Goodbye, city noise, and hello, peace of mind: More and more buyers are passing on expensive, unsustainable urban living and choosing more affordable, desirable, and up-and-coming rural real estate.
From 2020 to 2022, U.S. rural populations grew by 0.25%. That’s a huge difference compared to the declining or unchanging rural populations measured throughout the 2010s. Thanks to the many benefits of rural real estate, rural land value is only expected to grow from here.
Whether you want to maximize the value of your remote work salary, pursue a sustainable, off-the-grid lifestyle, or reliably expand your investment portfolio, rural real estate holds the key.
When you’re ready, unlock your perfect rural property with Land.com.
The Growing Demand for Rural Land
Since 2020, the value of rural farmland has steadily increased nationwide. Despite high interest rates and other economic pressures, value jumped by roughly 5% from 2023 to 2024.
What’s causing this significant and consistent shift towards rural living and land investment? Unlike urban centers, rural real estate offers:
- Desirable remote work accommodations
- More affordable housing and cost of living prices
- Greater opportunities for sustainable, “off-grid” living
- Development potential
Let’s examine each benefit more closely.
Remote Work’s Influence on Rural Real Estate
If you could work from anywhere, where would you go? This question has transformed from a hypothetical into a serious consideration for millions of people in the workforce thanks to the rise of remote work.
Remote work has skyrocketed in both popularity and availability: Currently, 20% of workers work remotely, with that number expected to rise to 22% in 2025. Remote work offers several unique benefits, from more flexible hours to improved work-life balance. It also allows you to take root where you please—as long as you have an Internet connection.
Since 2019, rural areas have consistently increased in population, which is in line with the rise of remote work. Why are remote workers choosing to move to rural areas? One reason is commute time and cost; per Owl Labs, employees’ work-related costs see a roughly 50% reduction when they transition to remote work.
Without the burden of a commute, remote workers can live in more affordable areas and pursue personal desires to connect with nature. Plus, the country offers a peaceful backdrop for video calls.
Affordable Prices Compared to Urban Areas
Compared to city living, farmland offers you far more bang for your buck.
According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota, almost a third of urban residents pay 30% or more of their income on housing compared to only a quarter of rural residents. With a rural property, you can put more of your paycheck toward other necessities, entertainment, or investments without worrying about high rent or mortgage prices.
In addition to lower prices, rural property offers additional benefits that urban real estate can’t, including more:
- Square footage
- Privacy
- Amenities
Resources like Land.com make it even easier to find valuable and affordable rural real estate. As the largest online marketplace for nonurban property, Land.com offers unparalleled access to the rural real estate market for buyers of all budgets.
Sustainability and Off-Grid Living Trends
Does the idea of living close to nature entice you? Have you always wanted to grow your own food but never had the room on your little urban plot? With a rural property, you can satisfy all your off-grid living desires.
Rural living presents more opportunities to adopt sustainable practices. With the added space and resources of rural property, you can:
- Plant a garden
- Raise animals
- Start composting
- Install solar panels
By living sustainably in a rural area, you’ll consume less energy and produce less waste than if you lived in a city or suburb.
Additionally, many rural dwellers choose to go “off-grid,” meaning they use alternative energy (and even water) sources rather than connect to their area’s energy grid. Many people find off-grid living an attractive way to save money, customize their homes, and protect the environment. Rural property makes it all possible.
Development Potential in Growing Rural Areas
With remote work here to stay and affordable, sustainable living all the rage, rural communities project steady, continued growth in both population and value. If you want to take root close to nature, start watering your seeds now by investing in rural real estate.
Why Land.com is Your Go-To Resource for Rural Land Purchases
Naturalist John Muir famously said, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” With Land.com, you can join the mountains—or any rural area that calls to you.
We help you find the property that meets all your needs with intuitive tools and expert real estate insights. Connect with land brokers who know rural properties best. Find listings, explore their benefits, and navigate the buying process all in one place.
City life may move fast, but rural real estate is quickly gaining. Invest in your slice of rural paradise now, with Land.com.
Sources:
United States Department of Agriculture. Land Values 2024 Summary. https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/pn89d6567/vh53zm770/sf269z18h/land0824.pdf
Forbes. Remote Work Statistics And Trends In 2024. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/remote-work-statistics/
W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Remote Work’s Quiet Impact on Rural Communities. https://www.upjohn.org/remote-works-quiet-impact-rural-communities
Money. Working at the Office Costs Twice as Much as Working Remote: Survey. https://money.com/working-office-vs-working-remote-costs/
University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center. Rural-Urban Differences in Housing Cost Burden Across the U.S. https://rhrc.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Rural-urban-differences-in-housing-cost-burden-across-the-US.pdf
Forbes. Finding peace and purpose off the grid. https://www.forbes.com/hsbcpersonaleconomy/finding-peace-and-purpose.html
On Verticality. “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” https://www.onverticality.com/blog/john-muir-quote-1