Build Your Life, Not Just Your Resume: Eight Communities Where Nature Takes Center Stage

When it comes to choosing where to live, why settle for a place that only supports your career? Picture this - trails, lakes, rivers and forests just steps from your front door so no matter the season, you don’t have to wait for a vacation to feel grounded, inspired and truly at home.

Why Nature Matters

The appeal of outdoor living goes beyond scenic beauty—it’s backed by science. A comprehensive review published in BMC Public Health analyzed 952 studies on the effects of engaging with natural environments. The results were powerful: 92% showed consistent health benefits, including improved mental well-being in 98% of studies, and better physical and cognitive health in 83% and 75%, respectively. Features like accessible green space, low pollution and opportunities for movement were key to maximizing those benefits.

In short, communities that invest in nature aren’t just creating pretty places - they’re improving quality of life in measurable ways.

Where Opportunity Meets the Outdoors

A growing number of cities and towns are tapping into a powerful insight: when people have access to both meaningful work and natural surroundings, they’re more likely to stay and contribute to their communities. Through platforms like MakeMyMove, communities across the country are using relocation incentives like cash bonuses, housing support and coworking memberships to attract new residents ready to build a life in places where opportunity and the outdoors go hand in hand.

This strategy is especially resonating with younger generations. According to The New York Post, during the 2010s, 90% of young adult population growth was concentrated in major metros. But since 2020, that trend has flipped: 75% of growth in the 25-to-44 demographic is now happening in cities under 1 million or in rural areas. As The New York Post contributor Lombard notes, millennials and Gen Z aren't just moving anywhere; they’re choosing communities with standout natural amenities. That means places with access to forests, lakes, trails and year-round recreation are now magnets for younger talent looking to live well without sacrificing their career goals.

The result? A new migration map where affordability, outdoor access and career potential all carry equal weight. From lakeside strolls in Michigan to whitewater rapids in Georgia, the eight destinations below aren’t just beautiful - they’re building the future by inviting people to live fully, not just work hard.

Benton Harbor, Michigan (Southwest Michigan)

Population: 8,875

Nearest major metro: Chicago, Illinois

Cost of Living: 16% lower than the national average

Median Home Price: $180,000

Everyday Escape: Spend golden-hour evenings walking Silver Beach or biking the dunes along the Lake Michigan shoreline—just minutes from downtown.

If your summer mood board includes powdery sand and freshwater sunsets, Benton Harbor earns a top spot. In nearby St. Joseph, Silver Beach County Park offers 1,600 feet of guarded Lake Michigan shoreline, both roomy enough for volleyball courts and for quiet reading under an umbrella. The adjacent South Pier lures anglers at dawn, while the Harbor Shores trail network winds past dunes and Jack Nicklaus-designed fairways. Office-based professionals appreciate quick commutes between Benton Harbor’s arts district and Whirlpool’s global headquarters and many local businesses are eagerly sponsoring relocation for on-location positions, creating a bustling job ecosystem.

Additional Careers & Coastlines Program Incentives:

Bloomington, Indiana

Population: 79,968

Nearest major metro: Indianapolis, Indiana

Cost of Living: About the same as the national average

Median Home Price: $399,000

Bonus Feature: Paddle the quiet backwaters of Lake Monroe at dawn or spend weekends exploring 260 miles of trails in Hoosier National Forest.

Bloomington marries college-town energy with national forest solitude. At 10,750 acres, Lake Monroe is Indiana’s largest inland lake - big enough for sailing regattas, SUP yoga classes and back-cove fishing where you’re more likely to spot a bald eagle than another human. Just south, Hoosier National Forest offers 260 miles of marked trails, yet some of the most rewarding summer moments come from slipping a canoe into the still water at dawn, then grabbing indie-roasted coffee downtown before the workday. Remote professionals will love Bloomington’s work-from-home infrastructure while employers like IU Health, life-science startups and the university itself provide ample on-site career tracks, ideal for couples with mixed work arrangements.

Additional Move to Bloomington Program Incentives:

Learn more about Matthew’s relocation journey to Bloomington.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Population: 137,710

Nearest major metro: Iowa City, Iowa

Cost of Living: 11% lower than the national average

Median Home Price: $226,500

Bonus Feature: Spend the afternoon biking the scenic 12.6-mile Cedar River Trail.

The Cedar River flows through the heart of the city, and residents enjoy easy access to dozens of parks, nature preserves and public spaces, making it easy to unplug without ever leaving town. Palisades‑Kepler State Park is an 840‑acre escape just east of Cedar Rapids along the Cedar River, where dramatic limestone bluffs, deep ravines and rich hardwood forests create a scenic backdrop for hiking, fishing, picnicking and camping.

