Texas Land Pricing Guide 2026

Key takeaways: 

• Although overall sales declined in the last year, the average price for an acre of Texas land is more than $5,100 per acre.
• Many Houston-area buyers gravitate to the Piney Woods South region, where pastureland is valued between $2,500 and $5,000 per acre
• Dallas-area buyers will see high prices in the northeastern Texas region, where value can range between $7,500 to $15,000. Around San Antonio, land can cost between from $1,700 to $5,500 an acre.
• Overall farmland value continues to increase in Texas, and a land purchase remains a strong long-term investment opportunity. 

This content has been updated as of January 2026.

If you’re questioning whether investing in Texas land is a wise choice right now, you’re not alone. It’s no secret economic conditions are tight, domestic political uncertainty is high, and growing geopolitical risks have slowed sales across the state. Despite these challenges, land prices have stayed steady and rural land markets are holding up well under the circumstances, indicating buying land is a reliable, long-term investment opportunity.

But before you jump on the Texas real estate trend, it’s important to understand your potential expenses: How much is an acre of land in Texas? Is investing in Texas real estate right for you? 

The answer could depend on geography, market fluctuations, and more.

How much is an acre of land in Texas? 

According to the Texas Real Estate Research Center, total sales throughout Texas went down by 2%, and total acres sold declined by 3.6%. Texas also saw smaller tract sizes throughout 2025, with the average parcel decreasing 7.3% year-over-year.

Although fewer acres and smaller tracts changed hands in 2025, that didn’t mean fewer dollars changed hands. According to the same report, higher per-acre prices led to a 2.1% increase in total dollar volume year-over-year. The average cost for an acre in Texas is now up to $5,158. 

How much you’ll pay will also depend on what region you target. There are seven different market regions throughout Texas when it comes to rural land: Panhandle and South Plains, Far West Texas, West Texas, Northeast Texas, Gulf-Coast – Brazos Bottom, South Texas, and Austin – Waco – Hill Country. 

Throughout those regions, the range in prices per acre is just about as wide as Texas itself.

If you’re looking for land in Far West Texas, you’ll be facing some of the biggest price increases — although compared to other regions, acres in this region are still more affordable. On average, land in Far West Texas is going for $2,787 per acre, which is a 15.8% increase year-over year.

Meanwhile, those prices more than quadruple in the Gulf Coast-Brazos Bottom region. Here, land goes for $11,423/acre on average. That’s a 13.6% jump from 2024 to the end of 2025.

Austin-Waco-Hill Country also continues to be a popular choice for Texas land buyers. Sales actually increased in this region from 2024 to 2025 (by 5.7%), and prices rose to a record high of $7,704 per acre on average.

However, another big Texas metropolitan area (Dallas-Fort Worth) saw a decline in activity in its region. Northeast Texas land sales volume dropped down to its lowest number in more than a decade. Despite the 18.3% dip in total sales from 2024 to 2025, land in the northeast part of the state is still pretty pricey at $9,313/acre.

How much is an acre of land in Houston? 

Houston is the largest city in Texas. Many Houston-area buyers have navigated to buying farm and ranch ground in out-lying areas. Piney Woods South is among the most popular with rich opportunities for hunting, recreation, and harvesting timber.  Depending on the land’s use, its price will vary. According to the most recent data from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, the value range for improved and native pasture is from $2,500 to $5,000 in Piney Woods South. Bottomland hardwood timber acres will be cheaper, with values between $1,500 to $2,100.

How much is an acre of land in Dallas-Fort Worth? 

While there doesn’t tend to be much rural land directly within the Dallas area, residents often buy land in North Texas in land tracts smaller than 100 acres. The cost of an acre there can be expensive relative to the rest of the state. Values of dry cropland and pasture acres have remained stable, and range from $7,500 to $15,000. Hardwood timbers are lower in the $3,500 to $6,000/acre range.

How much is an acre of land in San Antonio? 

