2025’s Best States to Live Off the Grid

An aerial view of a small farm powered by wind and solar energy

Which states are most ideal for leading a self-sufficient lifestyle?

Unplug and disconnect with Home Gnome’s ranking of 2025’s Best States to Live Off the Grid.

We compared the 50 U.S. states based on 5 categories. More specifically, we looked at laws and regulations impacting off-grid homes, renewable energy growth, and climate factors, among 28 total metrics.

Explore our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology.

Quick Stats

Iowa takes first place for off-grid living with a moderate climate, access to rural healthcare, and successful renewable energy systems. Iowa also boasts a low cost of living and a relatively low rural poverty rate of 11%.

Texas (No. 2) leads the way in self-sufficient infrastructure. The Lone Star state’s wind power production is projected to grow more than any other state, by over 60,000 megawatts over 10 years. It is also No. 2 in the projected growth of solar installations — adding nearly 35,000 megawatts over 5 years. Texas also has the most off-grid properties for sale, with nearly 48,000 listed at the time of data collection for this study.

7 states — like Oklahoma (No. 5), Kansas (No. 8), and South Dakota (No. 10) — have low restrictions and no financial cap on tax exemptions for homesteads.

The Leaderboard

See how each state fared in our ranking:

The Best States to Live Off the Grid

The Iowa Capitol Building with the skyline of Des Moines in the distance — **No. 1:** Iowa | **Overall Score:** 68.07

**Suitability of Electric, Water, and Waste Laws for Off-Grid Living:** 4 | **Rank:** 1 (TIE)
**Share of Electricity Produced from Renewable Sources:** 61.74% | **Rank:** 7
**Rural Poverty Rate:** 11% | **Rank:** 10
**Average Yearly Amount of Sunshine:** 59% | **Rank:** 22
**Rural Hospitals per 1,000 Square Miles:** 1.67 | **Rank:** 3

Photo Credit: Austin Goode | Unsplash | Unsplash License

A sign welcomes drivers into Texas — **No. 2:** Texas | **Overall Score:** 63.62

**Suitability of Electric, Water, and Waste Laws for Off-Grid Living:** 4 | **Rank:** 1 (TIE)
**Population Density in Rural Areas (Residents per Square Mile):** 15.2 | **Rank:** 16
**Availability of Off-Grid Properties for Sale:** 47,892 | **Rank:** 1
**Average Yearly Amount of Sunshine:** 65.38% | **Rank:** 8
**Number of Critical-Access Hospitals:** 91 | **Rank:** 1

Photo Credit: jaflippo | Adobe Stock | License

A view of the skyline of Louisville, Kentucky as the sun rises in the distance — **No. 3:** Kentucky | **Overall Score:** 61.7

**Suitability of Electric, Water, and Waste Laws for Off-Grid Living:** 4 | **Rank:** 1 (TIE)
**Availability of Off-Grid Properties for Sale:** 8,357 | **Rank:** 14
**Average Yearly Rain (in Inches):** 50.1 | **Rank:** 8
**Number of Water Quality Violations:** 78 | **Rank:** 3
**Rural Hospitals per 1,000 Square Miles:** 1.78 | **Rank:** 2

Photo Credit: Miles Manwaring | Unsplash | Unsplash License

An aerial view of downtown Minneapolis — **No. 4:** Minnesota | **Overall Score:** 60.98

**Suitability of Electric, Water, and Waste Laws for Off-Grid Living:** 4 | **Rank:** 1 (TIE)
**Population Density in Rural Areas (Residents per Square Mile):** 18.2 | **Rank:** 18
**Rural Poverty Rate:** 10.7% | **Rank:** 5
**Number of Water Quality Violations:** 192 | **Rank:** 11
**Number of Critical-Access Hospitals:** 76 | **Rank:** 4

Photo Credit: Nicole Geri | Unsplash | Unsplash License

Cacti surround a Route 66 sign in Oklahoma — **No. 5:** Oklahoma | **Overall Score:** 60.45

**Suitability of Electric, Water, and Waste Laws for Off-Grid Living:** 4 | **Rank:** 1 (TIE)
**Average Per-Acre Value of Land:** $10,680 | **Rank:** 4
**Cost of Living Index:** 86 | **Rank:** 2
**Average Yearly Amount of Sunshine:** 62.5% | **Rank:** 13
**Rural Hospitals per 1,000 Square Miles:** 1.13 | **Rank:** 12

Photo Credit: Tiago Fernandez | Adobe Stock | License

For those seeking respite, Kentucky (No. 3) is one of the safest states to settle down in off the grid. The Bluegrass State boasts few air and water quality violations, top access to rural health clinics, the 2nd-best access to rural hospitals, and a low crime rate.

