Where to Buy the Cheapest Land In the US

The United States is home to various landscapes, from deserts and mountains to cities and prairies. Each region offers its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, but when it comes down to it, the land is land. 

And because we’re talking about real estate here, there’s one thing that all types of property have in common: They’re expensive. Luckily for you, though, some places in the country are better than others at providing cheap acreage on which to live the American dream. Here’s where to buy the cheapest land in the US:

Arkansas

Arkansas has the cheapest land and is a landlocked southern state in the United States. It’s known as “The Natural State” because of its diverse geography and topographical variations ranging from the highest elevation (Mount Magazine) to the lowest height (Black River Bayou).

The Arkansas economy has been growing steadily over recent years. The population rose by an average of more than 2% per year since 2000, making it one of the fastest-growing states in America. With this increase in population has come a rise in demand for the cheapest land, which has driven up prices across most regions within Arkansas’s borders.

As of 2019, farmland an acre was $340 on average; however, prices vary widely depending on where you live within Arkansas’s borders. For example, proximity makes farmable acreage cheaper closer to Little Rock. But if you’re looking for real estate outside city limits, expect higher costs across all areas.

Colorado

The state of Colorado is home to some of America’s most beautiful scenery, with its mountains and plains offering endless opportunities for outdoor activities. It also has some of the most expensive real estate in the country, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find the cheapest land parcels for sale in Colorado.

In fact, there are properties available across this varied landscape at prices starting around $680 per acre, and they’re located throughout all regions of this state. For example, if you’re looking for even cheaper dirt: In Western Colorado, the cheapest land on the market is $500-900 an acre; Eastern Colorado has lots available from $125-$200 per acre. While plots in the centrally located capital in Colorado start under $100/square foot.

Michigan

Michigan also has the cheapest land in the US. In fact, its average price per acre is around $4k. But there’s plenty of land here that costs less than that. You can find cheap land parcels in Michigan, anywhere from $250-$600 per acre. There are also some good qualities about this state: it’s got excellent hunting land and lots of places to go hiking or fishing.

While living in Michigan has plenty of nice things, it isn’t as cheap as other states (such as Arkansas) when buying property there. But if you’re looking for a place to get more home for your buck, this might be right up your alley.

Nevada

Suppose you’re considering buying cheap land in the US and are looking for a state with affordable real estate. In that case, Nevada is likely to have what you need. It’s home to many remote areas that haven’t been developed yet. The state borders Oregon on the northwest and California on the west.

If you look hard enough, you can find cheap land for sale in Nevada in the $100-$200 per acre range. However, it won’t be easy since there’s so much competition from other buyers who also want their own slice of paradise.

Tennessee

Tennessee is known for its charming small towns, rolling green hills, and stately mansions. In the southeast of the US, Tennessee is bordered by Virginia to the north and the North Carolina border to the east. The Volunteer State is also known for its country music scene; it’s home to downtown Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame. The Great Smoky Mountains is also located here, a national historic park in the US.

On average, per acre of cheap land for sale in the state’s mountainous northeast costs $140. It is a famous state for people who want to escape big cities and live a more secluded life. In addition, it’s excellent for fishing, hiking, and camping. Tennessee’s most significant advantage when buying land over other states is that there’s no state income tax.

Texas

If you want to own your piece of the Lone Star State, you have plenty of options when buying land here. Texas has the most significant number of landlocked counties in the US, and less than 10% of land in Texas is considered a desert.

Land prices depend on where you want to buy your property, as it differs quite a bit across the state. It can get expensive quickly in western areas like Amarillo and Lubbock County, where buying land for sale prices are $350-$600 per acre. However, things will get cheaper if you find yourself near an urban area such as El Paso or San Antonio. Vacant land prices range from $350 to $500 per acre, depending on what part of those cities they’re located.

West Virginia

West Virginia’s nickname, the Mountain State, is no joke. It’s the only state in the country entirely in the Appalachians, making West Virginia situated in a strategic area. And yet this land is some of the cheapest you can find in the US. With an average price of $315 per acre for vacant land. If you’re looking for a place to start a new business, or a plot of land for sale to build your dream home, West Virginia has options.

With an estimated population of 1.8 million people and growing, West Virginia’s growth mainly depends on coal mining jobs. Still, plenty of other opportunities are available to those willing to take advantage of them. The state has been a bit behind on growth in recent years, so investors have been able to pick up land at meager costs. Land prices are expected to rise but remain cheap by national standards.

