Austin apartments are getting smaller
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The average size of newly built apartments in Austin has shrunk 6% over time, according to a report by RentCafe, an apartment search website.
Why it matters: New apartments have gotten smaller in most of the 100 U.S. cities researchers analyzed, including Austin, squeezing many renters who already pay steep prices.
By the numbers: Apartments built in Austin between 2015 and 2024 averaged 872 square feet, per the report.
- That's a drop of 53 square feet from the previous decade.
Driving the news: In many cities where apartments are downsizing, developers are prioritizing smaller floor plans, RentCafe found.
The big picture: Nationally, new apartments shrank decade over decade but grew slightly larger in recent years — averaging 908 square feet in 2024 compared to 891 in 2022, according to the report.
What we're watching: The recent uptick in U.S. apartment size coincided with a building boom that has since cooled.