The Cedar Rapids Parks & Recreation Department oversees more than 4,100 acres of green space across 106 named parks, along with four municipal golf courses, six swimming pools, splash pads, pavilions, historic sites, sports complexes and more. With more than 1,500 recreational programs hosted annually, Cedar Rapids is an ideal destination for people who want to stay active, engaged and close to nature.

Additional Build Your Future in Greater Cedar Rapids Program Incentives:

Hutchinson, Kansas

Population: 42,083

Nearest major metro: Wichita, Kansas

Cost of Living: 10% lower than the national average

Median Home Price: $220,000

Bonus Feature: Hike the rare inland dunes at Sand Hills State Park, one of the few places in Kansas where shifting terrain meets prairie wildlife.

Kansas might be known for wheat fields, yet Hutchinson serves up an unexpectedly lush menu of dunes, prairie and wetlands. Dillon Nature Center’s five distinct loop trails—ranging from pond-lined strolls to oak-savanna hikes—sit just minutes from downtown cafés, so you can kayak at sunrise and be at your desk by nine. A few miles north, Sand Hills State Park protects 1,100 acres of shifting dunes threaded with equestrian and hiking tracks, a rare landform this far from the coast. Hutchinson’s MakeMyMove program welcomes both remote and on-site hires, appealing to aerospace workers at the nearby Cosmosphere as well as web developers who only need strong Wi-Fi (and maybe a good bike trail) to thrive.

Additional Hutchinson Program Incentives:

Macon, Georgia

Population: 156,163

Nearest major metro: Atlanta, Georgia

Cost of Living: 7% lower than the national average

Median Home Price: $192,750

Bonus Feature: Float, fish, or paddle on the Ocmulgee River Blueway, a 50+ mile stretch of scenic waterway running right through the heart of Macon.

Macon is a city where nature, music and opportunity all harmonize. Urban green spaces like Amerson River Park connect residents to walking trails, river access and wide-open views without leaving town. The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park offers more than 700 acres of preserved woodlands and historical landscapes in Macon-Bibb County.

Additional Choose Macon Program Incentives:

Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Population: 4,092

Nearest major metro: Lexington, Kentucky

Cost of Living: 13% lower than the national average

Median Home Price: $225,000

Everyday Escape: Explore over 26 miles of multi-use trails at Sugarcamp Mountain, perfect for hiking, mountain biking and taking in panoramic ridge views just minutes from town.

Set in the heart of Eastern Kentucky’s Appalachian region, Prestonsburg is surrounded by rolling hills, creeks and rhododendron blooms. It’s also home to one of the state’s most accessible outdoor destinations - Archer Park and the expansive Sugarcamp Mountain Trail System. Nearby Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, is a 2,871‑acre Appalachian retreat centered on the scenic 1,100‑acre Dewey Lake With a strong fiber internet network and welcoming community culture, Prestonsburg is attracting remote workers who want to live close to nature without sacrificing connectivity or comfort.

After relocating from a hectic metro area, Jenifer and her husband James have embraced a slower pace of life in Prestonsburg—right in the heart of nature. “We can catch all the action from the local wildlife right from our deck,” she said.

Discover how life in Prestonsburg brought Jenifer and James closer to nature.

Additional Move to Prestonsburg Program Incentives:

Vevay (Switzerland County), Indiana

Population: 1,741

Nearest major metro: Cincinnati, Ohio

Cost of Living: 7% lower than the national average

Median Home Price: $259,900

Bonus Feature: Chase waterfalls at Clifty Falls State Park, where the trails offer cool mist, lush canopies, and dramatic canyon views.

Tucked along the Ohio River, Switzerland County feels worlds away from Indianapolis, yet sits just 90 minutes south of the state capital. Clifty Falls State Park headlines the region with four major waterfalls that thunder after summer storms and grow calmer (and more swim-friendly) by August. Fifteen interconnected trails range from easy canyon overlooks to rugged creek-bed scrambles, ideal training for the September Trail Challenge. Weekends often end with sunset picnics at Vevay’s riverfront park. proof that the best playlists are made of rushing water and cicadas.

Additional Switch to Switzerland County Program Incentives:

Ready to Move Closer to Nature?

Whether you crave quiet forest trails, riverside bike rides, or just a breath of fresh air between Zoom calls, these eight communities prove that you don’t need to sacrifice career opportunity or affordability to live in the great outdoors. With a range of relocation incentives plus a lower cost of living and a slower pace, each destination invites you to rethink where and how you live.

And the best part? These places aren’t just for summer. When you make the move, you’ll have trails to hike in fall, rivers to paddle in spring and starlit skies to enjoy all year long. Browse available programs at MakeMyMove to explore these communities and find the one that fits both your lifestyle and sense of adventure.