift into markets where attainable ownership options remain available, restoring alignment between income, monthly cost, and long-term housing stability.

Elevated effective monthly housing costs driven by price pressure

Higher renter concentration, reflecting constrained access to ownership

Reduced competition and greater buyer leverage

Lower relative monthly cost burden within the same income range

A broader distribution of homes within attainable monthly mortgage ranges

Movers often keep their mortgage payments stable—but dramatically improve housing quality.

This distributional shift helps explain why relocation preserves monthly housing stability while improving housing outcomes. National housing data shows that high-cost metro areas now have a shrinking share of homes with attainable monthly mortgage or rental payments, while micropolitan markets retain a broader mix of ownership-accessible housing. In this context, migration functions as an economic adjustment mechanism rather than a lifestyle choice.

 within this shift. Their flexibility allows them to act sooner, but their behavior reflects pressures facing a broader segment of the workforce.

Interpreted through a housing-access lens, the relocation data signals three key dynamics:

 High cost burdens in many metros push households to seek areas where housing costs better align with incomes.

Ownership barriers are structural, not personal.

 Limited inventory and high price-to-income ratios have made ownership elusive in many urban and suburban markets.

Micropolitan markets provide feasible ownership pathways

 characterized by less competitive bidding and more attainable price points.

Research also shows that urban households are statistically more likely to be housing cost-burdened (spending over 30% of income on housing) than rural households—a difference that supports the case for geography-based affordability strategies. 

Community Preference Shifts: From Access-Constrained to Access-Enabled

Mover patterns show consistent exits from high-cost metro areas—especially 

Chicago in the Midwest and Atlanta in the South

—toward communities where housing markets are less constrained by scarcity and cost escalation. These destinations also often feature stable regional employment ecosystems, helping households preserve income while gaining ownership or rental opportunities.

Employment classifications remain stable post-move, suggesting households do not sacrifice earnings to gain ownership access.

Careers stay stable—housing access improves.

Where Movers Gain the Most: Cities Maximizing Lifestyle

These cities have zip codes that most closely match the profile of confirmed MakeMyMove movers and represent micropolitan communities attracting relocation.

Households Under Pressure: Cities Where Costs Outpace Lifestyle Returns

These cities represent where middle-income, remote mover 

, often tied to higher housing pressure and affordability constraints.

Connecting People to Opportunity Communities

, matching aspiring homeowners with communities where ownership is attainable and sustainable. While relocation incentives and programs do not create demand, they help lower transactional barriers for families seeking to convert affordability opportunity into actual ownership.

As housing costs in major metros soar, remote workers and middle-income families are turning to rural-adjacent and micropolitan communities for affordable homeownership, better housing quality and long-term economic stability. New data from MakeMyMove reveals why.

Rome

Hickory

Jackson

Paducah

Florence

Terre Haute

Valparaiso

New Albany

Lagrange

Richmond

Chicago

Atlanta

Tampa

Los Angeles

Nashville

Washington

Baltimore

Detroit

Phoenix

Dallas

Fort Worth

Denver

Beyond the Metro: A New Housing Map for America

The decision to leave Dallas started quietly, as a practical conversation between Audrea and her husband, Dr. Boyd trying to imagine what the next chapter for their family looked like. They had two little boys at home and a third on the way and the rhythm of big-city life, including traffic, long commutes and rigid schedules - felt out of sync with the life they wanted to build. The idea of changing not just where they lived but how they lived began to take shape.

“We had two boys and one on the way,” Audrea said. “We wanted to get out of the city and relocate to a place where our kids could run and play and Dr. Boyd was ready for a career shift. It was just time.”

From Dallas, they began looking beyond large metros, searching for communities that offered the Boyds family more room, less congestion and the chance for Dr. Boyd to transition from a job as a plastic surgeon in a hospital system to a private practice. That search led to Macon, Georgia.

The family first heard about MakeMyMove almost by accident. While Dr. Boyd started researching a potential job opportunity in Macon, Georgia, Audrea stumbled across a local newspaper article describing relocation incentives for families willing to put down roots there.

 was offering more than $7,000 in incentives to families who move to Macon and I thought this is cool,” she said. “So I applied.”

While they waited to hear if they were approved for the program, real estate in Dallas was moving slowly. The family had just 90 days to sell their house in Dallas and find a new one. To make their move work, the family had to navigate contracts, approvals, contingencies and school timelines all at once.

The home search moved quickly. With real estate moving faster in Macon than in Dallas, they placed an offer sight unseen. When they later made the trip to see it in person, the house confirmed everything they saw online.

“We walked in and within ten minutes we knew it was the one,” Audrea said.

What They Gained: Community, Connection & Time

The Boyds arrived with three kids under the age of six, including a newborn and assumed the adjustment would be overwhelming. Instead, the transition was surprisingly smooth.

