Every Region Ranked for Off-Grid Living
All 204 regions of America's states, like North Georgia or the Texas Hill Country, ranked from best to worst for living simply and affordably off the grid. A region's score is the median Freedom Score of its counties, on a 0–10 scale. Click a region for its guide with every county in it.
A 6.5 and upB 5.5–6.4C 4.5–5.4D 3.5–4.4F below 3.5
| # | Region | Score | Grade | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Eastern Plains New Mexico · top county: Eddy
|
7.1 | A | 10 |
| 2 |
Eastern Plains Colorado · top county: Baca
|
6.9 | A | 16 |
| 3 |
Southeast Wyoming Wyoming · top county: Niobrara
|
6.9 | A | 7 |
| 4 |
Southern New Mexico New Mexico · top county: Hidalgo
|
6.9 | A | 8 |
| 5 |
Bighorn Basin & Powder River Wyoming · top county: Crook
|
6.7 | A | 9 |
| 6 |
Rural Nevada (Great Basin) Nevada · top county: Eureka
|
6.7 | A | 8 |
| 7 |
Southwest Wyoming Wyoming · top county: Uinta
|
6.7 | A | 4 |
| 8 |
Black Belt Alabama · top county: Lowndes
|
6.6 | A | 16 |
| 9 |
Northern New Mexico New Mexico · top county: San Juan
|
6.6 | A | 9 |
| 10 |
Northwest (Yellowstone & Tetons) Wyoming · top county: Fremont
|
6.5 | A | 3 |
| 11 |
South Arkansas Arkansas · top county: Little River
|
6.5 | A | 16 |
| 12 |
Southeast (Kiamichi) Oklahoma · top county: McCurtain
|
6.5 | A | 12 |
| 13 |
Western Slope Colorado · top county: Montezuma
|
6.5 | A | 13 |
| 14 |
Wiregrass & Gulf Coast Alabama · top county: Conecuh
|
6.5 | A | 13 |
| 15 |
Northern Arizona Arizona · top county: Apache
|
6.4 | B | 5 |
| 16 |
Panhandle & South Plains Texas · top county: Lamb
|
6.4 | B | 46 |
| 17 |
Southeast (Panhandle) Alaska · top county: Hoonah-Angoon
|
6.4 | B | 10 |
| 18 |
West Texas & Big Bend Texas · top county: Pecos
|
6.4 | B | 45 |
| 19 |
Eastern Utah Utah · top county: Uintah
|
6.3 | B | 7 |
| 20 |
North Mississippi Hills Mississippi · top county: Tishomingo
|
6.3 | B | 23 |
| 21 |
Ozarks Arkansas · top county: Van Buren
|
6.3 | B | 17 |
| 22 |
Panhandle & Northwest Oklahoma · top county: Cimarron
|
6.3 | B | 14 |
| 23 |
River Valley & Ouachitas Arkansas · top county: Howard
|
6.3 | B | 21 |
| 24 |
San Luis Valley & Southern Colorado Colorado · top county: Las Animas
|
6.3 | B | 10 |
| 25 |
Southern Nevada Nevada · top county: Esmeralda
|
6.3 | B | 4 |
| 26 |
Black Hills & West River South Dakota · top county: Oglala Lakota
|
6.2 | B | 14 |
| 27 |
Central Mississippi Mississippi · top county: Kemper
|
6.2 | B | 23 |
| 28 |
Central New Mexico New Mexico · top county: Socorro
|
6.2 | B | 6 |
| 29 |
Eastern Montana Montana · top county: Carter
|
6.2 | B | 20 |
| 30 |
Southcentral Alaska · top county: Copper River
|
6.2 | B | 6 |
| 31 |
Southern Arizona Arizona · top county: Graham
|
6.2 | B | 7 |
| 32 |
Southwest Oklahoma Oklahoma · top county: Greer
|
6.2 | B | 15 |
| 33 |
Hi-Line Montana · top county: Liberty
|
6.1 | B | 17 |
| 34 |
North Central West Virginia · top county: Webster
|
6.1 | B | 15 |
| 35 |
North Louisiana Louisiana · top county: Tensas
|
6.1 | B | 19 |
| 36 |
Sandhills Nebraska · top county: Cherry
|
6.1 | B | 16 |
| 37 |
