What an Acre of Land Costs in Montana Today (2026 Guide)

If you’ve ever pictured yourself owning a piece of Big Sky Country—whether it’s a working ranch, a buildable lot near town, or a quiet stretch of prairie—you’re asking the right question: what is one acre of land worth in Montana right now? The short answer is that Montana land prices vary widely by region and use. The more useful answer comes from understanding what type of land you’re pricing and what local demand is doing.

Montana land prices in 2025: the baseline numbers (USDA-reported)

When people quote “price per acre” in Montana, they often mean agricultural land values because those are tracked consistently year over year. According to Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report), the average farm real estate value in Montana was $1,230 per acre in 2025, up 2.5% from 2024.

From there, values split quickly by land type:

• According to Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report), cropland in Montana averaged $1,320 per acre in 2025, up 3.1% from 2024.
• According to Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report), irrigated cropland in Montana was valued at $4,350 per acre in 2025, up 5.6% from 2024.
• According to Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report), dryland cropland in Montana was valued at $1,050 per acre in 2025, up 1.9% from 2024.
• According to Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report), pastureland in Montana was valued at $920 per acre in 2025, up 3% from 2024.

You’ll also see other national summaries report a different Montana cropland figure depending on definitions and dataset rollups. For example, RFD-TV (USDA Land Value Report) reports that Montana cropland averaged $1,960 per acre in 2025. Use these reported figures as guideposts, then validate with county comps and local listings for the specific land class you’re buying or selling.

How Montana compares to national farmland prices

Looking at U.S. averages helps explain why Montana continues to attract interest: in many categories, Montana remains below the national per-acre benchmark.

• According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the U.S. average farm real estate value reached $4,350 per acre in 2025, up 4.3% from 2024.
• According to RFD-TV (USDA Land Values 2025 Summary Report), U.S. cropland averaged $5,830 per acre in 2025, up 4.7% from 2024.
• According to RFD-TV (USDA Land Values 2025 Summary Report), U.S. pastureland averaged $1,920 per acre in 2025, up 4.9% from 2024.

These comparisons don’t mean every Montana acre is “cheap.” They mean the statewide agricultural averages can sit well below the national average while premium Montana locations—especially those with views, access, water, or development potential—command far higher prices.

Why one acre can cost $1,000 in one area and $100,000+ in another

Montana doesn’t have a single land market—it has many overlapping micro-markets. Price per acre rises or falls based on a short list of drivers.

1) Location and access

• Near high-demand cities: Acres close to job centers and lifestyle hubs (think Bozeman, Missoula, Billings, and surrounding growth corridors) typically sell at a premium.
• Scenic and recreation adjacency: Mountain views, river frontage, and proximity to major outdoor destinations can push values well beyond agricultural averages.
• Remote parcels: You may pay less per acre, but distance from power, maintained roads, services, and year-round access can increase total ownership costs.

2) Intended use, zoning, and buildability

• Agricultural production: Soil quality, fencing, water availability, and operational efficiency often matter more than “views.”
• Residential or cabin sites: Perc tests, utilities, road frontage, and subdivision rules can dramatically change value.
• Commercial/industrial potential: Parcels near expanding towns, highways, or infrastructure can price like development land—not farm ground.
• Recreational land: Hunting, fishing, timber, and privacy can create a “recreation premium,” especially when access and habitat quality are strong.

3) Water and natural-resource characteristics

In Montana, water is often the value driver. Irrigation potential, senior water rights, wells, and surface water access can move the needle fast—which is one reason irrigated cropland values differ so sharply from dryland. The 2025 USDA-reported Montana values show that gap clearly: $4,350 per acre for irrigated cropland versus $1,050 per acre for dryland cropland, as reported by Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report).

Montana’s “two-market” reality: west vs. east

Montana land pricing often feels like two different states. Western Montana tends to reflect lifestyle and development demand, while much of Eastern Montana tracks agricultural fundamentals more closely.

Western Montana: lifestyle-driven premiums

Areas near major recreation corridors and fast-growing towns often see per-acre pricing influenced by scenery, limited inventory, and buildable-site competition. In many western markets, price per acre can far exceed agricultural averages even when the parcel includes pasture or hay ground.

Eastern Montana: ag fundamentals and larger tracts

In the east, larger parcels and production-focused purchases can keep per-acre pricing closer to reported pasture/cropland benchmarks—though local exceptions exist in areas influenced by energy development, infrastructure, or unusually strong water and soil advantages.

What to expect if you’re buying or selling land in Montana today

The Montana land market can shift quickly with interest rates, commodity prices, drought and wildfire seasons, and migration trends. That volatility is exactly why statewide averages—like the $1,230 per acre average farm real estate value reported by Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report)—work best as starting points, not final answers.

• For buyers: Price per acre is only one metric. Confirm access, utilities, water, legal descriptions, easements, mineral rights, and zoning/build constraints before you compare parcels.
• For sellers: Your best outcome usually comes from matching your property to the right buyer pool—ag operators, builders, recreation buyers, or investors—because each group values different features.

Faster selling options: land-buying companies

If you don’t want to list traditionally—or you want a faster, more certain timeline—some owners consider direct-sale land buyers. These companies may offer speed and simplicity (often cash purchases and fewer contingencies), typically in exchange for a discounted price compared to a fully marketed listing.

Key takeaways

1. Start with credible benchmarks: In 2025, Montana’s average farm real estate value was $1,230 per acre (up 2.5%), according to Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report).
2. Match the number to the land type: 2025 Montana averages include $1,320 per acre for cropland (up 3.1%), $4,350 for irrigated cropland (up 5.6%), $1,050 for dryland cropland (up 1.9%), and $920 for pastureland (up 3%), all reported by Northern Ag Network (USDA Land Values Report).
3. Use national context to sanity-check pricing: The U.S. average farm real estate value hit $4,350 per acre in 2025 (up 4.3%), per the American Farm Bureau Federation; U.S. cropland averaged $5,830 (up 4.7%) and U.S. pastureland averaged $1,920 (up 4.9%), per RFD-TV (USDA Land Values 2025 Summary Report).
4. Expect different “Montana cropland” figures depending on the report: RFD-TV (USDA Land Value Report) reports Montana cropland averaged $1,960 per acre in 2025, underscoring why local comps matter.

Montana land value ultimately comes down to what an acre can do—produce, build, recreate, or hold long-term scarcity value. Anchor your expectations in current USDA-reported averages, then price the property in front of you based on access, water, permitted use, and local demand.