San Antonio residents can find excellent rural land opportunities in the region between Texas Hill Country and the Upper Brush Country. Land there is often used for recreation and can be a great break from city life, without being too far of a drive. Rangeland here can be anywhere from $1,700 to $5,500 in value.

Why is farmland increasing in value in Texas?

The rise in farmland value in Texas has happened because of several factors: 

• Increased demand for land. While the very beginning of the pandemic yielded slower land sales in Texas, that all changed as COVID-19 dragged on. As many urban areas continued gathering restrictions and more companies instituted remote work policies, more people migrated to rural areas. 
• Decreasing availability of land. Since farmland is not a renewable resource, the value of what exists remains high, even as other investments may fluctuate.
• More competition from a bigger population: Texas added nearly 4 million new residents from 2010 to 2020, and ranked first in the U.S. in numeric population growth. They’ve all got to live somewhere, so competition is hot for the available land throughout the state.

Things have slowed down a little since the “hyperactivity” in 2021. That year saw a record for land sales in Texas, with 846,347 acres sold (a 53% jump from 2020). Still, even as the market has evened out, land value is still high.

How much does land cost in Texas? 

At least compared to some other states, land in Texas comes with a moderate price tag. Average prices can trend pretty high in high-value ag states like California, Iowa, and Illinois. According to the 2025 Iowa State University Land Value Survey, Iowa farmland is valued at $11,549/acre. In September 2023, a tract of land in Saline County, Missouri sold for a whopping $34,800/acre. 

The amount you’ll pay for an acre of land in Texas could also partially depend on what kind of acre it is. According to the USDA, the average value of Texas cropland in 2025 was higher than the average value of Texas pastureland (by about $400/acre).

Where is the cheapest land in Texas? 

You’re likely to find some of the cheapest Texas acres in the Panhandle and South Plains region, or in Far West Texas. 

Although price per acre has still been increasing in the Panhandle and South Plains, you could still find land there for an average of $1,844 per acre, according to the most recent data from Texas A&M. Far West Texas (despite the price increases from 2024 to 2025) also provides opportunities for cheap land, compared to other Texas regions.

Is buying land in Texas a good investment? 

No investment is a sure thing. But no one is making new land in Texas anytime soon — so the land already here is incredibly valuable. 

While total volume of sales declined in 2025, prices still rose. The average value of both cropland and pastureland in Texas increased by 5.4% and 4.5%, respectively, from 2024 to 2025, according to the USDA.

Meanwhile, competition for high-value acres could be on the rise: total acres sold in Texas is estimated to start rising again by the second half of 2026, according to Texas A&M’s Texas Real Estate Research Center.

Buying land in Texas could be a good investment, simply because land is an appreciating asset. However, it’s not a get-rich-quick option. The value of land often stems from being able to hold onto it over time. View our guide here to learn when it makes sense to buy vs build a home. 

But in the shorter term, you can also use your land for other money-making opportunities: 

• Leasing your land: The rural landscape in Texas is filled with hills, plains, canyons, lakes, and more — making it the perfect place for hunting, fishing, camping, or other outdoor activities like ATVs. You can participate in recreational activities on your own land, or charge a fee for others to do the same.
• Timber: With so many wooded regions throughout the state, Texas offers many chances to sell timber from your land.

Will farmland prices continue to rise in 2026? 

With rural land values increasing so much over the past couple years, it’s easy to wonder if we’re living in an historical boom for Texas farmland. 

Overall, farmland in Texas remains a valuable investment that carries a lower risk than many other investment choices. 

Getting started with investing in Texas real estate 

Purchasing acres of rural land in Texas can seem intimidating if you’re not familiar with the process. If you’re a first-time land buyer, here’s everything you need to know to get started. If you’re purchasing land in Texas to eventually build a home on, we have resources there too.

If you’re ready to purchase your land, Texas Farm Credit’s mortgage division can finance anywhere from 5 to 100 acres. crunch your numbers with our loan calculator and contact us for more information.