How Living Off the Grid in Hawaii Compares to Other States

by Samuel Stebbins, 24/7 Wall St. via The Center Square Jan 27, 2023

In the wake of the pandemic, with growing economic uncertainty and climate change stressing public infrastructure, more Americans are seeking ways to live off the grid. This does not necessarily mean forgoing all modern conveniences. Rather, living off the grid simply often means just that - being disconnected from local utility grids and having a higher degree of self-sufficiency.

A recent study released by LawnStarter, a lawn care company that frequently conducts research into city and state amenities, created a weighted index of 23 key measures to identify the best states to live off the grid. These measures fall into one of five categories: feasibility, infrastructure, affordability, climate, and safety.

According to LawnStarter, Hawaii ranks as the 18th worst state for those seeking to live off the grid.

Hawaii scores highest in the climate category, which includes measures like the average yearly amount of sunshine, the average yearly amount of rain, and days of extreme temperatures. The state's lowest ranking category is affordability, which takes into account measures such as the average per-acre value of cropland, the property tax rate, and the overall cost of living.

All data in this story is from LawnStarter. A full description of the methodology is available here.