If you’ve ever wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, off-grid living may have piqued your interest. Abraham Lincoln even seemed to like the idea, saying, “The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.” Thankfully, the U.S. has some great options available to make your off-grid dream come true — but its best to first know which states are friendliest for such a lifestyle.
“Off-grid” simply means a home isn’t connected to the local power grid, therefore, it requires its own energy source, such as solar panels. However, this type of lifestyle is about so much more for the people who pursue it — connecting with nature, leaving less of an environmental footprint, having a more affordable home with land and being self-sufficient.
Consulting company Accenture forecast that 12 percent of American households will be off-grid by 2035! Another factor driving Americans out of the suburbs? Data safety. A survey reveals that half of Americans would consider living off the grid in order to keep their data safe.
Whatever your desire for going off-grid, some states are more popular places to live off the land than others. We’ve created a list of the best states to claim your slice of country heaven, based on what the experts say. Their reviews take into consideration factors, such as land cost, legalities of self-generated utilities and availability of renewable energy. If you have your own recommendations for the best places to go off-grid, please share them with us in the comments below!
The List: Best Off-Grid States In U.S., According to Experts
1. Alabama
Sweet home(stead) Alabama.
Off Grid Permaculture ranks this state No. 1, writing, “I considered 6 main categories of factors. Cost of living, freedom of lifestyle, water availability, how easy it is to grow food there, energy availability, and the community in that area. Each of these areas pulled in data from multiple sources, which I used to rank each state on a scale of 10 in each of those categories. Then I combined the categories by how important I think each one is, in order to come up with the overall score for each state.”
It’s top-ranking on more than one list.
“Alabama got the best overall score, and many southern states weren’t far behind. The warm climate and affordable price of land makes these areas particularly attractive for off-grid living,” Valley Food Storage writes.
2. California
California, the land of milk and honey. The name alludes to the state’s large farming industry. Farmland is one of the reasons it’s highly recommended for an off-grid lifestyle.
“California wins the title of ‘The Off-Grid State.’ If you live in Los Angeles, San Francisco or San Diego, you may well have an off-gridding Instagram-user right next door. For Californians, it appears off-grid living is about living an eco-conscious life,” HomeAdvisor writes.
Money Inc has California at the top of their list, too, and gives us a glimpse into their lives: “In California, there is a large community of what is known as plugged-in off-gridders. These are people that access the Internet, but they live the off-grid lifestyle in many other ways. Examples of aspects of their lifestyle are keeping hens for their own eggs or hunting and gathering for food. A well-known off-grid community in California is Emerald Earth.”
3. Missouri
The Midwest treasure is also a great place to truly get away from the world.
Off-Grid Home says, “Much of the state is ideal for living off-grid. As long as you stay in rural areas, you’re unlikely to find any awkward restrictions. Many of the towns now have some form of building restrictions, but further afield, you’re unlikely to have problems.”
Laws are a big deal when it comes to off-grid living.
“Missouri is my top pick for a lot of reasons, including fair land prices, relaxed homesteading laws, fair land prices, a decent growing season, and plenty of water,” JeffSetter Travel writes.
4. Alaska
The Last Frontier might be the first place you’d think to head if you’re looking for a quiet, natural retreat.
“This is probably the most popular state to go off the grid. Alaska’s laws are so good to people who want to live off the grid that it is like it was designed that way. There are no prohibitions against gardening, and you can raise farm animals as long as you can provide warm housing and fenced pastures,” according to Survival Sullivan.\\
For winter lovers, Alaska, of course, would likely be the top pick on the list.
“Alaska is the best state to settle in if you want complete isolation and don’t mind the long winter months. The upside is that the land is cheap, but you’ll pay for it with a short growing season. Another benefit is that Alaska has the lowest taxes in the United States. There is no state income tax or statewide sales tax, meaning more money stays in your pocket,” according to Hillsborough Homesteading.
5. Tennessee
Backdoor Survival recommends The Volunteer State, saying, “Tennessee is one of the best states for off grid living. It has a warm, wet, long growing season, and rich soil. Fresh water runs down from the Appalachians, and land is cheap. The community in most areas of the state has remained rural and self-sufficient.”
And you definitely won’t be the lone off-gridder.
“Tennessee’s low cost of living, four seasons, and earning potential make it a top choice for living off the land. With over 69,000 farms across 10 million acres, new homesteaders will be part of a well-established and well-connected community,” WhyFarmIt writes.Leave your off-grid living tips in the comments!
