South Carolina, The State Most Interested In Tiny Homes

South Carolina is the state most interested in tiny homes, closely followed by North Carolina

September 30, 2024

8:23 PM

Key Findings:

New study reveals the rate at which residents in different states searched for tiny homes, signaling their interest in this hot trend
The Carolinas come in at the top of the table, with South winning out over North. Tennessee comes third, with Alabama in fourth
Texas, California, and Florida have the most searches for tiny homes over all

Tiny homes, classified as homes up to 400 sq ft in size, are a booming trend in the United States and across the world. The global market for tiny homes hit $5.61 billion in 2023, and experts predict it could grow to as much as $7.39 billion by 2031.

“Tiny homes promote sustainability because they cost less resources to build and run, and they encourage minimalist living,” say experts at Palm Paradise Realty Group, a professional concierge real estate service. “Their small spaces force homeowners to be strategic and thoughtful about what they buy, promoting the concept of mindful consumption.”

With this in mind, the experts at Palm Paradise Realty Group used data from Google Keyword Tools to reveal which state had the most people searching for ‘tiny homes.’ They then calculated the search rate per 100,000 searches, adjusting the data to account for each state's population size to truly show which state is most interested in the tiny home trend.

State	Population	Total Searches	Search Rate (per 100k searches)
South Carolina	5,464,155	9290	170.02
North Carolina	10,975,017	17470	159.18
Tennessee	7,204,002	11220	155.75
Alabama	5,143,033	7770	151.08
Oklahoma	4,088,377	6150	150.43
Arkansas	3,089,060	4630	149.88
Maine	1,402,106	2060	146.92
Washington	7,841,283	11150	142.20
Georgia	11,145,304	15590	139.88
Oregon	4,227,337	5880	139.09

Which State Is The Most Interested In Tiny Homes?

South Carolina came out on top of the table with a search rate of 170.02. This was over 10 points ahead of the next entry on the table. “This could be due to rising housing costs in urban areas like Charleston, driving interest in affordable tiny homes,” says Palm Paradise Realty Group.

North Carolina closely followed its southern neighbor on the table, with a search rate of 159.18. “North Carolina’s population has been growing over the last several years, which could be leading to a housing shortage. Tiny homes are a great way to solve a housing crunch because they’re easy and quick to build and affordable for a wide range of buyers,” says Palm Paradise Realty Group.

Tennessee scored third on the table, with a search rate of 155.75.

Alabama, Oklahoma and Arkansas all scored closely on the table, within a range of 149-151 (151.08, 150.43, and 149.88, respectively). “These are some of the less well-off states overall, so residents could be interested in the affordability of tiny homes,” says Palm Paradise Realty Group.

Georgia and Oregon both had a search rate of 139 (139.88 and 139.09, respectively). “Atlanta, the state capital of Georgia, has been growing rapidly, likely driving interest in cheap and practical tiny homes,” says Palm Paradise Realty Group. “Oregon’s focus on sustainability likely makes it a great venue for the tiny home trend.”

State	Population	Total Searches
Texas	30,976,754	36200
California	38,889,770	32360
Florida	22,975,931	27310
North Carolina	10,975,017	17470
Georgia	11,145,304	15590
New York	19,469,232	11640
Tennessee	7,204,002	11220
Washington	7,841,283	11150
Ohio	11,812,173	9400
Pennsylvania	12,951,275	9340

The States With The Highest Searches Overall

When not adjusted for population size, it’s easy to see that states with higher populations dominate the top of the table. But population size isn’t everything. For one thing, Texas, which has the second-highest population overall, is actually at the top of the table.

“This is perhaps surprising, as California is often known as the state that jumps on progressive and sustainable trends,” says Palm Paradise Realty Group. “This is reflected in their second place position, but it’s also an indication that there’s a much more diverse set of opinions in Texas than people might believe.”

Florida, the third-highest state in terms of population, reflects this in its third-highest spot on the table, with 27,310 searches overall. “It’s easy to see why tiny homes would be popular in Florida,” says Palm Paradise Realty Group. “The state is known for being beloved by retirees, and tiny homes are perfect for downsizing. Florida also has an amazing outdoor lifestyle, so there’s not as much need for acres of indoor space.”

The bottom half of the table shakes up the ‘large population equals high searches’ expectation even more. North Carolina, the ninth largest state in terms of population, scores fourth on the table, while Tennessee, which is only 15th largest when measuring population, comes seventh. “This highlights that interest is really strong in these two states,” says Palm Paradise Realty Group.

Palm Paradise Realty Group commented:

“Tiny homes are appealing because they’re affordable to build and run, and they’re sustainable. They can also promote tourism by offering a quirky and unique place to stay. This could be a draw in states known for their natural beauty, like Washington, Florida, and Maine.

“Tiny homes can also offer a practical building solution in densely populated cities like New York and Los Angeles. Cities are expanding and the cost of living is rising all over the US, causing housing shortages and a sharp hike in property prices. Tiny homes can help first-time buyers get their feet on the first rung of the housing ladder, and they offer a way to quickly increase the number of homes available to buyers and renters in growing cities.”