About AcreScore

AcreScore is a free tool that scores every county in America for buildability — specifically for barndominiums, shop-houses, and owner-built rural homes.

We created AcreScore because finding the right place to build shouldn't require weeks of research across dozens of government websites. Zoning rules, flood risk, land prices, property taxes, permit requirements — it's all scattered. We pull it together into one score so you can compare counties at a glance.

What We Score

Every county gets a 0–100 AcreScore based on factors that matter to owner-builders: zoning friendliness, flood risk, median land cost, property taxes, climate, proximity to metro areas, and more. Higher score = easier to build.

Want the details? See our full methodology →

Who We Are

AcreScore is built by a small team in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee. We're engineers, builders, and data nerds who believe everyone deserves a clear path to land ownership and homebuilding.

Our Data

We source from the US Census Bureau, FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer, USGS, USDA soil surveys, state and county government records, and public zoning databases. Scores are updated regularly as new data becomes available.

Get in Touch

Questions, feedback, or county data corrections? Email us at hello@acrescore.com