Though they had visited Macon only briefly years earlier, the family had one friend in town who helped create an instant sense of connection. “They introduced us to so many people,” Audrea said. “It made the transition so much easier.”

Their two older children enrolled in a private school, something that had felt unattainable in Dallas. “Macon has a wide variety of private schools that are actually economical compared to Dallas,” Audrea noted. The boys quickly found friends and as it turned out, so did their parents.

“They’ve made so many friends. Honestly, it’s where we’re meeting new friends, too.”

Outside the school day, the differences between small-town life and their prior life in a big city revealed themselves in dozens of subtle, daily ways. For example, in Dallas, a trip to the grocery store meant anonymity, but in Macon it meant running into new neighbors and friends.

“In Dallas, I could go three weeks and not see anyone I knew. Here, you see people everywhere you go,” Audrea says.

But the biggest shift was the time they have been able to get back.

“In the hospital, you’re on their schedule. Now that Dr. Boyd works at 

 a private practice, he’s able to make his own hours, which was one of the biggest reasons we left the city. He also used to spend two hours a day in traffic. Now it takes him five minutes to get home,” Audrea explained.

Those regained hours turned into family dinners, backyard afternoons, bedtime routines and conversations that didn’t have to be squeezed in between obligations.

And while life with young children can feel similar no matter where you live, Macon gave their kids something Dallas couldn’t: room to roam.

“My kids haven’t missed out on anything by moving to a smaller town,” Audrea said. “If anything, they’ve gained more because they have more freedom. They’re not locked inside.”

A Thoughtful Incentive Package That Opened Doors

Macon quickly surprised them in ways they didn’t expect. From the incentive package to the warm local culture, they felt welcomed at every turn. “They gave us gift certificates to all these small businesses,” Audrea said. “We’ve actually gone back to many of them because we fell in love with the stories the owners shared with us.” As a small business owner herself - a med spa operator - she appreciated the personal touch and local pride behind each incentive.

And of course, the $2,500 cash for relocation helped too.

“Moving is expensive no matter how you do it,” she laughed. “So that part was really helpful.”

Even with so many major milestones, including a new home, new baby and new job - the Boyd family is already thinking about how they can contribute to the place that’s welcomed them so warmly. “One of our goals is to give back,” Audrea explained. “In a small town, you can actually see the difference you’re making. That’s exciting for us.”

The family views the ability to get involved in their new community as part of the attraction that Macon offers.

As they get settled in, Audrea says the move has been overwhelmingly positive. “We have nothing negative to say about this move. It’s just been wonderful.”

When asked what moving has given their family, Audrea doesn’t hesitate.

“The biggest commodity in life is time. Moving to a smaller town lets you actually grasp that. You get to have those special moments with your family because there’s more time.”

The Boyd family found more time, community and flexibility after leaving Dallas for Macon. See how MakeMyMove helped make their transition possible.

Macon

Finding Time Again: The Boyd Family’s Move from Dallas to Macon

For most of his life, Kyle assumed Arizona would be his forever home. He grew up in the desert, built his career there as a mental health professional and after spending several years traveling and living abroad, Phoenix was where he and his husband landed when they returned to the United States. But within the year that followed, it became clear that Phoenix no longer aligned with what they wanted.

As the summers grew hotter and the cost of living continued to rise, they found themselves not talking about their next vacation but instead about the possibility of relocating. “Every year the summers were becoming more and more draining to my soul and spirit,” Kyle said.

Then one day, he saw a Facebook post from MakeMyMove. The post led him to a video about Evansville and something he didn’t anticipate - the prospect of moving to Indiana.

Within weeks, he had completed the application process for Evansville’s relocation program on the MakeMyMove platform, submitted proof of his employment and received the news that he and his husband had been accepted into the program. “I had never thought of living in Indiana,” he said. “But it just felt right and all the stars aligned.”

Unlike most interstate relocations, Kyle and his husband didn’t need to hire a moving truck, load up furniture, or coordinate storage units. Before moving abroad years earlier, they had sold nearly everything they owned and when they returned to Phoenix, they rented a furnished Airbnb instead of rebuilding a household. When it came time to leave, everything they owned fit into a few suitcases and the backseat of their car.

In fact, most of their planning involved their seven-year-old Chihuahua mix, Morocco, but even that turned out to be a simple coordination of his medications, paperwork and finding the right carrier.

With their approved relocation letter in hand and no lease to break, they packed the car and with Morocco in tow, started their road trip east. Their first stop was in Las Vegas, then they moved steadily across the country, spending a night in almost every state they crossed.

When they finally arrived in Evansville, they moved into their newly constructed apartment complex, where they were greeted with the smell of fresh paint. “It was exactly what we wanted,” said Kyle.

