The short answer: the statewide rural-land price benchmark for Texas was $5,218 per acre in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M.1 But that statewide number hides a huge range. Depending on where you look and how many acres you buy, an acre can cost less than $1,500 or more than $30,000.
Below, we break down the latest prices by region, explain why small tracts cost more per acre, and show November 2026 asking prices from our South Texas and Hill Country listings.
2026 Data
Texas Land Prices by Region
The Texas Real Estate Research Center splits the state into seven rural land regions. Here are the median-based prices per acre for each region in the second quarter of 2026, plus the statewide benchmark, with the change from a year earlier.1
| Region | Price per acre | Change from 2Q 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Gulf Coast and Brazos Bottom | $11,369 | +3.1% |
| Northeast Texas | $8,604 | -6.0% |
| Austin, Waco, and Hill Country | $8,040 | +8.6% (record high) |
| South Texas | $6,225 | +1.0% |
| West Texas | $3,008 | +14.3% (record high) |
| Panhandle and South Plains | $1,719 | -7.5% |
| Far West Texas | $1,139 | +73.9% (small sample) |
| Statewide benchmark | $5,218 | +3.3% |
Far West Texas jumped on paper, but the research center notes the gain is skewed by a limited number of sales, so treat that number with caution.1
Which Region Is Your County In?
Atascosa, Bexar, Duval, Frio, Jim Wells, Karnes, Live Oak, McMullen, Medina, and Wilson counties are all in the South Texas region. Bandera and Kerr counties are in the Austin, Waco, and Hill Country region.5
Hill Country Keeps Climbing
The Austin, Waco, and Hill Country region hit a record high in mid-2026, with the research center pointing to demand for recreational and homesite properties.1 It also had the most sales of any region, at 1,062 over the past four quarters.
Reading the Numbers
What the Statewide Benchmark Does and Doesn’t Tell You
The research center’s numbers are the best public data on Texas rural land prices, but they measure something specific. Keep these points in mind before you use them to price a property:
- The figures describe larger tracts. Sales of 10 acres or less are excluded, and each region also has its own minimum tract size. The figures describe larger rural tracts, not every property over 10 acres.6,5
- Regional prices are medians, adjusted for size. Each region’s price is a four-quarter moving median, segmented by the size of the properties sold.1
- It’s a sample. The report is based on verified sales and does not include every land sale in Texas.1
- The statewide figure is a benchmark, not a median. It is a weighted average of the regional prices, weighted by land area, so big, inexpensive regions like Far West Texas pull it down.1
- Numbers get revised. The first quarter 2026 report listed $5,246, but the next report revised that quarter to $5,219.1,2
Size Matters
Why Small Tracts Cost More Per Acre
Smaller tracts often command higher prices per acre. More buyers can afford 10 to 40 acres than 400, and the fixed costs of a survey, closing, and getting road access are spread across fewer acres. Location adds to it. A tract a short drive from San Antonio draws weekend and homesite buyers who are willing to pay more.
Here are November 2026 asking prices on some of our unimproved listings (no house), so you can see the range for yourself:
| Property | County | Acres | Asking price | Per acre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toro Creek Ranch | Duval | 81.45 | $369,000 | about $4,530 |
| Lagarto Hills Ranch | Live Oak | 324 | $2,106,000 | $6,500 |
| Lake CC Ranch View | Live Oak | 50 | $325,000 | $6,500 |
| Medina 35 | Medina | 35 | $365,000 | about $10,430 |
| Jourdanton 22 | Atascosa | 22 | $284,000 | about $12,910 |
| McCoy 19.58 Acres | Atascosa | 19.58 | $360,000 | about $18,390 |
| Pear Tree Hilltop | Kerr | 20.69 | $382,765 | $18,500 |
| Live Oak Sanctuary | Atascosa | 5.07 | $170,000 | about $33,530 |
Asking prices as of November 2026. These are not sale prices, and prices and availability may have changed since. Check each listing page for current details. Browse Atascosa County listings and asking prices.
In these November 2026 listings, the larger tracts farther from San Antonio are asking close to the South Texas regional figure, while small tracts near town are asking about two to five times more per acre. These are asking prices, not closed sales, so they show how differently small and large tracts are priced, not what any tract will sell for.
Value Factors
What Drives the Price of an Acre in South Texas
Two tracts in the same county can be priced very differently. These are the factors that move the number most:
Size and Location
Smaller tracts and land closer to San Antonio, a highway, or a town often bring more per acre. Drive time is one of the first things buyers ask about.
Water
A water well, creek frontage, a stock tank, or a lake is often worth paying extra for. Confirm whether rural water service or a well can supply the property, then budget for the required connection or installation.
Access and Frontage
Paved road frontage and a permitted entrance add value. Easement-only access can lower it. See our guide on road frontage and driveway access.
Utilities
Electricity nearby can help, but confirm the cost to bring service to your intended meter location.
Improvements
A house, barn, high fence, blinds, and feeders add value on top of the land itself.
Habitat and Terrain
Brush cover, elevation, and wildlife like white-tailed deer and turkey matter to hunting buyers. Mineral rights, ag or wildlife valuation, and deed restrictions also affect price.
Build a Realistic Budget
The Cheapest Price Per Acre May Not Mean the Lowest Total Cost
Before making an offer, add the work needed to make the land fit your plans. Ask for property-specific quotes for water, electric service, septic, driveway work, and other improvements. Our small acreage buyer checklist covers what to ask.
