I've spent 5 years living in a tiny home and 2 years in a camper van. Here's how they compare — and which is my favorite.

Trading living in a van for residing in a 400-square-foot tiny house didn't solve everything, but it finally gave us what the road couldn't.

Amber McDaniel

• My partner and I spent two years living in a van. It was affordable and freeing, but not perfect.
• That lifestyle came with hidden costs, like constant stress, instability, and loneliness.
• We've been living in a tiny home for years now and prefer it, though it's pricier and has drawbacks.

"Home is where...