Special Report

The Most (and Least) Valuable States

Thinkstock

Placing an exact dollar value on land, from rivers and mountains to farm lands and dense urban centers, is virtually impossible. Some, though, have attempted to come up with a rough approximation. Based on the work of one economist, the total value of the 1.9 billion acres of land in the contiguous 48 states is nearly $23 trillion — roughly $12,000 an acre on average. The federal government owns nearly one-quarter of this land at a total value of $1.8 trillion.

Whether it is farmland or a sprawling metro area, the value of an acre of land is mostly determined by its use. Developed land accounts for only 6% of the land in the contiguous United States yet holds over half of the value. These places are often home to some of the nation’s largest economic engines — urban regions with high demand for real estate.

By contrast, nearly half of the land in the 48 states is used for agriculture. However, because the value of developed land dwarfs that of other uses, California alone is worth double the value of all U.S. farmland combined.

While an average acre of land could be purchased for under $2,000 in the least valuable state, an acre is more than 100 times more expensive in the most valuable state. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the estimated value of land in each of the contiguous 48 states using data from the 2015 study, “New Estimates of Value of Land of the United States.”

Click here to see the most and least valuable states.
Click here to see the methodology.

These are the most and least valuable states.

Wyoming
Thinkstock

48. Wyoming
> Value per acre: $1,558
> Total value: $97 billion (6th lowest)
> Total acres: 62.3 million (8th most)
> GDP per capita: $37,858 (4th lowest)
> Median home value: $212,500 (17th highest)

[in-text-ad]

Albuquerque, New Mexico 2
Thinkstock

47. New Mexico
> Value per acre: $1,931
> Total value: $150 billion (13th lowest)
> Total acres: 77.7 million (4th most)
> GDP per capita: $93,297 (14th lowest)
> Median home value: $164,100 (23rd lowest)

Reno, Nevada downtown during winter
Thinkstock

46. Nevada
> Value per acre: $2,116
> Total value: $149 billion (12th lowest)
> Total acres: 70.4 million (6th most)
> GDP per capita: $147,475 (18th lowest)
> Median home value: $221,400 (16th highest)

Oglala, South Dakota
Thinkstock

45. South Dakota
> Value per acre: $2,135
> Total value: $103 billion (7th lowest)
> Total acres: 48.2 million (15th most)
> GDP per capita: $48,139 (6th lowest)
> Median home value: $152,800 (19th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Montana ghost town, dirt road
Thinkstock

44. Montana
> Value per acre: $2,283
> Total value: $213 billion (18th lowest)
> Total acres: 93.3 million (3rd most)
> GDP per capita: $45,994 (5th lowest)
> Median home value: $209,500 (18th highest)

North Dakota, Farm, Tractor
Thinkstock

43. North Dakota
> Value per acre: $2,517
> Total value: $110 billion (8th lowest)
> Total acres: 43.7 million (18th most)
> GDP per capita: $52,089 (7th lowest)
> Median home value: $180,900 (21st highest)

[in-text-ad]

Aerial view of Omaha, Nebraska
Thinkstock

42. Nebraska
> Value per acre: $2,936
> Total value: $144 billion (11th lowest)
> Total acres: 49.1 million (14th most)
> GDP per capita: $115,345 (16th lowest)
> Median home value: $141,600 (14th lowest)

Mountain hilking trail leads the Idaho mountains
Thinkstock

41. Idaho
> Value per acre: $3,435
> Total value: $182 billion (16th lowest)
> Total acres: 53.0 million (10th most)
> GDP per capita: $67,275 (10th lowest)
> Median home value: $176,300 (25th highest)

Wichita, Kansas
Thinkstock

40. Kansas
> Value per acre: $4,220
> Total value: $220 billion (19th lowest)
> Total acres: 52.1 million (12th most)
> GDP per capita: $153,258 (19th lowest)
> Median home value: $141,200 (13th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Tucson, Arizona
Thinkstock

39. Arizona
> Value per acre: $4,328
> Total value: $315 billion (23rd lowest)
> Total acres: 72.8 million (5th most)
> GDP per capita: $302,952 (21st highest)
> Median home value: $194,300 (20th highest)

Salt Lake City, Utah
Thinkstock

38. Utah
> Value per acre: $4,664
> Total value: $247 billion (22nd lowest)
> Total acres: 53.0 million (11th most)
> GDP per capita: $156,352 (20th lowest)
> Median home value: $234,600 (14th highest)

[in-text-ad]

Jackson Mississippi Skyline
Thinkstock

37. Mississippi
> Value per acre: $5,565
> Total value: $166 billion (15th lowest)
> Total acres: 29.8 million (21st least)
> GDP per capita: $107,680 (15th lowest)
> Median home value: $112,700 (4th lowest)

Thinkstock

36. Maine
> Value per acre: $6,142
> Total value: $122 billion (10th lowest)
> Total acres: 19.9 million (13th least)
> GDP per capita: $59,275 (9th lowest)
> Median home value: $180,300 (tied-22nd highest)

