Tiny House Statistics: 8 Really Encouraging Numbers & Facts

There are still many questions that need answers when it comes to tiny houses.

This is because while the movement has been around for decades, there is so much still to learn.

However, what we already know about tiny houses is really encouraging. It is encouraging to not only people who live in tiny houses but, also those who are looking to make the move.

The more information people have, the better suited they are to make a huge life decision.

There are few choices bigger in life than where to live.

Here are some really encouraging facts about tiny houses so that you can feel solid in your decision to live in one!

How Many Tiny Houses Are They In The US?

From looking at the number of Tiny Houses that are sold yearly we estimate that there are around 10,000 tiny houses in Northern America. 700 new houses are built every year from certified builders and we estimate that just as many are built privately.

Knowing the exact number of tiny houses in the US is an impossible thing.  This is because living in a tiny house is a unique style of living.  With a unique way of life, comes a great deal of unknown. On top of that, you need to get yourself familiar with the laws regarding tiny houses in your state.

However, in the case of tiny houses, there is a bigger reason for the unknown.

Many people who live in tiny houses choose to live off the grid.  This means that they don’t take part in things like home registries and citizenship censors.

Without this type of data, it is hard to pinpoint an exact number of tiny house residents.

However, there is one way to help get a pretty good estimate of how many people live in tiny houses.  This by checking the number of tiny houses sold over a period of time.  While there has been a steady stream of tiny houses sold over the last decade, it is on the rise.

In 2017 alone, sales of tiny houses increased by 67%. 

Many people credit this rise with the increase of debt and student loans in the US.  Because tiny houses are less expensive, they are more appealing to people just out of college.

So, how many tiny houses are there currently in the US?  With information for certified builders only, the best guess is that there are roughly 700 tiny houses being built a year.

So, in the past five years, there has been a surplus of 4,000 tiny houses.

Our best guess?

There are roughly 10,000 tiny houses in existence in the US.

Is Owning A Tiny House Financially Better?

One of the biggest questions surrounding tiny houses is why would someone want to live in a small space.  There are plenty of reasons why tiny houses are so desirable.

But, the one big thing that stands out is the money you can save by purchasing one.

While the economy is slowly on the rise, we can’t ignore the rising national debt crisis.  This kind of debt keeps people from being a desirable candidate for home loans.  Without a loan, it is nearly impossible to purchase a home.  The average citizen doesn’t have that kind of cash flow to make a large payment.

But, is buying a tiny house really that much better for you financially?  Yes!  People who purchase tiny houses are far more likely to be in a better position with money.

Studies show that roughly 50% of tiny house owners have more money saved than owners of traditional homes. 

Also, over 80% of owners of tiny houses have less debt than the average US citizen.

The average cost of a traditional-sized home is over $250 thousand dollars.  While the average price of a tiny house is around $75k.  This means that owners of tiny houses have more money in their pockets and less money to pay back to lenders.

Also, most owners of tiny houses have an above-average credit score.

So, buying a tiny house isn’t only great for your wallet but, a perfect way to ensure a healthy financial future!

Check Also: Statistics and Numbers For Motorhomes.

What Is The Average Mortgage For A Tiny House?

The average mortgage on a tiny house on wheels starts at around $150. This is a low number because most people choose to save up more when the total amount for the house is low. The down payment of around $7,500 so most people will b able to get a low monthly mortgage.

When it comes to buying a home, money talks!  While the average cost of a tiny house is $75k, what does that mean for your mortgage?  Generally, when buying a home you will have to first get approved for a loan.

You do this by applying with multiple banks and lenders to see who is willing to offer to the best deal.

However, you can’t expect to get a loan without some incentive on your part.  Most loaners are looking for at least a 10% downpayment of the total cost of the home.  So, for a traditional sized home, you will need at least $25,000 out of pocket as a payment.  But, the higher the downpayment, the less amount of interest you will owe.  Also, with a higher payment, you will be more desirable to lenders.

