What One Acre of Land Is Worth in Louisiana in 2026

One acre of land in Louisiana can be worth anywhere from a few hundred dollars to well into the six figures (and, in rare prime urban pockets, more). The reason is simple: “one acre” isn’t a single product. Zoning, utilities, road frontage, flood risk, mineral and timber rights, and the buyer’s intended use (homesite, hunting, timber, grazing, or development) can move value dramatically—even within the same parish.

Louisiana land values in 2025–2026: what’s happening now

Louisiana acreage pricing continues to vary by region and land use, but the broader rural-land outlook remains steady. Nationally, rural land prices are expected to hold steady or rise modestly in the 0% to +3% range in 2026, according to UC Land for Sale. That forecast matters for Louisiana sellers and buyers because many deals—especially for farms, timber tracts, and recreational land—price off rural demand and financing conditions, not just local comps.

For additional context, U.S. benchmark land values continued rising into 2025:

• U.S. average farmland value reached $4,350 per acre in 2025, up 4.3% from 2024, per the USDA Economic Research Service.
• U.S. average cropland increased to $5,830 per acre in 2025, a 2.2% increase from 2024 (inflation-adjusted), per the USDA Economic Research Service.
• U.S. average pastureland reached $1,920 per acre in 2025, up 2.4% from 2024, per the USDA Economic Research Service.

Regionally, the USDA also reports higher benchmarks across the broader Southeast (which can influence investor expectations and appraisal narratives in Louisiana-adjacent markets):

• Southeast cropland averaged $5,860 per acre in 2025, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.
• Southeast pastureland averaged $5,720 per acre in 2025, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.
• Delta States farm real estate averaged $3,930 per acre in 2025, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.

A quick “real-world” Louisiana anchor: one-parish median

If you want a grounded starting point for residential/rural land shoppers, look at parish-level medians. For example, the median price per acre in Washington Parish, LA is $8,630, according to Land.com. That doesn’t mean every acre there sells for $8,630—it simply gives you a baseline to compare against a specific property’s location, access, utilities, and highest-and-best use.

What one acre is worth in Louisiana depends on “highest and best use”

Experienced land buyers and sellers focus less on a statewide average and more on what the acre can do. In Louisiana, the biggest price swings usually come from (1) buildability and utilities, (2) recreational demand, (3) timber and ag productivity, and (4) entitlement or subdivision upside.

Timber land (often priced for long-term yield)

Timber-focused tracts typically price based on access, stocking, harvest timeline, and local mill demand. Buyers also discount for carrying costs (taxes, insurance, roads), and they may adjust value if mineral rights convey or if the tract has strong recreational overlap (deer, duck, ATV access).

Recreational land (hunting, fishing, camps, and weekend tracts)

Recreational acreage can command a premium when it includes water features, established food plots, lodging/cabin sites, or close proximity to popular towns and highways. The best recreational parcels often sell on lifestyle appeal as much as on spreadsheets, but serious buyers still underwrite: access, floodplain, timber value, lease income potential, and improvement costs.

Residential and development land (where values can spike)

Residential land values rise fastest where jobs, schools, and infrastructure meet buildable lots. Near major metros and high-demand suburban corridors, a single acre can be worth far more than rural benchmarks because the buyer isn’t paying for “dirt”—they’re paying for a finished homesite or future lots. Utilities, road frontage, drainage, permitting, and zoning drive the math.

Pastureland and cattle/ranch use (when grazing is the primary play)

For buyers looking at grazing or working ranch operations, pricing often follows fencing, water, soil, and proximity to markets. Nationally, working cattle ranch land typically ranges from $2,000 to $7,000 per acre depending on location and amenities, according to Hayden Outdoors. In Louisiana, that same concept applies: functional improvements (fencing, ponds, barns, lanes) frequently separate “cheap grass” from a ready-to-operate cattle setup.

The three drivers that push Louisiana acres to the top of the market

Smart buyers and investors consistently pay more per acre when the property checks these boxes:

1. Proximity: Land near growing populations, major employers, and commuter routes tends to command higher per-acre pricing because demand stays deeper across market cycles.
2. Potential: If the tract can realistically support a higher use (subdivision, commercial frontage, industrial adjacency, or a build-ready homesite), buyers price in that upside—minus entitlement, drainage, and infrastructure costs.
3. Packageability: Large legacy tracts can increase in total value when they can be cleanly partitioned into smaller, more liquid parcels (homesites, hunting blocks, timber units, or mixed-use splits) without destroying access or usability.

Common pricing mistakes Louisiana land sellers should avoid

• Pricing off emotion instead of comps: Family history matters, but buyers still anchor to comparable sales, access, and feasibility.
• Ignoring the true buyer pool: A property marketed like a homesite won’t attract the best offer if it’s actually best suited for recreation, timber, or grazing—and vice versa.
• Underinvesting in presentation: Maps, surveys, clear boundaries, timber summaries, floodplain notes, and drone photos reduce uncertainty and can raise offers.
• Leaving hidden value on the table: In some cases, sellers can increase net proceeds by documenting income potential (hunt leases, timber plans, or ag leases) or clarifying what rights convey (surface, timber, minerals).

How to estimate a fair per-acre value for your Louisiana property

• Start with nearby per-acre comps in the same parish and the same use category (timber vs. homesite vs. recreational).
• Adjust for buildability (utilities, frontage, drainage, flood zone, and site prep costs).
• Validate with broader benchmarks when applicable. For agricultural ground, USDA regional and national value trends can help frame negotiations, including the 2025 benchmarks reported by the USDA Economic Research Service (farmland, cropland, pastureland, Southeast, and Delta States figures).
• Pressure-test against the 2026 outlook for rural land pricing stability—projected at 0% to +3% nationally by UC Land for Sale—so you don’t overreach in a flat market or undersell in a firm one.

Final thoughts

One acre in Louisiana has no single “right” price. The market rewards acres that are buildable, accessible, and aligned with local demand—and it discounts acres that carry uncertainty (legal access, flood risk, unclear boundaries, or expensive site work). Use parish-level comps, confirm the property’s highest and best use, and support your number with clear documentation. When you do, you negotiate from facts—not guesswork—and you put yourself in the best position to capture top-of-market value.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What factors influence per-acre land value most in Louisiana?

Location, zoning, utilities, road frontage, drainage/flood risk, and highest-and-best use (residential, recreational, timber, or agriculture) typically drive the biggest differences.

Is there a reliable “average price per acre” I can use statewide?

Not reliably. Louisiana values vary widely by parish and use. Parish medians can help as a starting point—for example, Washington Parish’s median of $8,630 per acre reported by Land.com—but you still need local comps for your specific tract.

How do national farmland trends relate to Louisiana land pricing?

They help frame broader demand and financing expectations. In 2025, U.S. farmland averaged $4,350/acre, cropland $5,830/acre, and pastureland $1,920/acre, per the USDA Economic Research Service. The USDA also reports 2025 regional benchmarks such as $5,860/acre for Southeast cropland, $5,720/acre for Southeast pastureland, and $3,930/acre for Delta States farm real estate.

What should I expect for rural land prices in 2026?

Nationally, rural land prices are projected to hold steady or rise modestly by 0% to +3% in 2026, according to UC Land for Sale. Local Louisiana submarkets may still outperform or underperform that range.

How much is cattle or pasture land worth per acre?

Pricing depends on fencing, water, soils, and improvements. As a reference point, working cattle ranch land typically ranges from $2,000 to $7,000 per acre, depending on location and amenities, according to Hayden Outdoors.