Iowa · Off-grid & homestead potential

O'Brien County

61BoltScore / 100
#74 of 99 in Iowa

O'Brien County is a solid bolthole (61/100). Its strengths are low natural-disaster risk and almost no federal land or extraction. The trade-offs: pricey real estate (typical home $192k).

How O'Brien County scores

Hazard Safety84
Freedom66
Food56
Isolation61
Sovereignty67
Water50
Affordability41
$192kTypical home
1%Property tax
$13,843Land / acre
30.7"Annual rain
19.4% of yrsSevere drought
64 miNearest metro
24.5People / sq mi
0%Federal land
46.1°FAvg temp

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Living off-grid in O'Brien County, Iowa

Is O'Brien County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

O'Brien County is a solid bolthole (61/100). Its strengths: low natural-disaster risk and almost no federal land or extraction. Watch-outs: pricey real estate (typical home $192k).

How much does land cost in O'Brien County, Iowa?

Land in O'Brien County runs about $13,843 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in O'Brien County?

O'Brien County gets about 30.7" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 19.4% of years.

How remote is O'Brien County?

The nearest major metro is about 64 miles away, and population density is 24.5 people per square mile.

How O'Brien compares in Iowa

See all 99 Iowa counties ranked →