Apr 28, 2025 - News
Phoenix apartments are shrinking
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Metro Phoenix apartments are pricier than they used to be — and also smaller.
Why it matters: New apartments have shrunk in most U.S. cities, including Phoenix, squeezing many renters who already pay steep prices, a RentCafe analysis found.
By the numbers: Apartments built in Phoenix between 2015 and 2024 averaged 852 square feet, per the report.
- That's a drop of 64 square feet from the previous decade.
- Tempe and Glendale saw the most significant size decreases across the Valley suburbs at 112 and 135 square feet, respectively.
Zoom out: 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.