Atlanta Has Nation's Largest Apartments

As apartment size trends downward, Atlanta has the largest rental units in the US, according to a new study by RentCafe.

"In the largest construction boom over the last decade, developers are shrinking the size of new apartments to accommodate the increasing demand for urban living," the study says. RentCafe examined apartment size trends in buildings with at least 50 units across the nation, and the average size of new apartments – those completed in 2016 – has fallen to 934 square feet, the smallest since 2006.

But Atlanta rules the apartment size charts when it comes to 2-bedroom rentals. Two-bedroom units featuring 1,125 square feet of living space are average for the capital city of the Peach State, adding more appeal to an already attractive housing market.

"Rents in Atlanta are not exactly what you’d call cheap," the survey said, "but they surely provide more bang for the buck than those in other major cities. Rentals in Atlanta go for an average of $1,240, with 2-bedroom apartments commanding approx. $1,295/mo. That’s less than a third of what San Franciscans shell out on a 2-bedroom apartment every month (approx. $4,400).

"Meanwhile, renters in Miami pay $1,617 on average for 2BDR apartments, approx. 25% more than Atlantans do."

Here are some other takeaways:

• The average size of a new apartment is 934 square feet, 8% smaller than 10 years ago
• Studios saw the steepest decline in square footage over the last decade (-18%)
• Tucson, AZ is home to some of the smallest apartments in the country, with studios averaging 398 sq. ft., 1-bedrooms clocking in at 595 sq. ft. and 2-bedrooms spanning 907 sq. ft.