Homesteading Rankings

Every ranking is computed live from real public data using the same scoring model behind our state and county pages — so the lists stay current as the data does. No invented numbers.

By state

Best States for Homesteading

The 50 US states ranked for homesteading by an overall score covering water, land cost, climate, legal freedom, hazards, space, connectivity, and healthcare.

Best States for Homesteading Freedom

States ranked by homesteading legal freedom — off-grid legality, building-code regime, right-to-farm, rainwater harvesting, raw-milk and cottage-food laws, and ag-tax exemptions.

Cheapest States for Land

States ranked from lowest to highest average farm real-estate value per acre — where homestead land costs the least.

Best No-Income-Tax States for Homesteading

States with no personal income tax, ranked among themselves by overall homesteading suitability.

States with the Longest Growing Season

States ranked by maximum frost-free growing-season length — more days to grow food each year.

States with the Lowest Property Taxes

States ranked from lowest to highest effective property-tax rate — a recurring cost every landowner pays.

By county

Best Counties for Homesteading in the U.S.

The top US counties for homesteading nationwide, ranked by the same data-driven homestead score used on every county page.

Counties with the Lowest Property Taxes

US counties ranked from lowest effective property-tax rate, derived from Census data — the cheapest counties to hold land.