Sources
- Off Grid Permaculture
- Valley Food Storage
- HomeAdvisor
- Money Inc
- Off-Grid Home
- JeffSetter Travel
- Survival Sullivan
- Hillsborough Homesteading
- Backdoor Survival
- WhyFarmIt
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
California is a disaster for of grid living. First of all, no one interested in this lifestyle can afford land in California to look ve an off grid lifestyle on. Second the state government and PG&E (the states energy monopoly) will not allow people to cut ties with the power company. You can’t get a permit to build without accepting that PG&E will have ultimate say on how you power your house. Even if you use solar or water/wind turbines PG&E still gets to install their equipment on YOUR PROPERTY. Therefore they can walk onto your property at any time. Building inspectors lurk around looking for any reason to issue a red tag to home owners who build a shed too high or one inch too big. Nosey Karen neighbors will report you for just about anything and there are few public hunting areas left in the state. I have to drive at least two hours to the nearest blm land I actually am allowed to hunt on. Shorter distances for private duck clubs but these are private and far more to join than the value of the meat you can come home with. Dear are tiny and you are lucky to get the one dear tag we are allowed every year. Elk? Lol better be the luckiest guy in your county and be awarded the one elk tag per county for that year. Not to mention having to spend a small for fortune on seldomly available non lead ammunition. Off grid living in California? Not if Gavin and the democrats have anything to say about it
Deer
And I’m glad they don’t let you hunt all the animals you want.
California may have a great climate and soil for growing but they are definitely not off grid friendly as far as expense and being able to build what you want where you want and how you want
I had property in northern California, 100 miles north of Sacramento. And because I quit using my pge and disconnected everything including the well from pge meter.with order of the state The county came to red flag me and kick me off my land . Not to return till I hired a contractor to re hook everything back to the grid. No out house allowed.
How can Alabama be #1 when they charge you a “solar tax” every month???
https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/alabama-power-solar-charge
Literally, that is a charge to be “on-grid”. If you are off-grid, which in this case means providing your own backup power instead of depending on a wire to the local utility every night, you don’t pay the fee.
“The fee, which critics call the ‘solar tax’, is billed monthly to power company Alabama Power’s customers who install solar panels to generate their own electricity. With the solar tax now coming in at $5.41 per kilowatt (kW) of rooftop solar installed, it’s now almost impossible to get a good return on a solar investment in Alabama. ”
So I guess it doesn’t count if you’re not an Alabama Power customer?
Been on TVA all my life. AL PWR not the only provider in AL.
I live almost within sight of a nuke plant, Browns Ferry.
Absurd to put California anywhere on an off-grid list lol. Please find one component of any building code anywhere in California that is relaxed or would cost less in any other state.. I bet you will find zero benefits. Having lived in California for 40 years I know of one off grid and that’s a rich person. What is this articles motive? To sell some dream in exchange for tax revenue?
Well put.
Hah! Many places where you can live off the grid in N. Calif.
I sure believe that!! Given how untrustworthy the media is these days anyway, I don’t believe much of anything they say or print anymore. It all has political ideology attached, and it seems to be nothing more than a tool for social reprogramming for humanity.
Yes I agree. It is eaven against the law here in California to have solar panels hooked up to the house off grid, they must be connected to the pge meter, Or get into trouble with the state . So when pge dose it’s rolling black outs eaven if you got solar your pge shuts off as well.
Some people are overdosing on Joe’s products! Kalifornika is by mo means an ideal place to live. Not even Mr. Pelosi was safe!
I have a cabin on the Marengo River in bayfield county Wisconsin. Although I am on the grid many of my neighbors are not. I have seen one of them still tilling his land with horses.
Rubbish!!!!!
Yes, yes you are.
Yeah, I’m starting to think the article was written to push people into the very areas, like California, that I wouldn’t want anyone I love to live. California is Newsom territory, and I wouldn’t allow anyone I care about to live in that trash heap.
They must be including the homeless in CA. Livin’ off the grid, Cali style.
Isn’t Alabama off-grid to begin with?
Yes. You nailed it. It’s not a new fad in that beautiful state.
Lol no. You should travel more, get out of your echo chamber.
Did anyone ever consider Western Maryland?
Too many federal government thugs running around out there.
At the rate the green energy thugs in CA are going, the whole state will soon be living …. ‘off the grid’…. and they will deserve every bit of it.
Definitely need the best natural healing oils for the off-grid lifestyle.
Kure-itRx is the best natural pain relief, wound healing and anointing oils you can get.
Where’s your peer reviewed quality evidence?
