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Off-grid living has jumped in popularity over recent years. Some people buy some land and build a property, while others choose to make their home in an RV.
Of course, the whole point of being off the grid is to be self-sustainable and not rely on public utilities and services. To do that, homesteaders or off-gridders have challenges like hunting and fishing, raising, and/or growing their own food, and providing power using solar energy, a generator, or other systems.
There are also laws in different areas that could make it easier or more difficult to set up your off-grid home and do things like gather water, feed your family, and make an income.
So, what are some of the best states for off-grid living?
Some of the best states for off-grid living are Missouri, Kentucky, Hawaii, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Northern California, and Tennessee. Most of these areas have good access to water, a temperate climate, and laws that make it easier for people to disconnect from utilities and live sustainably off the grid.
I’ve broken down each state into categories, I also ranked them according to why they are best because different states fit different people’s off-grid living lifestyles. You can use our table of contents to navigate through the article and explore each category.
Or you can check this quick table that goes over my top picks and the pros and cons in each state.
| State | Why It Made the List | Off-Grid Benefits | Off-Grid Disadvantages |
| Missouri | Top Pick Overall | Temperate winters, relaxed off-grid laws, plenty of water | Soils in the northern part of the state don’t drain well, flood risks |
| Tennessee | Best for Families Living Off the Grid | Mild winters, long growing season, lots of options for homeschooling | Regular inspections may be required for water or sewer systems off the grid |
| Kentucky | Best for Growing Crops | Plentiful water supply, fertile soils, long growing season, easy to raise livestock | Not easy to establish homeschooling |
| Wyoming | Best for Raising Livestock | Lowest priced land, large farms, easy to grow staple crops | Not as much access to water, need a permit for water usage |
| New Hampshire | Best Off-Grid State for Beginners | Big off-grid community, plentiful hunting and fishing, some homes sold already disconnected from the electrical grid | Strict zoning in some areas, shorter growing season |
| Northern California | Biggest Off-Grid Community | Great community, good fishing and hunting, temperate climate | Some restrictions and water, land costs are expensive |
| Hawaii | Most Water Access | Lowest property taxes, warm weather, fish and game are plentiful | Not always the best for agriculture, expensive place to start homesteading |
How I Chose The States Where You Can Live Off the Grid?
People are pretty adaptable and in a survival situation, as long as they can adapt to the climate and have the right kinds of skills, they’d probably survive. That being said, off-grid living isn’t a survival situation and your location plays a huge role in your overall quality of life and the challenges that you’ll face.
For this reason, you really don’t want to live just anywhere when it comes to off-grid living. Here’s a look at some of the things I considered as I chose the ideal states where you can live off the grid.
Access to Water and Other Resources
Even when you live off the grid, you still need access to things like food, water, and shelter. Shelter is something that you’ll either build (like in the case of a cabin) or buy (like if you choose to live off the land in an RV). However, water and other resources are something that’s unique to the area you’re in.
If you’ve bought land that has access to a well, then you’ll have a steady source of water as long as it’s up and running. Some people also use ponds, lakes, and rivers for fresh water.
However, waterways are usually owned by the government unless they are small, private ponds and lakes. Some places do have water rights that come along with the property you buy, but you have to find the right property first. There are also rules surrounding the collection and use of water in some areas, so that’s worth looking into as well.
Something else you’ll want to consider is how livable the area is if you didn’t have a garden, farm, or other resources. Even when you plan well, that doesn’t mean that bad crop seasons or natural disasters won’t ever happen.
In these situations, it’s helpful if there’s fish or game in the local area. Being familiar with edible plants that grow in the wild and, more specifically, wherever you choose to go off-grid can also be helpful!
State Laws Regarding Off-Grid Living
Even though off-grid living is technically legal, it’s something that not everyone is comfortable with. There are a lot of people who don’t see the advantages of this type of living and this could be one of the reasons that there are so many laws in place in some areas that affect how people are able to live off the grid.
For example, some areas do not allow you to collect rainwater while others place limits on how much rainwater you can collect or how it can be used. There are also restrictions on whether or not you can sell goods, which is important for people who still want to earn money.