Vermont (No. 6) claims the largest change in share of electricity from renewable energy sources over the past decade — an increase of 72.82%. These days 99.73% of the state’s energy is produced by renewable sources. The Green Mountain State relies on a mix of renewables, including biomass and renewable natural gas, but the most popular source in this state is hydroelectric. With the right property, off-griders can install microhydropower systems of their own.

Rainwater harvesting is unrestricted and incentivized in 10 states, including Minnesota (No. 4), Wyoming (No. 11), and Florida (No. 27). On the flip side, rainwater collection is more regulated in states like Colorado (No. 38), with restrictions limiting the amount of water that can be collected without a permit and how the water can be used.

The Worst States to Live Off the Grid

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states like Connecticut (No. 48) and New Jersey (No. 49) score at the bottom, alongside Rhode Island in last place. Smaller states have dense rural areas — less ideal for folks seeking solitude. These states also have few off-grid properties for sale, expensive land, and less favorable road conditions.

10 states tie with the lowest suitability of laws related to off-grid living, including 7 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states from Maryland (No. 46) up to Massachusetts (No. 47). The other cluster is among 3 Rocky Mountain states: Nevada (No. 42), Utah (No. 44), and Colorado (No. 38). Laws and regulations often pertain to permit requirements, restrictions on tiny homes and RVs, and zoning laws requiring homes to be connected to the electric grid and/or municipal sewage systems.

Mississippi (No. 23) has the lowest share of electricity produced from renewable sources, supporting a mere 2.7% of the state’s energy.

Professional Take

We turned to a panel of experts to find out what folks should know before committing to an off-grid home. Explore their insights below.

What are the most important considerations for anyone contemplating living off-grid?
Besides adequate natural resources, what else is crucial to a successful off-grid lifestyle?
What types of people are best suited to off-grid living?
What unexpected challenges should people consider living off the grid be aware of?
Is living off the grid sustainable long-term? Why or why not?

Julie White Crowell & Philip White

Off-Grid Enthusiast and Associate Professor

Gabriel Durham

Sustainability Coordinator

Julie White Crowell & Philip White

Off-Grid Enthusiast and Associate Professor

Eureka, California, and Arizona State University

Julie White Crowell & Philip White

Off-Grid Enthusiast and Associate Professor

Eureka, California, and Arizona State University

What are the most important considerations for anyone contemplating living off-grid?

To live off grid you must be ready to live oft times without modern conveniences.

Besides adequate natural resources, what else is crucial to a successful off-grid lifestyle?

Availability of solar techs, people with off grid expertise in the neighborhood.

Philip: You also need a power backup plan that often involves another physical system, like storage batteries or a fossil-fuel-powered electrical generator. And for all of it, you need to have the budget to afford these systems.

What types of people are best suited to off-grid living?

I would say adaptability and attitude are the most important traits you need to thrive in this environment.

What unexpected challenges should people considering living off the grid be aware of?

Just when you think you have everything covered . . . you find another glitch in your system! We have solar coverage but during winter have such a limited window with the southern sun. We then depend on hydro and our generator backup.

Is living off the grid sustainable long-term? Why or why not?

Absolutely! We are thrilled not to depend on the electric grid for our power needs!

Gabriel Durham

Sustainability Coordinator

University of Houston, Office of Sustainability

Gabriel Durham

Sustainability Coordinator

University of Houston, Office of Sustainability

What are the most important considerations for anyone contemplating living off-grid?

Culture Shock. I say this because it is a big umbrella term that captures a lot of issues to this major change in lifestyle. While human life has some immutable qualities like eating, chores, bathroom, etc. every single one of these things is different off the grid. Washing clothes takes longer, making food takes longer, everything takes longer and you have to be ready to live with those shocks safely both physically and mentally. Eventually it becomes routine as all things do but this first period can be a huge shock and a lot of work. In short be ready to devote 100% of your days to your lifestyle. Video Games become farming, work commutes become hand washing laundry, going out to see people becomes chopping firewood. Consider just how much you are willing to change before you make the jump.

Besides adequate natural resources, what else is crucial to a successful off-grid lifestyle?

Support and preparation for change. For example, if you have all the natural resources in the world but you break a toe, will you have someone to be sure the crops get watered while you recover? If not you lose all of your food for the coming months over a simple injury. If your tiny house, teepee, or whatever dwelling is burned in a fire, do you have someone you know who could rebuild it? Can you rebuild it yourself? Who will water the crops while you rebuild the house? So many people think that if they can just save up to buy a few things, they can go off grid, never thinking about what to do if the wonder gadgets break. It is vital to point out that it is very rare to find even ancient peoples living fully disconnected from a large society. Even the mountain men of early America traded with society for supplies, men, and medicine. They traded furs to fund these needs, so even off the grid, you will likely need some form of livelihood and friends to cover disaster or unexpected expenses.

