The 3 Best States To Live In If You Have A Tiny House

After the decline of the housing market in 2008, tiny-home living and ownership grew tremendously in popularity (via Outdoor Troop). Today, many homeowners are ditching their single-family homes and making the switch to tiny living, and for good reasons. To start, 55% of Americans that live in tiny homes report more savings than the average American, according to Comfy Living. This is due to the significant decrease in monthly home expenses. According to The Ascent, the average American household spends about $5,100 a month, whereas tiny house homeowners pay as little as $600. 

Besides the lessened financial burden, living in a tiny home — on wheels — offers freedom to travel and explore for those wishing for an adventurous lifestyle. When you have a tiny home built for traveling (similar to an RV, per B&B Micro Manufacturing), the world is your oyster; one day you can be relaxing on the beach, and the next you're hiking the Rocky Mountains.

However, if you aren't planning on using your home to travel, The Tiny Life suggests building your home on a foundation. That being said, some places in the world are more suited for tiny living than others. Let's take a peek at the three best states to live in if you have a tiny house.

If you're looking for a place in the South to call home, Georgia is an excellent choice. According to Narcity, building a tiny home in Georgia will cost you less than $50,000, so you can still call Georgia home, even on a budget. Georgia is one of the most sought-after states to live because of its idyllic weather and beaches, explains George-based Storage World. While its annual rainfall ranks above average compared to other states, don't let that skew your opinion of the Peach State. All that extra rain produces lavish, picturesque views any homeowner would be lucky to see.

Besides the gorgeous landscape, Georgia offers a ton of history. Take a day off from relaxing at Tybee Island and spend some time at the National Civil War Naval Museum. There, you can view warships CSS Jackson and CSS Chattahoochee, the largest collection of Civil War naval-related flags, and much more.

According to The Ascent, a Texas single-family residence costs $350,000 on average; however, you can build a tiny home for a fraction of that, about 14%. For just under $49,000, you can set up shop in the Lonestar State, and experience its diverse landscape and delicious Southwestern cooking.

As noted by portable storage company Cool Box, Texas is known for its job opportunities, lack of income tax, and country music. Additionally, Texas is home to some of the country's top universities, like Rice University in Houston. Per education rankings from U.S. News & World Report, Texas ranks 34th in the nation overall: 31st for higher education and 35th for its K-12 system.

For those of you searching for a warm climate, look no further than Texas, as it is the epitome of hot weather. The average annual temperature for Texas is around 88 degrees, but don't worry about overheating; there are plenty of ways to beat the heat, such as visiting some of Texas' indoor attractions, like Sea Turtle, Inc. and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

California is a great option if you want a home on the west coast. While California is ranked second in the nation for the highest average home prices, per Forbes, living in a tiny home can be an affordable alternative if you want to live in the Golden State.

For a single-family home in California, you're looking at an average of $800,000, per the California Association of Realtors. With a tiny home, however, you're paying a sliver of the cost with a price tag of $30,000 to $60,000, says Rocket Mortgage. Of course, California is famous for its beaches, but as a resident, you'll also have access to its gorgeous state parks. of which there are 280, per the California State Parks Foundation.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation put together a list of superlatives for its many state parks, where you can find the best places to see the state flower (the California poppy), observe tule elk, and watch gulls fly, as well as where you can experience the coolest, the driest, and wettest park conditions. According to TripSavvy, California is also home to nine national parks, the most in the U.S.

In addition to its breathtaking landscapes, you can enjoy cool weather for much of the year in California (this depends on the season and if you're near water or landlocked). Per Visit California, you can expect average temperatures on the coast to be around 70 degrees F (and on "hot" days, above 80 F), while the further you travel inland, the weather turns hotter and drier during summertime.