Money does have some usefulness even when living off-grid. Paying things like property taxes and home maintenance and repairs do still cost money.
Food Security, Climate, and Natural Disaster Risk
The climate in an area affects things like the availability of water and the plants/animals native to the area. If you’re raising livestock or growing a garden, having a temperate climate is also important for preventing hardship that ruins your food source.
If you don’t live somewhere where you can garden year-round, having a greenhouse or doing canning are other alternatives. You’ll know the crops that grow in an area by looking at USDA crop hardiness maps, which show you an entire map of the United States and rate different areas as far as which crops grow best there.
Certain areas are also more likely to experience natural disasters than others. Something like a tornado, flood, forest fire, or hurricane can be devastating to your property when you live off the grid. Even extreme heat or cold can be detrimental to raising livestock and growing crops, so that’s something to consider as well.
Size, Cost, and Quality of Land
The only way to live off the grid legally is to do it on your own land. While a lot of states have areas that are more busy and urban in addition to rural, more off-grid-friendly areas, others are well-developed.
Factors like how much you are going to pay for your land and how big it is will really weigh into your decision. Something else to consider, as I mentioned earlier, is water rights.
However, water, cost, and size aren’t the only factors to consider. If you plan on growing or raising your own food, as homesteaders often do, then you’ll also need land with good quality soil for crops and grass/grain for feeding livestock.
I’d recommend scoping out several different areas that you’d be willing to live in. While this list of best states for off-grid living should be helpful, I also compiled a list of worst states for off-grid living in another article, so you know which places to avoid.
Community and Education
Living off the grid is something that can be done alone, with your family, or even with an entire group of people. The amount of community that surrounds you is really a preference, but it does has its advantages as far as socialization and being better prepared for hardships.
For people that have children, something else to consider is education and if you’re doing traditional schooling or homeschooling. Rules for children and education vary from state to state and knowing them ahead of time will help you plan to meet those requirements.
Best States for Off-Grid Living
Below, I broke down the best states to live in off the grid by the categories I was mentioning earlier. Ranking them is really a matter of opinion because the best state for one person might not fit someone else’s lifestyle as well. For this reason, I’ve included lots of options and explained why each of them is a great choice.
Of course, each state is also going to come with its own unique set of challenges. For example, someone who wants to sell livestock or produce may not want to settle somewhere that doesn’t allow this to be done without following strict regulations or having a permit. However, this might not matter as much to someone else.
Let’s jump into it!
Top State for Off-Grid Living Overall: Missouri
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.
Access to Water and Other Resources
Missouri has plenty of water for homesteaders. Residents are encouraged to collect rainwater and the state gets around 40-inches of rainfall per year. There are also thousands of miles of streams, rivers, ponds, and other waterways.
Landowners and the public are permitted to use them in a reasonable way as long as they aren’t polluting them. Not only can you use them for crops, but you could also fish in these areas as a food source, too.
State Laws Regarding Off-Grid Living
For the most part, state laws in Missouri are pretty lax. It’s legal to be disconnected from the electrical grid, which is apparent from the large population of Amish in the state. Plus, there are a lot of rural areas without zoning laws that would make it hard to build land on your property.
Another major advantage is that there aren’t a lot of restrictions on selling vegetables at roadside stands. You can even sell them to restaurants or supermarkets, which can make farming a very lucrative income. However, you will need to follow certain guidelines and get a license from the Department of Agriculture if you’re using organic or synthetic chemicals.
Food Security, Climate, and Natural Disaster Risk
Missouri has a temperate climate and while it’s a little cool for some types of crops, plants including potatoes, watermelon, apples, grapes, cabbage, beets, and Brussels sprouts all thrive. Soybeans and corn, the state’s main crops, also do well.
It is a little cooler in Missouri than in some of my other top choices, but there’s still a good growing season and winters aren’t too cold. There’s an average temperature of around 29 degrees Fahrenheit and they don’t last long. Plus, there are plenty of waterways for fishing and swimming in the state.