What types of people are best suited to off-grid living?

This is a dangerous question as it makes pride enter into the situation. Everyone takes risks living this way, even the best trained Navy Seals. Regardless, I will say that to best UNDERSTAND what you are about to undertake, it is best if you start small. Spend a week primitive camping, then two weeks if it works. Live in an off the grid monastery or commune for a month. Give yourself a safe time frame to sample the lifestyle in either individual or group ways before totally diving in. Be realistic with your limitations and discomforts as you go to see if these are lifestyle risks you are willing to live with.

What unexpected challenges should people considering living off the grid be aware of?

I mention a lot of these above: injury, genetic disorders flaring up in later life, natural disaster, hunger, things breaking that you didn’t build yourself, animal issues, and on and on. In short most people I encounter like to “prep” to live off the grid, but don’t follow through. You have to be ok with the dark side of off the grid living just as much as the dream of independence and nature.

Is living off the grid sustainable long-term? Why or why not?

Depends on how you define sustainable. Sustainable for an individual long term, yes. Sustainable for society long term, not now. A few people living off grid is a great way to diversify lifestyles and reduce demand on already taxed systems, making these systems more sustainable for those that keep using them. However, if everyone went off the grid at once we would forage the land barren and likely ruin water systems, there are just too many of us now due to modern agriculture and clean water. Ironically, to make off the grid living sustainable long term we would have to build a new kind of green grid to support and interconnect homesteads resources.

Behind the Ranking

First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Best States to Live Off the Grid. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 5 categories:

Feasibility	Infrastructure	Affordability
Climate	Safety

The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.

For each of the 50 U.S. states, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.

Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each state to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A state’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 50).

Note:

The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 50 due to ties.

Sources: Asset Protection Planners, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, FBI, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Flex Monitoring Team, Home School Legal Defense Association, Landsearch, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Transportation Research Nonprofit, Primal Survivor, RHIhub, Solar Energy Industries Association, Tax Foundation, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, World Population Review, and World Water Reserve

Building Toward Self-Reliance

You don’t have to escape to a yurt to live off-grid these days. From a cabin in the mountains, to setting sail on a houseboat, to trekking through the world in a van, it’s possible for many to carve their own path toward nature-oriented living. Even city dwellers can become self-sufficient if they put in enough effort.

Homeowners don’t have to fully commit to living off the land to benefit from elements of off-grid living. There are many opportunities to increase self-sufficiency through projects like installing solar power systems, rainwater harvesting, and homesteading.

With extreme weather events disrupting power grids across the U.S., many homeowners are adapting by installing their own renewable power sources as a backup or to offset typical energy costs.

Use the following Home Gnome guides to DIY your first steps towards self-sufficiency:

About Home Gnome: Home Gnome is where you’ll find all sorts of DIY and professional help for projects around your house, rental, or apartment.

Media Resources

Quotes from Home Gnome Editor-in-Chief Jeff Herman:

The climate in Hawaii (No. 29) attracts many folks seeking an off-grid escape, with high precipitation and mild temperatures for cultivation throughout the year. Hawaii also stands out among states with the fewest air and water quality violations reported in 2023, fewer pounds of toxic chemicals released in the state, and decent access to healthcare in rural areas. The state falls behind with a high cost of living, expensive land prices, and poor road conditions.

Disconnecting is cheapest in Nebraska (No. 7) with the most affordable average value of land at $6,668 per acre. Hawaii (No. 29) has the lowest property taxes, but among the most expensive land. Some states like Wyoming (No. 11), Mississippi (No. 23), and Alabama (No. 28) enjoy a balance between affordable land, low property taxes, and a low cost of living.

11 states have low homeschool regulations requiring no notice to the state. States like New York (No. 43), Pennsylvania (No. 45), Massachusetts (No. 47), and Rhode Island (No. 50) have the strictest homeschooling regulations requiring students to learn state-mandated subjects. New York and Massachusetts both also have assessment requirements for homeschoolers.

Alaska (No. 34) remains a destination for those seeking isolation, with the most room for establishing self-sufficient settlements — boasting a rural population density of only 0.4 residents per square mile.

California (No. 22) claims the 4th-highest number of off-grid properties for sale. The Golden State is apt for harnessing renewable energy, with the biggest projected growth in solar installations — by nearly 50,000 megawatts over 5 years. California’s primary drawbacks include expensive land, high cost of living, and natural hazards like wildfires and earthquakes.