They quickly started to explore the area and found that within a short distance from their new home was a veterinary clinic for Morocco, multiple grocery stores, restaurants, bars, retail stores and a gym. “It’s like a big little city right outside our door,” he said.

Discovering Evansville’s Cultural Richness and Regional Access

Going from a city of 4.5 million to one under 120,000 was a stark change, but the impact wasn’t what Kyle expected.

He quickly discovered that the city is surrounded by several cultural and recreational amenities and a geographic advantage. Downtown Evansville offers theaters, ballet and touring productions, he also explored the town's neighborhoods, discovering pockets that contributed to the community's unique identity. Just across the river in Kentucky, Kyle and his husband were able to attend the Kentucky Derby and explore Audubon State Park. Weekend trips took them to major metros such as Nashville, Louisville and Indianapolis, as well as smaller historic towns like New Harmony. “Everything is so close by,” Kyle says.

Building a Clinical Practice With More Room to Grow

Kyle, a licensed mental health professional, owned a group therapy practice in Arizona staffed by roughly 15 clinicians. Because his practice was already structured to support virtual care, relocating out of state wasn’t difficult.

Once settled in Evansville, Kyle quickly became licensed in both Indiana and Illinois, hired his first Indiana-based therapist and began interviewing a second clinician with dual-state licensures. Kyle attributed this momentum to his new home, where he has been able to concentrate on his goals more easily. “There’s not a lot of distractions here and it has given me the space to hone in on my goals.”

Locals noticed his presence as well. Some specifically sought him out because he wasn’t originally from the area. “It made therapy feel safer and less vulnerable in a community where 'everybody knows everybody’, Kyle said.”

The relocation impacted Kyle’s husband differently. He had immigrated from a country where his educational and professional credentials didn’t easily translate in the U.S., and when they first returned to the States, his English proficiency was limited. Even taking the written driver’s exam had been a challenge in Arizona; the translations were inconsistent and confusing.

In Evansville, that changed. He enrolled in free English classes downtown, where an instructor took him under her wing and helped him accelerate quickly. He supplemented lessons with online tutoring, practicing reading and writing at home and soon began driver’s education through a local program. This time, he earned his permit by taking the test in English, a milestone that had previously felt out of reach. Kyle still remembers him walking out of the BMV and saying, “I passed.”

Just as important as independence was belonging. Before relocating, the couple had wondered how they would be received in Evansville as a same-sex couple. After they attended Evansville’s annual 

 and were able to get enmeshed with the local LGBTQ+ community. Kyle said, “We felt very safe and welcome.” Over time, they realized that most people in Evansville were simply living their lives. “Nobody has treated us any differently,” he said.

After moving to Indiana, Kyle and his husband began a health and fitness journey that included gym memberships, GLP-1 medications and lifestyle changes including walking, hiking and spending more time outdoors. Together, they lost more than 160 pounds.

They attribute part of that transformation to the difference between the weather in Phoenix compared to Evansville. In southern Indiana, summers are much more tolerable, winters aren’t extreme and the temperate spring and fall weather allow them to spend more time outside, instead of staying indoors for months at a time due to the heat.

“Everyone warned us about the humidity,” Kyle joked. “But I’m outside playing pickleball every day and when we lived in Phoenix, we were stuck inside our home most of the time.”

For now, Kyle and his husband are planning for a future that includes purchasing their first home, Kyle wants to continue to expand his business and they are both exploring the possibility of purchasing a rental property that could support future international travel. Evansville has quickly become their home, Kyle notes how it’s provided them with stability, affordability and safety, while being a surprisingly dynamic community.

“There’s something for everyone here,” Kyle said. “We’re not planning on moving anywhere else.”

Remote worker Kyle relocated from Phoenix to Evansville through the MakeMyMove platform where he gained a lower cost of living, career growth and a healthier lifestyle in Southern Indiana.

Evansville

How Kyle Rebuilt His Life, His Business and His Sense of Home in Evansville, Indiana

Thinking about making Neodesha your new home?

Neodesha offers affordable small-town living paired with steady employment across manufacturing, energy, agriculture, healthcare, and public service. With several long-standing employers and access to nearby regional job hubs, Neodesha provides practical career paths for hand on, skilled, and community focused professionals.

The Indy Region is a nationally recognized tech hub, home to global enterprises and fast-growing startups alike. Employers across the region hire for roles in software engineering, IT support, data analytics, cybersecurity, UX/UI design, project management, and customer success, offering opportunities for both early-career professionals and experienced technologists.

 — Local manufacturer producing plastic components and products, with roles in machine operation, production support, quality control, and maintenance.

 — Major regional industrial employer offering roles in production, mechanical maintenance, electrical, safety, and plant operations. 

