New Estimates of Value of Land of the United States (2024)

New Estimates of Value of Land of the United States (PDF)

Land is an important and valuable natural resource, serving both as a store of wealth and as an input in production. Previous attempts to measure the value of land of the United States have focused on indirect measures, inferring values based on the difference between the market value of real property and the replacement value of structures, and have not counted the entirety of the land area of the United States. Instead, this paper takes hedonic estimates of land prices in various locations and interpolates these values to a mosaic of parcels, census tracts, and counties of various sizes in the contiguous (lower 48) United States plus the District of Columbia. Estimates suggest that this 1.89 billion acres of land are collectively worth approximately $23 trillion in 2009 (current prices), with 24% of the land area and $1.8 trillion of the value held by the federal government.

William Larson

Published

New Estimates of Value of Land of the United States (2024)

FAQs

How much is the land of the US worth? ›

New Estimates of Value of Land of the United States (PDF)

Estimates suggest that this 1.89 billion acres of land are collectively worth approximately $23 trillion in 2009 (current prices), with 24% of the land area and $1.8 trillion of the value held by the federal government.

How much is 1 acre of land in USA? ›

The short answer: an acre is equal to 43,569 square feet. That's also 4,840 square yards or 0.4047 hectare (a hectare is 4,047 square meters). One square mile is 640 acres. In land surveying, you might see this called a “section” as well.

What is the price index of farmland in the US? ›

In 2022, the average value of U.S. farm real estate was 3,800 U.S. dollars per acre.

What state has the cheapest land? ›

InMyArea.com performed a study that took a look at the median prices per acre in 2021 and found that Arizona had the cheapest median cost per acre, at $4,164. The data includes the price of land with existing homes and the cost of land designated as a homesite was also included so that you can have some comparison.

What country owns most of US land? ›

China owns roughly 384,000 acres of U.S. agricultural land, according to a 2021 report from the Department of Agriculture.

Who owns most of the land in the USA? ›

1. EMMERSON FAMILY. The nation's largest private landowners, California's Emmerson family, are a prime example of this trend. Through their Sierra Pacific Industries, the Emmersons increased their landholdings by more than 100 square miles to over 2.4 million acres.

What state has the cheapest land per acre? ›

So for both 1 acre and 5 acre plots, the cheapest states to buy land in 2023 are New Mexico, Arizona, Mississippi, followed by Colorado and California. Some great news for you here is that at Compass Land USA, we do a lot of work in Colorado, and Arizona.

How much is 2 acres of land worth in Texas? ›

How much is an acre of land in Texas? The average price per acre of rural land in Texas was more than $4,000 per acre in 2022, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center. That average climbed each quarter: $4,116/acre average in Q1 of 2022.

How much is an acre in football fields? ›

1 football field is roughly 1 acre. (The exact measurements of football fields vary.) 1 hectare = 2.47 acres. 2.47 football fields in 1 hectare.

What is the cheapest state to own a farm in? ›

Texas. Texas tops the list of states offering cheap farmland. With its lengthy hot seasons and mild winters, the Lone Star State is especially ideal for growing cotton. The state is also a big beef cattle producer, so the price per acre may be lower due to the high demand for grazing land.

What state has the most valuable farmland? ›

The best states for farmland in the US include Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, North Dakota, Texas, Iowa, Kentucky, Wyoming, and California. Consider factors like profitability, cost of operation, infrastructure, and availability when selecting a location.

What is the cheapest state to buy farmland? ›

The cost of farmland in South Dakota comes in just under $2,000. Agriculture is also this state's number one industry, with major field crops and cattle being the preferred products. Cattle prices tend to do particularly well in this state.

What is the best state to own land in? ›

Top 10 States to Buy Land in the USA in 2023
  • Oregon.
  • Arizona.
  • Florida.
  • Utah.
  • Texas.
  • Nevada.
  • Idaho.
  • Arkansas.
Apr 28, 2023

Where is the cheapest land tax in USA? ›

All of the data below comes from the Census Bureau's 2021 1-year American Community Survey (ACS) Estimates. Hawaii has the lowest property tax rate in the U.S. at 0.27%. The Aloha state has a home median value of $722,500.

