Best Counties for Land Flipping in the US (2026)
The best counties for land flipping in the US are Sevier County, Tennessee, Charlotte County, Florida and Collier County, Florida. We ranked 609 counties in 7 states on how much vacant land they have and how many owners live away from their property, using each county's own parcel records.
The top 10 and why
1. Sevier County, Tennessee
Score 92/100
21,658 vacant parcels, 29% of owners live out of state and 74% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 1.4 acres.
2. Charlotte County, Florida
Score 91/100
92,206 vacant parcels and 30% of owners live out of state. The typical vacant parcel is 0.2 acres.
3. Collier County, Florida
Score 91/100
24,010 vacant parcels, 24% of owners live out of state and 73% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 1.1 acres.
4. Highlands County, Florida
Score 90/100
52,512 vacant parcels, 19% of owners live out of state and 73% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 0.2 acres.
5. Harrison County, Mississippi
Score 90/100
29,209 vacant parcels, 15% of owners live out of state and 85% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 0.3 acres.
6. Pasco County, Florida
Score 90/100
36,669 vacant parcels, 14% of owners live out of state and 83% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 0.2 acres.
7. Walton County, Florida
Score 89/100
21,696 vacant parcels, 36% of owners live out of state and 69% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 0.4 acres.
8. Cumberland County, Tennessee
Score 89/100
34,927 vacant parcels, 20% of owners live out of state and 70% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 3.2 acres.
9. Lee County, Florida
Score 88/100
129,303 vacant parcels and 25% of owners live out of state. The typical vacant parcel is 0.3 acres.
10. Monroe County, Florida
Score 87/100
35% of owners live out of state and 83% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 0.2 acres.
National county ranking
The top 25 of 609 ranked counties. Each state page ranks every county in that state.
Best states for land flipping: how the 7 compare
Sorted by how many of each state's counties make the national top 50. Each state's own ranking compares its counties with each other.
| State | In national top 50 | Counties ranked | Vacant parcels | Out-of-state | State #1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 23 | 66 | 1,475,235 | 14% | Charlotte County |
| Mississippi | 14 | 79 | 709,371 | 13% | Pike County |
| Texas | 6 | 225 | 2,794,257 | 4% | Polk County |
| Tennessee | 5 | 85 | 530,567 | 9% | Sevier County |
| Montana | 1 | 56 | 286,441 | 12% | Flathead County |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 52 | 793,865 | 7% | Vilas County |
| West Virginia | 0 | 46 | 347,561 | 12% | Logan County |
How the ranking works
- Vacant land supply: the number of parcels the county itself codes as vacant land.
- Out-of-state owners: the share of owners whose mailing address is in another state.
- Absentee owners: the share whose mailing address is not the parcel's address.
- Every county is ranked against all the others on each figure, and the score is the average, from 0 to 100. That is why a county's national score differs from its score on its state page, which compares it only with its own state.
- Counties publish on their own schedules, so the data years differ by state. Each state page lists its sources and years.
- What it doesn't measure: sale prices, how fast land sells, or buyer demand. Check sold comps and access for any parcel before you buy.
Ready to mail? Build a list of vacant-land owners in any of these counties, filtered by acreage and owner location.
Land flipping by county: FAQ
What is the best county for land flipping in the US?
Among the 609 counties we rank across 7 states, Sevier County, Tennessee comes first, followed by Charlotte County, Florida and Collier County, Florida. 21,658 vacant parcels, 29% of owners live out of state and 74% of owners are absentee. The typical vacant parcel is 1.4 acres.
What is the best state for land flipping?
Of the 7 states we cover, Florida has the most counties in our national top 50: 23. The right state for you also depends on your budget, the lot sizes you want to sell and how well you know the local market, so compare the state rankings below.
How is the national ranking calculated?
Every county is ranked against all the others on three figures from its own parcel roll: the number of vacant land parcels, the share of owners whose mailing address is in another state, and the share whose mailing address is not the parcel's address. The score is the average of those three rankings, from 0 to 100. Counties with fewer than 500 vacant parcels or fewer than 1,000 owners with a mailing address are left out.
Does this cover every state?
No. It covers Florida, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin: the states where we publish county parcel records that include owner mailing addresses. We add states as their county records come in.
Does a high score mean land is cheap or sells fast there?
No. The score uses parcel records only, and parcel records carry no sale prices, days on market or buyer demand. Before you buy, check recent sold comps, road access, zoning and back taxes for the specific parcel.