There is a decent natural disaster risk here and there’s a lot of rain, some of which turns into severe thunderstorms. Missouri also gets occasional floods and tornadoes.
Size, Cost, and Quality of Land
Missouri farms are decently sized and average priced compared to other states. Even though more than 6 million people live in the state, many of them live in the five heavily populated big cities.
When it comes to soil types, you’ll find the soils in the northern part of the state don’t drain as well, so they aren’t always the best choice. That being said, there is soil that drains better near the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
Community and Education
Homesteaders are welcome in Missouri and there’s a decent number of people already living in the area. There also aren’t tons of hoops that you have to jump through if you have children, which is a major benefit for schooling.
Best State for Families Living Off the Grid: Tennessee
The major appeal of Tennessee is its temperate growing climate and long growing season, which lasts around nine months out of the year. There are also several homeschooling options for children which is a plus for families and this was actually the runner-up to my top pick, too.
Access to Water and Other Resources
Tennessee is covered in groundwater and surface water, so finding a good water supply isn’t really a struggle. Rainwater collection is also legal, though there may be some restrictions on the type of collection system you can use.
Fishing and hunting are both legal in the state during the right seasons and there are plenty of public waterways and hunting grounds you can use. This is especially true since water rights are owned by the state. Deer are very popular in the area, as are elk, rabbits, and quail to name a few.
State Laws Regarding Off-Grid Living
The state laws that apply to off-grid living are where Tennesee falls a little short. While living off the grid is legal, there are a lot of restrictions when it comes to water and sewer systems.
While rainwater harvesting is legal, more complex systems need to be inspected and approved by the state. There are also strict laws regarding sewage disposal and while you may be able to get an off-the-grid system approved, they also may require you to install a septic tank or connect to a municipal sewer.
Food Security, Climate, and Natural Disaster Risk
Tennessee has a really temperate climate. It doesn’t get too cold in the winter and it doesn’t snow very often, which makes it great for raising livestock and growing produce. One of the big benefits in addition to the climate is the growing season, which lasts around 260 days out of the year.
In addition to an abundance of water and good weather, Tennessee also has fertile soil that covers 400,000 acres of land across the state. It can get severe storms and the occasional flooding or tornado in some areas but generally has a low natural disaster risk.
Size, Cost, and Quality of Land
The cost of land in Tennessee is a little below average, so it’s affordable to start your off-grid home there. Something to consider is water on your property. If it’s connected to a stream, then it’s owned and regulated by the state. If it’s self-enclosed like a small pond, however, then whoever owns the property retains ownership.
Tennessee is also a diverse state, so some land is flat and other lands might have hills, mountains, or water on it. This is something you’ll want to consider as you look around.
Community and Education
Tennessee has a pleasant community and people are fairly friendly. Not only is the scenery beautiful, but it has that southern charm without being a southern state.
The major appeal for families living in an RV or homesteading is how easy it is to educate your children in Tennessee. Children can attend an accredited online school, a church-umbrella school, or an independent homeschool.
While each has a few stipulations that must be met, it’s easy enough to meet them and you really get to have control over your child’s education with all the options.
Best for Growing Crops: Kentucky
Kentucky is my top state for off-grid living for those people who want to grow a lot of crops, both for sustainability and to sell at the market. There’s a high demand for produce, produce grows well in the state soil, and there’s plenty of water for crops to thrive.
Access to Water and Other Resources
There are more than 800 sources of water that the state uses for its residents, including some groundwater but 95% of it is surface water found in lakes, ponds, and rivers. You’re allowed to reasonably use public waterways for fishing and there is also good soil for growing crops. With all this offered from the natural environment, it’s a great way to ensure you can stay self-sustainable even if something unexpected happens.
State Laws Regarding Off-Grid Living
There are a lot of people living off the grid using solar energy in Kentucky already and it’s completely legal, though some counties may require inspections of your electrical systems.
Harvesting rainwater is also legal and waterways are accessible by the public as long as they are not located solely on private property. However, you can harvest water from bodies of water on your own property, so that’s something to consider when you’re looking at properties.