What state is the best to live off the land? ›

That's why we compiled this list of the best states for homesteading and off grid living. The 12 best homestead states are Colorado, Tennessee, Arizona, Alaska, Michigan, Idaho, Maine, Oregon, Montana, Connecticut, West Virginia, and Missouri.

Why did China buy land in North Dakota? ›

Recent reporting shows that a CCP-affiliated corporation purchased farmland in North Dakota that is just a stone's throw from high-capability military bases. The purchase raises the possibility that the Chinese government could use the farmland as a launching pad for espionage under the guise of operating a business.

Do Americans own land in China? ›

Foreign investors are not allowed to buy land in China. The land in China belongs to the state and the collectives.

Does the US own land in Canada? ›

About 89% of Canada's land area (8,886,356 km2) is Crown land, which may either be federal (41%) or provincial (48%); the remaining 11% is privately owned.

Who is the richest rancher in America? ›

Largest private land owners in the United States in 2021
NameAcres
1Emmerson family2,330,000 2,330,000
2John Malone2,200,000 2,200,000
3Reed family2,100,000 2,100,000
4Ted Turner2,000,000 2,000,000
10 more rows
Aug 16, 2022

How much land does Jeff Bezos own in the US? ›

The Largest Private Landowners in the United States
Person/FamilyAcres Owned
21Don Horton507,410
22Simplot Family443,091
23Fisher Family440,000
24Jeff Bezos420,000
21 more rows

Who is the biggest farmer in the US? ›

Bill Gates

Which state has no property tax in USA? ›

Unfortunately, there are no states without a property tax. Property taxes remain a significant contributor to overall state income. Tax funds are used to operate and maintain essential government services like law enforcement, infrastructure, education, transportation, parks, water and sewer service improvements.

Why is land cheap in Wyoming? ›

Parts of Wyoming can have some very large ranches that seem relatively inexpensive compared to ranches in other areas and other states. This may be because the land is not as productive, is a long way from a major town, and may have limited water or other resources.

Where is land most expensive in the US? ›

10 Most Expensive States To Buy an Acre of Land
  • Maryland. ...
  • Illinois. ...
  • Massachusetts. Average per acre price: $46,092. ...
  • Florida. Average per acre price: $67,384. ...
  • Hawaii. Average per acre price: $75,456. ...
  • Delaware. Average per acre price: $83,115. ...
  • New Jersey. Average per acre price: $88,306. ...
  • Rhode Island. Average per acre price: $93,294.
May 25, 2023

How big is an acre of land visually? ›

If you can picture a football field, that's pretty close to an acre in size. Officially, it is 43,560 square feet, and a football field is 48,000 square feet.

How many acres is a homestead in Texas? ›

A residence homestead can include up to 20 acres, if the land is owned by the homeowner and used for a purpose related to the residential use of the homestead. What residence homestead exemptions are available? There are several types of exemptions you may receive.

How many acres of land can a person own in Texas? ›

Determining Urban or Rural Homesteads in Texas

Rural homesteads are limited to 200 acres for a family and 100 acres for a single adult, including improvements on the property. An urban homestead is limited to ten acres with improvements, which must be in adjacent lots.

What does a 1 acre field look like? ›

To visualize an acre, compare it to sizes you're familiar with. An acre has 43,560 square feet, which is about 90% of a football field (minus the end zones) or nine professional basketball courts. If you want to visualize an acre as a square, that's about 208 feet by 208 feet.

How long is 100 acres in miles? ›

One acre is 43,560 square feet so 100 acres is 4,356,000 square feet. Your pasture is square so if the length of a side is L feet then L2 = 4,356,000. Thus L = √4,356,000 = 2,087 feet and hence the distance around the pasture is 4 × 2.087 = 8, 348 feet or about 1.6 miles.

Which farming is most profitable in USA? ›

Dairy Farming: Dairy farming is one of the most profitable agricultural business ideas. Aside from milk, it also produces manure. There is a high demand for organic dairy products all year round such as milk, cheese, curd, cream and so much more.