Southwest Montana Montana · top county: Madison
|
6.1 | B | 12 |
| 38 |
Acadiana Louisiana · top county: Cameron
|
6.0 | B | 13 |
| 39 |
Central Idaho Idaho · top county: Custer
|
6.0 | B | 5 |
| 40 |
Central Louisiana Louisiana · top county: Winn
|
6.0 | B | 10 |
| 41 |
Panhandle Nebraska · top county: Garden
|
6.0 | B | 11 |
| 42 |
The Delta Arkansas · top county: Lee
|
6.0 | B | 21 |
| 43 |
The Delta Mississippi · top county: Carroll
|
6.0 | B | 14 |
| 44 |
Pine Belt & Gulf Coast Mississippi · top county: Amite
|
5.9 | B | 22 |
| 45 |
South Texas & the Valley Texas · top county: Zapata
|
5.9 | B | 24 |
| 46 |
Western Kansas Kansas · top county: Cheyenne
|
5.9 | B | 39 |
| 47 |
Central Alabama Alabama · top county: Lamar
|
5.8 | B | 23 |
| 48 |
Central Mountains Colorado · top county: Jackson
|
5.8 | B | 13 |
| 49 |
Central South Dakota South Dakota · top county: Mellette
|
5.8 | B | 16 |
| 50 |
Downeast Maine · top county: Washington
|
5.8 | B | 2 |
| 51 |
Pee Dee & Grand Strand South Carolina · top county: Darlington
|
5.8 | B | 10 |
| 52 |
Southeast Kansas Kansas · top county: Labette
|
5.8 | B | 14 |
| 53 |
Southern Coalfields West Virginia · top county: Nicholas
|
5.8 | B | 12 |
| 54 |
The Ozarks Missouri · top county: Dent
|
5.8 | B | 34 |
| 55 |
Central Oklahoma Oklahoma · top county: Hughes
|
5.7 | B | 17 |
| 56 |
Eastern Oregon Oregon · top county: Harney
|
5.7 | B | 11 |
| 57 |
Green Country Oklahoma · top county: McIntosh
|
5.7 | B | 19 |
| 58 |
Southwest Idaho Idaho · top county: Owyhee
|
5.7 | B | 8 |
| 59 |
The County & North Woods Maine · top county: Piscataquis
|
5.7 | B | 3 |
| 60 |
Central North Dakota North Dakota · top county: Sioux
|
5.6 | B | 22 |
| 61 |
Mid-Ohio & Metro Valley West Virginia · top county: Calhoun
|
5.6 | B | 15 |
| 62 |
South Georgia Georgia · top county: Early
|
5.6 | B | 49 |
| 63 |
Western Montana Montana · top county: Sanders
|
5.6 | B | 7 |
| 64 |
Western Mountains Maine · top county: Somerset
|
5.6 | B | 3 |
| 65 |
Western North Dakota North Dakota · top county: Billings
|
5.6 | B | 18 |
| 66 |
Central Texas & Hill Country Texas · top county: Edwards
|
5.5 | B | 50 |
| 67 |
East Texas Piney Woods Texas · top county: Marion
|
5.5 | B | 34 |
| 68 |
Far North & Western Alaska · top county: Aleutians West
|
5.5 | B | 10 |
| 69 |
North Texas Texas · top county: Clay
|
5.5 | B | 32 |
| 70 |
Southern Utah Utah · top county: Kane
|
5.5 | B | 5 |
| 71 |
West Tennessee Tennessee · top county: Chester
|
5.5 | B | 21 |
| 72 |
Central Kansas & Flint Hills Kansas · top county: Harper
|
5.4 | C | 37 |
| 73 |
Central Oregon Oregon · top county: Crook
|
5.4 | C | 5 |
| 74 |
Eastern Idaho Idaho · top county: Oneida
|
5.4 | C | 14 |
| 75 |
Eastern Kentucky Kentucky · top county: Leslie
|
5.4 | C | 33 |
| 76 |
Eastern Washington Washington · top county: Garfield
|
5.4 | C | 11 |
| 77 |
Central Utah Utah · top county: Juab
|
5.3 | C | 6 |
| 78 |
Florida Parishes & Greater New Orleans Louisiana · top county: Plaquemines
|
5.3 | C | 22 |
| 79 |
South Central Kentucky Kentucky · top county: Cumberland
|
5.3 | C | 21 |
| 80 |
