Dickinson County Iowa Farmland Sales: 2026 Market Update
The Land Sleuth
Dickinson County's farmland market shows significant appreciation through early 2026, with average prices per acre trending upwards. High CSR land consistently commands premium prices, driving a robust market.
Dickinson County, situated in Northwest Iowa within the Iowa Great Lakes region (ISU District 1), has consistently been a focal point for farmland market activity. LandSleuth now has 707 courthouse-verified sales on record for Dickinson County, providing a comprehensive dataset for understanding market trends through early 2026.
Year-by-Year Trend (2021–2026)
The Dickinson County farmland market has shown significant appreciation over the past five years, with average prices per acre generally trending upwards. The market experienced a notable surge in 2022, followed by continued growth into 2025 and early 2026.
| Year | Sales | Avg $/Acre | Range | Avg CSR2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 10 | $7,738 | $3,500–$13,200 | 70.2 |
| 2022 | 14 | $10,869 | $5,103–$20,889 | 72.0 |
| 2023 | 10 | $11,901 | $8,970–$14,520 | 80.2 |
| 2024 | 20 | $13,292 | $4,394–$49,281 | 71.5 |
| 2025 | 21 | $13,499 | $8,750–$17,950 | 83.5 |
| 2026 YTD | 6 | $14,604 | $8,217–$26,711 | 79.3 |
The year-over-year analysis reveals a positive trajectory. From 2024 to 2025, the average price per acre increased by 1.6%. This upward trend continued into early 2026, with a significant 8.2% increase from 2025 to 2026 YTD, indicating a robust market.
CSR2 Tier Analysis (2025–2026 YTD)
Analyzing sales by Corn Suitability Rating (CSR2) tiers provides deeper insights into the value drivers in Dickinson County. Higher CSR2 land consistently commands premium prices, though all tiers have seen active trading.
2025 CSR2 Tier Analysis
| CSR2 Tier | Sales | Avg $/Acre |
|---|---|---|
| CSR2 75+ | 17 | $14,131 |
| CSR2 55–74 | 4 | $10,816 |
| CSR2 <55 | 0 | N/A |
In 2025, the majority of sales and the highest average prices were observed in the CSR2 75+ tier, reflecting the strong demand for high-quality agricultural land. The CSR2 55-74 tier also saw active sales, albeit at a lower average price.
2026 YTD CSR2 Tier Analysis
| CSR2 Tier | Sales | Avg $/Acre |
|---|---|---|
| CSR2 75+ | 4 | $15,799 |
| CSR2 55–74 | 1 | $14,750 |
| CSR2 <55 | 1 | $26,711 |
Early 2026 data continues to show strong performance in the CSR2 75+ tier. Notably, the CSR2 <55 tier recorded a single sale at an exceptionally high price of $26,711/acre. This transaction, identified as an Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchase, represents a conservation acquisition and is considered an outlier, not reflective of typical agricultural land values in this CSR2 tier.
Top Transactions
Examining the top sales provides a snapshot of the high-value transactions driving the market.
Top 5 Sales 2025
| Date | Township | Acres | $/Acre | CSR2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26 | Westport Twp | 79 | $17,950 | 95.1 |
| Aug 27 | Westport Twp | 156 | $16,700 | 90.1 |
| May 1 | Westport Twp | 76.7 | $16,700 | 89.3 |
| May 1 | Westport Twp | 156 | $16,700 | 90.1 |
| Dec 19 | Okoboji Twp | 156 | $15,995 | 95.0 |
Westport Township was particularly active in 2025, dominating the top sales with multiple transactions exceeding $16,000 per acre, often involving land with high CSR2 ratings.
Top 3 Sales 2026 YTD
| Date | Township | Acres | $/Acre | CSR2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 28 | Center Grove Twp | 57.5 | $26,711 | 47.9 |
| Jan 7 | Silver Lake Twp | 118.7 | $15,799 | 84.2 |
| Feb 6 | Westport Twp | 79 | $14,750 | 90.4 |
The highest transaction in early 2026 was the aforementioned Center Grove Township sale, an outlier due to its conservation nature. Other top sales in 2026 YTD reflect strong values for high-CSR2 land.
Township Analysis
Farmland values can vary significantly by township, reflecting differences in soil quality, location, and local market dynamics. The most recent sale in Dickinson County was on February 6, 2026, in Westport Township, for 79 acres at $14,750/acre with a CSR2 of 90.4.
2025 Township Averages (1+ sales)
| Township | Avg $/Acre |
|---|---|
| Westport | $16,191 |
| Milford | $13,054 |
| Lloyd | $12,597 |
| Excelsior | $11,700 |
| Spirit Lake | $11,205 |
Westport Township led in average price per acre in 2025, underscoring its premium market position. Other townships like Milford, Lloyd, Excelsior, and Spirit Lake also demonstrated strong average values, contributing to the overall robust market in Dickinson County.
Search Comparable Sales
For a comprehensive analysis of Dickinson County farmland sales and to explore additional comparable sales data, visit LandSleuth.
Written by
greg conrad
The Land Sleuth
Greg Conrad has spent more than a decade sourcing courthouse-verified farmland sales data across Iowa. LandSleuth is built on that same standard of accuracy — every record verified, every price real.
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