19 Top Counties To Buy Land In Florida (2024) (2024)

When you think of the sunny skies and the beaches, it’s hard not to want to buy land in Florida.

And while you may envision yourself on a beachfront property, Florida also offers a lot of variety.

It has gorgeous flat properties, picturesque wetlands, and hardy pine forests.

Here, you can purchase vacant rural land that will give you the perfect place to get away from the rest of the world.

We took a look at all of the counties in Florida and compared the number of listings on LandWatch as well as the average price of land sales in each.

Here are the top counties where you can buy land for sale in Florida.

But remember, always do your proper due diligence before purchasing any kind of real estate!

19. Osceola County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $4,800

Osceola County is located in the central portion of the state of Florida and was created in 1887.

During the late 1900s, Osceola County had numerous migrants from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which explains why the 2000 U.S. Census saw Puerto Rican as the largest self-reported ancestry group.

18. St. Johns County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $14,500

Established in 1821, this county was named for the St. Johns River, which runs along its western border.

Tourism is high in the surrounding area of St. Augustine and Jacksonville is an economic hub.

As a result, St. Johns County is made up of “residential bedroom communities.”

If you’re looking for a quiet place to settle down, look to St. Johns County as a place to buy land in Florida.

17. Putnam County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $4,400

This county is located in the northeastern region of the state of Florida.

It was created in 1849 from parts of St. Johns, Alachua, Orange, Duval, and Marion counties.

Putnam County was named after Benjamin A. Putnam, who was a soldier in the First Seminole War as well as a lawyer, Florida legislator, and the first president of the Florida Historical Society.

The county is located between Jacksonville, Gainesville, St. Augustine, and Daytona Beach, which means you have good access to popular areas in Florida without being anywhere too popular or touristy.

16. Indian River County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $130,000

Indian River County became its own county in 1925.

It was named for the Indian River which runs through the eastern portion of the county.

It has a population of 138,028 and is considered the 7^th richest county in Florida.

The county holds two national protected areas: Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge and Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.

There are also eight bird species in the county that are listed as highly vulnerable due to climate change.

There is a significant emphasis on nature and wildlife in this area, so if you are a nature-lover or bird watcher, keep Indian River County on your list!

15. Walton County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $5,000

Walton County is located on the Emerald Coast in the northwestern part of Florida.

It has a small population of only about 55,043 during the 2010 census and is home to the highest natural point in Florida called Britton Hill.

Walton County also has two national protected areas that fall partially within its boundaries: Choctawhatchee National Forest and Point Washington State Forest.

14. Sarasota County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $78,600

Sarasota County was created in 1921 and is located in southwest Florida on the Gulf Coast.

It is one of only 20 Florida counties with its own charter, which was adopted 50 years after its creation in 1971.

As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 379,448.

If you’re looking for a county that has a great emphasis on nature, Sarasota has 16 preserves in addition to local parks.

It’s the perfect place to buy land in Florida if you’re looking for a retreat!

And if you are looking to buy a piece of land andbuild your own cabin, check out our video below.

13. Polk County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $4,000

Florida first gained statehood in 1845, but Polk County was not created until 1861.

It was named to honor President James K. Polk since his1845 inauguration fell on the same day that Florida became a state.

The county has a population of 602,095 according to the 2010 census.

It’s home to one public university, one state college, and four private universities.

The economy has an economy centered on phosphate mining, agriculture, and tourism.

Publix, an employee-owned grocery chain, and Florida’s Natural are both headquartered in Polk County.

12. Lake County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $30,000

Located in central Florida, Lake County had a population of 297,052 at the time of the 2010 census.

Early in the county’s history, the two main industries were growing cotton and breeding cattle.

However, time progressed, and more and more people began growing citrus trees.

By the 1940s and 50s, citrus production grew into the area’s leading industry.

11. Hernando County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $18,000

The county was established in 1843,two years prior to Florida’s admission into the Union.

Hernando de Soto, the Spanish Explorer known for his expeditions in Nicaragua and his conquest of the Inca empire, is the namesake of this county.

As of 2005, Hernando was the 35^th fastest-growing county in the country and the 2010 census recorded the population as 172,778.

It is included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In terms of the economy, Hernando County is home to the largest Walmart Distribution Center in the US.

The Hernando County School Board also employs over 3,000 individuals.

The county government, hospital, and local grocery store are significant employers as well.

10. Monroe County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $335,000

Monroe County was created in 1823 and was named after the fifth president of the U.S. James Monroe.

Its county seat is Key West, and it includes the Florida Keys, a chain of islands.

Roughly 87 percent of the county’s land area is on the mainland and the region that is part of the Everglades is almost entirely uninhabited (only 17 people total).

Over 99 percent of the county’s population lives on the Florida Keys.

There is an extensive list (over 17!) of national protected areas in the county.

Furthermore, Monroe County has a unique culture associated with it.

Conch is the name that locals use to refer to themselves, and conch culture refers to an intimate familiarity with the sea and local waters.

It’s a quirkiness by mainland standards, and conch culture often refers to an acceptance of alternative lifestyles and anti-authoritarian stances.

This culture drives the viewpoint of the region.

Ready to get better acquainted with fishing, sponge-diving, conch diving, crabbing, lobstering, and other commercial fishing? Buy land in Florida!

Conch culture is waiting for you.

9. Volusia County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $4,500

Founded in 1854, Volusia County is located in east-central Florida with nearly half a million people.

From 2000 to 2010 it showed a significant increase in population at 11.6 percent.