For example, imagine two ten-acre properties:
Property A
Lower Asking Price
Land: $120,000
Estimated work: $60,000
Combined: $180,000
Property B
Less Work Needed
Land: $150,000
Estimated work: $15,000
Combined: $165,000
Illustrative arithmetic only. These are invented properties and costs, not local quotes or market estimates. Closing costs, financing, taxes, insurance, and ongoing upkeep are additional.
Property A starts at a lower price per acre, but Property B has the lower combined cost in this example. Your decision still depends on which property meets your needs and whether the work estimates hold up.
Do not confuse agricultural tax value with sale value. Qualifying agricultural land can be taxed using productivity value rather than market value. That lower tax figure is not a purchase-price estimate. Confirm current qualification and future requirements with the appraisal district.7
Market Outlook
Are Texas Land Prices Still Going Up?
Statewide prices were higher than a year earlier, but essentially flat quarter to quarter.8 2025 ended at $5,214 per acre, up 6.6 percent from a year earlier.3 By mid-2026 the statewide benchmark was up only 3.3 percent year over year, and the research center described the market as a standoff between sellers anchored to 2022 and 2023 prices and buyers who are cautious because of interest rates.1 The Texas Real Estate Research Center’s October 2026 outlook calls for small price increases in the near term, then flat to slightly lower statewide prices in 2027.1,8
South Texas
Prices held steady, up about 1 percent, but activity picked up. Sales rose 26 percent and total acres sold rose about 7 percent from a year earlier.1
For Sellers
How to Find Out What Your Land Is Worth
Regional figures are a starting point, not a price. To know what your specific property would sell for, you need recent sales of similar tracts nearby, adjusted for size, water, access, and improvements.
Broker Market Analysis
A ranch broker compares your land to recent nearby sales and current competition, and gives you a realistic price range for listing. Ours is free with no obligation.
Appraisal
A licensed appraiser gives a formal opinion of value. You may need one for a loan, an estate, a family buyout, or tax records.
Give Your Broker a Clear Starting File
- Property location, legal description, and acreage
- Any existing survey and access documents
- Details about the home, fencing, barns, and other improvements
- Well records, utility information, and known service limitations
- Leases, restrictions, easements, and mineral information you have
- Current property tax and agricultural valuation records
Ask the broker to explain which closed sales are most comparable, what adjustments are needed, and how active listings affect the proposed asking price.
If your family recently inherited the land, our guide to selling inherited property in Texas covers the ownership and paperwork questions to address alongside pricing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Land Prices
How much is an acre of land in Texas right now?
The statewide rural-land price benchmark for Texas was $5,218 per acre in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M. It is a land-area-weighted average of regional prices for larger rural tracts, so small homesites usually cost more per acre.
How much is an acre of land in South Texas?
The South Texas region had a median of $6,225 per acre in the second quarter of 2026. The region includes counties around San Antonio such as Atascosa, Bexar, Medina, and Wilson, along with brush country counties like Duval, Jim Wells, Live Oak, and McMullen.
Why does small acreage cost more per acre?
There are more buyers for 5 to 20 acre tracts, and the cost of a survey, closing, and road access is spread across fewer acres. That is why a 20 acre tract near San Antonio is often listed at a much higher price per acre than a large ranch farther out.
Are Texas land prices still going up?
Statewide prices were higher than a year earlier, but essentially flat quarter to quarter in mid-2026. The statewide benchmark was up about 3 percent year over year in mid-2026, and the Texas Real Estate Research Center’s October 2026 outlook projects small increases in the near term, followed by flat to slightly lower statewide prices in 2027.
Where is the cheapest land in Texas?
Far West Texas and the Panhandle and South Plains had the lowest regional medians in mid-2026, at $1,139 and $1,719 per acre. Remote properties may involve longer drives and fewer nearby services. Confirm water availability for each tract.
How can I find out what my land is worth?
A broker’s market analysis compares your property to recent nearby sales and adjusts for size, water, access, and improvements. An appraisal may be needed for lending, estates, or a family buyout. Mike and Cody’s offers a free, no-obligation ranch market analysis.
Buying or Selling?
Find Out What an Acre Is Worth Where You Are
Whether you are shopping for land or wondering what yours would sell for, we can walk you through recent sales in your area. Browse our current listings, or request a free ranch market analysis.
Sources
Sources and Further Reading
Sources checked November 4, 2026. Numbers in the article link to the matching source below.
- Texas Real Estate Research Center. Texas Rural Land Markets, Second Quarter 2026
- Texas Real Estate Research Center. Texas Rural Land Markets, First Quarter 2026
- Texas Real Estate Research Center. Texas Rural Land Markets, Fourth Quarter 2025
- Texas Real Estate Research Center. Rural Land, Summer 2026
- Texas Real Estate Research Center. Second Quarter 2026 Land Report (PDF, region maps)
- Texas Real Estate Research Center. Rural Land Data User Guide (PDF)
- Texas Comptroller. Agricultural, Timberland and Wildlife Management Use Special Appraisal
- Texas Real Estate Research Center. Rural Land: Has the Texas Rural Land Market Hit a Plateau? October 28, 2026
Regional figures are median-based prices from the Texas Real Estate Research Center, and the statewide figure is a land-area-weighted benchmark. Neither represents the value of any specific property. Listing prices are asking prices as of November 2026 and may change.
