Crime and cost of living in your area.

Price of R/E in general. The further from city jobs, the cheaper. Corn belt land IS nuts. Availability is a large part of the price deal.
Price of rural land in say Missouri is 25 cents on the dollar compared to Texas. Location. Wages are probably half also.

Crime? In rural counties with real law, mostly petty dope dealers and petty thieves. I doubt you will ever go anywhere that has NO crime. Conservative politics is a tip off. In rural counties where 99% of home are armed and loaded, pickups are armed and the law says protect your life AND property, the thieving crooks are nervous. Dopers are anywhere.