It is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area.

The county is divided into three regions – East, Southeast, and West Volusia.

8. Flagler County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $12,500

Located on the northeastern coast of Florida, Flagler County was created in 1917 out of Saint Johns and Volusia Counties.

Henry Morrison Flagler, an American industrialist, founder of Standard Oil, and mastermind behind the Florida East Coast Railway, is the namesake for this county.

The 2010 census put the population at 95,696.

Flagler County has over 30 parks and 6 rivers and waterways.

So, if you’re looking for a beautiful green county to purchase land in, this is your place!

But before purchasing rural property here, you may want to check out our video on the top questions to ask when buying land.

7. Bay County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $14,900

Bay County is located on the Gulf coast in northwestern Florida.

At the time of the 2010 census, the population was 168,852.

Bay County was established in 1913 after representatives from five towns on St. Andrews Bay met in Panama City to select a name for a proposed new county.

Panama City is famous because it was the site of a landmark Supreme Court case, Gideon v. Wainwright.

This decision gave all people accused of a crime the right to an attorney.

If you’re looking for the quintessential Florida experience, then this may be the ideal place to buy land.

The county is known for its white-sand beaches and emerald-green water.

Large pods of dolphins also swim in its waters year-round.

As a result, hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to its beaches from all over the world every single year.

6. Brevard County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $5,000

Brevard County is located on the eastern side of the state.

At the time of the 2010 census, it had a population of over half a million inhabitants.

Brevard County is the perfect place to buy land in Florida if you love space.

It has been strongly influenced by the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

In fact, it’s been nicknamed the “Space Coast.”

You can see this reflected in the area code for the region which is “321.”

This is an ode to the sequence “3-2-1 liftoff.”

5. Marion County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $8,000

Marion County was created in 1844 from portions of the counties of Alachua, Mosquito, and Hillsborough.

It was named after General Francis Marion, also known as the “Swamp Fox,” of South Carolina.

He was a guerilla fighter and hero in the American Revolutionary War.

Marion County is also home to Florida’s first tourist destination.

A community called Silver Springs developed around a group of artesian springs on the Silver Rivers (also called Silver Springs).

This area is now owned and operated by the state and has become Silver Springs State Park in 2013.

Some of the popular attractions nearby include the glass-bottom boat tours as well as the Ocala National Forest and the Florida Trail.

4. Citrus County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $15,000

Created in 1887, you may think Citrus County is fitting because Florida is known for its production of oranges.

However, while the county was named for its citrus groves, the “Big Freeze” of 1894-1895 essentially ended citrus production here.

Today, citrus is only grown in one grove (outside of the trees on personal property), known as Bellamy Grove.

Citrus County is better known for its numerous islands that can be accessed via watercraft.

Some of these islands are public and can be used recreationally.

Others are private and may be used by private parties.

The county also has two national protected areas: Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

The US Fish and Wildlife Services aerial manatee survey found that as many as 400 manatees can be found in Citrus County at a time.

Long story short?

Don’t buy land in Citrus County just for the citrus groves!

You may be disappointed.

Otherwise, there’s quite a bit to offer, and those looking for recreational land will love the landscape, wildlife, and privacy.

3. Collier County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $25,000

Archaeology has indicated that humans settled in now-Collier County more than two thousand years ago.

The Calusa people, a Native American people of Florida’s southwest coast, had a great presence in this area until Europeans arrived.

Modern-day Collier County was created from Lee County in 1923 and a New York City advertising mogul and real estate developer named Barron Collier is its namesake.

The county itself is 1.5 times larger than Rhode Island, so it’s a substantial size.

If you love the outdoors, Collier County is an ideal place to buy land in Florida.

You’ll find nearly the entire southeastern portion of the county lies within the Big Cypress National Preserve.

Everglades National Park also extends into the southern coastal part of the county.

2. Charlotte County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $16,900

Established in 1921, Charlotte County is also located on the western edge of the state.

It was named for the Bay of Charlotte Harbor, which was a tribute to Queen Charlotte Sophia,the wife of King George III.

One of the historic places located in Charlotte County includes the Old Charlotte County Courthouse.

The county also has one of the most important and productive natural preserves in Florida: Charlotte Harbor Estuary.

1. Lee County, Florida

Lowest price for 1 acre on LandWatch at the time this article was written: $5,000

In 1887, Lee County was created from Monroe County.

It lies on the western edge of the state about 120 miles south of Tampa where the Gulf of Mexico and Caloosahatchee River meet.

The seat of Lee County is Fort Myers and the largest city is Cape Coral, which is a popular tourist area.

As a result, Lee County has strong economic sectors in retail, leisure, hospitality, and construction.

Lee County also has 10 beach parks and 7 beach accesses located on Florida’s West Coast.

Do you love baseball?

All the more reason to buy land in Florida.

Lee County is the home of the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins for spring training.

You can grab some spring training tickets and see your favorite teams for a fraction of the price of normal games!

Final thoughts

Excited to buy land in Florida?

There are a lot of options.

There are opportunities that cater to the beach lover in Bay County.

There’s land that appeals to the nature lover in Indian River County.

Or there’s even a place for the culture seeker in Monroe County.

Whatever you’re looking for in your quest for land, Florida has something for you.

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Disclaimer: we are not lawyers, accountants or financial advisors and the information in this article is for informational purposes only. This article is based on our own research and experience and we do our best to keep it accurate and up-to-date, but it may contain errors. Please be sure to consult a legal or financial professional before making any investment decisions.