Top Wisconsin Counties to Buy Land in 2026

Wisconsin offers far more than iconic dairy and football—it’s a land market with real variety, from income-producing cropland to wooded recreational tracts and lakefront parcels. If you’re comparing counties to buy land in Wisconsin, it helps to start with the statewide fundamentals shaping prices, supply, and long-term value.

Wisconsin land market snapshot (2024–2025)

Wisconsin remains a major agricultural state, but today’s land buyers are operating in a more data-driven environment where farm consolidation, operating costs, and commodity outlooks influence demand.

• Wisconsin had 58,200 farms in 2024, down 300 from the previous year, according to USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics.
• Land in farms held steady at 13.8 million acres in 2024, per USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics.
• Average farm size increased by 1 acre to 237 acres per farm in 2024, according to USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics.
• Cropland averaged $6,800 per acre in 2024, based on USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics.
• Wisconsin farm production expenditures totaled $14.3 billion in 2024, reported by USDA NASS via DATCP WASS Update September 2025.

Commodity performance also matters because it directly affects rental rates, farmer purchasing power, and investor appetite for tillable ground:

• Milk production in Wisconsin during May 2025 totaled 2.82 billion pounds, according to USDA NASS via DATCP Wisconsin Farm Reporter June 2025.
• Wisconsin had 1.27 million milk cows on average during May 2025, per USDA NASS via DATCP Wisconsin Farm Reporter June 2025.
• Wisconsin corn production is forecast at 579 million bushels for 2025, reported by USDA NASS via DATCP WASS Update September 2025.
• Wisconsin corn yield is expected to average 185.0 bushels per acre for 2025, according to USDA NASS via DATCP WASS Update September 2025.

Bottom line: even with fewer farms year over year, Wisconsin still supports a huge working-land base—and the combination of stable acreage, larger average farm size, and strong production signals ongoing competition for high-quality parcels.

Dane County: high-demand land with economic momentum

Dane County blends “city access” with real rural utility. Madison drives jobs, infrastructure, and services, while the surrounding towns support everything from hobby farms to serious ag uses.

• Why it’s on the list: strong local economy, diverse land use, and consistent buyer demand.
• Best for: buyers who want proximity to Madison, long-term appreciation potential, and flexible use options.
• Watch-outs: competitive pricing and faster-moving listings—prepare your financing and due diligence process.

If you expect cropland pricing to track statewide strength—where cropland averaged $6,800 per acre in 2024 per USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics—Dane County’s most usable acres often command a premium on top of that baseline.

Door County: scenic acreage with tourism upside

Door County’s shoreline, forests, and orchard country make it one of Wisconsin’s most recognizable lifestyle markets. Land here can work as a personal retreat, a legacy purchase, or a play tied to visitor demand.

• Why it’s on the list: waterfront and wooded parcels, strong short-term rental potential in the right areas, and year-round recreational appeal.
• Best for: buyers prioritizing views, access to water, and a vacation-market strategy.
• Watch-outs: shoreline and near-town parcels can be expensive; zoning and environmental rules matter more near the water.

Marathon County: productive ground and Northwoods access

Marathon County offers a practical mix: agriculture, timber, and a solid regional hub in Wausau. It’s a strong candidate if you want land that can work—either as farmland, managed woods, or a buildable rural property.

• Why it’s on the list: balanced pricing relative to more metro-adjacent counties and multiple land-use paths (tillable, pasture, timber).
• Best for: owner-operators, long-term holders, and buyers who want both “working land” and recreation.

Wisconsin’s scale still supports big operations—13.8 million acres of land in farms in 2024, per USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics—and Marathon County is one place where buyers can still find meaningful acreage without stepping into the highest-priced markets.

Bayfield County: privacy, timber, and Lake Superior energy

Bayfield County is the move if you’re chasing quiet woods, big-water shoreline, and a slower pace. The land here often appeals to recreational buyers, cabin builders, and anyone looking to combine forests with seasonal income opportunities.

• Why it’s on the list: extensive forestland, Lake Superior access, and growing interest in eco-tourism and outdoor recreation.
• Best for: hunting land, timber management, off-grid or semi-off-grid retreats, and conservation-minded ownership.
• Watch-outs: some remote parcels have limited services; confirm road access, utilities, and buildability early.

St. Croix County: Twin Cities proximity with room to grow

St. Croix County sits in the path of Twin Cities influence. For many buyers, that means a rare combination: rural land with commuter viability and steady development pressure.