Getting a loan for a tiny house will require a downpayment of at least $7,500 to be considered.  This is far less out of pocket expense than what you will need for a traditional house.  Because the downpayment is low, most people choose to pay a higher downpayment for a better return and lower interest rates.

Because of this, most tiny house owners find that their mortgage payments are far less than what they expected.  Studies show that mortgage payments for a tiny house can be as low as $150 per month. 

That is just a fraction of the average mortgage for larger scale homes.  However, because a tiny house can be paid off quicker, almost 70% of tiny house owners find that they have no mortgage due after their first year.

What Is The Average Size Of A Tiny House?

The average size of a tiny house is 150 square feet with 20 feet from front to back. The average dimensions are 8 x 20 feet and with a height of up to 12-13 feet. These houses weigh around 10,000 pounds.

Some people get scared when they hear you talk about a tiny house.  This is because while the word tiny is an important part, it can be misleading.

Often times the word tiny is synonymous with a miniature house.

However, tiny houses are not miniature houses.  They are simply smaller scale homes that are a downsized alternative to traditional larger homes.

Tiny houses have all the basic essentials that you can find in a traditional home.  Just with much less space and clutter!  So, what is the average size of a tiny house?

It is important to remember that the length of the home will also include the size of the trailer its raised on.

Here’s more info on the biggest tiny houses out there.

And here’s info on the maximum building limits for tiny houses on wheels.

Have Tiny Houses Always Been This Size?

Are you surprised to know the average size of a tiny house?

Another surprising fact is that tiny houses have grown over the years.  Records show that since tiny houses started, they have grown on average 500 square feet larger.  While this may not seem like that big of a jump, in tiny houses, its everything!

So, what is the reason for the jump in size?  The reason why tiny houses have been getting larger over the years is that they changed to meet the demand of the people.

Tiny houses are for much more than single occupants these days.  Families are buying homes not only for themselves but for their kids to live in as well.

This means that with an increase of occupants, there will also have to be an increase in size.  It is also important to note that as society changes, it is important to adapt the way your house functions.  Tiny houses are so flexible that they can make simple changes like the size to fit your needs.

Progress only happens when we can recognize when a change should occur.  The tiny house movement was built to change and bend!

How Many Tiny Houses Are For Rent?

We estimate that there are around 2,500 tiny houses for rent in the U.S alone. People will often rent out their home part-time during vacations and the summer months. These houses are often found at sites like Airbnb.

Some people are just not ready to jump in head first to a tiny house.  Downsizing takes lots of time and planning and for some, lots of uncertainties.

This is why renting a tiny house before buying is a great tip for those who are still unsure.

But, with only a small number of tiny houses in the US, how can you find one to rent?

More importantly, are there many tiny houses available to rent?  It is important to remember that when we talk about renting, it isn’t only for the long-term.  There are plenty of properties available that work on a short-term basis.

User to user platforms like Airbnb is leading the way when it comes to finding unique properties to stay in.  They have tons of special rentals like houseboats, tents and even tree houses.  As you can imagine, there are plenty of tiny houses available for rent as well.

So, how many tiny houses are there for rent?  Finding a tiny house to rent on this platform is super easy.  This is because they have included tiny houses right there in the search.  However, you will have to have an area in mind.

Places where tiny houses are common, like Portland, have over 50 listings for Tiny Houses.  Using this as a guide, we estimate that there are roughly 2,500 tiny houses available for short-term rentals in the US.

What Is The Average Cost Of Renting A Tiny House?

The average cost of renting a tiny house is around $50 per night. This includes one night and the price is considerably lower when the tiny house is rented over a longer period. This is around half the cost of a hotel room.

The cost of renting a tiny house will depend on the area as well as the size of the home.  On average, the price to rent a tiny house short-term is $50 a night.

This will generally get your a tiny house with a kitchen, bathroom, and a single sleeping area.  This is less than half the cost of renting a hotel for the night.