Where in North America is the best climate for growing crops? ›

The Great Plains of the central United States—the Corn Belt—is one of the most fertile regions on Earth, producing more than 10 billion bushels of corn each year.

Where is the best farmland in the world? ›

The world has 15.749 million km(2) of arable land. (Arable land is land ploughed or tilled regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation). India has the most arable land in the world followed by the United States, Russia, China and Brazil.

What state is number 1 in farming? ›

Texas had the most farms in the United States in 2021 followed by Missouri and Iowa. Texas accounted for roughly 12% of the farms in the United States in 2021. Thirty nine (39) states had 12,000 or more farms in 2021.

What state is number 1 in agriculture? ›

What US states produce the most food? (Ranking 1-50)What US states produce the most food? (Ranking 1-50) California ranks first in the U.S. for agricultural cash receipts followed by Iowa, Texas, Nebraska and Illinois.

What makes the most money on farmland? ›

Livestock is probably the most common way farmers make money from their land. And while animals have a few more expenses and a higher overhead, they usually bring in top dollar in terms of net income. Here are just some of the ways you can make money with livestock.

Which state is 90% farmland? ›

The United States had 895.3 million acres of land in farms in 2021. Texas had the most land in farms in the United States in 2021 followed by Montana and Kansas.

How much does it cost per acre in Alaska? ›

Introduction
#StateMedian Price per Acre
15Alaska$62,163
16Nevada$59,942
17Wyoming$54,000
18Iowa$51,087
46 more rows

What is the best state to raise cattle in? ›

Montana remains the top supplier of beef, and also leads the country's production or organic certified wheat, flax, dry peas, lentils and honey. Montana offers the perfect spot to start your own ranch or farm.

What states have the highest land taxes? ›

These states, all in the Northeast, had the highest average property taxes on single-family homes in 2022:
  • New Jersey ($9,527)
  • Connecticut ($7,671)
  • Massachusetts ($7,044)
  • New Hampshire ($6,855)
  • New York ($6,673)
Apr 7, 2023

What is the toughest state to homestead? ›

Alaska and Hawaii. Alaska has extreme weather conditions, especially winters, and does not offer homesteading programs. In 2021, lawnstarter.com ranked Alaska as the worst state to start a farm, with a lower rank on returns on investments. Hawaii's cost of living and the value of land is very high.

What state has the best homestead laws? ›

10 Best States For Homesteading 2023
  1. Tennessee. Rural Tennessee is already a popular location for sustainable living enthusiasts, with a fantastic harvesting season of around 9 months of the year, there are low property taxes and costs.
  2. Idaho. ...
  3. Oregon. ...
  4. Maine. ...
  5. Michigan. ...
  6. Connecticut. ...
  7. Montana. ...
  8. Alaska. ...

Do you pay tax on land you own in USA? ›

If you own real property tied to land or a home, then you'll owe property taxes to the county or local tax authority. The amount owed is based on the assessed value of your home.

What country has no property tax? ›

Countries With No Property Tax: Monaco

Monaco is yet another tax haven based on its tax policies, and it does not levy taxes on individual income, capital gains, as well as net wealth.

Which state has the best homestead exemption? ›

Kansas, Florida, Iowa, and Texas provide an unlimited dollar value homestead exemption. Florida and Texas, in fact, are well known as debtor-friendly states because of their homestead exemptions.

What state has the most empty land? ›

The least-populated place in the United States is Alaska's Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area. At over 145,000 square miles, it's larger than New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia -- combined.

In what states is it illegal to live off the grid? ›

While living off the grid is technically not illegal in any of the 50 U.S. states, some of the essential infrastructure aspects of going off-grid are either too strictly regulated or banned.

How can I live off the grid for free? ›

How to live off the grid with no money
  1. Do a work exchange. If you're new to the off-grid life, a great way to start is through Worldpackers. ...
  2. Join an off-grid community. ...
  3. Find low-cost or free land. ...
  4. Construct a cabin or tiny house. ...
  5. Grow your own food. ...
  6. Fish responsibly. ...
  7. Forage for edible plants. ...
  8. Collect and filter water.

