D.C.'s small apartments are getting bigger, while suburban units shrink

D.C.'s tiny apartments are getting slightly bigger on average , while units in the 'burbs are shrinking, per a recent report from RentCafe , a rental listing website.

Why it matters: As high mortgage rates keep potential homebuyers on the sidelines, many locals are remaining renters in an already expensive market.

The big picture: D.C. ranks number seven on the list of U.S. cities with the smallest average size of new apartments, coming in at 744 square feet, according to the report.

Reality check: This is actually a (tiny) improvement: D.C. apartments have become 0.7% larger over the last decade when comparing the average size of units built between 2014 and 2023 to those built from 1850 to 2013.

• That corresponds to an added five square feet on average.

Meanwhile, Arlington, Alexandria, and Silver Spring have become smaller when comparing these two periods.

• Silver Spring saw a 13.7% drop in the average size of units built.
• Alexandria saw a 3.8% decrease, while Arlington saw a 2.7% drop.

This means all three suburban cities are on the list of top 20 U.S. cities that have seen the biggest decreases in apartment size over the last decade.

What they're saying: Why are apartments in the 'burbs getting smaller? Because more one-bedroom apartments have been built there over the last decade (many of which are smaller than those built in the past) — therefore bringing down the average size at large, says RentCafe writer and research analyst Alexandra Both.

While D.C. has seen mostly (smaller) one-bedroom apartments built in the last decade, larger units are getting bigger on average — meaning the city's overall average unit size has marginally increased, says Both.

Yes, but: While the 'burbs' average apartment size has decreased over the last 10 years, they're still bigger than D.C.'s.

• The average size of Arlington units built over the last decade is 836 square feet, per the report. It's 827 square feet for Alexandria and 770 square feet for Silver Spring.

Zoom out: Apartments are getting bigger nationally: The average U.S. apartment built in 2023 measured 916 square feet, a 27-square-foot jump from the previous year.

The intrigue: If you're craving more space, keep your eyes on Fredricksburg, Virginia — it comes in at number 16 on the list of U.S. cities with the largest apartments currently under construction.

• The average size? A positively roomy 1,031 square feet.

On the other hand, Arlington comes in at number 10 on a list of U.S. cities with the smallest apartments currently under construction, says the report.

• The average size of Arlington units currently being built clocks in at 742 square feet.