The world is going through constant change. Whether we are talking about culture, politics, wars, economics, or climate issues, there is no denying that society as we know it might cease to exist at some point. With that thought in mind, it’s good to stay prepared.
If you are a prepper and you want to make sure that you are safe and sound when SHTF, you are at the right place. In this article, we will create a list of states that give you the best chance of survival if “things go south”. So read along and find out what is the best state to live in when SHTF.
5 Best States to Live in When SHTF
- Montana
- North and South Dakota
- Maine
- Texas
- Colorado
Important Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best State to Live in When SHTF
There are not many places that have everything you might look for when considering a state to live in when SHTF. Previously, we gave you some advice on where not to be when SHTF.
Now it’s time to check USA states that we consider the place to be in a crisis. To create a list like that successfully, several requirements are a must.
Below you can find a list of factors that we considered to be of the utmost importance when we created this short list of best prepper states.
Land and Real Estate Prices
Preppers have to think about the worst possible scenario. Every scenario like that involves a lack of money and financial resources. So in a situation where every dollar counts, you want to hold to the very last cent. That is why we think that a cheap lot or house should be one of the priorities when you are picking a state to relocate to when SHTF.
Spending a fortune to buy something in California or New York is not a good way to go. You’ll end up spending resources that could be used for survival gear. On top of that, most expensive states are not having a lot of qualities that a prepper should look for.
Luckily, we found some states that have very cheap land along with other key factors that are making them an ideal solution.
Population Density Per Square Mile
When we were looking for a perfect state to live in when SHTF, this was very important to us.
Why?
Well, you don’t want to find yourself trampled by a horde of people in a state of total panic. Another thing that might happen in a well-populated area is that natural resources and stocks in store can become scarce in a record amount of time because there simply isn’t enough for everyone. This can lead to looting and violence in no time so we want to avoid that.
Natural Resources
Every prepper knows that living from the land is going to be a key to his survival when SHTF. When your supply of food runs out, you’ll want to be at a place where plenty of rivers, forests, and ponds can be found. Places like this attract a lot of wildlife, and rivers, of course, have fish in them so you’ll never run out of proteins and amino acids. Remote forests with a good climate and steady income of water are also rich in vegetation.
So when we considered the best states to live in when SHTF, we were looking for a place where we would still be on a healthy diet even without all the perks of civilized life.
Climate
We can’t stress enough how important proper climate is. Every single scenario that we’ve put together during our prepping was heavily involved with a good climate. If some man-made catastrophe occurs and the weather goes insane, you would like to be in the best possible situation whether it becomes too hot or too cold.
Aside from that, a good climate is a must to successfully grow crops and build a steady supply of food. When we created this list we also considered the following factors when it comes to climate:
- Amount of average rainy days in a year – too much rain is not good for crops and potential flood is not something that you should be looking for when you are trying to survive
- Average temperature per season – Of course, this could vary if natural disaster connected to climate happens, but still, we think that is better to be in a region where temperatures will still be somewhat tolerable
- Amount of snowy days in a year – This could become irrelevant if we continue to temper with our atmosphere, and our planet becomes frozen marble. However, every prepper would like to avoid snow and freezing temperatures. Not just because it will kill the crops and animals to hunt will be scarce, but also because traveling during a snowstorm isn’t easy.
Crime and Society
If you are wondering why we think this is an important factor, let us answer that for you.
Imagine living in a state where the crime rate is already high when law enforcement is present and laws are being upheld.
Now imagine what will happen when SHTF and all rules are ignored, when panic takes over and mobs of angry people are gathering. What do you think will happen with that already high crime rate? Yeah, it’s not a pretty image and you would want to avoid that outcome.
When we talk about society here, we are referring to the neighborhood or a county. It’s not the same to live in a suburban area where people never held a gun in their life and to live in the countryside where people have been hunting and living from the land for generations.
In a time of need, part of which of these two groups would you like to be?
Don’t get us wrong. we are not saying that people from the suburbs are less worthy in a crisis or that they will have a hard time surviving when SHTF. It’s just that we would rather be in a society that can handle a bow or a rake.
Of course, other factors have to be considered, but to us, the five we listed above are the most important ones. Now that we somewhat explained why they are important to me, it’s time to move to the list of best states to live in when SHTF.