IDK how Hawaii didn’t make the list. So many people here on the Big Island are off grid. Pretty much anyone not in a town has catchment for the plentiful rainfall. Solar panels all over for the sunshine. No need for heating or cooling with the same weather year round. Our only grid tie is the fiber for internet. Thinking of cutting that and just using the phone’s hot spot.
Oh, and they have acreage down the street from the oceanfront parcels cheaper than acreage outside of Reno.
https://www.alohaliving.com/search/mls/642522
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/0-Sierra-View-Rd-Reno-NV-89508/2077801137_zpid/
Who wrote this garbage if you were in California as long as my relatives you know for sure there’s no place like that they pay taxes and everything out the hiney highest prices anywhere in the whole United States California may be beautiful that’s why they stay but I sure wouldn’t stay there because with the resurrection of Christ coming the Sodom and Gomorrah State of California will be the first to fall into the ocean that’s all I have to say about California
I was shocked to see California on the list also.
I totally agree who wrote this crap !
Yeah, I’m starting to think the article was written to push people into the very areas, like California, that I wouldn’t want anyone I love to live. California is Newsom territory, and I wouldn’t allow anyone I care about to live in that trash heap.
Alabama does NOT support net metering and the public service commission and its president Twinkle Cavanaugh are politically connected to Alabama Power, one of the Southern Companies that funded Twinkle’s campaign and has been able to push through draconian power taffrails that solar power use, implementation and cost and potential for payback impossible. Alabama is NOT an off the grid option. Your research is poorly lacking.
Hahah bs
Who wrote this garbage I wouldn’t live in any of those states
And we don’t want you here.
California… LMAO This article reads like a lifestyle piece from an urban style magazine. First off nothing listed here is “off grid”. The moment you put your name on a deed you are ON GRID.
Off grid is what you spend years preparing for because you know at some point America is going to become a prison without walls.
Off grid means you disa f’n peer without trace, you head deep into the back country with the skills necessary to survive and thrive in freedom. You can dig your own well, dig a bunker, raise food, hunt, fish , know how to cook and heat by fire and obscure the source of that heat with filtered tunnels.
Off grid means knowing how to hide your heat signature , rig a basic alarm system and be willing to bug out the minute the government knows you exist.
Anything less means you are a trendy poser.
Thanks your Honor.
You should continue living in the Hole Your In.
Pitty that you are, by ignorance, refusing to enjoy the Tn.-Ala. line. Great land, people, and cooperative culture.
We live in the Big Bend Desert on a large off grid ranch. 99 percent of families are off grid , we enjoy cheap land, no building codes, and year round hunting….. abundance of sun, but very little rain….can’t win them all….
No building codes = Slum
Texas definitely has requirements for hunting licenses and seasons to support wildlife conservation. Just means you live without thinking long-term and assume no responsibility for your actions.
That is a ridiculous assumption, just because not everyone wants to live under the ever-watchful eye of our corrupt government. I have seen many off-grid homes where very nature-concious people live, who want to grow their own food, fish and hint, because they are sick of being slowly poisoned with “food” with pesticides, GMO grown. You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, but you are putting everyone who lives off grid into the same category of people who live like filthy pigs.
If you are not from Texas, cork it.
If it were not for the good volunteers of Tennessee at the Alamo, Texas would not ever had seen the ligh of day. There were more Tennessee volunteers who sacrificed their lives than any other state or foreign country.
Looks like you have more problems than any state. If you have a state full of Mexicans, you think your going to stop illegals from pouring in?Texas is the problem. You are turning into Cali. Bite one!
This entire thread is the very reason why I want to separate from the masses. Im tired of the whole thing. Tired of the ignorance, hatred, politics.
lying racial games.
Dang.
Yes… agreed. I want to take my 5 year old and run. But I feel stuck, as his father is involved with him and does not believe me that we need to leave. I live in New York…
Upstate New York.. near Rochester.. I’m so scared for the future. Maybe if I just get up and go, his father will smarten up and follow me…. I just don’t need cps or cops oh me. Or the schools. How do I get past all of that!?!?
If everyone tries to live small, I mean really SMALL we can have a HUGE impact on everything. Start by not using trees to wipe our butts. Ladies stop using trees to wipe up after using the restroom. Use a squirt bottle with water and a small cloth for drying to save a tree when you pee.
LOL! Thanks to Democrat incompetence , Everyone in California will soon be living off the grid
Says a Republican, butt wipes of corporate America. Lol
MAGAt rube says what?
LOL. That’s exactly what I came to post,JD. In fact, all of L.A. is on the grid and living in tents on the sidewalks. 😁
Don’t blame politics.
Trump Dump started all this cap that’s going on now.
Research it if you dare to find the truth.
