Jefferson County, Iowa Farmland Values and Land Auction Information

The following information is from Iowa State University’s Land Survey that’s released each December. It is only a guide and won’t apply exactly to your farmland.  Last update 12/2023. Data on this page can be up to 12 months old. To see current Iowa land prices and most recent farmland sales results click here

Jefferson County Iowa Farmland Value Profile

Jefferson County Iowa Farmland Value Profile
  • The average value of farmland in Jefferson County is $8,643 per acre which is up $822 from 2022 to 2023.
  • The average price of tillable farmland per CSR2 point in Jefferson County is $113.72 for 2023 land auctions.
  • Jefferson County is ranked 85 in the state of Iowa in average dollars per acre for tillable farmland.
  • The highest sale of farmland in Jefferson County in 2023 was $16,900 per acre.
Location Southeast Iowa
County Size 435 sq. miles
Total Acres 228,017
Cropland Acres 178,100
Average Price Per Acre Farmland $8,643
Average Price Per Acre for Southeast, IA $10,460
CSR2 Weighted Average 61
CSR2 Cropland Average 76
State Average CSR2 68.6
Average Price per CSR2 $113.72
Average County Rent $235
Rent Range $179 - $286
Average rent for Southeast Iowa $252
Rent per CSR2 Point $2.97
Improved Permanent Pasture $79
Unimproved Permanent Pasture $56
Stalk Grazing per Acre $13
Hunting Rights per Acre $16
If you have questions about selling farmland see our Iowa Farmland Sales FAQ or get a Free Farmland Market Analysis.

Towns: Batavia, Coppock, Fairfield, Libertyville, Lockridge, Maharishi Vedic City, Packwood, Pleasant Plain

Unincorporated Areas:

Townships: Polk, Black Hawk, Penn, Walnut, Locust Grove, Center, Buchanan, Lockridge, Des Moines, Liberty, Cedar, Round Prairie

History: The first settler to be (July 1836) in what became Jefferson County was William Coop, son of Col. W. G. Coop. Enough settlers had moved into this territory by 1838 that the Territory of Iowa was approved by Congress on June 12, 1838, having been created from the Wisconsin Territory, which, in tu, had been created from land acquired in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson County came into being on January 21, 1839, as the result of an act (“An act to divide the county of Henry and establish the county of Jefferson”) presented by Col. W. G. Coop to the Iowa Territorial Legislature.

Three Commissioners were appointed, whose first task was to locate and establish the seat of Justice of Jefferson County. Fairfield was chosen (over Lockridge as Col. Coop wanted), largely because of its central location and pleasant setting on an elevated prairie. Although Henry B. Notson had some sort of claim on the land, he relinquished it, and the town was laid out in April 1839. Fairfield was incorporated in 1847. The first election of County Officials was held on the first Monday of April 1839, when three County Commissioners, a Treasurer, a Sheriff, a Recorder and a Surveyor were elected.

A change was made in 1851 – a County Court was created by the State of Iowa (Iowa became a State of the Union on December 28, 1846), which gave the County Judge powers previously exercised by the Board of County Commissioners. But on March 22, 1860, the State Legislature passed an act creating a Board of County Supervisors for each county, replacing the powers of the County Judge. An elected Supervisor from each township served on the Board, but this system was not popular and in 1871 the law was changed to a three-member Board of Supervisors.

A wooden courthouse was completed in December of 1839, but it was moved to allow a stone and brick courthouse to be built (completed in January, 1851). The current courthouse was built in 1892 at a new location.

Jefferson County Iowa Farmland Sales Resources

Selling Land with DreamDirt

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Recent Farmland Sales in this County

11/21/23 148.35 Acres; $7,300/acre; 71.3 CSR2; 66% tillable

10/12/23 100 Acres; $16,900/acre; 80.8 CSR2; 99.4% tillable

9/14/23 189.28 Acres; $5,900/acre; 64.3 CSR2; 82.8% tillable

9/21/23 200 Acres; $6,850/acre; 68 CSR2; 80.3% tillable

9/21/23 40 Acres; $11,700/acre; 83.2 CSR2; 77.4% tillable

8/8/23 34.67 Acres; $4,800/acre; 52.1 CSR2; 77% tillable

8/8/23 79.31 Acres; $6,950/acre; 57.9 CSR2; 82% tillable

6/22/23 80 Acres; $6,600/acre; 74.9 CSR2; 38.5% tillable

6/15/23 160.51 Acres; $5,850/acre; 66.7 CSR2; 55% tillable

6/15/23 94.41 Acres; $6,750/acre; 58.3 CSR2; 56% tillable

6/15/23 140.35 Acres; $8,900/acre; 68.1 CSR2; 80.76% tillable

6/15/23 42.61 Acres; $9,100/acre; 60.4 CSR2; 87% tillable

2/2/23 68.41 Acres; $12,100/acre; 83.1 CSR2; 90.73% tillable

12/7/22 43.8 acres 40.70 tillable acres $10,106/acre 60.6 CSR2 $166.77/CSR2 Total $442,642.80 92.92% tillable

11/7/22 140 Acres; $10,250/acre; 70.8 CSR2; 82% tillable

11/7/22 100 Acres; $8,950/acre; 59.1 CSR2; 87% tillable

10/11/22 70.27 Acres; $13,000/acre; 79.3 CSR2; 97% tillable

10/11/22 80.29 Acres; $12,050/acre; 78.5 CSR2; 96% tillable

6/27/22 154.18 acres; 73.8 CSR2; $10,400/acre; $140.92/CSR2; 93.4% tillable

March 2022 144.93 acres; 130.98 tillable acres; $12,000/tillable acre; 66.80 CSR2; $179.64/CSR2; $1,571,760; 90.37% tillable

Jason J. Smith, CAI

Photo of Jason Smith.

Jefferson County Iowa Farmland Sales

(515) 537-6633, [email protected]

Licensed to sell real estate in the state of Iowa

Jefferson County Farmland Values and Averages

All farmland values for Jefferson County are stated as averages and are not a guarantee of value in any given situation.  If you need a written farmland appraisal you should call us at 855-376-3478 to discuss how we can help you. Farmland prices can change quickly and some information on this website can be up to 12 months old depending on when you view it.  All sale results are dated so you can see the date of the sale however averages are calculated in December of each year and are based on a September to September study.

Learn More About Selling Iowa Land

You can find Farmland For Sale in Jefferson County Iowa at bid.DreamDirt.com.  Need the advice of a qualified farmland professional?  Our professional staff of Iowa auctioneers and land brokers at DreamDirt would be happy to visit with you about your situation and help guide you through the process of making an informed decision about selling farmland.  Want to continue your research?  You can find a wealth of information on our Farmland Sales and Auction Blog.