DC, Seattle New Apartments Shrinking, Prices Rising

Recent reports indicate that newly built apartments in several U.S. cities are shrinking in size, with Seattle now having the smallest average new apartments in the nation at 649 square feet, even smaller than Manhattan's. In Washington, D.C., the average new apartment has decreased to 745 square feet, a 7% reduction over the past decade, with one-bedrooms now dominating new construction. Despite these reductions in size, rents remain high, particularly in cities like Seattle, where average rents far exceed the national average. The trend towards smaller living spaces coincides with a nationwide shortage of affordable rental homes for extremely low-income Americans, with only 35 affordable units available per 100 such renters on average. In Idaho, for example, the shortage is acute, with 74% of extremely low-income households considered severely cost burdened by rent costs. These trends underscore mounting challenges for renters, especially those with the lowest incomes, as both affordability and living space continue to diminish.