Cheapest State To Buy Land: New Mexico

The great state of New Mexico is located in the southwestern United States and is known for its desert landscapes. The state of New Mexico has a population of about 2 million people. This has the cheapest state to buy land in the US and is bordered by Colorado to the north.

New Mexico offers retirees an opportunity to buy valuable vacant land as it’s one of America’s cheapest places in terms of real estate prices. If you know where to look, you can find yourself buying land for sale in Deming for under $200 per acre. You’ll often see land in this area selling at $100 per acre, even less than that.

Affordable Land: Maine

Maine, the most northeastern of all states in the US, is made up of large swaths of sparsely populated land. The state has a population density of just 18 residents per square mile, nearly half that of New York City.

Moreover, Maine offers the cheapest land for sale at a relatively low price per acre compared to other parts of the country. For example, in its eastern region, you can buy cheap land in Maine for around $450-$800 per acre. The Northeastern part of the state is an excellent place to start your search for affordable property. 

In certain towns within this region, you may find affordable land priced at $400-$700 per acre (such as Belfast or Ellsworth). There’s also some very inexpensive raw land for sale from a commercial real estate company further south, priced between $575-$800 per acre (such as Waterville or Brewer).

Cheap Land: Arizona

An excellent place to buy cheap land is in the Arizona desert. Arizona is a state located in the southwestern state’s capital of the United States. It’s known for having scorching summers and mild winters and is home to some of America’s most beautiful landscapes.

Although you may not be able to find any property directly on the Grand Canyon, you can still find plenty of the cheapest land for sale in this state. If you’re looking for something inexpensive but still valuable enough for that purpose, then here are some leads:

• In the southern areas such as Phoenix or Tucson, prices start around $250-$500 per acre. Still, prices go up above $500K per acre with additional amenities like indoor plumbing or electricity.
• In northern areas such as Flagstaff or Sedona, prices start from $400-$600 an acre, depending on the type of community interest available nearby (such as golf courses).

Cheapest Land In The US: Hunting Land

The cheapest land in the US is usually found in states with a lot of agricultural and ranching activity. However, there’s one notable exception: Oklahoma. This is because there’s little competition between recreational land buyers and those looking to buy hunting land. In fact, some of the more remote West Texas counties can be purchased for less than $500 per acre.

Minnesota and Wisconsin also offer great prices for vacant land and hunting land, though on a much smaller scale than Texas (where you may find yourself competing with landowners). However, suppose you manage to purchase some land here at such an inexpensive rate. In that case, you could become one very happy hunter at a $400 average price per acre.

Buying Land In The US: Affordable Land For Residential Land

For those looking to buy a piece of residential land in the United States, you’ll have plenty of options no matter where you are. Some places are more expensive, like Hawaii or the Northeast, but there are also places where the vacant land is much cheaper. In general, the further west you go in the country and the further south you go, the cheaper it’ll be. That’s not universally true all over the map, though it depends on what state you’re looking at.

For example, you can buy some residential land for less than $10 per acre in Tennessee, Arkansas, and West Virginia. In fact, it’s even possible to find some plots for around a dollar per acre. Some of these places will have more mountainous landscapes that might make it harder to build on your vacant land, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth buying if you want to save money or grow your own food. 

Conclusion

The article shows that there are many places to buy cheap land. However, the cheapest states to buy a house are not necessarily the best states to raise a family. If you want to buy cheap land and grow your own food, there are still plenty of options that do not involve spending much money. So you must look at all your options before deciding where to buy land and how much money you should spend.

The United States is vast, with many beautiful places to live. Still, if you are looking for the cheapest land in the US, it will be helpful to you to know where exactly your money can go furthest. If you are considering purchasing property in one of these locations, HOMES by ARDOR has real estate agents who can help. These agents will help you find homes and land that fit your needs perfectly.

Steph Wilkinson

In her 25-year career, Steph Wilkinson has been involved in the acquisition, marketing and sales of over $3 Billion dollars of residential real estate. A number of years ago, Steph transitioned into Brokerage Leadership for National real estate brands and tech start-ups. She has served as a Business Strategist for real estate agents and brokerages alike and is also a real estate coach and trainer. In her new role with the Iconic Team, Steph will be responsible for the growth of the team and will be working with all of our agents to increase their productivity and bottom line.