Southern Illinois (Little Egypt & Metro East) Illinois · top county: Pope
|
5.3 | C | 32 |
| 81 |
Southside Virginia · top county: Sussex
|
5.3 | C | 18 |
| 82 |
Bootheel & Southeast Missouri · top county: Wayne
|
5.2 | C | 16 |
| 83 |
Central & South Central Nebraska · top county: Dundy
|
5.2 | C | 31 |
| 84 |
Central Lakes Minnesota · top county: Becker
|
5.2 | C | 17 |
| 85 |
Far Northern California California · top county: Trinity
|
5.2 | C | 9 |
| 86 |
Middle Tennessee Tennessee · top county: Van Buren
|
5.2 | C | 40 |
| 87 |
North Alabama Alabama · top county: Winston
|
5.2 | C | 15 |
| 88 |
Northern & Eastern Panhandles West Virginia · top county: Grant
|
5.2 | C | 13 |
| 89 |
Northern Missouri Missouri · top county: Macon
|
5.2 | C | 36 |
| 90 |
Northwest (Red River) Minnesota · top county: Lake of the Woods
|
5.2 | C | 14 |
| 91 |
Pennsylvania Wilds Pennsylvania · top county: Cameron
|
5.2 | C | 12 |
| 92 |
Southwest Virginia Virginia · top county: Dickenson
|
5.2 | C | 26 |
| 93 |
Upper Peninsula Michigan · top county: Alger
|
5.2 | C | 15 |
| 94 |
Central Arizona (Valley) Arizona · top county: Gila
|
5.1 | C | 3 |
| 95 |
East Tennessee Tennessee · top county: Bledsoe
|
5.1 | C | 34 |
| 96 |
Gulf Coast Texas · top county: Jefferson
|
5.1 | C | 23 |
| 97 |
Kansas City & West Central Missouri · top county: Johnson
|
5.1 | C | 17 |
| 98 |
North Idaho Idaho · top county: Idaho
|
5.1 | C | 10 |
| 99 |
Southern Oregon Oregon · top county: Lake
|
5.1 | C | 5 |
| 100 |
Capital Region & North Country New York · top county: Lewis
|
5.0 | C | 16 |
| 101 |
Coastal Georgia Georgia · top county: Charlton
|
5.0 | C | 14 |
| 102 |
East & Islands Puerto Rico · top county: Vieques
|
5.0 | C | 14 |
| # | Region | Score | Grade | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 |
Magic Valley Idaho · top county: Camas
|
5.0 | C | 7 |
| 104 |
North Country New Hampshire · top county: Coos
|
5.0 | C | 1 |
| 105 |
Western Kentucky Kentucky · top county: Breckinridge
|
5.0 | C | 25 |
| 106 |
Arrowhead Minnesota · top county: Koochiching
|
4.9 | C | 7 |
| 107 |
Eastern NC & Outer Banks North Carolina · top county: Pamlico
|
4.9 | C | 29 |
| 108 |
Northwoods Wisconsin · top county: Price
|
4.9 | C | 19 |
| 109 |
Central NY & Finger Lakes New York · top county: Herkimer
|
4.8 | C | 15 |
| 110 |
Interior Alaska · top county: Denali
|
4.8 | C | 4 |
| 111 |
Metro San Juan Puerto Rico · top county: Corozal
|
4.8 | C | 20 |
| 112 |
Middle Georgia Georgia · top county: Jenkins
|
4.8 | C | 50 |
| 113 |
North & West Puerto Rico · top county: Barceloneta
|
4.8 | C | 27 |
| 114 |
Northeast Kansas Kansas · top county: Jackson
|
4.8 | C | 15 |
| 115 |
Northern Nevada Nevada · top county: Lyon
|
4.8 | C | 5 |
| 116 |
Panhandle Florida · top county: Calhoun
|
4.8 | C | 15 |
| 117 |
St. Louis & East Central Missouri · top county: Osage
|
4.8 | C | 12 |
| 118 |
Western NC Mountains North Carolina · top county: Clay
|
4.8 | C | 23 |
| 119 |
Appalachian Ohio Ohio · top county: Morgan
|
4.7 | C | 22 |
| 120 |
Central Washington Washington · top county: Klickitat
|
4.7 | C | 9 |
| 121 |
