Average Alexandria apartment sizes are holding steady while newly built rental units nationally are gaining in size, according to new data.
The typical unit in a multifamily apartment building citywide constructed between 2016 and 2025 totaled 856 square feet, essentially unchanged from the 859 square feet for units built between 2006 and 2015.
Figures come from a new analysis by RentCafe, based on data from Yardi.
In the survey, Alexandria ranked 63rd nationally in the average size of new apartments. Nearby Arlington ranked 76th, with its average size of 815 square feet down from 859 during the 2006-2015 period.
Alexandria and Arlington are at odds with national trends. The average apartment size in the U.S. rose 13 square feet between 2006-2015 and 2016-2025, and now stands at 910 square feet, according to RentCafe figures.
“That said, smaller apartments are still the most popular among developers,” RentCafe analyst Adina Dragos said, adding:
“One-bedroom apartments and studios continue to dominate, accounting for a combined 52.9% of apartments in 2025. Meanwhile, two- and three-bedroom apartments account for a slightly smaller share than they did a decade ago: Two-bedrooms make up 39.5% of new apartments, while three-bedrooms represent 7.1%.”
Renters nationally searching for apartments this rental season are more likely to find a place with a bit more breathing room, as all categories have become larger overall.
In the RentCafe analysis, studios gained six square feet to now average 460 square feet, while one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments average 735 and 1,095 square feet, respectively.
The most notable increase occurred among three-bedroom units, which gained an average 28 square feet year over year to total 1,355 square feet.
Among the 100 most populated urban areas, Tallahassee, Fla. has the largest average apartment size in the new data, averaging 1,156 square feet. Gainesville, Fla., ranks second at 1,126 square feet, followed by Baton Rouge, La., at 1,042 square feet.
Seattle reported the smallest apartments in the nation, averaging 645 square feet. Portland, Ore., followed at 665 square feet, while Tacoma, Wash., averaged 684 square feet and Brooklyn reported 714 square feet.
Two areas — Frisco, Texas, and St. Petersburg, Fla. — saw the largest increase in size over the past decade, with each increasing 55 square feet. Irvine, Calif., ranked third with an increase of 46 square feet.
While the average size of an Alexandria apartment has decreased slightly, prices have rebounded since a significant decline early in the Covid era.
The median citywide apartment rent was $2,230 in July — $2,042 for one-bedroom units and $2,508 for two bedrooms. Though down 2.7% year over year, it is up 3.4% since the start of 2026 and remained above the D.C. region’s median of $2,172.
Nationally, the median rent in July was $1,220 for a one-bedroom unit, $1,374 for two bedrooms and $1,388 overall, according to the Apartment List data. Alexandria’s median rent stood about 60% higher than the national figure.
Image via Francesca Tosolini/Unsplash