• Why it’s on the list: strong demand from Minneapolis–St. Paul spillover, plus diverse land options (residential acreage, small farms, potential commercial corridors).
• Best for: buyers who want appreciation potential tied to regional growth and infrastructure.
• Watch-outs: prices trend upward over time; speed and preparation matter when good parcels hit the market.

Vilas County: classic “Up North” lake-and-woods buying

Vilas County delivers the iconic northern Wisconsin experience—pine forests, wildlife, and water everywhere. It’s a powerful choice for recreational land, second homes, and rentals that cater to outdoor tourism.

• Why it’s on the list: dense lake concentration, strong cabin culture, and a well-established tourism economy.
• Best for: waterfront buyers, anglers, snowmobile and trail enthusiasts, and vacation-rental strategies.
• Watch-outs: lakefront costs more; inland parcels often provide better value while staying close to water access.

Iowa County: Driftless landscapes and sustainable ag potential

Iowa County stands out for its Driftless Area terrain—rolling hills, valleys, and views that don’t look like most of the Midwest. Land here attracts buyers who value scenery and smaller-scale farming opportunities.

• Why it’s on the list: distinctive topography, strong rural character, and potential for niche farming and homesteading goals.
• Best for: buyers seeking privacy, hobby farming, and a scenic build site within reach of Madison.
• Watch-outs: slopes, drainage, and access can vary; evaluate soils and build sites carefully.

Manitowoc County: Lake Michigan frontage plus working farmland

Manitowoc County offers range—shoreline property along Lake Michigan and inland tracts with agricultural utility. That diversity makes it attractive for buyers who want options without committing to a single use case.

• Why it’s on the list: a mix of lakefront, rural residential acreage, and traditional farm ground.
• Best for: buyers balancing lifestyle (water access) with practical land uses (leasing, farming, or future development).

Wisconsin’s dairy engine remains powerful—2.82 billion pounds of milk produced in May 2025 and an average of 1.27 million milk cows that month, according to USDA NASS via DATCP Wisconsin Farm Reporter June 2025—and counties with strong ag tradition often benefit from that stability.

Eau Claire County: growth, amenities, and flexible land use

Eau Claire County pairs a growing small-city hub with surrounding rural parcels that can fit multiple strategies—buildable acreage, small farms, or longer-term holds on the edges of development.

• Why it’s on the list: urban energy, steady demand drivers, and recreational value tied to rivers and nearby public lands.
• Best for: buyers who want a mix of convenience and land space, including potential rental demand near education and employers.

Sauk County: tourism corridors and productive farm country

Sauk County is a study in contrast: high-traffic tourism around the Wisconsin Dells and scenic natural areas, plus real farmland value across the county.

• Why it’s on the list: tourism-driven opportunities, strong recreation demand, and viable agricultural land.
• Best for: buyers exploring mixed-use strategies—income potential near attractions and long-term utility in farmable acres.

From an ag investment perspective, Wisconsin’s scale is reinforced by inputs and output forecasts: farm production expenditures reached $14.3 billion in 2024 per USDA NASS via DATCP WASS Update September 2025, while corn production is forecast at 579 million bushels in 2025 and corn yield is expected to average 185.0 bushels per acre, according to USDA NASS via DATCP WASS Update September 2025. Those fundamentals can support demand for quality cropland and well-located rural parcels.

How to choose the right Wisconsin county for your land goals

• Define the primary use: farming, recreation, timber, homesite, development hold, or rental strategy.
• Use statewide benchmarks to sanity-check pricing: in 2024, cropland averaged $6,800 per acre, according to USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics.
• Match acreage to your plan and budget: Wisconsin’s average farm size reached 237 acres per farm in 2024, per USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics, but many buyers succeed with smaller parcels when the location and access are right.
• Check constraints early: zoning, wetlands, shoreland rules, access easements, timber rights, and well/septic feasibility can make or break a deal.
• Plan for timing: the best parcels can take months (or longer) to find, especially in high-demand counties.

Final thoughts

Buying land in Wisconsin is still one of the most flexible ways to build a lifestyle, diversify investments, or create long-term optionality—whether that means farming, building, leasing, hunting, or holding for future appreciation. Even as the number of farms shifts—58,200 farms in 2024, down 300 year over year per USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics—the state’s farm acreage remains substantial at 13.8 million acres, according to the same USDA NASS 2025 Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics.

Start with counties that fit your goal, run the numbers, and stay ready to move when the right tract appears. With patient research and the right local guidance, you can find a piece of Wisconsin that works for you now—and holds value for years to come.