How much is the US worth in total? ›

The financial position of the United States includes assets of at least $269.6 trillion (1576% of GDP) and debts of $145.8 trillion (852% of GDP) to produce a net worth of at least $123.8 trillion (723% of GDP){{refn|name=position|group=lower-alpha|See section Estimated financial position, Q1 2014 for calculations.

How much is all the property in the US worth? ›

The short answer is that all the privately owned land in America is worth about $14.488 trillion—which is a lot.

How much is the top 1 of America worth? ›

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
  • People with the top 1% of net worth in the U.S. in 2022 had $10,815,000 in net worth.
  • The top 2% had a net worth of $2,472,000.
  • The top 5% had $1,030,000.
  • The top 10% had $854,900.
  • The top 50% had $522,210.
Dec 13, 2022

Which country has the most valuable land? ›

China and the US together make up 42 per cent ($84.8tn) of global property value alone. China is home to more of the world real estate market assets (by value) than any other country at $42.7tn or 21 per cent of global real estate value, just ahead of the US at $42.1tn.

What country is worth more than the US dollar? ›

The Kuwaiti dinar is the strongest currency in the world, with 1 dinar buying 3.26 dollars (or, put another way, $1 equals 0.31 Kuwaiti dinar). Kuwait is located on the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and the country earns much of its wealth as a leading global exporter of oil.

What country is the US dollar worth the most? ›

The Best Places to Visit Where the Dollar is Strong
  • Peru. Peru/Peruvian Sol. ...
  • Mexico. Mexico/Mexican Peso. ...
  • South Africa. South Africa/South African Rand. ...
  • Egypt. Egypt/Egyptian Pound. ...
  • Japan. Japan/Japanese Yen. ...
  • Argentina. Argentina/Argentine Peso. ...
  • Chile. Chile/Chilean Peso. ...
  • Hungary. Hungary/Hungarian Forint.
Mar 7, 2023

What percentage of Americans have a net worth of over $1000000? ›

There are 5.3 million millionaires and 770 billionaires living in the United States. Millionaires make up about 2% of the U.S. adult population. While an ultra-high net worth will be out of reach for most, you can amass $1 million by managing money well and investing regularly.

What is the most valuable property on earth? ›

To date, the title for the most expensive house in the world is held by the Buckingham Palace in London. The larger-than-life property (which cannot be sold) is over 200 years old and is currently owned by King Charles III after the demise of the Queen of England, Elizabeth II.

What is $1 dollar properties in usa? ›

Dollar Homes are single-family homes that are acquired by the Federal Housing Administration (which is part of HUD) as a result of foreclosure actions. Single-family properties are made available through the program whenever FHA is unable to sell the homes for six months.

Who owns most of the world's wealth? ›

The richest 1% own almost half of the world's wealth, while the poorest half of the world own just 0.75% In fact, they have acquired nearly twice as much wealth in new money as the bottom 99% of the world's population.

How many people have $3,000,000 in savings? ›

1,821,745 Households in the United States Have Investment Portfolios Worth $3,000,000 or More.

How many people are in the 1%? ›

The United States has 325 million people—in 160 million households, as viewed by the Internal Revenue Service. That means 1.6 million households fall into the 1 percent category.

What is the most unaffordable country to live in? ›

Switzerland. Unsurprisingly, Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries to live in. The country's cost of living index was ranked the highest in the world in 2020 at 122.4. For comparison, notoriously costly New York City has a cost-of-living index of 100.

What is the most unaffordable country in the world? ›

1. Switzerland. Switzerland has one of the highest costs of living in the world. Rent is only $1,516.83 but worldwide income tax can run up to 40%.

What billionaire owns the most land? ›

One of the largest landowners in the US is real estate tycoon Stan Kroenke, who owns nearly 1.7 million acres of land scattered over seven states. Ranches, forestry, hunting preserves, and several significant developments are among Kroenke's holdings.

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