I’m sure you won’t research it.
Seriously it’s one persons fault? You’re a clown!
And who has overseen Texas power grids, which have failed in both winter and summer ?????
LOL!! Yes they will!!!
Isn’t that right
Summer in the deep south, 100 degrees, 100 % humidity.
Must have a helluva solar array.
New Mexico never gets mentioned anywhere~huge rural state to get lost in~cheap land~hiding in plain sight~we live in one of the largest rural counties~whole house generator, 500 gal propane tanks, underground electric~80 acres~low prop taxes~well with aquifer and it’s all ours~of course there was a forest fire years ago, owners moved out, we re-built.~Now, we live in a beautiful canyon meadow and we have a huge greenhouse and our nearest neighbor is a couple miles away~don’t discard NM~beautiful state in spite of who runs it~
You forgot this report from the Blaze taxing your private water wells:
Under the authority of California’s infamous Governor Gavin Newsom (D) and Secretary for Environmental Protection Jared Blumenfeld, California’s Water Boards will not only require owners of private wells to report every drop of water they extract from their own property, but they will also charge the property owners for the privilege of doing so, according to a recent California Globe report.
An unnamed source told the Globe that Natalie Stork, a state water control official, “quietly” delivered a shocking letter to private well owners, which reads, “Landowners whose property is within an unmanaged area and contains an operating groundwater extraction well must report the volume of groundwater extracted from the well. The groundwater extraction volume must be reported as a monthly total. In addition to pumping volumes, reports must include the location of the well and the place and purpose of use of the groundwater.”
The letter goes on to inform the property owners of a list of “filing fees” that they will be required to pay to the government for the water they are required to report to the government.
NM at least in our county does require reporting usage total every quarter, but no fees at all. Exceeding the water limit would require fees but it is so beyond what we use and the aquifer is so large, not in our lifetime~we live in a very conservative area and the sheriff along with most of the sheriffs in NM our very protective over gun rights along with old Mexican families that are avid hunters. Red flag gun laws don’t go anywhere here. the climate can be brutal especially in the mountains so reading one commenter, not for the faint of heart but for people that are tough-minded and in good shape~the future will at least require that~
Don’t come to AL! There are 7 poisonous snakes in US, and AL has 9 of them. Chiggers (red bugs), ticks, wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, bears, coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions.
Sounds Inviting
✋️Sorry, folks. Alabama is closed.🤓
Please close Tennessee also. Door locked
I’m surprise that this article didn’t mention places that solar panels are welcome. Such as Oklahoma. Perfect place for off the grid in the country. I’m almost off the grid which I’m really surprised to see. It was not mentioned.
I’m surprised Hawaii didn’t make the list. I’ve lived off grid extremely cheaply in Hawaii for years. Growing our own fruits and vegetables year around because there’s no cold season. Plenty of sunshine that runs our entire house including television with 15 year old antenna from Radio Shack that gives us 23 channels for free. Catchment water (free). Beach time 365 days a year.
Sounds the best place to me!
Sounds wonderful! I wouldn’t mind living off the grid but it has to be warm, Hawaii would be the perfect place to do so!
An overlooked factor is the quality and behavior of your neighbors. I lived off grid the better part of four years. Most of my neighbors were very simple, very uneducated folks. Some were sweet but just as many were dangerous. I pulled a gun several times to let it be known I was not one to be messed with. In turn one of them torched my cabin. Weather extremes can be vicious. I dealt with several flash floods, one forest fire, and seventeen below. It’s not for the naive or anyone lacking a lot of tools or building skills. It was tough but I do miss it.
LOL!! Yes they will!!!
You can be completely off the grid in California. You don’t have to hook your system up to PG&E. North State the Sierra Nevada Gold Country have plenty of people with off the grid properties.
As soon as i read California i knew this was a bs article and there was no “expert “
Dang article lost all credibility once California was listed as #2… full of it!
Agreed! Where the heck did commifornia come from?
Agreed. California???
Yep!
There are more off-grid people in California than in any other continental state in the union. There are tent cities as far as the eye can see.
I absolutely agree., No way is California a way to live off grid., I mean like where Hollywood lol.
Yep!
Why isn’t west virginia ever mentioned, I’m retiring in a few years, in florida my whole life and want to move. Would appreciate factual comments.
No work here in west Virginia it has lowest unemployment in whole USA with 52.5 of the working age from 16-65 actually working. The pay is very crappy what I would make in any other state doing same job at $20 an hour you make $12 here. Very poor state and very high rent in Morgantown WV. Overall very poor choice I made to come here can’t wait to leave!!!