The 7 Best States to Homestead: Where Can You Homestead in the US?
As someone who has experience living a self-sufficient lifestyle, I can tell you that choosing the right location is extremely important to successfully homestead.
After years of experience and research, I’ve narrowed down the 7 best states to homestead that offer some of the best conditions, affordability, and have some of the best laws for homesteading.
1. Wyoming
If you’re looking for wide open spaces and affordable land, Wyoming is one of the best places to homestead. This state has so much room for you to spread your wings and live off the grid. Since there is a low population density in Wyoming, you can truly enjoy seclusion while still being within reach of small towns for supplies.
The climate is pretty mild with long summers and moderate winters, making it the perfect weather to grow your own food and raise livestock. According to Wyoming’s homestead laws, you can claim up to 640 acres of land through the Homestead Act.
2. Montana
If stunning natural beauty and a rugged frontier lifestyle sounds appealing to you, you will love Montana. As one of the best states to homestead, this state has some of the most breathtaking landscapes in all of the country.
Since Montana has a low population and so much land, you’ll never feel like you’re crowded or cramped. The weather is generally pretty mild, having warm summers and cold snowy winters, which works favorably when raising livestock and growing crops.
With there being so much space and natural resources, you can truly live a self sufficient lifestyle. When hunting and supplementing your food supply, there is an abundance of wildlife, such as elk, deer, and game birds.
3. Arizona
For those who crave some sunshine and enjoy the desert climate, Arizona might be one of the best homestead states for you. I personally don’t enjoy the desert climate, but many do, so I had to keep that in mind when choosing the best homesteading states.
Between the affordable prices of homestead land, wide open spaces, and lenient homesteading laws, Arizona is the perfect place to build your self-sufficient lifestyle.
The desert climate might be a bit of a challenge to get used to at first, but overall, it offers a lot of advantages for homesteaders. For example, the abundance of sunlight and the dry air make it ideal for solar power and water conservation techniques, and the mild winter means you can grow various crops year-round, like fruits, tomatoes, and peppers.
4. Maine
Maine is such a beautiful state for homesteading and is known for its coastal scenery. Homesteading in New England gives you the perfect balance of natural beauty, fertile soil, and a strong self sufficiency culture. Maine’s climate is typically cool and humid, with plenty of rain.
I’ve found that since there are so many forests and streams, you’ll have easy access to many natural resources for hunting, fishing, and foraging. Another reason that Maine is one of the best states to homestead is because it has a strong homesteading community and lenient homesteading regulations.
Another benefit of homesteading in Maine is that there is so much opportunity to harvest seafood on the coastline, such as lobster and fish.
5. Michigan
Many homesteaders choose Michigan because the state has everything they need to successfully live a sustainable life. Having four seasons, Michigan has both weather and agricultural opportunities. It has affordable land, fertile soil, and an abundance of freshwater resources.
The rich soil in Maine gives you opportunities to cultivate things like potatoes, blueberries, corn, and squash. If you want to build on your land or sell your own farm products as a homesteader Michigan has very lenient regulations. While Michigan has great resources, there isn’t that much sunlight year round, which can cause issues using solar power.
That being said, you can still use wood to heat your home instead of solar power, which is very common for those who homestead in the state.
6. South Dakota
South Dakota offers so much wide open space and is an excellent choice for homesteading. When homesteading in South Dakota, you are a part of a tight knit community where rural living and homestead protection blend together.
When beginning your homesteading journey, you’ll never feel alone because there is such a strong community of homesteaders in this state.
Some benefits of homesteading in South Dakota include lower taxes, an abundance of natural beauty and landscapes, and such a peaceful environment.
The water and soil resources make South Dakota ideal for homesteading. With the rich soil and ample sunshine, South Dakota is a prime location for nurturing grains like wheat and corn, as well as raising cattle, sheep, or bison.
7. Oregon
One of my favorite things about Oregon is the dense forests and moderate climate. Generally, Oregon experiences cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Oregon’s rich soil is perfect for cultivating berries, nuts, vegetables, and herbs. With the plethora of forests and rivers, you’ll easily be able to hunt, fish, and forage to supplement your homestead.
Also, it tends to rain a lot in Oregon, but that’s okay. The abundance of rain makes it a great location for keeping bees and making your own honey. This can not only benefit you personally, but it gives you the opportunity to sell your product and earn a potential income.
As one of the best states for homesteading, Oregon has a thriving homesteading community with so many events and organizations dedicated to promoting sustainable living and self efficiency.
Why Your Location Is Important For Homesteading
When choosing which state is best for you to homestead, there are a few things to keep in mind. Knowing these factors can help you make your decision.
Climate
The climate of the state plays a huge role in determining what crops you can grow, what livestock you can raise, and how you will need to adapt to your homestead. If you choose a desert climate like Arizona to homestead, the best crops you can grow are things like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, melons, and beans.
If you choose a cooler climate, like Maine’s, the best crops for your homestead will be things like cabbage, kale, lettuce, rhubarb, and pumpkins. Heat and humidity can also affect the health and productivity of your livestock that you raise for milk, eggs, and meat.
Homesteading Laws
Different states have different laws and regulations when it comes to homesteading, self sufficiency practices, and land ownership. Some states, like Wyoming and Montana, have very good homesteading laws that enable you to claim large pieces of land, but other states can have more restrictive regulations.
Be sure to do the research on homesteading laws in the state you wish to live in to ensure you have the best experience possible when beginning your homesteading journey.
Soil Quality
One of the main components of any successful homestead is nutrient rich soil. If you don’t have good soil, it will be an uphill battle to grow your own food and maintain a thriving garden. States like Michigan and Maine are known for having fertile and rich soils, but other states might require a bit more effort and soil amendments in order to have the best soil conditions.
Accessibility
Even though it’s amazing to be secluded and have a ton of privacy as a homesteader, it’s important to still consider accessibility to the nearest town or city for supplies, medical services, and potential income opportunities. You can still live remotely and have convenient access – you just need to find the right balance.
Water Resources
All homesteads need access to clean and abundant water. Whether you get the water from a well, stream, or you have a rainwater collection system, you need clean and abundant water for drinking, livestock needs, and irrigation.
Certain states like Michigan and Oregon have an abundance of freshwater sources, but other states require you to get a little bit more creative to manage your water.
Cost of Land
In my experience, one of the biggest hurdles for aspiring homesteaders is the cost of land. Some of the cheapest places to buy land for homesteading are states like South Dakota and Wyoming.
Other states can cost more and be out of your budget, which is why you need to do your research. When choosing where you want to homestead, look into the cost of land first to ensure the cost aligns with your budget.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right location for your homestead is a deeply personal decision and requires careful thought and consideration before making your choice. Whether you prefer the wilderness of Wyoming or the coastal beauty of Maine, the perfect homesteading destination is out there.
The journey to self sufficiency isn’t always easy, but it gets easier over time and is incredibly rewarding. With hard work, the right mind set, you can achieve your dreams in one of the best states to homestead.
