IA
Overall Score
Category Wins
4/10
Overall Score
Category Wins
6/10
Quick Comparison
Winner highlighted per category
Oregon Edges Out Iowa Overall
With an overall homesteading score of 67.3 vs 65.8, Oregon 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: Oregon offers cheaper farmland at $4,200/acre vs $10,400/acre. Oregon has a longer growing season (210 vs 175 days). Oregon has lower property taxes (0.98% vs 1.52%).
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 | Oregon OR |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes & Cost | ||
| Yes | Yes | |
| 3.9% | 9.9% | |
| 6.94% | 0% | |
| 1.52% | 0.98% | |
| 89.3 | 108 | |
| Land & Building | ||
| $10,400 | $4,200 | |
| Partial | Yes (Statewide) | |
| Varies | Increasingly permitted with zoning approval; ADU-friendly policies | |
| Climate & Growing | ||
| 4b-5b | 8a-9b | |
| 175 | 210 | |
| 38" | 70" | |
| 10 | 8 | |
| 4 | 5 | |
| 6 | 2 | |
| Water & Energy | ||
| Unrestricted | Permitted | |
| 4.3 | 4.4 | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Laws & Freedom | ||
| Medium | Minimal | |
| 8 | 6 | |
| Strong | Very strong | |
| Yes (Farm Sales Only) | Permitted for raw milk operations with licensing | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Safety & Healthcare | ||
| 300 | 407 | |
| 28% | 46% | |
| Demographics & Community | ||
| 57.2 | 42 | |
| 36% | 21% | |
| 87% | 88% | |
| Business | ||
| #28 | #39 | |
| $50/yr | $50/yr | |
| 2.8% | 3.8% | |
Not sure which state is right for you?
Use our free ranking tool to score all 50 states based on your personal priorities — from land prices and taxes to climate and community.
Rank States by Your Priorities
Your brand here — Reach our audience of professional directory owners and boost your sales.