Apr 25, 2025 - Real Estate
Tampa's new apartments have been shrinking
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The average size of newly built apartments in Tampa has shrunk 8% over time, according to a report by RentCafe, an apartment-search website.
The big picture: New apartments have gotten smaller in most of the 100 U.S. cities researchers analyzed, squeezing many renters who already pay steep prices.
By the numbers: Apartments built in Tampa between 2015 and 2024 averaged 941 square feet, per the report.
- That's a drop of 80 square feet from the previous decade.
- 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.
- Rents are expected to rise this year as construction slows, a trend experts say President Trump's tariffs could prolong.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the national average apartment size in 2024 was 908 square feet (not 914).