Are you searching for the best place to live within the United States for ideal homesteading conditions? Then, we have you covered. After a homesteading couple asked Reddit for the best places to relocate, here are the top-voted 11 responses.
1. New Hampshire
New Hampshire is one of the cheapest options. You can get a large piece of land for nothing. The space is excellent during the spring and summer because you can grow vast gardens and raise animals.
The winter does become a bit more challenging, but there are plenty of ways to fix it. For starters, you can build greenhouses and add heat to your barns.
2. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is an excellent choice if you want a warmer climate, a more mild winter, and plenty of farmland. The rainfall is steady, allowing for a lush harvest. You will find farms, orchards, and dairy operations around every corner, so you are never short of connections.
3. Michigan
One Redditor stated, “I would build my homestead in Michigan.” The water is cleaner than anywhere else in the world. Even in the shorter growing seasons, people thrive agriculturally because of the mild climates and steady rainfall.
Michigan also has a cleaner air supply than most other places. It makes it a healthy and stable place to create a homestead.
4. North Carolina
Another explained, “I live in North Central, Washington, which has sandy loam soil that is easy to alter for agricultural use.” The sale tax is very fair. They elaborated they’d never been to a state with more gorgeous views from their backyard. The hiking trails are incredible, and the locals seem lovely, though “I only see a few in my small town.”
5. Maine
In Maine, they just voted on a law to make the current food sovereignty laws a constitutional right. So they amended the state constitution to include them. Hunting is also encouraged and easily accessible. Each town has its own by-law, so you must research, but Maine is an excellent place for agricultural homesteading.
6. Indiana
In Indiana, the land is ideal for agriculture and livestock. Unless a specific temperature is required, most crops do well there. In addition, the property tax is reasonable, and the towns seem very open to homesteaders.
7. Tennessee
Tennessee is the place to be if you’re looking for lax homeschooling laws and low cottage food regulations. There is no state income tax. Also, any child participating in a Tennessee-based homeschooling system is promised two years fully paid in the community college or a trade school.
Make sure your land is zoned for farming and agriculture, depending on your county. Beware of flash floods and tornados, which do occur occasionally. However, with the proper preparations, Tennessee is a homesteading dream.
8. West Virginia
Offgrid homesteading is an option many have looked to in West Virginia because it has cheap land with affordable property taxes. However, one shared, “Most of our house is on private systems, such as water, septic, and satellite Wi-Fi.”
There are endless foraging opportunities, and the soil is improbable through knowledge and work since there is a significant amount of clay. It would be an entirely off-grid situation with limited shopping opportunities and fewer job openings near your property.
9. Vermont
Many in the thread agreed that the people are incredible, there is a unique sense of community, and there is always something to do in town. One suggested that they would only choose to live in Vermont.
You can start your day tending to your garden in the valley. Then, move to watch your pigs on the remote mountaintop. And you can end the night with an award-winning dinner twenty minutes down the road. It is more expensive, but it is worth it.
10. South Carolina
South Carolina has vast farmland, especially upstate. The water is plentiful, and the growing season is long. Most people I know have luck with vegetables and potatoes. The property taxes are reasonable, and prices seem lower than in most states.
11. Georgia
Finally, several Redditors agreed that Georgia has the most substantial private property rights out of any state. The government also does not interfere much with homeschooling.
Property tax tends to stay low, and getting an agricultural exemption is easy if you hit the minimum acreage. In addition, Georgia has plenty of rain and a long growing season with mild temperatures.
Did Reddit get the best states for homesteading right, or is a state missing from this list?
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.