What One Acre of Land Costs in Wisconsin in 2026

Wisconsin land prices don’t move in a straight line—values change based on location, land type, and what a buyer can realistically do with the property. If you’re trying to estimate what one acre is worth today (whether you’re buying, selling, or just benchmarking), it helps to start with current statewide data and then narrow down to the details that actually drive price.

Wisconsin land values in 2025: the latest statewide benchmarks

Statewide averages provide a useful baseline—especially for agricultural land—before you adjust for county, access, and property-specific features.

• Wisconsin farm real estate averaged $6,420 per acre in 2025, up $300 from 2024, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Land Values 2025 Summary.
• Wisconsin cropland averaged $7,250 per acre in 2025, up $450 from 2024, per the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Land Values 2025 Summary.
• Wisconsin pasture land averaged $3,300 per acre in 2025, up $100 from 2024, as reported in the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Land Values 2025 Summary.

These are statewide averages, not guarantees. One acre near a fast-growing metro, a lake, or a tourism corridor can price far above these numbers, while remote, landlocked, or limited-use acreage can fall below them.

Recent momentum: why “one price per acre” doesn’t exist

Wisconsin’s land market has shifted from rapid growth to more uneven movement depending on land class, local demand, and farm economics. For context, Wisconsin farmland values posted a 0% gain between 2023 and 2024, with the per-acre price at $6,120 in 2024, according to an Investigate Midwest analysis of USDA data.

By 2025, statewide averages rose again (especially cropland), but the key takeaway remains: the “right” value depends on what the acre can produce or become—income, development potential, recreation, or a mix of all three.

What drives the value of an acre in Wisconsin?

1) Location and nearby demand

• Metro influence: Land near Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and their commuter rings often commands higher prices because buyers compete for limited supply.
• Water access: Lakes, rivers, and Lake Michigan frontage can dramatically raise value, especially for second homes and short-term rental demand.
• Access and frontage: Highway proximity, year-round road access, and usable frontage tend to improve marketability and price.
• Scenery and privacy: Views, topography that creates privacy, and attractive natural features often push recreational values up.

2) Highest and best use (what the acre can realistically be used for)

• Agriculture: Productive cropland typically prices higher than pasture because it can generate stronger revenue and attracts more bidders.
• Recreation: Hunting ground, timber, trails, and cabin sites can command premiums in the Northwoods and tourism-adjacent regions.
• Residential development: If zoning and utilities support subdivision potential, developers may pay significantly more than farm benchmarks.
• Commercial/industrial: Visibility and traffic count matter; zoning can create a “jackpot” scenario in the right corridor.

3) Soil, drainage, and topography

• Soil quality: Higher-quality soils generally increase cropland value because they support stronger yields and more consistent performance.
• Drainage: Well-drained ground helps both farming and building feasibility.
• Slope: Flat or gently rolling land is often easier (and cheaper) to farm, build on, and maintain than steep ground.

4) Parcel size, shape, and usability

• Per-acre vs. total price: Larger tracts may sell for less per acre but still require a larger total budget.
• Shape and layout: Odd shapes, split fields, or limited access can reduce value even in strong counties.
• Divisibility: Parcels that can be cleanly split (legally and practically) may attract more buyer types and higher offers.

5) Utilities, improvements, and modern infrastructure

• Power, well/septic, municipal services: The more “ready” the property is, the more buyers it can serve.
• Internet availability: High-speed options increasingly influence rural residential demand.
• Existing improvements: Fencing, barns, outbuildings, driveways, and established access can add real value when they reduce a buyer’s upfront costs.

Using cash rent to estimate value (especially for farmland)

If you’re evaluating farm ground, lease rates can provide a practical reality check: rent reflects what producers can afford given commodity prices, input costs, and expected yields.

• Average cropland cash rent in Wisconsin was $166 per acre in 2025, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
• Non-irrigated cropland cash rent averaged $161 per acre in 2025, up $3 from 2024, per the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
• Irrigated cropland cash rent averaged $256 per acre in 2025, up $2 from 2024, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.
• Pasture cash rent averaged $45 per acre in 2025, up $4 from 2024, per the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Rent also varies significantly by county. In fact, ten counties in Wisconsin averaged over $200 per acre for cropland rent in 2025, as reported by Farm Progress citing USDA data. That kind of local rent strength often aligns with stronger buyer demand for top-quality, high-producing acres.

Why you’ll see very different “per-acre” numbers in the real world

Even with statewide averages, specific market segments can trade at a premium. For example, FCSAmerica benchmark farms in Wisconsin averaged $8,299 per acre at the close of 2025, according to the FCSAmerica Farmland Values Report. Benchmark figures can skew higher because they often reflect more competitive areas, stronger soils, better layouts, and properties that appeal to serious operators.

