A modern dream life for many, is the venture of creating a fully self-sufficient lifestyle. The possibilities are endless. Houseboats, solar-powered oases, cross-country van living and so much more. Maybe you got the idea from following along with your favorite social media influencer as they create a home out of shipping containers. Or maybe you strive to be independent of the never-ending cycle of consumerism. Whatever the reason, here are the best places to try off-grid living.
What does off-grid mean?
“Off-grid” simply means a home isn’t connected to the local power grid. Therefore, it requires its own energy source, such as solar panels. However, this type of lifestyle is about so much more for the people who pursue it. It is often also about connecting with nature, leaving less of an environmental footprint, having a more affordable home with land, and being self-sufficient.
Whatever your desire for going off-grid, some states are more popular places to live off the land than others. StudyFinds has created a list of the best places to live off-grid where you can claim your slice of country heaven, based on what the experts say. Their reviews take into consideration factors, such as land cost, legalities of self-generated utilities and availability of renewable energy.
The List: Best Places to Live Off-Grid, According to Experts
1. Alabama
Sweet home(stead) Alabama. Off Grid Permaculture ranks this state at number one with a rating of 9.8 out of 10. Each state is ranked based off of six main categories: “Cost of living, freedom of lifestyle, water availability, how easy it is to grow food there, energy availability, and the community in that area.”
It’s top-ranking on more than one list. “Alabama got the best overall score, and many southern states weren’t far behind. The warm climate and affordable price of land makes these areas particularly attractive for off-grid living,” writes Valley Food Storage.
2. California
Farmland is one of the reasons it’s highly recommended for an off-grid lifestyle. “California wins the title of ‘The Off-Grid State.’ If you live in Los Angeles, San Francisco or San Diego, you may well have an off-gridding Instagram-user right next door. For Californians, it appears off-grid living is about living an eco-conscious life,” mentions HomeAdvisor.
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Money Inc has California at the top of their list, too, and gives us a glimpse into remote life in the state: “In California, there is a large community of what is known as plugged-in off-gridders. These are people that access the Internet, but they live the off-grid lifestyle in many other ways. Examples of aspects of their lifestyle are keeping hens for their own eggs or hunting and gathering for food.”
3. Missouri
The Midwest treasure is also a great place to truly get away from the world. Off-Grid Home says, “much of the state is ideal for living off-grid. As long as you stay in rural areas, you’re unlikely to find any awkward restrictions. Many of the towns now have some form of building restrictions, but further afield, you’re unlikely to have problems.”
Laws are a big deal when it comes to off grid living. “Missouri is my top pick for a lot of reasons, including fair land prices, relaxed homesteading laws, fair land prices, a decent growing season, and plenty of water,” says JeffSetter Travel.
WhyFarmIt notes that “Missouri homesteaders can enjoy all four seasons with milder winters than most. It’s also awash with popular farmers’ markets and is home to some of the largest plots of land, with farm sizes averaged at 289 acres as of 2021.”
4. Alaska
The Last Frontier might be the first place you’d think to head if you’re looking for a quiet, natural retreat. “This is probably the most popular state to go off the grid. Alaska’s laws are so good to people who want to live off the grid that it is like it was designed that way. There are no prohibitions against gardening, and you can raise farm animals as long as you can provide warm housing and fenced pastures,” according to Survival Sullivan.
For winter-lovers, Alaska, of course, would likely be the top pick on the list. “Alaska is the best state to settle in if you want complete isolation and don’t mind the long winter months. The upside is that the land is cheap, but you’ll pay for it with a short growing season. Another benefit is that Alaska has the lowest taxes in the United States. There is no state income tax or statewide sales tax, meaning more money stays in your pocket,” according to Hillsborough Homesteading.
5. Tennessee
Backdoor Survival recommends The Volunteer State, saying, “Tennessee is one of the best states for off grid living. It has a warm, wet, long growing season, and rich soil. Fresh water runs down from the Appalachians, and land is cheap. The community in most areas of the state has remained rural and self-sufficient.”
And you definitely won’t be the lone off-gridder. “Tennessee’s low cost of living, four seasons, and earning potential make it a top choice for living off the land. With over 69,000 farms across 10 million acres, new homesteaders will be part of a well-established and well-connected community,” writes WhyFarmIt.
According to Survival Sullivan, “the weather in Tennessee is mild year-round and, unlike Alaska, it has four distinct seasons. July is the fiercest month with an average high temperature of 89°F and January the colder month with an average of 27°F. Because of the high precipitation, Tennessee is quite humid which is something to take into account during the summer if you were not planning to add a house-cooling system to your plans.”