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California vs Maryland

Head-to-head homesteading comparison across taxes, land, climate, laws, safety & more

California

CA

Rank #40
Overall Winner

Overall Score

61.3

Category Wins

6/10

Maryland

MD

Rank #45

Overall Score

54.6

Category Wins

2/10

Quick Comparison

Winner highlighted per category

0.76%
Property Tax
1.05%
138
Cost of Living
116.2
$5,800
Farm Land $/Acre
$9,200
365 days
Growing Season
230 days
100"
Annual Rainfall
48"
7/10
Soil Quality
6/10
7/10
Safety (Rural)
7/10
2/10
Gun Friendly
2/10
5.5 hrs
Solar (PSH)
4.3 hrs
91%
Broadband
93%

California Edges Out Maryland Overall

With an overall homesteading score of 61.3 vs 54.6, California comes out ahead in our balanced analysis — winning 6 out of 10 key categories. But the best state for you depends on what matters most.

Key differences: California offers cheaper farmland at $5,800/acre vs $9,200/acre. California has a longer growing season (365 vs 230 days). California has lower property taxes (0.76% vs 1.05%).

Scroll down to the full comparison table for a deep dive into every metric, or use our ranking tool to weight these factors by what matters most to you.

Full Data Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of selected states across homesteading metrics
Data PointCalifornia
CA
Maryland
MD
Taxes & Cost
YesYes
13.3%5.75%
8.625%6%
0.76%1.05%
138116.2
Land & Building
$5,800$9,200
Yes (Statewide)Yes (Statewide)
VariesNo Statewide Code
Climate & Growing
8a-10b6a-8a
365230
100"48"
76
82
12
Water & Energy
Allowed with LimitsUnrestricted
5.54.3
YesYes
Laws & Freedom
LowMedium
22
ModerateModerate
Yes (Retail Sales)Yes (Farm Sales Only)
YesYes
Safety & Healthcare
447454
35%20%
Demographics & Community
253.61636
5%13%
91%93%
Business
#48#46
$70/yr$100/yr
3.7%3.5%

Not sure which state is right for you?

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