Best States for Homesteading in 2027: All 48 States Ranked

Dreaming of a few acres, a big garden and a flock of hens? Where you buy matters as much as what you buy. Land prices vary more than twentyfold from one state to the next, and a cheap acre is not much use if it never rains. We built the Cooped Up Life Homestead Score to rank every state in the lower 48 on the three things that make or break a starter homestead.

Which states are best for homesteading?

The map shows every state’s rank. Dark green states are the top 10; red states are the bottom eight. Southern and south central states lead because they combine low farmland prices, a low cost of living and reliable rain.

Which 10 states score highest?

The top of the list leans south. Eight of the top 10 states sit in the Census South region, where farmland is cheap, living costs run below the national average and rain falls on its own schedule. Oklahoma wins because it is the only state that scores well on all three factors at once.

Why is Oklahoma the best state for homesteading?

Oklahoma has the lowest cost of living index of all 48 states at 83.0, farm real estate that averages $2,620 an acre and about 36.5 inches of rain a year. That mix lets a new homestead buy more acres, spend less on everyday bills and still grow a garden without heavy irrigation.

What makes West Virginia a strong pick?

West Virginia lands second with farmland near $3,640 an acre, a cost of living index of 87.0 and 45.2 inches of rain. The hilly terrain means fewer flat fields, so it suits small livestock, chickens, orchards and terraced gardens better than row crops.

Why do Mississippi and Alabama rank so high?

Mississippi (79.5) and Alabama (78.4) both pair cheap living with some of the wettest weather in the country, at 59.0 and 58.3 inches of rain. Land averages $3,650 and $4,250 an acre. The trade off is heat and humidity, so plan for shade and airflow in any chicken coop.

Is New Mexico good for homesteading?

New Mexico has the cheapest farmland in the country at about $735 an acre, which pushes it to fifth place. It also gets only 14.6 inches of rain a year, so a homestead there needs a plan for water: rain catchment, a well and drought tolerant crops.

How does every state rank?

Here is the full list for all 48 contiguous states. Land is the average value of farm real estate per acre, cost of living uses the MERIC index where 100 equals the national average, and rain is average yearly precipitation in inches.

Rank	State	Score	Farmland per acre	Cost of living	Rain (in)
1	Oklahoma	82.7	$2,620	83.0	36.5
2	West Virginia	79.7	$3,640	87.0	45.2
3	Mississippi	79.5	$3,650	87.4	59.0
4	Alabama	78.4	$4,250	86.0	58.3
5	New Mexico	77.6	$735	90.2	14.6
6	Louisiana	76.8	$3,950	91.3	60.1
7	Arkansas	76.7	$4,350	89.0	50.6
8	Missouri	75.0	$5,200	88.2	42.2
9	Georgia	74.7	$4,950	90.1	50.7
10	South Carolina	73.7	$4,900	92.7	49.8
11	Kansas	72.8	$3,200	87.1	28.9
12	Tennessee	71.8	$6,500	89.7	54.2
13	Kentucky	71.5	$5,600	94.0	48.9
14	Texas	71.5	$3,100	90.8	28.9
15	Wyoming	70.5	$1,030	94.4	12.9
16	North Carolina	70.0	$5,750	96.7	50.3
17	Maine	68.6	$3,400	112.9	42.2
18	Virginia	67.9	$6,300	99.0	44.3
19	Indiana	67.8	$9,150	89.7	41.7
20	North Dakota	66.0	$2,450	90.5	17.8
21	Pennsylvania	65.8	$8,700	95.3	42.9
22	Vermont	65.1	$4,490	113.4	42.7
23	Washington	65.1	$3,800	115.1	38.4
24	Ohio	65.0	$9,650	93.0	39.1
25	Illinois	64.9	$9,250	94.5	39.2
26	Montana	64.7	$1,260	106.0	15.3
27	Michigan	64.4	$7,000	92.1	32.8
28	Iowa	63.9	$10,100	86.1	34.0
29	Nebraska	63.8	$4,400	90.1	23.6
30	South Dakota	63.6	$3,100	93.5	20.1
31	Wisconsin	63.1	$6,700	95.7	32.6
32	New Hampshire	62.8	$6,670	108.5	43.4
33	Florida	62.7	$9,150	100.8	54.5
34	Delaware	62.1	$9,700	100.6	45.7
35	Nevada	60.9	$1,230	105.4	9.5
36	Minnesota	59.8	$6,950	93.4	27.3
37	Colorado	59.4	$2,360	102.7	15.9
38	Oregon	58.7	$3,880	110.4	27.4
39	New York	56.3	$4,500	132.6	41.8
40	Connecticut	56.0	$14,600	103.6	50.3
41	Idaho	55.1	$4,750	99.4	18.9
42	Utah	53.6	$3,650	98.4	12.2
43	Maryland	53.5	$9,950	118.8	44.5
44	Arizona	48.0	$4,300	108.6	13.6
45	New Jersey	47.1	$17,000	119.2	47.1
46	Rhode Island	47.1	$23,600	110.9	47.9
47	Massachusetts	35.1	$15,200	148.1	47.7
48	California	26.2	$14,100	140.3	22.2

Where is farmland cheapest?

Cheap land clusters in the dry West and the Plains. New Mexico, Wyoming, Nevada and Montana all average under $1,300 an acre, but each gets less than 16 inches of rain a year. Land price alone can mislead, which is why rain carries 30% of the score.

Which states rank lowest for homesteading?

California finishes last with a score of 26.2. Its farmland averages $14,100 an acre, its cost of living index is 140.3 and it gets 22.2 inches of rain. Massachusetts is 47th with the highest cost of living index in the ranking at 148.1.

Rhode Island and New Jersey tie at 47.1. Rhode Island has the priciest farmland of any state at $23,600 an acre, and New Jersey follows at $17,000. Plenty of people homestead in these states on small lots, but each acre and each grocery bill costs more.

How did we score each state?

• Land cost (40%). Average farm real estate value per acre from the USDA land values report released in 2026. Scores use a log scale so a $700 acre and a $2,000 acre are far apart, but $15,000 and $23,000 are close.
• Cost of living (30%). The second quarter 2026 composite from the MERIC cost index. Lower costs score higher.
• Rain (30%). Average yearly precipitation from NOAA rainfall normals. Any state with 40 inches or more earns full points, since extra rain adds little for a garden.

Each factor is scaled from 0 to 100 and weighted into a final score out of 100. Alaska and Hawaii are left out because the USDA land value report covers only the 48 contiguous states.

The score does not cover property tax, zoning, water rights, growing season or local rules on livestock. Check your county before you buy, and read our homesteading statistics for the bigger picture.

What should you check before you buy land?

• Zoning and whether chickens, goats or other livestock are allowed on the parcel.
• Water: well depth, water rights in western states and rain catchment rules.
• Growing season and frost dates for the crops you want.
• Property tax rates and any agricultural exemption your county offers.
• Road access, internet and distance to a feed store.

If chickens are part of the plan, start with our backyard chicken guide. Our egg price tracker shows what a flock saves you each month, and our garden statistics cover what home growers harvest.

Can you share your state’s ranking?

Yes. Local news sites, real estate agents and homestead bloggers are welcome to post their state’s badge. It links back to this page so readers can see the full ranking.

Frequently asked questions

How we gathered this data: We pulled 2026 farm real estate values from USDA NASS, second quarter 2026 cost of living figures from MERIC and long term rainfall normals from NOAA, then scored all 48 contiguous states in October 2026. Rankings will be refreshed when USDA releases new land values.