Iowa Ranked the #1 State to Live Off the Grid
Have you ever fantasized about going completely off the grid? Buying a small plot of land in the middle of nowhere, or maybe even one of those giant boxcars and turning it into a humble little abode? There's a beauty to that kind of nomadic living, as seen in the Oscar-winning drama Nomadland from a couple years back.
And, as fate would have it, there's a good chance you live in or live near the best state to make that happen!
In a recent study conducted by Lawnstarter, Iowa topped the list as the best state to live off the grid. The results were reached through some of these metrics:
- Cost of farmland
- Legality of self-generated utilities
- Availability of renewable energy
- Climate
- Phone connectivity
- Access to rural hospitals
Iowa had the highest overall score at 67.12. While its climate and affordability rankings were a bit low (27 and 31, respectively), Iowa's infrastructure and safety ratings definitely show the attraction to living off the grid in the Hawkeye State. Iowa came in at #2 for infrastructure and #1 for safety (its long been considered one of the safest states in which to live).
I've reported on many of these studies, and most times, Iowa doesn't crack the top 10, and sometimes not even the top 25. It's cool to see it #1 on a unique study.
Illinois and Wisconsin ranked quite favorably on Lawnstarter's 2023’s Best States to Live Off the Grid study as well. Like Iowa, Illinois posted high marks in both infrastructure and safety. Its overall score is 58.90. Wisconsin stayed inside the top 15 too, coming in at #14 with a cumulative score of 57.19. The Cheese State was noted for its feasibility in allowing folks to go off the grid, as well as its safety.
All three of the Tri-States managed to crack the top ten in safety. For those questioning how Illinois could post such a high score in that regard (given the Chicago crime), let me tell you some of the quietest living I ever experienced was in central Illinois. Just 90 miles outside of Chicago, Illinois opens up significantly.
Iowa also tied Kansas in the top five states with the best access to hospitals, especially in rural areas. Texas topped that list, with Minnesota and Nebraska rounding out the top five.
View the full results of Lawnstarter's study here!