Section III
Side-by-side
Stack up to four states. Useful when you've narrowed the search and need to see exactly where each one wins and loses.
South
Tennessee
+56
Water+38 / ±50
Legal+30 / ±40
Soil+18 / ±30
Energy+12 / ±25
Climate Risk-8 / ±25
Wins
- + Rainwater harvesting fully legal
- + Many counties allow tiny homes & composting toilets
- + 55+ inches annual rainfall in east
Risks
- − Tornado corridor in middle/west
- − Karst geology can mean unpredictable wells
- − Some HOAs near Nashville/Knoxville
West
Arizona
+7
Water-20 / ±50
Legal+30 / ±40
Soil-6 / ±30
Energy+22 / ±25
Climate Risk-16 / ±25
Wins
- + Cochise County allows owner-built/off-grid widely
- + Best solar in US
- + No septic perc required in some counties
Risks
- − Wells often 400–800+ ft
- − Drought
- − Heat extremes
West
Alaska
+21
Water+30 / ±50
Legal+30 / ±40
Soil-8 / ±30
Energy-8 / ±25
Climate Risk-18 / ±25
Wins
- + No statewide residential code
- + Unorganized borough = no code at all
- + Abundant water
Risks
- − Arctic winters
- − Permafrost
- − No road access to most land
Domain winners
| Domain | TN | AZ | AK | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | +38 | -20 | +30 | TN |
| Legal | +30 | +30 | +30 | TN |
| Soil | +18 | -6 | -8 | TN |
| Energy | +12 | +22 | -8 | AZ |
| Climate Risk | -8 | -16 | -18 | TN |