DwellingMath exists because the most common question about alternative housing — “what will this actually cost me?” — usually gets answered with a single optimistic number and a sales pitch.
We cover barndominiums, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), tiny homes and off-grid systems for people in the United States who are weighing a real decision: build or buy, which structure, which state, and what the budget really needs to include.
What we do differently
- Ranges, not slogans. Every cost we publish is a range with the assumptions behind it — region, finish level, who does the labor — because a single “average price” hides the variables that decide your budget.
- The line items people forget. Site preparation, utility hookups, permits, impact fees and financing costs often add 20–40% on top of the building itself. We put them in the table, not in a footnote.
- Trade-offs stated plainly. Every option has a downside — resale, insurance, zoning, maintenance. If we know one, we say it.
- Updated, not abandoned. Prices move. Each guide shows when it was last reviewed, and we revisit our most-read guides regularly.
Who is behind the site
DwellingMath is written and edited by the DwellingMath Editorial Team, a small independent publication focused on what alternative housing really costs. We are researchers and editors, not contractors, architects or financial advisors, and we say so wherever it matters. Read more on the author page.
How we make money
The site is free to read. We earn money from display advertising and, on some pages, from affiliate links or referral partnerships — for example, a builder-quote service. This never decides what we recommend, and every page with affiliate links says so. Details are in our disclosure.
Get in touch
Found a number that doesn’t match what you were quoted? That is exactly the feedback that makes these guides better. Reach us through the contact page.