Food Security, Climate, and Natural Disaster Risk
With so much water and incredibly fertile soil, staple foods including corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay grow well. The climate is also great for crops like lettuce, potatoes, bush beans, onions, garlic, peas, rhubarb, peppers, and more.
Cattle also survive well in the area because of the grazing areas and Kentucky is a big exporter of beef. Dairy cows and chickens also call the state their home, so you shouldn’t have any trouble raising them.
With warm, rainy summers and cool, rainy winters, the climate doesn’t get too cold and there’s a long growing season. Like most areas in this region, the water creates a flood risk and there’s also the occasional tornado.
Size, Cost, and Quality of Land
Kentucky lands are moderately priced. Around half of the state’s lands are rural, which is where someone looking to live off-the-grid would want to settle. Plus, there are plenty of beautiful state parks throughout the state.
One of the big reasons that I chose Kentucky as my top choice for growing crops is its state soil, Cider soil This soil is found on more than 500,000 acres across the state. However, Kentucky also has dense clay soil that doesn’t drain as well, so it will be harder to use.
Community and Education
If you have children, the one challenge you’ll face is establishing schooling. Children are required to attend school from ages 6-18 and while students can attend a school where parents choose, it does have to be an established school that keeps records of pupil attendance. However, there are homesteading communities in the area that may already have schools established.
Kentucky also offers a great community and while there isn’t a big off-grid population, people from Kentucky are pretty friendly. There’s a pretty low cost of living compared to other places, too!
Best for Raising Livestock: Wyoming
Wyoming has really low property prices and expansive lands, making it a great place for homesteading.
Access to Water and Other Resources
Collecting rainwater is encouraged and even incentivized by the state. Unfortunately, Wyoming does have an arid climate and it only gets about 13-inches of rain each year. By contrast, it’s a cooler state and it does get 50+ Inches of snow. Chances are, you’ll need a permit to obtain water outside of this.
You will need a permit for hunting and fishing, but there are places to legally fish through the state. Plus, there are elk, mule deer, and similar game in the mountains.
State Laws Regarding Off-Grid Living
There are no laws in place regarding living off-grid in Wyoming. However, for any self-contained or permanent outhouses or waste areas, you will need to get proper permits. Self-composting units are fine, though.
While rainwater and other precipitation can be collected, one downside is that the state owns all of Wyoming’s streams, rivers, and lakes. You’ll need to get a permit to use water even on your land, such as when drilling a natural well.
Food Security, Climate, and Natural Disaster Risk
Despite the cold winters with temperatures that dip as low as 17 degrees at night, Wyoming is a great place to grow crops in the warmer seasons. This includes staples like dry beans, wheat, potatoes, barley, and oatmeal. Corn, sugarbeets, carrots, and green beans also grow here.
Wyoming is also a great state for raising livestock. They are allowed to roam free and homeowners have to put up fences if they don’t want cattle on their land. However, you will need to provide shelter for those cooler months, just like people who RV year round might want a winter-ready RV.
There are four clear seasons in Wyoming and it does get a decent amount of snow each year. However, its biggest natural disaster risks come from dust storms, fires, and droughts.
Size, Cost, and Quality of Land
For people who want to live off the grid but who don’t have a ton of money to put down on land, Wyoming might be the answer. Land in Wyoming is some of the most affordable, which is one of the reasons it’s so great for cattle ranching or farming if you want to start with a big piece of property.
The land is a little dry in Wyoming and some areas aren’t as crop-friendly as others. However, you can always make adjustments by tilling with new soil and adding more nutrients to make your soil fertile again. Some people also rotate their cattle and their crops to increase land fertility.
Community and Education
While homeschooling is legal in Wyoming and can be carried out by a parent or someone appointed by a child’s parents, there are rules surrounding the curriculum. The main subjects must be taught and a sample curriculum has to be submitted at the beginning of every school year as well. On the plus side of things, Wyoming is a fairly friendly community among neighbors.
