Yes, with two things to plan around. Wells are shallow here, near 80 feet, which keeps drilling costs down. The growing season is about 137 frost-free days and winter sun is weak, so plan on a greenhouse and a bigger battery bank or a generator. Septic will likely cost more, because rock or a hard layer sits about 44 inches down.
What the land says
Rain
Rain helps, but plan on a well for most of your water and on watering the garden in dry months.
About 33 inches a year (PRISM, 1991 to 2020 average)
Wells
Shallow wells, so drilling should be one of the cheaper costs.
The typical well here is about 80 feet deep; a well typically runs $5,000 to $12,000
Growing season
Short. Start seeds indoors and favor cold-hardy crops.
About 137 frost-free days, USDA zone 4a; last frost about May 15, first about September 30
Sun
Fair sun. Plan a larger array or a generator for winter.
About 4.5 hours of full sun a day, averaged over the year
Flood
Flood zones are rare here. Still, look up the parcel on FEMA's flood map.
FEMA maps no flood zones nearby
Wildfire
Low wildfire risk.
U.S. Forest Service wildfire hazard map: Very Low to Low here
Storms
Hurricanes and strong tornadoes are rare here.
NOAA: no hurricane-strength storm within 50 miles since 1975; about 1 strong (EF2 or stronger) tornado a decade within 25 miles
Terrain
Flat, but the ground stays wet. Build on the higher, drier spot.
Slopes average about 2%, about 1,510 feet above sea level
Soil
Expect a costlier septic system, because rock or a hard layer sits about 44 inches down. The county's soil test decides.
Silt loam, somewhat poorly drained (USDA soil survey). A mound, sand filter, or treatment unit typically runs $10,000 to $20,000
Road
Paved roads are close by.
Nearest paved road usually within about 0.9 miles (OpenStreetMap)
Check a Wisconsin parcel, or plan the one you own
Get a free 0-100 off-grid score.
A step-by-step build plan, sizing your solar, water, garden, septic, heat, and buildings.
Is it legal here?
Zoning
Set town by town. County zoning applies in a town only if the town board has approved it, and some towns zone on their own, so ask the town clerk with the parcel's address.
Building code
Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code is a statewide building code for new one- and two-family homes. The town, village, city, or county enforces it with a building permit and inspections, and in a small town that does neither, the state Department of Safety and Professional Services does, so plan on a permit for a new house almost anywhere.
Rainwater
Collecting it is allowed.
Composting toilets
Allowed with a permit and an approved unit.
Water rights
Owners of land along a creek or lake can make reasonable use of its water.
Drilled to about 80 feet, with pump and pressure tank
Septic
$10,000 to $20,000
Mound, sand filter, or treatment unit
Solar and batteries
$19,000 to $37,000
Sized for a modest household
Road or driveway
$3,000 to $9,000
From the nearest road to a house site
Clearing
$1,000 to $4,000
A house site, solar, and garden
Total
$39,000 to $82,000
Before the house
Before you make an offer on land here
Soil test
Get a soil test before you count on septic.
Rock or a hard layer sits about 44 inches down, which can rule out a standard system.
Zoning
Call the town or township office with the parcel's address.
Set town by town. County zoning applies in a town only if the town board has approved it, and some towns zone on their own, so ask the town clerk with the parcel's address.
Road access
Confirm the parcel fronts a public road or has a recorded easement.
Without one, you may not have a legal way in.
Nearby counties
14,102 people live in Price County, about 11.2 per square mile. It ranks tied for 66th of the 72 Wisconsin counties we scored, and Wisconsin ranks 28th of 50 states.