Land for Sale in Pennsylvania

Buying land in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania land ranges across the ridge-and-valley Appalachians, the northern "Pennsylvania Wilds" plateau, the Pocono uplands, and the southeastern Piedmont farm country. This guide covers where land for sale in Pennsylvania sits, the land types you will meet, what moves prices and the checks to run before you buy. Looking for something specific? The request form on this page watches for matching parcels.

Pennsylvania at a glance for buyers

  • Deeds are recorded with the county recorder of deeds.
  • Pennsylvania has 67 counties.
  • Recorded sale prices are generally searchable at the county level.
  • Water law is riparian: owners of land touching a stream or lake have reasonable-use rights, sometimes with permits.
  • Oil, gas and mineral rights are often severed from the surface here, so ask what conveys.

How water rights workMineral rights vs. surface rightsHow to verify legal access

Where to look for land in Pennsylvania

Demand centers on Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, and Scranton. For more acreage per dollar, look at counties such as Philadelphia, Allegheny, Potter, Tioga, Clearfield, and Bradford.

Regional markets across Pennsylvania

  • PA Wilds: North-central forest in Potter, Tioga and McKean counties, for hunting and timber at lower prices.
  • Southeast Pennsylvania: Lancaster County farmland and the Philadelphia exurbs, where preserved farmland and development collide.
  • Marcellus region: Northeast and southwest counties where natural-gas leasing makes mineral rights a key question.

Pennsylvania land types

Large forested hunting tracts in the northern-tier counties (Potter, Tioga, McKean, Clinton), Pocono recreational and cabin lots, Amish and Lancaster County farmland in the southeast, and Marcellus-area acreage with mineral considerations.

What drives Pennsylvania land prices

A deep hunting-camp tradition in the northern tier, Pocono second homes, and premium southeastern farmland make for three very different land markets in one state.

Buying land in Pennsylvania: what to check first

  • Confirm recorded legal access to a public road and order a survey.
  • Get the parcel's zoning or deed restrictions in writing before relying on a use.
  • Price utilities and septic: ask what the county requires.

Land due diligence checklistPerc tests and septic for raw land

Pennsylvania land values: what USDA data shows

USDA measured average farm real estate (all land and buildings on farms) in Pennsylvania at $8,700 per acre in 2026, up 14% from $7,660 in 2022. That ranks Pennsylvania 13 of the 48 states USDA reports, and it is 93% above the U.S. average of $4,500.

Pasture (grazing land), the closest USDA series to undeveloped rural land, averaged $4,350 per acre in 2026, up 9.8% since 2022 and above the U.S. pasture average of $2,000.

These are averages across working farms and ranches, not asking prices for any one parcel. A homesite near a town, a lot with road and power, or a parcel with water can sell well above these figures, and remote land with no access can sell well below them. Use them to see which way the market is moving and how it compares with the next state over, then check recent sales and current listings for the area you are looking at.

For comparison, USDA farm real estate averages per acre in the bordering states:

  • New York: $4,500 per acre in 2026 (48% lower)
  • New Jersey: $17,000 per acre in 2026 (95% higher)
  • Delaware: $9,700 per acre in 2026 (11% higher)
  • Maryland: $9,950 per acre in 2026 (14% higher)
  • Ohio: $9,650 per acre in 2026 (11% higher)

Frequently asked questions

What types of land are common in Pennsylvania?

Large forested hunting tracts in the northern-tier counties (Potter, Tioga, McKean, Clinton), Pocono recreational and cabin lots, and Amish and Lancaster County farmland in the southeast. Availability changes constantly.

Can I see what land sold for in Pennsylvania?

Usually. Recorded deed transfers are generally searchable at the county level, so you can compare recent sales to an asking price.

Who records a land deed in Pennsylvania?

The county recorder of deeds. A title or escrow company normally handles it at closing.

Can you find Pennsylvania land that isn't advertised?

Yes. Use the request form on this page with your target acreage, county and budget and we will tell you if a matching parcel comes up.

How much does land cost in Pennsylvania?

USDA reports farm real estate in Pennsylvania averaging $8,700 per acre in 2026, against $4,500 for the United States. That is an agricultural average; vacant lots, land near towns and land with water or utilities price differently, so compare current listings for the area you want.

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