Before listing counties, let’s take a look at what contributes to the pricing of land beyond just geography. The land price is driven by many factors, and Texas especially has unique features that may affect the overall price per acre.
- Access & utilities: Many of the cheapest tracts are off-grid with unimproved road access, a lack of water well or power. Budget accordingly for all necessary improvements.
- Acreage type: TRERC separates small vs large tract markets because price behavior differs; desert 10–20 ac tracts near Terlingua can look “cheap per acre,” while productive farm/ranch land in the Rolling Plains may cost more per acre, but the property can produce income.
- Taxes & carrying costs: Property tax burdens vary. Counties that are inexpensive to live in (low median tax bills) often overlap with low land $/ac (e.g., Hudspeth, Culberson, Cottle), but always confirm local appraisal district data for your tract.
The short list: where sub-$1,500/acre is common
1) Hudspeth County (Far West Texas) Offers remote desert acreage, sparse infrastructure, and limited water access, resulting in a large supply of subdivided 10-40 acre tracts. What listings show right now: Multiple 11-21 ac tracts in the $17.7K–$24.9K range (≈ $800–$1,200/acre), and periodic large-tract outliers. Owner-financing options are widespread. The pattern aligns with TRERC’s observation that Far West Texas is among the lowest-priced regions statewide for rural land. 2) Presidio County (Big Bend Borderlands) This area is mostly remote, rugged terrain with many off-grid desert tracts near Presidio/Marfa periphery. What listings show: Repeated 10-20 ac offerings under $20K (e.g., $7.9K–$19.9K for ~10–20 ac → ≈ $400–$1,000/acre), alongside occasional higher-end properties. 3) Culberson County (Van Horn Area) Vast ranch country with limited services outside Van Horn and mixed land access. What listings show: Small tracts advertised around $12,775 for ~11.3 ac (≈ $1,130/acre), plus very large ranch offerings near $492/acre (e.g., ~9,146 ac at $4.5M). 4) Terrell County (Dryden) Land for sale consisting of extremely remote hunting and recreation ranchland. Rugged access keeps the prices low. What listings show: Numerous 60-180 ac tracts in the $53K–$98K range (≈ $600–$900/acre), and larger parcels historically advertised at similar per-acre levels. 5) Brewster County (Terlingua/Alpine, Big Bend) Large supply of Terlingua Ranch desert tracts but the prices will vary with access, views and improvements. What listings show: 5-20 ac tracts commonly $9.2K-$24.9K (≈ $450–$1,200/acre). High-amenity or tourist-proximate parcels can be far higher, and trophy ranches move the county average up. The massive Brewster Ranch sale underscores the region’s volume and diversity but isn’t representative of small-tract affordability.Also affordable (often <$1,500/acre), but more variable
Rolling Plains counties: Cottle, Motley, Foard These counties don’t have the rock-bottom per-acre numbers of Far West Texas desert subdivisions on small tracts, but large ag/recreation tracts frequently pencil out under ~$1,500/acre depending on soils, water, and improvements.- Cottle County (Paducah): Listings include 320-3,016 ac ranches; brokers cite reduced prices on some large tracts near ~$1,100/acre in past offerings. Expect a wide variance in quality and improvements.
- Motley County (Matador): Rec/hunting ranches commonly marketed; observed asking structures suggest four-figure $/ac is attainable on larger parcels.
- Foard County (Crowell): Active large-tract farm/ranch inventory; per-acre asks on sizeable parcels can be relatively low vs. state average.