Every U.S. state ranked for homesteading, scored from county-level data on seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Best states for off-grid living → Best states for buying cheap off-grid land →
The Bolthole Index rates every county in America on six factors that matter for backup land and long-term resilience: seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Carry cost stays light so budget matters without becoming the definition of quality. For homesteading we weight those factors toward what counts most, then score each state by the average of its best 20% of counties (at least three). That keeps it fair: a small state like Maine competes on the quality of its land, not the quantity of its counties.
The state legal and tax layer is already folded into administrative boringness, property autonomy, and carry cost. For homesteading the final score uses a six-factor county score; each state page still lists the laws with sources. Rules often vary by county.
On the Bolthole Index, Maine ranks first for homesteading, followed by Vermont and Alabama. Maine's strongest county is Lincoln County (88/100).
We score every U.S. county on six factors — seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost — weight them for homesteading, then rank each state by the average of its best 20% of counties — so a compact state isn't penalized for having fewer counties than a large one.
Rules vary by state and county — zoning, building codes, water rights, and off-grid statutes differ. Use each state page to drill into the specific county before you commit.
General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