5 Best States to Live in When SHTF
Montana
One of the nicknames that Montana goes by is “The Treasure State“. If you are a prepper, this country is a treasure indeed. The first thing that will cross your mind is most likely the fact that the state borders Canada in the north. Cold weather and snow are probably worrying you immediately. While it is true that Montana has pretty harsh and long winters, there are plenty of other benefits that this state can provide when SHTF.
Land and Real Estate Prices
Research that we did showed us that acre of land in Montana can be purchased for as low as $2,000. If you choose Montana for the state where you will retreat when the world is hit by a catastrophe, one thing is sure. You will own a decent piece of land for a very affordable price.
Population Density
With a density of 7.09 people per square mile, Montana is almost at the bottom. It’s 48th out of 50 states when it comes to this demographic value. This is great information for any prepper and that is what I, personally, like about Montana.
Natural Resources
You are probably not aware of this information, but Montana is the only state that has rivers that are flowing into the Hudson Bay, Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. With that being said, there will be plenty of water around. Montana is a famous location for hunting so meat shouldn’t be a problem once you spend your rations.
Climate
This is the biggest problem of Montana and the reason why you probably wouldn’t include it on your list of best states to live when SHTF. Yes, it is one of the coldest states in the USA, but with a bit of research about the climate in Montana we found out that it’s not as nearly bad as it could be. Balance of rainy and sunny days is good for crops as well, even though days are not as long as they would be somewhere else during winter.
Crime and Society
While Montana is sitting somewhere around the middle of the list when it comes to the crime per 1000 people ratio, we would still say that it is a very safe state due to low population density. Chances are much higher for you to encounter wildlife that will cause you problems, than that you will be a victim of a violent crime. Speaking of wildlife, people in Montana know how to handle a weapon because of this fact. So your potential neighbors will not be strangers when it comes to handling a crossbow or a firearm.
Additional facts that we want to point out when it comes to Montana are that it’s rich in valuable minerals and this makes it a perfect place to be in a situation where the world is recuperating after a catastrophe and the population starts to rebuild. You will have to trade with something, won’t you? Also, at the time of writing this, there are more cattle in Montana than people. So even in a worst-case scenario, we think that this will be one of the last places that will run out of food as we know it today. That, however, depends on what kind of catastrophe will come upon us.
Dakotas
Yeah, we are referring to both North and South Dakota here, so this is two states in one. Both of them are bordering Montana to the west, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they are on the list because they are sharing some similarities.
Land and Real Estate Prices
The average price per acre is around $2,000 for North Dakota and $3,000 for South Dakota. This is very affordable. If you are buying a piece of land with a house on it, decent homes can be found for as low as $200,000. This is a bargain when you know all the benefits that Dakota states have for preppers.
Population Density
Dakotas together have a population density slightly above the one of Montana. With 11 people per square mile, Dakotas are also at the very bottom of the population density list. And that is good. Every prepper will agree that the lower population is, the better for you.
Natural Resources
Few people know that South Dakota has more miles of shoreline than Florida. This fact alone is telling us that there is plenty of water to go around. Another fact worth pointing out is that North Dakota is the number one producer of Honey in the states. On top of that, the production of various grains is booming. So food production won’t be an issue in Dakotas.
Climate
The climate in both South and North Dakota is very similar to the one in Montana. The window for crop growing is short and even spring can bring occasional blizzard. But, there is a trick for that. If you buy a piece of land or property at the southern border of Dakotas, you will be in a very sweet spot.
Crime and Society
The majority of people feel safe in Dakotas. More than three-quarters of the population to be precise. The median age of the people that are residing in Dakotas is around 35. So plenty of healthy and able people to group up with when SHTF.
One of the problems that you may experience with the Dakotas is potential floods. The last big one occurred in 2010. With flat terrains and plenty of water, it’s hard to avoid them if it comes to one. However, all the other advantages of the Dakotas are enough to give them a place in our best state to live in when SHTF shortlist.
Maine
This shortlist wouldn’t be complete without Maine on it. You will hear a lot of talk about Maine in the prepper community. The state is very well-liked by the people that are looking to live off of the grid. Of course, there are some good reasons for that.
Land and Real Estate Prices
When you are looking for a home to buy in Maine, stay out of the populated areas and focus on the rural parts of the country. Right now you can buy a piece of land with a property for an average price of around $280,000. This is a great price when you combine it with everything else that Maine has to offer.
