Average Cost of an Acre of Land in Alabama (2026)
The average value of farmland in Alabama is about $4,150 per acre based on the latest USDA data, roughly 5% below the national average of $4,350. Alabama is one of the more affordable states for land, with cheap timber and farmland across much of it. Prices firm up near Huntsville, Birmingham, and the Gulf Coast.
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 Alabama
- Timber and farmland. Much of Alabama's acreage is working timberland, which keeps the average low.
- Growth around Huntsville. The aerospace and tech boom there lifts nearby land prices.
- Gulf Coast proximity. Land toward the coast sells at a premium.
- Road access and utilities. Frontage and power at the lot line add value everywhere.
How Alabama compares
At about $4,150 an acre, Alabama sits 5% below the US average of $4,350. Cropland here averages $4,550 an acre and pasture $3,400, 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 Alabama
Alabama is one of the more affordable states for land, with cheap timber and farmland across much of it. Prices firm up around Huntsville, where the aerospace and tech economy lifts nearby acreage, and toward Birmingham and the Gulf Coast. Much of the rest of the state, especially working timberland, keeps the statewide average low.
Cropland, pasture, and the Alabama mix
Alabama farm real estate averages about $4,150 an acre, with cropland near $4,550 and pasture around $3,400. The numbers stay modest because so much of Alabama's acreage is timber and grazing land rather than high-value row crop, which holds the average below the national figure.
Which way Alabama prices are moving
Alabama farmland rose about 3.8 percent in the latest USDA figures, a touch below the national pace. The fastest gains track the Huntsville area's growth, while rural timber counties move more slowly.
What the average buys you
At $4,150 an acre, 20 acres of Alabama farmland runs about $83,000 before closing. Land near Huntsville or the coast costs more; interior timber ground costs less. Put a real local listing price into the calculator above to price your parcel.
Before you buy land in Alabama
For working ground, timber value and soil drive the price; for a homesite, road frontage and power at the lot line add real value. Confirm access and utilities, check whether the timber has been cut recently, and compare against recent sales in that county before you buy.
Common questions
On average, about $4,150 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. Alabama farmland rose 3.8% 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.