Telluride, Colorado
Thinkstock

35. Colorado
> Value per acre: $6,462
> Total value: $429 billion (16th highest)
> Total acres: 66.4 million (7th most)
> GDP per capita: $323,692 (19th highest)
> Median home value: $283,800 (7th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Portland Oregon
Thinkstock

34. Oregon
> Value per acre: $6,503
> Total value: $400 billion (tied-18th highest)
> Total acres: 61.5 million (9th most)
> GDP per capita: $226,821 (25th highest)
> Median home value: $264,100 (9th highest)

Des Moines, Iowa
Thinkstock

33. Iowa
> Value per acre: $6,590
> Total value: $235 billion (21st lowest)
> Total acres: 35.7 million (22nd most)
> GDP per capita: $178,766 (21st lowest)
> Median home value: $136,100 (10th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
Thinkstock

32. Arkansas
> Value per acre: $6,739
> Total value: $224 billion (20th lowest)
> Total acres: 33.2 million (25th least)
> GDP per capita: $120,689 (17th lowest)
> Median home value: $120,700 (5th lowest)

Louisville at dusk, Kentucky
Thinkstock

31. Kentucky
> Value per acre: $7,209
> Total value: $183 billion (17th lowest)
> Total acres: 25.4 million (16th least)
> GDP per capita: $197,043 (23rd lowest)
> Median home value: $130,000 (7th lowest)

St. Louis, Missouri
Thinkstock

30. Missouri
> Value per acre: $7,233
> Total value: $318 billion (24th lowest)
> Total acres: 44.0 million (16th most)
> GDP per capita: $300,891 (22nd highest)
> Median home value: $147,800 (15th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Oklahoma City Sunrise
Thinkstock

29. Oklahoma
> Value per acre: $7,364
> Total value: $323 billion (25th lowest)
> Total acres: 43.9 million (17th most)
> GDP per capita: $182,937 (22nd lowest)
> Median home value: $126,800 (6th lowest)

Vermont farm house
Thinkstock

28. Vermont
> Value per acre: $7,439
> Total value: $44 billion (3rd lowest)
> Total acres: 5.9 million (9th least)
> GDP per capita: $31,092 (3rd lowest)
> Median home value: $223,700 (15th highest)

[in-text-ad]

El Paso, Texas 2
Thinkstock

27. Texas
> Value per acre: $7,542
> Total value: $1,266 billion (2nd highest)
> Total acres: 167.9 million (the most)
> GDP per capita: $1,616,801 (2nd highest)
> Median home value: $152,000 (18th lowest)

Duluth, Minnesota
Thinkstock

26. Minnesota
> Value per acre: $8,191
> Total value: $416 billion (17th highest)
> Total acres: 50.8 million (13th most)
> GDP per capita: $335,147 (17th highest)
> Median home value: $200,000 (19th highest)

Milwaukee Houses, Wisconsin
Thinkstock

25. Wisconsin
> Value per acre: $9,924
> Total value: $344 billion (24th highest)
> Total acres: 34.7 million (25th most)
> GDP per capita: $309,536 (20th highest)
> Median home value: $168,300 (24th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

City of Morgantown in West Virginia
Thinkstock

24. West Virginia
> Value per acre: $10,537
> Total value: $162 billion (14th lowest)
> Total acres: 15.4 million (11th least)
> GDP per capita: $73,374 (12th lowest)
> Median home value: $112,100 (3rd lowest)

View of downtown Mobile, Alabama
Thinkstock

23. Alabama
> Value per acre: $12,356
> Total value: $400 billion (tied-18th highest)
> Total acres: 32.4 million (24th least)
> GDP per capita: $204,861 (24th lowest)
> Median home value: $134,100 (9th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

Downtown Skyline Shreveport Louisiana
Thinkstock

22. Louisiana
> Value per acre: $12,908
> Total value: $354 billion (23rd highest)
> Total acres: 27.4 million (19th least)
> GDP per capita: $235,109 (24th highest)
> Median home value: $155,600 (20th lowest)

Atlanta, Georgia 2
Thinkstock

21. Georgia
> Value per acre: $14,242
> Total value: $528 billion (12th highest)
> Total acres: 37.1 million (20th most)
> GDP per capita: $525,360 (9th highest)
> Median home value: $159,300 (21st lowest)

City of Kingsport, Tennessee At Night
Thinkstock

20. Tennessee
> Value per acre: $14,411
> Total value: $380 billion (22nd highest)
> Total acres: 26.4 million (18th least)
> GDP per capita: $328,770 (18th highest)
> Median home value: $150,600 (17th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Sunset Beach, North Carolina
Wikimedia Commons

19. North Carolina
> Value per acre: $16,230
> Total value: $506 billion (14th highest)
> Total acres: 31.2 million (23rd least)
> GDP per capita: $517,904 (10th highest)
> Median home value: $160,100 (22nd lowest)

Seattle (King County), Washington
Thinkstock

18. Washington
> Value per acre: $16,752
> Total value: $716 billion (10th highest)
> Total acres: 42.7 million (19th most)
> GDP per capita: $469,739 (14th highest)
> Median home value: $284,000 (6th highest)

