The 20 Cheapest Places to Buy Land in the U.S.
The price of land jumped dramatically from 2020 to the present. Values soared as interest rates on loans went down in a sellers' market, which made it tougher to find affordable properties. If you're looking for good deals on land, there are still plenty of places where the prices are reasonable. Here are the 20 cheapest places to buy land in the USA in 2022.
20. Jasper County, Mississippi
Price of land per acre: $1,251
If you're looking for a great deal on land in Mississippi, check out the southeastern part of the state. World Populations explains that you can find deals on land as cheap as $1,251 per acre in the more remote areas of the state about 50 miles east of Jackson, in Jasper County. The county is small compared to many others, with just 676 square miles within its borders. Living in remote areas of Mississippi gives you the advantage of low population density and peaceful and safe existence. This region is near Bay Springs RV Park, Clarkco State Park, and Bienville National Forest if you crave outdoor recreation.
19. Apache County, Arizona
Price of land per acre: $1,225
Land in the northeastern part of Arizona is cheaper outside the small towns and cities. You can find land for as low as $1,225 per acre in the Holbrook and Show Low areas. Land goes down in price when you look for deals in the outlying areas of these towns, about 10 miles out or further. Amenities of living in these remote areas include driving distance to some of the most scenic and peaceful places. Some parcels are near Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, and the Petrified Forest National Park.
18. Socorro County, New Mexico
Price of land per acre: $800
Socorro County is in the central part of the state of New Mexico. If you venture outside of Albuquerque for nearly 60 miles, you'll find the property's price is lower. The cheapest land in Socorro County is undeveloped, in remote locations. You can buy a 5-acre parcel for a mere $3,999. It breaks down to not quite $800 per acre. Some of the cheapest property is in the outlying and more remote areas, but they're within driving distance to amenities. You could be within an hour's drive to Albuquerque or an hour or two from the Manzano Mountains State Park, the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, and the Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.
17. Valencia County, New Mexico
Price of land per acre: $799
Compassland USA explains that in 2022, you can find land in Valencia County, New Mexico, that range in price from just under $600 per acre to $799. A five-acre parcel on the outskirts of Albuquerque for $2,900. Values closer to the city will cost more, but if you go out into the less populated area about 15 miles or further, prices drop significantly for some less developed areas. The benefits of owning acreage outside of Albuquerque are within the proximity to recreational areas like Petroglyph National Monument, Manzano Mountains State Park, and the Cibola National Forest.
16. Cochise County, Arizona
Price of land per acre: $720
Cochise County encompasses 6,164 square miles within the state of Arizona. If you're looking for cheap land, the southeastern part of Arizona, bordering Mexico, is a good place to start your search. While the land is expensive in the city of Tucson, venturing about 40 miles to the east of town is the area where you'll find real estate at lower prices. You can get a 5-acre parcel of ground for $3,600. Amenities are less than an hour's drive to Tucson and driving distance to the Coronado National Forest, San Rafael State Natural Area, and the Chiricahua National Monument. Occasionally, deals crop up in Cochise County from motivated sellers offering $599 per acre parcels.
15. San Miguel County, New Mexico
Price of land per acre: $700
Santa Fe is a bustling city that offers all the amenities one could want from a desert city. While the cost of real estate is expensive in the city, you can find some great deals if you venture less than an hour outside of the city limits. The central part of the state offers land in its more remote and unpopulated areas for as little as $700 per acre. You can find deals on 5-acre parcels as low as $3,500. You'll be close to the Pecos National Historical Park, the Santa Fe National Forest, and Villanueva State Park.
14. Lake County, Oregon
Price of land per acre: $700
Similar to New Mexico's cheap deals on land, you can also find great deals on parcels in Lake County, Oregon. It's a different climate if you prefer the cooler spring, fall, and winter months of the Pacific Northwest. Lake County is scenic are less than an hour outside of Bend. It's in southern Oregon and borders Nevada and California. Some of the more motivated sellers in 2022 offered 5-acre tracts of land for as low as $3,500, breaking down to $700 per acre. Most of the cheaper deals are in remote areas with breathtaking views.
13. Mohave County, Arizona
Price of land per acre: $700-$1,080
Go K Capital reveals that land is cheap in some remote parts of Mohave County. It's in Arizona's northwestern corner, not far from the Fort Mojave, Hualapai, and Kaibab Native American Reservations. While some of the real estates is expensive, when you explore the outlying areas of Bullhead City, Kingman, and other parts of the county, you can find parcels of land as low as $700 per acre. Some of the area's amenities are the Hualapai Mountain Park Campground, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, and the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument access.
12. Costilla County, Colorado
Price of land per acre: $500
Costilla County is in the southwestern part of Colorado that borders the state of New Mexico. It's also one of the best places to look for great deals on land. The price for 50acre parcels is as low as $2,495, breaking down to less than $500 per acre. You'll find these cheaper prices in the more remote and outlying areas, about 15 miles outside Alamosa. It's not far from town, and you can enjoy recreation at the San Luis State Wildlife Area, the Great Sand Dunes National Park, or the North Lake State Wildlife Area.
