Overall Score
Category Wins
6/10
OH
Overall Score
Category Wins
3/10
Quick Comparison
Winner highlighted per category
Iowa Edges Out Ohio Overall
With an overall homesteading score of 65.8 vs 64.6, Iowa 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: Ohio offers cheaper farmland at $5,800/acre vs $10,400/acre. Ohio has a longer growing season (180 vs 175 days). Iowa has lower property taxes (1.52% vs 1.56%).
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
| Data Point | Iowa IA | Ohio OH |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes & Cost | ||
| Yes | Yes | |
| 3.9% | 2.75% | |
| 6.94% | 7.21% | |
| 1.52% | 1.56% | |
| 89.3 | 95 | |
| Land & Building | ||
| $10,400 | $5,800 | |
| Partial | Yes (Statewide) | |
| Varies | Permitted with local zoning approval; increasingly allowed | |
| Climate & Growing | ||
| 4b-5b | 5a-6b | |
| 175 | 180 | |
| 38" | 48" | |
| 10 | 8 | |
| 4 | 3 | |
| 6 | 5 | |
| Water & Energy | ||
| Unrestricted | Permitted | |
| 4.3 | 4 | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Laws & Freedom | ||
| Medium | Moderate | |
| 8 | 8 | |
| Strong | Strong | |
| Yes (Farm Sales Only) | Herd Share Only | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Safety & Healthcare | ||
| 300 | 383 | |
| 28% | 40% | |
| Demographics & Community | ||
| 57.2 | 287 | |
| 36% | 24% | |
| 87% | 84% | |
| Business | ||
| #28 | #26 | |
| $50/yr | $99/yr | |
| 2.8% | 4% | |
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