Population Density
Maine is not a state that is crowded with people. It’s in the 41st place when it comes to population density in the states. As long as you stay out of the Portland area you will be fine. So find yourself some cozy, rural place and you are good to go in this state.
Natural Resources
The state of Maine also has plenty of clear water. There is also an abundance of wood because of forests. So you won’t have trouble building yourself a shelter in case catastrophe hits extremely hard.
Climate
The climate in Maine is the mildest one of the three states that we currently listed. It also has cold winters, but they are not as harsh as they tend to be in Montana and Dakotas. With decent greenhouses, growing crops will not be an issue.
Crime and Society
This is by far the best fact about Maine. Maine has been continuously ranked as the safest state in the USA. So when SHTF or you just want to bug out from the society and live off of the grid, Maine is a place to be.
Texas
The great state of Texas. Federal state that is 1.2 times bigger than France. Hot weather, a society that is fond of guns, a lot of cattle, and plenty of space to roam around and gather resources. Texas is prepper heaven and a state that deserves to be on our best state to live in when SHTF shortlist.
Land and Real Estate Prices
Texas had a huge increase in the price of land per acre in 2021. But even with that 25% increase, land can still be purchased for an affordable price. The average price for one acre of land is $3,725.
Population Density
Texas has a population of 110 people per square mile. That is more than other states on the list, but when you consider how big Texas is, it’s not that much actually. As long as you stay away from the highly populated areas of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, you will be fine.
Natural Resources
Texas is full of estuaries and bays so there will be plenty of water. Being a sunny state with sometimes extremely hot weather means that you will have no issues with solar energy as well. On top of that, agriculture is the leading economy of Texas so crops will flourish here.
Climate
As we stated above, Texas has very warm weather. Climate is sub-tropical in the majority of the state. This is a very important factor and the key reason why we included Texas on our best state to live in when SHTF shortlist. Survival is easier in a climate where you don’t need winter clothes and heating to survive.
Crime and Society
Studies are showing that 60% of the Texas population worries about gun crime. This can be either good or bad. It depends from which point of view you are looking at it. The crime rate, in general, is on the rise, but it’s nothing too alarming. Texas is loaded with firearms and that can be both good and bad in a crisis. You are guaranteed that you won’t be short on weapons, but if you live in a neighborhood with people that are not quite fond of you, that can be a problem.
Colorado
Rocky mountains are a guarantee for fresh air and big game to hunt for, low population density, and very nice laws for landowners make Colorado one of the best states to consider when you are looking for the best state to live in when SHTF.
Land and Real Estate Prices
Of all states on the list, Colorado has the lowest prices of land per Acre. Averager price s $1,420 and the average price of cropland is around $1,900. That is definitely a piece of good news for every prepper. A steady supply of food is a must when we are talking about survival.
Population Density
Colorado has a steady growth of population each year. It lies in the 20th place when it comes to the most populous states in the USA. But if you find yourself a nice piece of land in a remote area and one of the natural parks is in close proximity, you are set to survive any kind of calamity.
Natural Resources
You know very well what the Rocky mountains look like even if you’ve never been there. Aside from the Rockies, there are plenty of natural parks in Colorado which are quite similar to it. Lack of food and fresh water definitely won’t be a problem.
Climate
To our personal taste, Colorado has the best climate out of all states on the list. Warm summers, cold winters with a lot of dry days are a perfect combination to live as normal as possible during a crisis. Combine climate with the natural resources and this state is a real jackpot for preppers.
Crime and Society
According to Colorado crime stats, the majority of crimes are aggravated assaults where firearms haven’t been used. In general, the crime rate in this state is in a safe middle when the USA as a whole is taken into account. So in a situation where SHTF, we think it’s safe to conclude that you will be safe with the right equipment.
Final Thoughts About the Best State to Live in When SHTF
All five states that we listed have their pros and cons. But, we think that these states are the best ones to live in when SHTF. No other states that we considered have the balance between population density, resources, crime rate, prices, and climate like these ones have.
If you are patient enough to purchase a decent property and you bring good equipment with you, we are positive that surviving in these states will be a lot easier than it would be in some other.
Stay safe out there and always be prepared. The world is in turmoil right now and there are no signs that it will get better any time soon. Choose your state to live in when SHTF as soon as possible.