Midlands South Carolina · top county: Allendale
|
4.7 | C | 15 |
| 122 |
Oregon Coast Oregon · top county: Curry
|
4.7 | C | 5 |
| 123 |
Red River Valley North Dakota · top county: Griggs
|
4.7 | C | 13 |
| 124 |
Sierra & Eastern California California · top county: Sierra
|
4.7 | C | 11 |
| 125 |
South Puerto Rico · top county: Coamo
|
4.7 | C | 17 |
| 126 |
Southwest Iowa · top county: Ringgold
|
4.7 | C | 16 |
| 127 |
Western PA Pennsylvania · top county: Somerset
|
4.7 | C | 16 |
| 128 |
Northern Michigan Michigan · top county: Alcona
|
4.6 | C | 27 |
| 129 |
Olympic Peninsula & Coast Washington · top county: Grays Harbor
|
4.6 | C | 5 |
| 130 |
Bluegrass Kentucky · top county: Bath
|
4.5 | C | 23 |
| 131 |
East River South Dakota · top county: Jerauld
|
4.5 | C | 36 |
| 132 |
Front Range Colorado · top county: Pueblo
|
4.5 | C | 12 |
| 133 |
Hampton Roads & Tidewater Virginia · top county: Surry
|
4.5 | C | 28 |
| 134 |
Lakes Region & White Mountains New Hampshire · top county: Carroll
|
4.5 | C | 3 |
| 135 |
Lowcountry South Carolina · top county: Colleton
|
4.5 | C | 7 |
| 136 |
North Florida Florida · top county: Lafayette
|
4.5 | C | 21 |
| 137 |
Northern Vermont Vermont · top county: Essex
|
4.5 | C | 9 |
| 138 |
Southern Indiana Indiana · top county: Martin
|
4.5 | C | 34 |
| 139 |
Southern Vermont Vermont · top county: Rutland
|
4.5 | C | 5 |
| 140 |
Upstate South Carolina · top county: McCormick
|
4.5 | C | 14 |
| 141 |
Eastern Shore Maryland · top county: Dorchester
|
4.4 | D | 9 |
| 142 |
Southern & Midcoast Maine Maine · top county: Waldo
|
4.4 | D | 8 |
| 143 |
Western Maryland Maryland · top county: Garrett
|
4.4 | D | 3 |
| 144 |
Western NY & Southern Tier New York · top county: Cattaraugus
|
4.4 | D | 14 |
| 145 |
Central Sands Wisconsin · top county: Juneau
|
4.3 | D | 10 |
| 146 |
Central Virginia Virginia · top county: Charles City
|
4.3 | D | 30 |
| 147 |
Driftless (Southwest) Wisconsin · top county: Jackson
|
4.3 | D | 17 |
| 148 |
North Georgia Mountains Georgia · top county: Dade
|
4.3 | D | 23 |
| 149 |
Shenandoah Valley Virginia · top county: Alleghany
|
4.3 | D | 18 |
| 150 |
Wasatch Front & Northern Utah Utah · top county: Rich
|
4.3 | D | 11 |
| 151 |
Central Illinois Illinois · top county: Schuyler
|
4.2 | D | 46 |
| 152 |
Central PA Pennsylvania · top county: Bedford
|
4.2 | D | 19 |
| 153 |
Louisville & Northern Kentucky Kentucky · top county: Bracken
|
4.2 | D | 18 |
| 154 |
Sandhills & Southeast North Carolina · top county: Columbus
|
4.2 | D | 17 |
| 155 |
Southeast Iowa Iowa · top county: Davis
|
4.2 | D | 23 |
| 156 |
Eastern Nebraska Nebraska · top county: Richardson
|
4.1 | D | 35 |
| 157 |
Lehigh Valley & Poconos Pennsylvania · top county: Pike
|
4.1 | D | 13 |
| 158 |
Northwest Ohio Ohio · top county: Williams
|
4.1 | D | 21 |
| 159 |
Southern Maryland Maryland · top county: Charles
|
4.1 | D | 3 |
| 160 |
Southwest Washington Washington · top county: Wahkiakum
|
4.1 | D | 5 |
| 161 |
Southern Minnesota Minnesota · top county: Lincoln
|
4.0 | D | 38 |
| 162 |
West Michigan Michigan · top county: Branch
|
4.0 | D | 17 |