Best for People New to Homesteading: New Hampshire
For people interested in homesteading but who don’t have the knowledge or resources to get started, a state like New Hampshire might be a good option. New Hampshire has the major benefit of an existing homesteading community that was established in 2014. Plus, there are a lot of homes available for sale that are already set up for an off-the-grid living.
Access to Water and Other Resources
New Hampshire is a small state but it’s still home to over 1,000 ponds and lakes. Additionally, while around 54% of people living here use municipal water, the rest use underground wells on their property.
Rain and snow throughout the year make it easy to gather rainwater, which is legal and encouraged. Plus, the waterways are owned by the public instead of the state, as long as they are being used in a way that is “reasonable” it is legal. You can also hunt and fish on state-owned lands.
State Laws Regarding Off-Grid Living
However, if you aren’t part of a community, one of the downsides of New Hampshire is that there are rules regarding connecting to sewers. It’s illegal to live full-time in a dwelling without sewage unless you have certain permits. There are also areas that don’t allow zoning, so you don’t want to purchase the wrong property in the area.
That being said, it is legal to live off the grid and there are even homes for sale that are already disconnected from the electrical grid. If you’re looking to settle somewhere without having to build your own home, this could be an alternative to buying an RV to live in full time.
Food Security, Climate, and Natural Disaster Risk
New Hampshire is a northeastern state, so it experiences cold, snowy winters, storms in the wet season, and hot, humid summers. The biggest risk of natural disasters in the area comes from extreme storms and flooding.
If you’re shopping around for a piece of land here, therefore, you’ll want to consider the placement of your home relative to bodies of water and the hills and valleys in the area.
New Hampshire doesn’t have as long of a growing season as some other options, however, you can be prepared using canning or growing in a greenhouse in cold months. The growing season is 149 days and some of the crops that grow well in the area include sweet corn, cucumbers, apples, asparagus, and turnips.
Plus, you don’t need a license to sell fresh produce, canned goods, baked goods, and other foods as long as you don’t make more than $20,000 annually.
Size, Cost, and Quality of Land
The average cost per acre is just $5,050 in New Hampshire. It’s covered in many farmlands, so there are plenty of options when you’re trying to find somewhere to homestead.
When it comes to growing, there are a lot of areas where the soil is acidic. The exception is the soil found in the hillsides called Marlow soil, which is the state soil of New Hampshire. You can find out how acidic soil is with a simple pH test and remedy the problem using ash, limestone, or compost.
Community and Education
The support of a community also comes with benefits. There’s already an existing system in place and there’s info online so you can see if you share the same ideals. Plus, this makes it easier to homeschool and socialize if you have children.
Biggest Off-Grid Community: Northern California
It’s expensive and crowded to live in Southern California, but in the Northern part of the state, there are already many communities of people living off the grid, both individual families and larger groups.
Access to Water and Other Resources
While rainwater collection is legal in California is legal when it falls from the sky, there are restrictions on water collected from ponds. You may need to get a permit for this.
That being said, all waterways in California are owned by the people of the state. This means that as long as waterways are being used reasonably, it’s legal to use them.
One of the benefits of this is the diverse fishing available in Northern California, including species like trout, sturgeon, bluegill, and crappie. There is also big game like wild hog, deer, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep.
State Laws Regarding Off-Grid Living
Living off the electrical grid was illegal in California until very recently, but it’s no longer an issue. There are no rules regarding waste disposal except for pit privies, which you may need a permit for.
Another downside is the strict laws, which limit what you can sell at roadside stands. You cannot sell any “potentially dangerous” foods and there are a lot of restrictions on how far the stand can be from where the food was produced. Plus, you need certification to sell at a certified farmer’s market.
Food Security, Climate, and Natural Disaster Risk
Northern California has a temperate climate and a long growing season. In fact, statistics from the California Department of Food and Agriculture show that 2/3 of the US’s fruits and nuts and 1/3 of the US’s vegetable supply are grown here.
Some popular crops include tomatoes, strawberries, lettuce, grapes, almonds, and pistachios. Livestock also roams on farms in California. It’s well known for its beef and dairy exports as well.
