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Boston's small apartments get smaller
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Boston's tiny apartments are getting tinier.
Why it matters: The average size of newly built apartments in Boston has shrunk 11% over time, data shows, even though rents have soared.
By the numbers: Apartments built in Boston between 2015 and 2024 averaged 772 square feet — among the most cramped in the U.S., according to a report by RentCafe.
- That's a drop of 94 square feet from the previous decade, the apartment-search website found.
Driving the news: In many cities where apartments are downsizing, developers are prioritizing smaller floor plans, per the report.
Reality check: High prices and small spaces aren't stopping renters from moving to Boston.
- It ranks among the top U.S. cities for apartment hunters this year, according to search data from Apartments.com.
The big picture: Nationally, new apartments contracted decade-over-decade but grew slightly larger in recent years, averaging 908 square feet in 2024 compared to 891 in 2022, RentCafe found.
What we're watching: The recent uptick in U.S. apartment size coincided with a building boom that has since cooled.