Page County Iowa Farmland Market — 2025 Year in Review & 2026 Early Outlook

Page County, in Iowa's southwestern corner, recorded 33 courthouse-verified farmland sales in 2025 averaging $8,386 per acre — a +4.6% gain from 2024's $8,020 average and the fourth consecutive year of appreciation since the 2021 trough of $4,650 per acre. The county's 2025 performance reflects the broader Southwest Iowa trend of steady, measured appreciation driven by strong cash rents and consistent buyer demand from local operators and regional investors. The median of $8,506 per acre, slightly above the mean, suggests a relatively uniform market without extreme outliers at the high end.

The early 2026 data introduces a note of caution. Two East River township sales in January 2026 — a 98.6-acre parcel and a 67.9-acre parcel, both at approximately $5,499 per acre — represent a significant departure from the 2025 average. These parcels, with CSR2 scores of 57.2 and 49.2 respectively, reflect the lower end of the county's quality spectrum, and their prices are consistent with fair-to-good ground in Southwest Iowa. The -34.4% year-over-year comparison is therefore misleading as a market indicator — it reflects the quality composition of the early 2026 sample rather than a broad price decline.

Year-by-Year Price Summary

2025 Market Analysis

The 33 sales recorded in Page County during 2025 reflect a well-distributed market across quality tiers. Prime ground (CSR2 75+) averaged $9,640 per acre across 9 sales, while good-quality ground (CSR2 55–74) averaged $8,201 across 19 sales — the county's most active tier. Fair-ground parcels (CSR2 below 55) averaged $6,830 across 5 sales. The $2,810 per acre premium for prime over fair ground is consistent with Southwest Iowa market norms and reflects the meaningful productivity differences across Page County's diverse landscape.

The year's top transactions were concentrated in the county's northern and central townships. The January Fremont township sale — 39 acres at $11,700 per acre with a CSR2 of 81.9 — set the county's 2025 high-water mark and demonstrates that Page County's best ground can compete with prices seen in more productive Southwest Iowa counties. The February Amity township sale at $11,000 per acre for a 140-acre parcel confirmed that large-block prime ground attracts strong buyer interest. The Buchanan, Lincoln, and Colfax townships each produced transactions above $10,000 per acre, suggesting that quality ground is distributed across multiple areas of the county.

CSR2 Tier Breakdown — 2025

Top Transactions — 2025 & 2026 YTD

Township Analysis

Buchanan, Lincoln, and Colfax townships led Page County in average $/acre for 2025, each producing transactions above $10,000 per acre. The Fremont and Amity townships — which produced the year's two highest $/acre sales — are located in the county's northern tier, where the land base includes some of the county's most productive soils. The East River township, which produced both early 2026 transactions, represents the county's more typical fair-to-good ground and its prices are consistent with that quality tier.

Market Outlook

Page County's farmland market is in a constructive position heading into 2026, with the 2025 appreciation trend intact and buyer demand evident across quality tiers. The early 2026 East River township sales, while below the county average, reflect the quality of those specific parcels rather than a broad market shift. Sellers with prime ground in the Fremont, Amity, or Lincoln township areas should expect continued strong interest, while fair-ground parcels in the $5,000–$7,000 range will find a more price-sensitive buyer pool. The full 2026 picture will emerge as the spring selling season gets underway.