Would-be homesteaders eye Great Lakes, warn Arizona and Texas come with water risks

For people dreaming of starting a homestead, the biggest question may no longer be where land is cheapest. A growing online debate suggests long-term access to water, workable weather, and local rules could matter even more.

The debate picked up after one would-be homesteader laid out a wish list that mixed family priorities with practical ones: homeschooling freedom, flexible regulations, a growing season longer than 100 days, and a place that would "prefer no extreme weathers."

Here's what to know

In a Reddit thread, replies soon shifted from legal flexibility alone to bigger concerns about climate and water security, even though the original poster said they love North Carolina and mainly find land there too expensive.

Freshwater access emerged as a major theme. Some commenters treated the Great Lakes as a practical option, while others singled out Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan for milder summers and strong hunting access.

"With drought hitting harder in more and more states it's beneficial to live near the largest sources of fresh water in the western hemisphere," one commenter wrote.

States that can seem appealing for homeschooling or lower-regulation living were not automatically seen as ideal. Alaska and Texas both came up, but commenters repeatedly circled back to the same concern: extreme weather.

Arizona drew some of the clearest disagreement, with praise for the state's school choice policies clashing with warnings that water scarcity could become a major obstacle for households and small-scale growers.

More background

For households thinking about gardening, livestock, or partial self-sufficiency, dependable rainfall, moderate temperatures, and manageable local rules can translate into lower costs and fewer unpleasant surprises.

The original poster also emphasized homeschool flexibility, writing, "Don't want the government so involved that they have to approve our lesson plans."

For many families, that kind of regulatory freedom can matter just as much as soil quality or the price of acreage.

One commenter warned, "Do a deep dive on water issues in the southwest. Beautiful country, but it would be hard to carve a living out of it now, much less in a few years as water becomes more and more scarce."

Not everyone agreed that dry states should be dismissed altogether, though.

A commenter from southeastern Arizona said, "I grow lots of fruit and veggies in SE. Az. You can grow food in Arizona."

What can be done?

Lower property taxes, lighter zoning enforcement, or cheaper acreage may save money upfront, but irrigation access, insurance costs, heating and cooling bills, and crop reliability are important factors to consider when calculating the total cost.

West Virginia also got a favorable mention. One commenter said the county "doesn't really care about zoning or building codes outside of septic" while also praising low property taxes and a decent growing season.

That can mean looking closely at drought exposure, public water policy, historic temperature swings, and which crops actually perform well there without expensive inputs.

Where can I learn more?

For would-be homesteaders weighing water, weather, and local rules, energy independence is often part of the same equation.

• In the Rockies, one family showed that 1,000 watts of solar can run an off-grid life.

• Across the U.S., homeowners moved to protect federal solar tax credits from sudden policy threats.

• At EnergySage, buyers learned solar installation costs shift with equipment, labor, and local conditions.

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