What an Acre of Land Costs in Maine in 2026

Ever pictured yourself owning a slice of Maine—salt air on the coast, deep woods out back, and room to breathe in every direction? The question almost always comes next: how much is one acre of land worth in Maine today?

The most accurate answer is still “it depends,” but today’s land data makes it easier to estimate realistic price ranges and compare Maine to the broader Northeast. Below, you’ll find current benchmarks, what drives price per acre up or down, and how to use those numbers when you’re shopping (or selling).

Maine land prices at a glance (today’s benchmarks)

If you’re starting with online listings, a helpful baseline is the median price per acre for land listings. According to Land.com, the median price per acre for land listings in Maine is $8,417.

That median sits alongside another useful “reality check” metric: typical listing size and total budget. On average, land listings in Maine have a 57-acre lot size priced around $517,690, according to Land.com. Large-acreage listings can pull totals higher even when the per-acre number looks moderate—so always evaluate both the per-acre price and the all-in purchase price.

Farm, cropland, and pasture: what USDA data suggests for Maine and the Northeast

Land values shift dramatically by use. “Farm real estate” often includes both land and buildings, while cropland and pastureland values focus more directly on land productivity and agricultural potential.

Maine farmland: a state-specific reference point

For a Maine-focused farmland benchmark, Maine farmland averages $3,350 per acre, according to USDA Data (via YouTube analysis). This figure can help you sanity-check rural agricultural parcels against listing medians that may include recreational tracts, waterfront, or development potential.

Northeast regional values (including Maine) in 2025

For broader regional context, the USDA reports higher averages across the Northeast region. In 2025, the average farm real estate value (land + buildings) in the Northeast region is $7,300 per acre, according to USDA Economic Research Service (ERS).

Looking at specific agricultural land types in that same region:

• The average cropland value in the Northeast region is $7,900 per acre in 2025, per USDA Economic Research Service (ERS).
• The average pastureland value in the Northeast region is $4,750 per acre in 2025, per USDA Economic Research Service (ERS).

National context: where the U.S. market sits in 2025

If you’re comparing Maine to the national baseline, the U.S. average farm real estate value (land + buildings) is $4,350 per acre in 2025, up 4.3% from 2024, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) / American Farm Bureau Federation.

How Maine compares with neighboring states (2025)

Regional comparisons help you understand whether a price is “high for the area” or “normal for New England.” In 2025:

• New Hampshire’s farm real estate value is $6,500 per acre, up 4.0% from 2024, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
• Massachusetts’ farm real estate value is $14,900 per acre, up 4.2% from 2024, according to USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

This spread reflects what many buyers already feel on the ground: land values across New England depend heavily on development pressure, proximity to job centers, and scarcity of buildable parcels.

What actually drives the price per acre in Maine?

Maine’s landscapes—and land uses—vary so much that “one acre” can mean wildly different things from one town to the next. These factors usually move the number the most:

1) Location and demand

Coastal and near-coastal towns, lake regions, and areas within comfortable driving distance of major employment hubs typically command higher per-acre prices. Remote properties can cost less per acre, but they may also come with fewer buyers when it’s time to sell.

2) Access, frontage, and utilities

Year-round road access, deeded right-of-way clarity, and proximity to power/internet can increase value quickly. A parcel can look “cheap per acre” until you price out driveway construction, utility extensions, and site work.

3) Buildability and zoning

Zoning, minimum lot sizes, shoreland rules, setbacks, and permitted uses determine whether an acre supports a home, multiple units, a camp, or strictly recreational use. Buildable land typically sells at a premium because it offers immediate options.

4) Natural features and constraints

Water frontage, views, timber value, and usable topography can raise the price per acre. Wetlands, steep slopes, or limited soils can reduce the practical (and permitted) uses—often lowering value even when the acreage count looks impressive.

5) Market timing and liquidity

Land markets move differently than home markets. Seasonal demand, interest rates, and local inventory can all affect how quickly land sells and how much leverage a buyer or seller has.

Using the numbers: a practical way to estimate what an acre is worth

To price land intelligently, start with the listing-driven benchmark and then adjust for use and feasibility:

• Start with Maine’s listing median: $8,417 per acre (a broad “what buyers are seeing” metric) from Land.com.
• Cross-check agricultural parcels: Maine farmland averages $3,350 per acre from USDA Data (via YouTube analysis), then compare that to Northeast averages for farm real estate ($7,300), cropland ($7,900), and pastureland ($4,750) in 2025 from USDA Economic Research Service (ERS).
• Sanity-check against national and nearby-state pressure: the U.S. average is $4,350 per acre in 2025 (up 4.3%) from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) / American Farm Bureau Federation, while New Hampshire and Massachusetts sit at $6,500 and $14,900 per acre respectively in 2025 from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
• Keep total budget in view: the average Maine listing is 57 acres for about $517,690, per Land.com, so “per acre” doesn’t always mean “cheap overall.”

Buying (or selling) land in Maine: smart next steps

1. Verify feasibility early. Confirm zoning, road frontage, septic suitability, and utility access before you treat a per-acre number as “the price.”
2. Match the comp set to the use. Recreational timberland, a buildable in-town lot, and working farmland should not share the same per-acre expectations.
3. Use multiple benchmarks. Pair listing medians with USDA-style land-use values so you understand both the market-facing price and the productivity-based floor.
4. Plan for time. Land can take longer to transact than homes—especially unique parcels, off-grid tracts, or properties with complex access.

Final thoughts

An acre of land in Maine doesn’t have a single “correct” price. The best estimate comes from combining market medians (what land is listed for), land-use benchmarks (what farmland and other categories average), and the real-world details that determine whether the acre is buildable, accessible, and usable.

If you anchor your search around credible benchmarks—like Maine’s $8,417 median listing price per acre from Land.com—and then adjust for location, access, zoning, and land type, you’ll move from guessing to making confident, data-backed decisions.