[in-text-ad]

Indianapolis, Indiana
Thinkstock

17. Indiana
> Value per acre: $16,903
> Total value: $387 billion (21st highest)
> Total acres: 22.9 million (14th least)
> GDP per capita: $341,909 (16th highest)
> Median home value: $131,000 (8th lowest)

Charleston, South Carolina
Thinkstock

16. South Carolina
> Value per acre: $17,610
> Total value: $339 billion (25th highest)
> Total acres: 19.3 million (12th least)
> GDP per capita: $209,716 (25th lowest)
> Median home value: $148,600 (16th lowest)

New Hampshire
Thinkstock

15. New Hampshire
> Value per acre: $19,840
> Total value: $114 billion (9th lowest)
> Total acres: 5.7 million (8th least)
> GDP per capita: $77,855 (13th lowest)
> Median home value: $244,500 (11th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Lynchburg, Virginia, USA Skyline
Thinkstock

14. Virginia
> Value per acre: $21,921
> Total value: $555 billion (11th highest)
> Total acres: 25.3 million (15th least)
> GDP per capita: $494,349 (12th highest)
> Median home value: $257,800 (10th highest)

Chicago, Illinois 4
Thinkstock

13. Illinois
> Value per acre: $23,492
> Total value: $833 billion (9th highest)
> Total acres: 35.5 million (23rd most)
> GDP per capita: $791,608 (5th highest)
> Median home value: $180,300 (tied-22nd highest)

[in-text-ad]

Grand Rapids, Michigan
Thinkstock

12. Michigan
> Value per acre: $23,765
> Total value: $865 billion (7th highest)
> Total acres: 36.4 million (21st most)
> GDP per capita: $487,239 (13th highest)
> Median home value: $137,500 (12th lowest)

Miami city tropical view, Florida
Thinkstock

11. Florida
> Value per acre: $28,961
> Total value: $1,021 billion (4th highest)
> Total acres: 35.3 million (24th most)
> GDP per capita: $926,817 (4th highest)
> Median home value: $179,800 (24th highest)

Hanover, Pennsylvania
Thinkstock

10. Pennsylvania
> Value per acre: $31,923
> Total value: $914 billion (6th highest)
> Total acres: 28.6 million (20th least)
> GDP per capita: $724,936 (6th highest)
> Median home value: $170,600 (25th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Akron, Ohio
Thinkstock

9. Ohio
> Value per acre: $32,077
> Total value: $838 billion (8th highest)
> Total acres: 26.1 million (17th least)
> GDP per capita: $625,715 (7th highest)
> Median home value: $136,400 (11th lowest)

Bixby Creek Bridge on Highway One, California driving
Thinkstock

8. California
> Value per acre: $39,092
> Total value: $3,905 billion (the highest)
> Total acres: 99.9 million (2nd most)
> GDP per capita: $2,602,672 (the highest)
> Median home value: $449,100 (the highest)

[in-text-ad]

New York Columbus Circle
Thinkstock

7. New York
> Value per acre: $41,314
> Total value: $1,245 billion (3rd highest)
> Total acres: 30.1 million (22nd least)
> GDP per capita: $1,487,998 (3rd highest)
> Median home value: $293,500 (5th highest)

Delaware
Thinkstock

6. Delaware
> Value per acre: $57,692
> Total value: $72 billion (4th lowest)
> Total acres: 1.2 million (4th least)
> GDP per capita: $70,387 (11th lowest)
> Median home value: $240,200 (13th highest)

Johns Hopkins, Maryland
Thinkstock

5. Maryland
> Value per acre: $75,429
> Total value: $470 billion (15th highest)
> Total acres: 6.2 million (10th least)
> GDP per capita: $378,280 (15th highest)
> Median home value: $299,800 (4th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Boston, Cambridge Skyline, Aerial view, Charles River and Beacon Hill
Thinkstock

4. Massachusetts
> Value per acre: $102,214
> Total value: $517 billion (13th highest)
> Total acres: 5.1 million (7th least)
> GDP per capita: $507,913 (11th highest)
> Median home value: $352,100 (2nd highest)

Hartford, Connecticut
Thinkstock

3. Connecticut
> Value per acre: $128,824
> Total value: $400 billion (tied-18th highest)
> Total acres: 3.1 million (5th least)
> GDP per capita: $263,379 (23rd highest)
> Median home value: $270,900 (8th highest)

[in-text-ad]

Providence, Rhode Island
Thinkstock

2. Rhode Island
> Value per acre: $133,730
> Total value: $90 billion (5th lowest)
> Total acres: 0.7 million (3rd least)
> GDP per capita: $57,433 (8th lowest)
> Median home value: $241,000 (12th highest)

Thinkstock

1. New Jersey
> Value per acre: $196,410
> Total value: $930 billion (5th highest)
> Total acres: 4.7 million (6th least)
> GDP per capita: $581,122 (8th highest)
> Median home value: $322,600 (3rd highest)

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.