 — Grain elevator and merchandising operation offering roles in grain handling, operations, maintenance, logistics, and administration. 

 — Community hospital providing careers in nursing, allied health, imaging, lab services, billing, administration, and patient support. 

 — Senior living community providing assisted living and long-term care services. Offers roles in nursing, caregiving, dining services, housekeeping, maintenance, and administrative support, with opportunities to work in a resident-focused, community-oriented environment.

 — Teachers, paraprofessionals, transportation staff, food service, custodial, and administrative positions. 

 — Public works, utilities, parks, administration, and maintenance roles serving the local community. 

 — County-level careers in public safety, road & bridge, administration, and public services. 

Job Training Programs to Help You Qualify

Neosho County Community College (Chanute Campus)

 — Certificates and associate programs in healthcare, industrial technology, welding, business, and workforce training. 

 — Resume help, employer connections, short-term certifications, and job-placement support.

Technical & Skilled Trades Programs (Southeast Kansas)

 — CDL, welding, industrial maintenance, HVAC, and electrical training aligned with regional employers.

Explore top employers and career paths in the Neodesha, Kansas. Find $50K+ jobs, training programs, and relocation support near you.

Neodesha, KS Employment Guide

Thinking about making the Evansville Region your new home?

Explore the Evansville Region, a Southwest Indiana river city where advanced manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, education, and energy drive a diverse and resilient economy. As a regional hub for the tri-state area, The Evansville Region offers access to large employers, stable career paths, and workforce training, all paired with affordable living and strong community roots.

Browse Local Jobs in the Evansville Region

Advanced Manufacturing & Industrial Production

Manufacturing is a cornerstone of the economy in The Evansville Region, with major employers producing automotive parts, appliances, plastics, metals, and consumer goods. These employers support hands-on roles with long term advancement opportunities.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (nearby Princeton)

 — Automotive manufacturing facility offering roles in assembly, maintenance, quality, engineering support, and logistics. 

 — Global plastics and packaging manufacturer hiring for production, extrusion, quality, maintenance, and plant operations. 

 — Industrial metals manufacturer with careers in production, mechanical maintenance, electrical, safety, and quality. 

The Evansville Region serves as a major healthcare center for Southwest Indiana, employing thousands across hospitals, clinics, and specialty care facilities.

 — Regional healthcare system offering careers in nursing, allied health, imaging, IT, billing, administration, and patient care. 

 — Acute-care hospital hiring for clinical, diagnostic, therapy, and support roles. 

 — State-operated behavioral health facility with roles in nursing, mental health services, security, and administration. 

The Evansville Region’s river access, highway connections, and regional reach support a strong logistics and distribution sector.

 — Regional distribution hub offering warehouse operations, material handling, maintenance, and logistics roles. 

 — National leader in moving, relocation, and logistics services. The company supports residential, corporate, military, and international moves, playing a key role in transportation and supply-chain operations across the U.S. 

 — Regional transportation and logistics carrier specializing in freight delivery and logistics solutions. Offers roles in CDL driving, freight handling, dispatch coordination, safety and compliance, and operations support. 

Southwest Indiana’s energy and utility sector supports stable, skilled employment tied to power generation and infrastructure.

 — Natural gas and electric utility offering roles in operations, field services, engineering support, and customer service. 

 — A public utility providing essential water and wastewater services to the Evansville region. EWSU offers stable careers across operations, maintenance and skilled trades, engineering, and environmental services. 

 — A nationally recognized heavy civil construction company with operations in the Evansville region. Traylor offers career opportunities across construction management, skilled trades, engineering, equipment operations, and project support, working on large-scale infrastructure projects nationwide. 

Education and higher learning play a key role in The Evansville Region’s workforce and community life.

 — Faculty, academic support, IT, facilities, student services, and administrative positions. 

 — A private university in Evansville known for its strong academic programs and close knit campus community. The university offers career opportunities across academic departments, student services, administration, IT, facilities, and support roles. 

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation

 — Teaching, classroom support, transportation, food service, custodial, and administrative roles. 

 — Education, workforce training, and student-support careers. 

Government, Public Service & Local Services

Public-sector employers provide stable careers that support essential services across The Evansville Region.

 — Public works, utilities, parks, administration, planning, and maintenance roles. 

 — Career coaching, resume support, job placement assistance, training referrals, and apprenticeships.

Ivy Tech Community College (Evansville Campus)

Explore top employers and career paths in the Evansville Region, Indiana. Find $50K+ jobs, training programs, and relocation support near you.

Relocation Trends & Tips for Remote and On-Site Workers on the Move

Beyond the Metro: A New Housing Map for America

Finding Time Again: The Boyd Family’s Move from Dallas to Macon

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