What an Acre of Land Costs in Missouri in 2026

Missouri remains one of America’s most active agricultural states, with more than 66,000 farms spanning over 28 million acres of cropland, pasture, and woodlands, according to the USDA agriculture census. That scale creates opportunity—but it also means “price per acre” can vary dramatically by county, land type, and future use. If you’re buying or selling, the most accurate answer comes from combining statewide benchmarks with local sales data and property-specific traits.

Missouri Land Values in 2024: The Statewide Baseline

Statewide averages help you set expectations before you dig into local comps. Missouri posted an average farm real estate value of $4,800 per acre in 2024, up 4.1% from 2023, according to the USDA. That number is a benchmark—not a quote—because Missouri includes everything from row-crop ground and pasture to timber and recreational tracts.

For broader context, the average value of U.S. farm real estate was $4,170 per acre in 2024, based on USDA data reported by Statista (based on USDA data). In other words, Missouri’s statewide average sat above the national 2024 average.

National Benchmarks to Compare Against (2025 Outlook)

National trends don’t determine a single Missouri tract’s value, but they do influence buyer expectations, lender underwriting, and long-term demand. The United States farm real estate value averaged $4,350 per acre for 2025, up $180 per acre (4.3%) from 2024, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. On the same theme, Statista (based on USDA data) projects U.S. farm real estate at $4,350 per acre in 2025.

Land type also matters. In 2025, the United States cropland value averaged $5,830 per acre, an increase of $260 per acre (4.7%) from 2024, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The United States pasture value averaged $1,920 per acre, an increase of $90 per acre (4.9%) from 2024, also reported by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. These benchmarks help explain why Missouri pasture-and-timber tracts can price far differently than high-quality river-bottom row-crop acres.

Why Missouri Per-Acre Prices Vary So Much

Even within the same county, two parcels can command very different prices. Commodity markets, interest rates, and farm profitability shape the broader direction of rural land values, but the final per-acre number usually comes down to site-level utility and buyer competition. The biggest pricing drivers include:

Development potential

Land near expanding metros, major highways, and utilities often sells at a premium because buyers value future subdivision or commercial use. Parcels in growth paths can outprice purely agricultural tracts even when soil quality is similar.

Water access

Reliable water—rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and groundwater—raises both agricultural utility and residential desirability. Water can support livestock, irrigation, and long-term building plans, which expands the pool of motivated buyers.

Soil quality and productivity

Soil type, drainage, slope, and historical yields strongly influence what a producer can earn from the land. Prime, well-drained soils typically command higher per-acre values than rocky, steep, or highly erodible ground.

Existing improvements

Fencing, barns, grain bins, machine sheds, interior roads, irrigation equipment, and established waterways can increase value because they reduce the buyer’s upfront development costs and shorten the timeline to productive use.

Mineral and energy rights / easements

Oil, gas, pipeline, transmission, or wind-related easements can raise—or complicate—value. Appraisers often separate surface value from subsurface or easement income when the data supports it.

Real-World Examples: Missouri County-Level Pricing in Late 2024

Statewide averages can hide where the market is hottest. County-level indices help illustrate how quickly values can climb in highly productive or highly competitive areas. In Q4 2024, Lafayette County, Missouri farmland value was $12,569.43 per acre, according to the Growers Edge Farmland Value Index. Lincoln County came in at $11,028.90 per acre, and Scott County measured $10,778.83 per acre, also reported by the Growers Edge Farmland Value Index.

These figures underscore a practical reality: some Missouri farmland trades well above statewide and national averages because local demand, land class, and scarcity drive bidding behavior.

How to Estimate a Fair Per-Acre Value Before You Buy or Sell

Instead of relying only on broad statewide land valuation averages, use a layered approach that reflects your parcel’s highest-value use and the most relevant comparable sales.

1) Get a qualified local appraisal

A credentialed appraiser uses recent sales and makes adjustments for access, topography, soils, improvements, water, and market conditions. That local adjustment work is where accurate pricing happens.

2) Compare against county assessment data

County assessments won’t always match market price, but they provide a standardized reference point and a paper trail that can help you spot valuation inconsistencies.

3) Pull nearby sales and listing history

Public records and recent transactions show what buyers actually paid—not what sellers hoped to get. Focus on truly comparable tracts: similar acreage size, land class (cropland vs. pasture vs. timber), and location.

4) Account for future infrastructure and land-use changes

Road projects, utility expansions, zoning shifts, and regional development plans can change “best use” over a 5–10 year horizon. Buyers often pay today for tomorrow’s access and growth.

When you synthesize appraisal work, county data, and real sales comps, you can defend a credible per-acre value in negotiations—and avoid overpaying based on statewide headlines.

Regional Differences Still Matter Across Missouri

Missouri’s land market is not one market. Values can spike near metro growth corridors and on top-tier crop ground, while recreational, timber, and lower-productivity grazing regions often price differently because the income profile and buyer pool changes. That’s why you should pressure-test any comparable sale: a “nearby” transaction may still be a different market if soils, access, or use differ.

Appreciation, Returns, and Timing the Market

Land value is only one piece of the ownership equation. Long-term performance often blends appreciation with income potential—cash rent, crop share, grazing leases, or recreational leases—minus taxes and improvement costs. Cycles still happen: stronger commodity margins and favorable credit conditions can accelerate land appreciation, while input-cost spikes and weaker farm income can slow it.

For many buyers, Missouri land remains attractive because it combines intrinsic productive value with the potential to store wealth over time—especially when purchased based on fundamentals rather than hype. For more on evaluating the market environment, see Missouri lands.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much is one acre of land worth in Missouri right now?

As a statewide benchmark, Missouri averaged $4,800 per acre in 2024, up 4.1% from 2023, according to the USDA. Local pricing can be far higher or lower depending on county, soils, improvements, and development pressure.

How does Missouri compare to the national farmland market?

The average value of U.S. farm real estate was $4,170 per acre in 2024, based on USDA data reported by Statista (based on USDA data). For 2025, the United States farm real estate value averaged $4,350 per acre, up 4.3% from 2024, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, and Statista (based on USDA data) also projects $4,350 per acre for 2025.

What’s the difference between cropland and pasture values nationally?

In 2025, U.S. cropland averaged $5,830 per acre (+4.7% from 2024), while U.S. pasture averaged $1,920 per acre (+4.9% from 2024), according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Can Missouri farmland exceed $10,000 per acre?

Yes. In Q4 2024, Lafayette County farmland value was $12,569.43 per acre, Lincoln County was $11,028.90 per acre, and Scott County was $10,778.83 per acre, according to the Growers Edge Farmland Value Index.

What factors typically push Missouri land values higher?

Buyers usually pay more for development potential near growth corridors, strong soils and drainage, dependable water access, and usable improvements like fencing and outbuildings. Clear access and fewer easement constraints also tend to support higher valuations.

What’s the best way to price a specific tract in Missouri?

Use a local appraisal, verify recent comparable sales through public records, and cross-check against county assessment data. Then adjust for what makes the tract different—soil, water, access, improvements, and the most likely buyer use case.