Average Cost of an Acre of Land in Kentucky (2026)
The average value of farmland in Kentucky is about $5,480 per acre based on the latest USDA data, roughly 26% above the national average of $4,350. Kentucky's headline is the Bluegrass: horse country around Lexington holds premium pasture value. Elsewhere, farmland and grazing ground are more moderate.
Average agricultural land values from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Land Values 2025 Summary (August 2025). Building lots and developed parcels sell for more; always check recent local sales.
Price your own parcel
What affects land prices in Kentucky
- Bluegrass horse country. Premium pasture around Lexington pulls the state's value up.
- Soil and use. Productive river-bottom ground holds higher value than upland.
- Metro proximity. Land near Louisville and Lexington prices above rural rates.
- Pasture demand. Strong equine and cattle demand supports grazing-land prices.
How Kentucky compares
At about $5,480 an acre, Kentucky sits 26% above the US average of $4,350. Cropland here averages $6,450 an acre and pasture $3,900, against national figures of $5,830 and $1,920. These are working-farmland averages: a buildable lot near a city runs well above them, and raw, remote acreage well below.
Where an acre runs cheap and where it runs high in Kentucky
Kentucky's headline is the Bluegrass. Horse country around Lexington holds some of the most valuable grazing land in the country, where established farms trade far above the state average. Land near Louisville and Lexington runs higher across the board. In the eastern mountains and the western counties, farmland and grazing ground are more moderate and far more affordable.
Cropland, pasture, and the Kentucky spread
Kentucky farm real estate averages about $5,480 an acre, with cropland near $6,450 and pasture around $3,900. The strong cropland number comes from productive river-bottom ground, while pasture holds up on demand from the state's equine and cattle operations.
Which way Kentucky prices are moving
Kentucky farmland rose about 3.4 percent in the latest USDA figures, a little below the national pace. The Bluegrass and the areas near Louisville and Lexington stay firm, while rural eastern and western counties move more slowly.
What the average buys you
At $5,480 an acre, 12 acres of Kentucky farmland runs about $65,760 before closing. Bluegrass horse-farm ground costs far more; eastern mountain acreage costs less. Drop a real listing price into the calculator above to price the parcel you're after.
Before you buy land in Kentucky
Use and soil drive the value: productive river-bottom ground and established pasture are worth far more than upland or wooded acreage. Near Lexington, demand from horse and cattle buyers sets the floor. Confirm the soil, the use, and recent local sales before you buy.
Common questions
On average, about $5,480 per acre for farmland in the latest USDA figures. That's the agricultural average; a buildable lot near a city costs more and remote acreage less. Enter a local listing price in the calculator above to price your own parcel.
Yes. Kentucky farmland rose 3.4% in the latest USDA report, slower than the national average of 4.3%.
No. The USDA figure is average agricultural land value. Residential and commercial building lots sell well above it. Treat the average as a floor for rural acreage and compare against recent local sales before you buy.
43,560 square feet. Use the square feet to acres tool to convert any lot size, in either direction.
These are planning estimates based on USDA agricultural land values, not an appraisal. Land prices vary widely by county, parcel, access, and use. Confirm with recent local sales or a licensed appraiser before buying or selling.