Top Colorado Counties to Buy Land in 2026

Colorado remains one of the most compelling states for land buyers because it combines working agriculture, year-round recreation, and long-term growth potential across very different landscapes. As of 2024, Colorado has approximately 29.3 million acres of land in farms and ranches, supported by an estimated 35,000 farms and ranches with an average farm size of 837 acres, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. That scale matters: it signals an active land market with established production, infrastructure, and local expertise for buyers who want to ranch, farm, build, or hold land as a long-term asset.

Colorado’s agricultural economy also helps explain why certain counties stay resilient through market cycles. In 2023, the state generated $10.87 billion in agricultural production value, including $6.48 billion from livestock production, per the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Total cash receipts from all commodities reached $9.25 billion in 2023, with livestock products generating $6.50 billion, also reported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. For land buyers, these figures reinforce a practical point: many of Colorado’s best land counties are tied to livestock, water access, and proximity to markets.

How to Choose the Best County to Buy Land in Colorado

Start by matching the county to your intended land use. The “best” county for you depends on what you need the land to do:

• Ranching and agriculture: soil productivity, irrigation reliability, grazing capacity, and local ag services.
• Recreation and second homes: access to ski areas, national parks, trail systems, and year-round demand drivers.
• Investment and development: zoning flexibility, buildability, utilities, road access, and nearby growth momentum.
• Risk management: water rights, wildfire exposure, and drought conditions (especially in the Western Slope and high country).

Best Colorado Counties for Ranching & Agriculture

Colorado’s livestock footprint is a major driver of rural land demand. The state had 2.55 million cattle and calves as of January 1, 2025, including 800,000 cows, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. If your plan involves grazing, hay, feed crops, or cattle operations, focus on counties with proven production, stable water access, and enough acreage to scale.

Mesa County

Mesa County stands out on the Western Slope for buyers who want a mix of agricultural productivity and access to a regional hub (Grand Junction). The broader Western Colorado five-county region—Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Garfield, and Rio Blanco—shows why this area stays economically relevant: agriculture supports over 9,100 jobs and contributes over $280 million to regional gross domestic product, according to the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce. The same source reports the region generates more than $50 million annually in federal, state, and local tax revenue (Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce), which signals an established ag ecosystem that many land buyers value.

That said, Western Slope land buyers should underwrite drought risk realistically. More than 70 percent of surveyed agricultural producers in Western Colorado reported being directly impacted by drought in recent years, per the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce. Build your plan around verified water rights, irrigation infrastructure, and realistic stocking rates—especially if you’re converting raw acreage into a working operation.

Morgan County

Morgan County attracts buyers who want plains acreage with a strong farming and cattle tradition and generally more space than metro-adjacent counties. It’s a practical choice for operators who prioritize workable ground, highway access, and a land base that can support grazing, hay, and row crops. When evaluating parcels here, confirm soil suitability and water access first, then compare comparable sales to understand true per-acre value (not just list price).

Weld County

Weld County remains a high-demand target for both production agriculture and land investment, especially where growth pressure from nearby cities influences future value. For agricultural buyers, Weld’s draw is straightforward: established operations, deep service networks, and access to markets. For investors, the appeal often comes from optionality—farmland that can remain productive while also benefiting from long-term regional expansion (where zoning and infrastructure allow it).

Best Colorado Counties for Recreational Land Investments

Recreational land performs best when it pairs natural amenities with reliable access, strong short-term demand, and limited supply. In Colorado, that often means counties near ski resorts, national parks, and well-known mountain towns—locations that support vacation rentals, second homes, or future build sites.

Eagle County

Eagle County draws year-round demand thanks to proximity to major resorts and established resort-town infrastructure. Buyers looking at vacant land here should evaluate buildability early (utilities, slope, access, and wildfire considerations) and account for holding costs. The upside is long-term scarcity: resort-adjacent land tends to face tight inventory as development matures.

Pitkin County

Pitkin County is a premium recreational market anchored by Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley. Even when listings trade at a high price point, the county’s global destination status can support long-term value retention. For buyers who want a foothold in the area, it can be smart to compare parcels both inside and just outside the highest-priced cores while still prioritizing access and build feasibility.

Grand County

Grand County offers a strong mix of outdoor recreation and relative accessibility. Proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park and established ski amenities creates steady demand for second homes and vacation use. Buyers who want a balanced recreational investment often appreciate Grand County’s combination of scenery, activity, and a wider range of price points than ultra-luxury resort counties.

Best “Up and Coming” Colorado Counties for Land Investments

“Up and coming” usually means you’re early—before prices fully reflect growth, infrastructure expansion, or rising demand from nearby metros. The best approach is to buy counties with clear demand drivers and enough developable inventory, while staying disciplined about zoning, access, and utilities.