| 163 |
Willamette Valley Oregon · top county: Benton
|
4.0 | D | 6 |
| 164 |
Central Ohio Ohio · top county: Fairfield
|
3.9 | D | 13 |
| 165 |
Western Mass (Pioneer Valley & Berkshires) Massachusetts · top county: Franklin
|
3.9 | D | 4 |
| 166 |
Cape & Islands Massachusetts · top county: Dukes
|
3.8 | D | 3 |
| 167 |
Central Iowa · top county: Marion
|
3.8 | D | 18 |
| 168 |
Central Indiana Indiana · top county: Clay
|
3.8 | D | 31 |
| 169 |
Eastern Connecticut Connecticut · top county: Northeastern Connecticut
|
3.8 | D | 4 |
| 170 |
Mid-Michigan & Thumb Michigan · top county: Sanilac
|
3.8 | D | 14 |
| 171 |
Northeast Iowa · top county: Chickasaw
|
3.8 | D | 19 |
| 172 |
Northeast Ohio Ohio · top county: Carroll
|
3.8 | D | 17 |
| 173 |
Northeast Wisconsin Wisconsin · top county: Marinette
|
3.8 | D | 13 |
| 174 |
Northern Virginia Virginia · top county: Fredericksburg
|
3.8 | D | 13 |
| 175 |
Southern NH & Seacoast New Hampshire · top county: Sullivan
|
3.8 | D | 6 |
| 176 |
Southwest Florida Florida · top county: Glades
|
3.8 | D | 7 |
| 177 |
Western Connecticut Connecticut · top county: Northwest Hills
|
3.8 | D | 5 |
| 178 |
Metro Atlanta Georgia · top county: Heard
|
3.7 | D | 23 |
| 179 |
Northern Indiana Indiana · top county: Wells
|
3.7 | D | 27 |
| 180 |
Northwest Iowa · top county: O'Brien
|
3.7 | D | 23 |
| 181 |
Northern Illinois Illinois · top county: Jo Daviess
|
3.6 | D | 15 |
| 182 |
Southeast Michigan Michigan · top county: Hillsdale
|
3.6 | D | 10 |
| 183 |
Hudson Valley & Catskills New York · top county: Delaware
|
3.5 | D | 10 |
| 184 |
NYC & Long Island New York · top county: Bronx
|
3.5 | D | 7 |
| 185 |
Piedmont North Carolina · top county: Caswell
|
3.5 | D | 31 |
| 186 |
South Florida & Keys Florida · top county: Monroe
|
3.5 | D | 6 |
| 187 |
Central Maryland Maryland · top county: Baltimore city
|
3.4 | F | 9 |
| 188 |
Portland Metro Oregon · top county: Columbia
|
3.4 | F | 4 |
| 189 |
Southwest Ohio Ohio · top county: Highland
|
3.4 | F | 15 |
| 190 |
Central Florida Florida · top county: Okeechobee
|
3.3 | F | 18 |
| 191 |
Puget Sound Washington · top county: Skagit
|
3.3 | F | 9 |
| 192 |
Southeast PA Pennsylvania · top county: Chester
|
3.3 | F | 7 |
| 193 |
Twin Cities Minnesota · top county: Isanti
|
3.3 | F | 11 |
| 194 |
Central Jersey New Jersey · top county: Hunterdon
|
3.2 | F | 5 |
| 195 |
South Jersey & the Shore New Jersey · top county: Cape May
|
3.2 | F | 8 |
| 196 |
Southern Wisconsin Wisconsin · top county: Green
|
3.2 | F | 13 |
| 197 |
Central Coast California · top county: San Benito
|
3.1 | F | 5 |
| 198 |
Central Mass Massachusetts · top county: Worcester
|
3.1 | F | 1 |
| 199 |
Eastern Mass Massachusetts · top county: Suffolk
|
3.1 | F | 6 |
| 200 |
Bay Area & North Coast California · top county: Mendocino
|
3.0 | F | 11 |
| 201 |
North Jersey New Jersey · top county: Warren
|
3.0 | F | 8 |
| 202 |
Chicagoland Illinois · top county: Kankakee
|
2.8 | F | 9 |
| 203 |
Central Valley California · top county: Colusa
|
2.7 | F | 15 |
| 204 |
Southern California California · top county: Imperial
|
2.4 | F | 7 |