Also, don’t forget that there is always the option for long-term rental.  Many times hosts of rental properties are willing to cut a deal to renters who are looking to stay for more than a weekend.  Some even offer rentals by the month.  Deals like 10% off for a full week or a free weekend when renting by the month are common on many users to user platforms.

Are Micro Houses Considered Tiny Houses?

One of the biggest confusions surrounding tiny houses is the size.  Tiny houses are such smaller scale homes that people can’t understand how they can be livable.  But, did you know that there are homes that are even smaller?  Micro houses have started to once again pick up in popularity.

Some people accredit this to the tiny house movement.  This is because people are always looking for new ways to improve on what has been proven to work.  This is exactly the case in micro-houses.  Micro houses often look like a little box home that resembles the space of an outhouse.

This is very similar to “pod-style” living that is popular in Japanese culture.  The idea is that as long as you have a place to sleep, your home is a home.  But, are micro houses the same as tiny houses?

No!

While by definition, micro houses are “tiny homes”, there are some big differences.

Micro houses can be as small as 80 square feet which are less than half the size of a tiny house.  However, the biggest difference is in the way that they function.  Because the living space is so limited, micro houses often only feature a single sleeping area.

This means that nature becomes your kitchen and bathroom.  Unlike micro houses, tiny houses have it all when it comes to the basics you need to survive.

How Long Have Tiny Houses Been Around?

The first tiny house reported was built in 1845. The tiny house movement took off in the late 1990s where we saw the first tiny houses being built commercially. From early 2000 it became possible to buy several different designs and tiny houses started to gain popularity.

When knowing where you are going it is important to know who has been there before you.  Understanding how and when the tiny house movement started is an important part of being in the movement.

This way we can better appreciate all of the hard work that went into getting the movement where is today.

While the tiny house movement took a full swing in the early ’90s, tiny houses were around long before.  It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when are where the tiny house movement started.  This is because, like most things, everyone wants to take credit for a good idea.

The first record of a tiny house being built was back in 1845.  Esteemed writer Henry David Thoreau was credited as being among the first to build a tiny house back in the mid-1800s.  However, it is important to remember that things were much different back then.

The government was still trying to figure out how to work so little things like zoning and building permits were not yet on the agenda.  This meant that people had more freedom to live how they wanted to.  So, how long have tiny houses been around?  Tiny houses have been around for over a century and a half.  But, the tiny house movement didn’t take a swing until 1990.

To learn more about the tiny house movement and it impacts on how we live today, check out this article!

How Long Does It Take To Build A Tiny House?

When building a traditional home, you can expect the project to take longer than a year.  This is because you will have to find a space, a builder as well as work the schedule around the weather.  However, in the case of tiny houses, the process is much different.

The average time it takes to build a tiny house is six months.

We have a very insightful article here about exactly how long time it takes to build a tiny house yourself and for professionals. It breaks it down into man hours.

However, some people have managed to build theirs in only a few months.  But, how is this possible?  The tiny house community is full of helpful tips and tricks to getting your house built quickly and correctly.

Best of all, there are builders that only work specifically with tiny houses.  This means that you are getting a streamlined experience from start to finish.  Also, it is important to remember the size and features of the home.  Larger homes need to be built on a foundation which can take months to lay down.

Tiny houses are built on a trailer, so there is no need to filling foundation.  Also, because tiny houses are so small, they don’t need to be built outside.

Many builders use factories and warehouses to house the homes until they are completed.  This means that you don’t have to work around the weather in order to get your house built on time!

Final Thoughts

Nothing can give you a better sense of what it is like to live in a tiny house than seeing how other people live in one.  One of the best ways to do this is to look at the statistics and facts.

An important thing to note about tiny house communities is that they are still growing and learning.  This means that what was once facts yesterday, may change tomorrow.

This is why it is so important for the tiny house movement to continue to change and adapt.  The best part about the tiny house movement is that while numbers are a great guide, they are not everything!  You are the boss of your downsized life and you have the room to customize and shape your own experience.

Who knows, maybe you will be the one to change the statistics one day!

Good luck.

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