Regional context: how Wisconsin’s landscape shapes pricing

1. Southeastern Wisconsin: Development pressure and commuter growth can raise prices, especially where zoning supports residential expansion.
2. Central Wisconsin: Mixed demand—productive agriculture plus recreation—creates wide price ranges depending on soils, drainage, and access.
3. Northern Wisconsin (the Northwoods): Lakes, forests, and tourism drive recreational demand, especially for waterfront or cabin-ready tracts.
4. Driftless Area: Scenic terrain can add value, but steep slopes and fragmented fields may reduce farm usability on certain parcels.
5. Door County: Tourism and water views often push pricing to the top tier, with scarcity amplifying competition.

How to find what one acre is worth in your county

1. Pull comparable sales: Focus on recent closed sales of similar land type (cropland vs. pasture vs. recreational) and similar access/utilities.
2. Use an appraiser for precision: A professional appraisal can separate “nice to have” features from value-driving attributes.
3. Check cash rent comps: For farmland, compare local rents and lease terms—rent can anchor valuation when sales are limited.
4. Talk to a land-focused agent: Specialists often know buyer demand by micro-location (school districts, lake chains, hunting zones, soil classes).
5. Review county records carefully: Assessed values can be useful context, but they may lag behind current market pricing.

Why selling land can take longer than selling a home

• A smaller buyer pool: Raw land attracts fewer buyers than move-in-ready homes.
• Financing can be harder: Land loans often require larger down payments and stricter underwriting.
• Marketing is more complex: You’re selling potential, not a finished product—photos, maps, and clear use cases matter.
• Time on market can be long: Many landowners plan for a longer timeline, especially for niche recreational or development parcels.
• Negotiations vary widely: Buyers often negotiate based on perc tests, surveys, easements, zoning, and access—items that don’t come up as often in home sales.

Cash buyers: a faster option for sellers who prioritize certainty

Some owners choose to work with companies that buy land for cash, trading some upside for speed and simplicity. For example, Land Boss advertises a direct-buy approach for landowners who want a quicker path to closing (learn more here: buy land for cash).

• Faster closing: Cash transactions can close in weeks instead of months.
• Fewer contingencies: Fewer financing hurdles can reduce fall-through risk.
• Simpler process: Many sellers avoid showings, extended marketing, and repeated price reductions.
• As-is purchases: Useful when a property has cleanup, access, title, or improvement issues.

Land Boss notes it has been operating for 5 years and has completed over 100 land deals. That type of track record can appeal to sellers who value predictability over squeezing out the last dollar in a traditional listing.

Final thoughts

An acre in Wisconsin can be worth “average” on paper and wildly different in practice. Use statewide benchmarks as your baseline—like the 2025 averages for farm real estate, cropland, and pasture—and then adjust for the factors that actually move price: location, access, utilities, zoning, soil, and realistic highest-and-best use.

If you want more context on how local demand and conditions shape pricing, see this breakdown of Wisconsin's land values. With the right comps and a clear plan for how the land will be used, you can estimate value with far more confidence—and decide whether a traditional sale or a faster cash offer fits your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What’s the going rate for an acre in Wisconsin right now?

Statewide, Wisconsin farm real estate averaged $6,420 per acre in 2025, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Land Values 2025 Summary. Cropland averaged $7,250 per acre and pasture averaged $3,300 per acre in 2025 (same USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Land Values 2025 Summary). Your local market can land well above or below these numbers depending on county demand, utilities, and what the land can be used for.

Why did prices feel flat recently and then rise again?

Wisconsin farmland values showed a 0% gain from 2023 to 2024, holding at $6,120 per acre in 2024, per an Investigate Midwest analysis of USDA data. Conditions shifted again in 2025, with statewide averages rising—especially cropland—based on USDA’s 2025 land values reporting.

Can rent help me estimate what farmland is worth?

Yes. In 2025, Wisconsin’s average cropland cash rent was $166 per acre, non-irrigated cropland averaged $161, irrigated cropland averaged $256, and pasture averaged $45, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Also, ten Wisconsin counties averaged over $200 per acre for cropland rent in 2025, reported by Farm Progress citing USDA data, which signals stronger county-level demand in those areas.

Why do some reports show higher per-acre values than statewide averages?

Different datasets capture different segments of the market. For instance, FCSAmerica benchmark farms in Wisconsin averaged $8,299 per acre at the close of 2025, according to the FCSAmerica Farmland Values Report. Benchmark farms often reflect higher-quality ground, better layouts, and more competitive buying environments.

Is there a faster way to sell land if I don’t want a long listing process?

Some sellers work with direct land buyers for speed and certainty. Land Boss is one example of a company that purchases land for cash (details here: buy land for cash). Land Boss states it has operated for 5 years and completed over 100 land deals, which may appeal if you prioritize a simpler, quicker closing over maximizing price.