Local Knowledge About Tiny Houses

There is currently no set definition of what constitutes a tiny house; however, a residential structure under 500 square feet is generally accepted to be a tiny home. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average size of a new single-family American residence in 1950 was 983 square feet. The average size of new single family homes grew from 1,780 square feet in 1978 to 2,479 square feet in 2007, and to 2,662 square feet in 2013, despite a decrease in the size of the average family. Reasons for this include increased material wealth and prestige. The small house movement is a return to houses of less than 1,000 square feet. Frequently the distinction is made between small (between 400 square feet and 1,000 square feet), and tiny houses (less than 400 square feet), with some as small as 80 square feet.