What an Acre of Land Really Costs in Iowa in 2026

Few states are as closely tied to land as Iowa. With deep agricultural roots, productive soils, and steady demand from farmers, investors, and rural lifestyle buyers, the question “What is one acre worth in Iowa?” depends on more than a single statewide average. It comes down to land quality, local market momentum, and what the acreage can realistically produce or become.

Current Iowa Land Values: What an Acre Is Worth in 2025–2026

Statewide averages provide a useful baseline, but you’ll see slightly different “average” numbers depending on the reporting summary and timing.

• In 2025, the average Iowa farmland price was $11,467 per acre, down 3.1% (or $369) from 2023, according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Highpoint Land Company.
• In a 2025 market readjustment, Iowa’s average farmland value increased 0.7% to $11,549 per acre, according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.

These figures aren’t contradictory—they highlight how land markets can shift between reporting periods and how summaries may compare different base years. The practical takeaway: Iowa farmland values remain historically strong, but local conditions matter more than ever.

What Drives Iowa Land Values Per Acre?

Iowa land prices move with a mix of physical land characteristics and market forces. The biggest drivers include:

• Soil quality and productivity – Higher CSR2 ratings, better drainage, and consistent yield history typically command a premium.
• Parcel location and competition – Acreage near top-producing counties, strong operators, or grain infrastructure often sells faster and higher.
• Access, improvements, and field efficiency – Road frontage, tile, terraces, irrigation potential, and clean field layout can lift per-acre value.
• Water, timber, and recreation value – River frontage, huntable timber, and wildlife habitat can add meaningful upside, especially for mixed-use tracts.
• Development pressure – Land near expanding communities may trade at a premium based on future non-farm potential.

Iowa Farmland Values by Land Quality (2025)

Quality is one of the clearest explanations for why one Iowa acre sells for $7,000 in one county and $16,000+ in another. In 2025:

• High-quality Iowa farmland averaged $14,030 per acre, up 0.7% (or $101), according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.
• Medium-quality Iowa farmland averaged $10,809 per acre, up 0.6% (or $69), per the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.
• Low-quality Iowa farmland averaged $7,580 per acre, up 1.7% (or $130), per the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.

For buyers, this quality spread is the quickest way to sanity-check an asking price. For sellers, it’s a reminder that small differences in productivity (and operability) can translate into large per-acre swings.

Regional Benchmarks: Where Iowa Land Is Highest and Lowest

Regional averages help you estimate value before you drill down to township-level comps and field-by-field productivity.

• Northwest Iowa averaged $14,522 per acre in 2025, according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.
• South Central Iowa averaged $7,823 per acre in 2025, according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.

This gap often reflects differences in soil, terrain, farm size efficiency, and local competition among operators—factors that directly affect net earning potential.

County Snapshots: Real-World Examples of Per-Acre Pricing

County-level numbers show how sharply values can vary inside the same state.

• O’Brien County averaged $16,269 per acre in 2025, up 2.2% (or $348), according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.
• Appanoose County averaged $6,679 per acre in 2025, according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Public Radio.

Recent sale activity also reinforces what buyers see on the ground. In a recent 2026 auction, Ringgold County farmland sold for $6,000 per acre, reported by Farm Progress.

How to Accurately Appraise Land Value in Iowa

State and county averages help you get oriented, but they can’t replace a parcel-specific valuation. To price Iowa land accurately, focus on what a buyer can verify and finance.

• Confirm acres and boundaries with a current survey or verified legal description.
• Evaluate productivity using CSR2, yield history, drainage, and conservation practices.
• Check limitations such as flood risk, easements, irregular shapes, or access constraints.
• Account for improvements (tile, terraces, waterways, wells, buildings, fences) and their condition.
• Use true comparable sales—same county or trade area, similar quality, similar size, similar terms.

If you’re preparing to sell, refinance, or settle an estate, an accredited rural appraiser provides the most defensible estimate of fair market value.

Why Buyers Still Target Iowa Land

Iowa remains attractive because it combines productive ground with enduring demand.

• Strong ag fundamentals – Iowa’s core value comes from consistent row-crop production and established farm infrastructure.
• Multiple buyer types – Operators, investors, 1031 exchange buyers, and recreational users all compete in different segments.
• Livability and recreation – Rivers, timber pockets, and rural communities keep demand steady for mixed-use acreage.

In other words, Iowa land often carries value beyond a single crop budget—it can be an operating asset, a long-term hold, or a lifestyle purchase.

Final Thoughts

The worth of one acre in Iowa depends on where it sits, what it can produce, and how buyers in that local market are behaving right now. Use statewide benchmarks to establish a range, then narrow your estimate with land quality ratings, regional patterns, and county-level data—before you rely on a professional appraisal and true comparable sales to set a price you can defend.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the average price per acre of farmland in Iowa right now?

Reported 2025 averages cluster around the mid-$11,000s per acre. For example, the 2025 average Iowa farmland price was $11,467 per acre (down 3.1% or $369 from 2023) per the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Highpoint Land Company, while another 2025 update lists an average of $11,549 per acre (up 0.7%) per the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.

How much more is high-quality Iowa farmland worth than low-quality farmland?

In 2025, high-quality farmland averaged $14,030 per acre, while low-quality farmland averaged $7,580 per acre, according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau.

Which parts of Iowa tend to have the highest land values?

Northwest Iowa is among the highest-priced regions, averaging $14,522 per acre in 2025, per the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau. County-level data shows even higher averages in places like O’Brien County at $16,269 per acre in 2025, per the same source.

Where can Iowa farmland be more affordable?

South Central Iowa averaged $7,823 per acre in 2025, according to the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Farm Bureau. Appanoose County averaged $6,679 per acre in 2025 per the Iowa State University Land Value Survey via Iowa Public Radio, and a recent 2026 Ringgold County auction reported $6,000 per acre per Farm Progress.