Perhaps in alignment with society’s ‘bigger is better’ culture, the average home today is 2,392-square-feet. In 1973, the average American home was 1,660-square-feet, according to. Thanks, in part, to television shows like HGTV’s Tiny House Builders and FYI’s Tiny House Nation, compact structures are now an enticing alternative for many from young professionals embracing a minimalist lifestyle, to seniors wanting to downsize, to individuals looking to reside beside loved ones. Tiny homes have become a big deal in real estate.