Chaffee County

Chaffee County has become a target for buyers seeking mountain views, outdoor access, and small-town energy within reach of major Front Range demand. If you’re buying here as an investment, confirm what you can build, how you’ll access year-round roads, and whether utilities (or permitted alternatives like wells/septic) align with your plan.

Rio Blanco County

Rio Blanco County appeals to buyers who want larger tracts and long-term upside tied to regional industry and outdoor access. It also sits inside the same Western Colorado five-county agricultural region highlighted by the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, where more than 80 percent of farms generate less than $100,000 in annual sales (Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce). For land buyers, that statistic is a reminder to evaluate the local operating reality: some areas support lifestyle-scale agriculture, while others require careful scaling, diversification, or a non-ag income strategy to meet your financial goals.

Land Pricing Reality Check: Pasture Values and What They Signal

If your Colorado search includes grazing land, compare local pricing to national benchmarks to keep expectations grounded. The average value of U.S. pasture land was $1,920 per acre in 2025, up $90 per acre (4.9 percent) from 2024, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Colorado prices vary widely by water, location, and access, but this benchmark helps you sanity-check per-acre asks—especially for parcels marketed as “ranch-ready” without proven water or fencing.

Best Practices When Buying Colorado Land

• Verify zoning and allowable uses before you negotiate. Confirm what the county actually permits (ag use, residential, commercial, subdivision potential) and what it restricts (minimum lot sizes, setbacks, short-term rentals).
• Confirm water rights, wells, and irrigation capacity. In drought-impacted regions—where over 70 percent of surveyed Western Colorado producers reported direct drought impacts—water is not a detail; it’s the deal (Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce).
• Order surveys and validate access. Confirm legal access (not just physical access), boundary lines, acreage, and easements.
• Check mineral rights and surface-use risks. Clarify what transfers with the sale and what could affect future use.
• Walk the land in multiple conditions. Evaluate drainage, wind exposure, snow access, and wildfire risk—not just views.
• Price the land based on fit and fundamentals. Use comparable sales, buildability, and realistic timelines. If you plan to ranch, align your model with the realities of Colorado’s livestock-driven economy—where livestock production made up $6.48 billion of the state’s $10.87 billion production value in 2023 (USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service).

Final Thoughts

Colorado offers rare range: productive plains and river valleys for working operations, world-class mountain counties for recreation, and emerging areas where patient buyers can capture long-term upside. The state’s land base remains deeply tied to agriculture—29.3 million acres in farms and ranches across about 35,000 operations with an average size of 837 acres—making due diligence around water, access, and zoning essential for almost every buyer (USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service). Whether you buy in Mesa for Western Slope production roots, Eagle for resort-driven demand, or Chaffee for momentum, the best results come from matching county fundamentals to your intended use and underwriting risks with real data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Colorado counties are best for buying agricultural land?

Mesa, Morgan, and Weld Counties are strong starting points because they offer established agricultural activity, workable acreage, and access to infrastructure that supports ranching and crops. If you’re evaluating the Western Slope, remember that agriculture in the Mesa/Delta/Montrose/Garfield/Rio Blanco region supports over 9,100 jobs and contributes over $280 million to regional GDP, according to the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce.

What Colorado counties make sense for recreational land or short-term rental demand?

Eagle, Pitkin, and Grand Counties lead for recreation-driven purchases thanks to proximity to major resorts, mountain towns, and national-park access. Always verify local short-term rental rules and building feasibility before buying vacant land.

What factors indicate a good Colorado county to buy land for future development?

Look for zoning that supports your plan, reliable road and utility access, and sustained growth drivers (jobs, tourism, or regional investment). Also confirm water availability early—especially in drought-impacted regions where producers report recurring pressure on operations (Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce).

What characteristics make for smart “up and coming” Colorado land investments?

Strong indicators include proximity to expanding metros, buildable inventory that isn’t fully priced in, and year-round demand drivers like recreation and quality-of-life migration. Favor parcels with clear legal access and realistic utility solutions.

Should I verify zoning rules and water rights before buying Colorado land?

Yes. Confirm zoning, setbacks, and permitted uses, then verify water rights or well feasibility. In many rural Colorado markets, water and access determine whether land is usable or only speculative.

What resources help newcomers learn the best areas to buy land in Colorado?

Work with local real estate professionals, talk with county planning and building departments, and involve a title company early to identify easements, mineral rights, and transfer issues before you close.

What tips help negotiate fair prices when buying Colorado land?

Use comparable sales, validate the parcel’s buildability and water situation, and compare grazing land pricing to broader benchmarks—such as the 2025 average U.S. pasture value of $1,920 per acre (up 4.9% from 2024), reported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Adjust offers for terrain constraints, access limitations, and any costs required to make the land usable.