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Michigan vs Pennsylvania

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

Michigan

MI

Rank #35
Overall Winner

Overall Score

62.4

Category Wins

6/10

Pennsylvania

PA

Rank #36

Overall Score

62.1

Category Wins

3/10

Quick Comparison

Winner highlighted per category

1.38%
Property Tax
1.58%
91.5
Cost of Living
100
$6,700
Farm Land $/Acre
$6,800
190 days
Growing Season
180 days
38"
Annual Rainfall
54"
6/10
Soil Quality
7/10
8/10
Safety (Rural)
7/10
6/10
Gun Friendly
7/10
3.9 hrs
Solar (PSH)
3.8 hrs
85%
Broadband
85%

Michigan Edges Out Pennsylvania Overall

With an overall homesteading score of 62.4 vs 62.1, Michigan 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: Michigan offers cheaper farmland at $6,700/acre vs $6,800/acre. Michigan has a longer growing season (190 vs 180 days). Michigan has lower property taxes (1.38% vs 1.58%).

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 PointMichigan
MI
Pennsylvania
PA
Taxes & Cost
YesYes
4.25%3.07%
6%6.34%
1.38%1.58%
91.5100
Land & Building
$6,700$6,800
Yes (Statewide)Yes (Statewide)
VariesZoning-dependent; increasingly allowed in some municipalities
Climate & Growing
4a-6b5a-7a
190180
38"54"
67
23
33
Water & Energy
UnrestrictedPermitted
3.93.8
YesYes
Laws & Freedom
NoneHigh
67
StrongStrong
Herd Share OnlyPermitted for raw milk operations with licensing
YesYes
Safety & Healthcare
478421
30%43%
Demographics & Community
177.1297
25%18%
85%85%
Business
#12#33
$50/yr$125/yr
4.2%3.9%

Not sure which state is right for you?

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