There are some natural disasters that come along with living in California. Earthquakes, floods, and forest fires are among the most common.
Size, Cost, and Quality of Land
As you move up into Northern California, land costs are a little lower than they are in the southern part of the state. However, prices are still a little steep compared to national averages. This may be the reason that you’ll find smaller farms in the state, though smaller farms are probably more ideal for someone looking to live off the grid.
There also tend to be fewer restrictions on what people can and cannot do on their property in the north of the state. Plus, you only have to look to the abundance of crops coming from California to see that there is plenty of fertile soil in the state.
Community and Education
With one of the biggest homesteading communities, California makes a great place for people who want to be disconnected but still be social with people who share their ideas and core values.
Most Water Access: Hawaii
The breathtaking nature can be a great factor in choosing Hawaii, as you can see in these drone shots!
But the major appeal of Hawaii is also its abundant water and low property taxes. Plus, a lot of people already live off the grid there since electrical grids don’t exist outside of bigger cities.
Access to Water and Other Resources
Water is a plentiful resource because of the rainfall in Hawaii. While there’s an average of 25-30 inches per year, some areas of the island receive much more than that and others are much drier. There are also freshwater streams and reservoirs throughout the state that may come up under rocks on the island.
Hawaii also has public areas where people can fish and some of the larger islands have areas open for hunting at certain times during the year. Even if it’s not available on your island, all of Hawaii’s islands are accessible by a 1-2 hour boat ride.
State Laws Regarding Off-Grid Living
While harvesting rainwater is legal in Hawaii, your off-grid sewer setup has to be approved on a case-by-case basis in some areas. There are also restrictions on where zoning is legal on the island and you may need to apply for a permit to build. However, the application process isn’t that hard.
Food Security, Climate, and Natural Disaster Risk
The weather is one of the other big benefits of Hawaii. There is a risk of tropical storms but the weather is fairly warm year round and the plentiful water makes it easy to grow your own food.
That being said, the soil in Hawaii is more sandy and in some areas, it’s not practical to grow because of the excess water. Greenhouses are really popular in the state, though. Plus, Hawaii is the only state where you can grow coffee beans in the US.
Size, Cost, and Quality of Land
I’ll be upfront in saying the move to Hawaii can be costly, especially since it isn’t connected to the United States and you’d have to fly or take a boat over. Once you get there though, Hawaii has some of the lowest property taxes of any of the states.
That being said, the cost of living is pretty high because everything that isn’t available in the state has to be flown or shipped in. And while there are areas where crops grow, you may want to build a greenhouse for other crops that can’t withstand the wet climate or soils.
Community and Education
Pretty much anyone who lives outside of the big cities in Hawaii lives off the electrical grid, so there is a decent sized community of off-gridders that live there already. Hawaii also doesn’t have strict homeschooling laws, which is good news for parents.
What Exactly is Off-Grid Living?
Off-grid living involves being self-sustainable. While people’s motives for disconnecting vary, it basically means that you are not connected to electricity, water, sewer, and basic utilities by any wires or pipes.
People who live off the grid usually make money doing something like selling produce, eggs, goods, or services. They might also connect to the Internet via satellite or radio and do freelance work or rent out experiences like ATVing or hunting on their land.
They also have access to their own water supply, take care of their own waste, and make their own electricity. For example, someone who lives in an RV full-time may use an RV generator for electricity.
Is Off-Grid Living Legal?
Yes, off-grid living in itself is legal. As long as you are living on your own land and following the laws in the area, there isn’t any reason that you can’t live off the land.
That being said, there are areas where the laws that are in place can make it either easier or more difficult to disconnect and live off the grid. In Utah for example, you’re only allowed to collect 200 gallons of rainwater unless you have a permit. By contrast, it’s completely legal in West Virginia.
Final Word
While you can learn the necessary survival skills to live anywhere really, the location you choose really plays a big role in how difficult your life is from day to day and how comfortable you are where you’re living. Hopefully, this list of best states for off-grid living makes it a little easier for you to find that perfect place to call home.