11. Hudspeth County, Texas
Price of land per acre: $250
You can still find land in Hudspeth County, Texas, for a dirt-cheap price. If you travel about 30 miles outside El Paso, 5-acre parcels for sale are as low as $1,200. The cost breaks down to $250 an acre. You can enjoy the amenities of the westernmost part of the state that borders Mexico, with close access to the city and plenty of recreational activities. It's not far from the Franklin Mountain State Park, Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site, and other recreational opportunities.
10. Hermon, Maine
Price of land per acre: $575 to $800
Hermon, Maine, is a town in Maine that is to the south of the state. You can find land for sale for as low as $800 an acre, according to Landsearch. The best place to look for cheap land is in the Northeastern part of the state. In Hermon, Franklin, and Perkins Township, you can find land that ranges from $575 to $800 per acre. Many of the best deals are in remote and secluded parts, far from civilization. It's difficult to find small parcels as most of them come in large acreages.
9. Linneus, Maine
Price of land per acre: $400 to $800
Linneus is a township in Maine where you can still find properties that range between $450 to $800 per acre. Linneus is the least expensive area, with parcels in the outlying areas that cost between $400 to $700 per acre. In nearby Dyer Brook, Amity, and Cary, you can also find similar deals on land. Most offerings are not in prime areas but offer quite a few amenities, such as hunting, fishing, and recreational opportunities. Most parcels are unrefined and do not come with utilities piped in or paved roads, but some do.
8. McNeal, Arizona
Price of land per acre: $400 to $600
The price of land in McNeal can range from $1,500 to $6,000 per acre, but you'll see a difference if you venture past the outskirts of town into the more remote desert areas. You can find parcels that run between $400 to $600 per acre, but most are largely undeveloped. You can find similar prices outside of Hereford, Bisbee, and Douglas. These areas offer some of the world's most magnificent sunrises and sunsets. There's peace, and you can find quite a few places to buy that aren't far from the local towns and watering holes.
7. Kingman, Arizona
Price of land per acre: $250 to $500
Kingman, Arizona, doesn't have the cheapest land for sale in the state, but the outlying areas are more affordable. Some tracts of land go for as low as $400 per acre in 2022. It's essential to note that the cheapest land is in the outlying desert, a few miles out of town. It can be a good deal if you don't mind searing hot temperatures in the summer and love Arizona's mild winters. You can drive for a few hours to enjoy the canyons and forests, along with the resorts for skiing in the snow in the winter to give yourself a break from the desert climate.
6. Winnemucca, Nevada
Price of land per acre: $100 to $200
Winnemucca is a city that has some of the cheapest real estate available in the state. Buying land in the remote parts of the Northern Nevada desert isn't for everyone. The cheap parcels are subprime, with roasting heat in the summertime and cold temperatures in the winter. If you don't mind the temperature extremes, you can buy land in some of the more remote areas without even going to the bank for a loan. The cheapest land lies on the outskirts of the town of Winnemucca, and you can find similar deals in Lovelock and Wells.
5. Deming, New Mexico
Price of land per acre: $100
Deming, New Mexico, is in the southern part of the state, where the climate and geography are desertlike. It's one of the cheapest places to buy land if you can handle the heat in the middle of summer days. The Chihuahuan Desert is the main land feature that affects the temperature with dry air. You can find land in Deming for less than $200 per acre. If you venture further away from the city or into the outlying areas of Bosque, you can find land as low as $100 per acre.
4. Elwood, Nebraska
Price of land per acre: $0 with a refundable $500 deposit
If you have $500 to put down as a deposit, you could qualify for a free land giveaway in Elwood, Nebraska. It's one of the few places still offering free land in alignment with the Homestead Act. Bob Vila confirms that you must plan to build a home on the land, begin construction on a new home, and have it completed by the second year from signing the agreement. When you've completed the house, the plot of land is legally yours, and the town will refund your initial $500 deposit. Elwood is a small town with fewer than 1,000 residents, and they're trying to build its population base.
3. Marne, Iowa
Price of land per acre: $0
Marne, Iowa, is another small town that still follows the tenets of the Homestead Act. It's a farming community that seeks to build its agriculture-based economy by enticing people to move to the town. With a population of 120 residents as of the last Census, they need warm bodies with a desire to help grow the community. The only requirement is that property owners build a home on a lot that is a minimum of 1,200 square feet. If you like the vibes of an old-fashioned community, it could be an ideal choice for the free land you get in return.
2. Curtis, Nebraska
Price of land per acre: $0
Curtis, Nebraska, offers a deal that is similar to Elwood. The small town has a population of under 1,000 and is looking to expand. They're offering small plots of land for free if people are willing to build a single-family home on the property. The free land comes with this single requirement to seal the deal and make it your own. Curtis has paved streets, and the land already has access to utilities. There is a time frame associated with the requirements, though. It's near prime hunting and fishing areas in a peaceful town where life is low-key.
1. Marquette, Kansas
Price of land per acre: $0
If Nebraska isn't your idea of heaven, there's a little town in the Kansas heartland that offers free lots of land for those willing to make the town their home. It's a place where the schools have high ratings, the streets are safe, and open views are plenteous. Marquette will give qualified applicants a plot of land for free if they build a house minimum of 1,000 square feet. It's a great place to raise a family if you don't mind the small size of just over 600 residents. Marquette draws people from other communities to tour its famous Kansas Motorcycle Museum.
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Written by Dana Hanson
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