2025 Kicks Off With Cautious Optimism In The Self Storage Sector

• The national average self storage street rate stands at $133 in January 2025, slightly dropping year-over-year but rebounding month-over-month
• Among the country’s largest 150 cities, 91 registered price decreases while 59 experienced price increases
• Spring Valley, NV, is the country’s only large city where self storage prices dropped by double-digits this January
• Yonkers, NY, Irvine, CA, and St. Petersburg, FL, saw the most significant self storage price increases among the country’s large cities
• Over 56M square feet of new self storage space are slated to be delivered nationally in 2025, of which 13.5M are located in major urban markets

The self storage market is stepping into 2025 with a cautious but growing sense of optimism. After more than two years of steady price declines, the downward trend is finally losing steam. In January 2025, the national average rent for a self storage unit dipped just 0.7% year-over-year to $133 — a far smaller drop than in previous months, even as the industry moves through its typical slow season. More notably, on a month-to-month basis, rates have started to rebound, registering a modest 0.8% increase.

The stabilization of rates suggests that the sector may be reaching a balance after the supply surge and the pandemic-driven demand boom. With fewer new facilities coming online, pricing pressures appear to be easing, signaling a potential inflection point for the industry.

In 2025, developers are expected to deliver approximately 56 million square feet of new storage space nationally — 3% less than the total deliveries in 2024. However, the slowdown is more pronounced in major urban markets, where high levels of construction in recent years have led to a more cautious approach from developers. Collectively, the nation’s 150 largest cities are expected to see 13.5 million square feet of new self storage space completed in 2025, a 13% decrease compared to the previous year.

Spring Valley, NV, the only large city seeing double-digits rate drops

Despite the overall stabilization, self storage street rates continued to decline in 61% of the nation’s top 150 cities in January, though this represents an improvement from December 2024, when 70% of these cities reported year-over-year rate decreases. This trend suggests that while certain markets are still experiencing price corrections, the pace of decline is slowing.

Among the markets where storage prices became more affordable, Spring Valley, NV, saw the most significant year-over-year drop, with rates falling nearly 11% to $150. This decline was largely driven by a sharp increase in local inventory, as the city’s self storage supply grew by 44% in 2024, adding close to 91,000 square feet of new space. However, month-over-month rates in Spring Valley climbed 1.7% in January, indicating that demand may be beginning to absorb the increased supply.

Similarly, Port St. Lucie, FL, saw a 10% drop in street rates year-over-year, with prices settling at $128 in January 2025 compared to $142 in the same period last year. However, a closer look at month-over-month trends reveals early signs of demand strengthening, as rates ticked up slightly from $126 in December 2024. Factors such as strong population growth and limited storage inventory per capita are likely to contribute to a continued slowdown in price declines for the foreseeable future.

In Boston, MA, where self storage costs remain well above the national average at $190 per month, prices fell 9% year-over-year. However, the city is also exhibiting the same month-over-month rebound effect, albeit at a slower rate, with prices increasing by 0.2% in January. With no significant development in the area, the downward pricing pressure appears to be driven by broader demographic shifts, as Boston has experienced population decline over the past five years.

Meanwhile, Fayetteville, NC, and Huntsville, AL, both well-supplied markets, also saw some of the steepest declines in January 2025, with rates dropping by 8.2% and 6.4%, respectively. These cities, which have seen rapid storage development in recent years, are now experiencing adjustments as supply levels recalibrate to meet demand.

Low supply and high demand are fueling street rate increases across coastal cities

In 39% of the country’s 150 largest cities self storage street rates increased in January 2025, generally reflecting local supply constraints, increased demand and population and economic growth.

Northeastern and West Coast cities dominate the list of markets with the highest rent increases. Yonkers, NY, leads the country in self storage price growth, with a 6.6% increase pushing the average monthly rent to $195. The city’s tight supply, with only two square feet of storage per capita, is a major contributor to this upward pricing pressure. Despite new deliveries of 228K square feet in 2024 and another 204K square feet forecasted for 2025, demand remains strong, keeping prices elevated. The city’s proximity to New York City, where living and storage options are limited and expensive, likely continues to drive interest in nearby markets like Yonkers.

Irvine, CA, follows closely, with street rates climbing by 6.2% year-over-year this January to reach $177. Irvine’s affluent population and high cost of living make storage space a valuable commodity, especially given its relatively limited supply compared to demand. With five square feet of self storage per capita, Irvine is not as undersupplied as some other markets, but the lack of new development in 2025 means there are no signs of relief for renters. This persistent demand and constrained supply suggest that rates may remain elevated for the foreseeable future.

St. Petersburg, FL, also experienced a significant price surge, with a 6% increase bringing average rents to $158. Unlike other high-demand markets, St. Petersburg has seen no new self storage development in either 2024 or 2025. This lack of additional inventory has intensified competition for available units, helping to push prices higher. The city’s strong appeal as a retirement and relocation destination, coupled with its coastal geography limiting expansion opportunities, further contributes to the upward trend in pricing.

Other cities seeing notable price increases include Jersey City, NJ, where a 4.9% year-over-year rise has pushed rates to $196. Limited storage availability, with only 1.3 square feet per capita, has made it one of the most constrained self storage markets in the country. San Francisco, CA, continues to be the most expensive market among the top 10 cities with highest price increases in January 2025, averaging $235 for a self storage unit. The 4.2% increase over the past year reflects the city’s persistent supply constraints and strong demand, as development restrictions limit new construction.

The development pipeline for 2025 most active in the Sun Belt

The largest supply expansions are concentrated this year in fast-growing Sun Belt cities, major urban hubs and metros with strong population growth. Texas, Florida and Arizona dominate the list, reflecting ongoing migration and economic expansion in these states. Meanwhile, a few high-density, high-cost urban centers — such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Las Vegas — are also set for substantial new storage capacity.

San Antonio, TX, tops the list with 803K square feet of new self storage space expected in 2025. Coupled with the city’s existing inventory of about 9.2 square feet of storage space per capita, the new deliveries forecasted for this year are likely to keep local prices in check. Currently, a self storage unit in San Antonio rents for $122 per month, well below the national average. Houston, another Texas powerhouse, follows with 635K square feet of new space on the way. With 6.9 square feet per capita, Houston’s continued residential and commercial expansion is fueling self storage demand, keeping rates stable at $125 per month.

Top Cities for 2025 Construction

#	City	2025 Forecasted New Supply (sq. ft.)	2025 New Supply as % of Inventory	Current Sq. Ft. per Capita
1	San Antonio, TX	803,059	5%	9.15
2	Houston, TX	668,599	2%	6.88
3	Jacksonville, FL	593,375	6%	9.63
4	Los Angeles, CA	508,607	7%	1.83
5	Phoenix, AZ	495,750	5%	5.45
6	Tucson, AZ	465,424	7%	8.55
7	Philadelphia, PA	426,146	6%	3.27
8	Bakersfield, CA	385,904	8%	9
9	Miami, FL	348,159	4%	3.8
10	Las Vegas, NV	339,034	2%	7.57
11	Austin, TX	316,511	3%	7.95
12	Elk Grove, CA	310,300	24%	4.32
13	Fort Wayne, IN	302,492	13%	6.97
14	Seattle, WA	292,653	8%	3.97
15	Tampa, FL	284,382	4%	6.87
16	Cape Coral, FL	233,408	13%	7.73
17	El Paso, TX	229,675	5%	6.06
18	Yonkers, NY	203,850	20%	1.97
19	Atlanta, GA	183,552	3%	4.51
20	Vancouver, WA	181,735	6%	8.19
21	Albuquerque, NM	180,483	3%	7.74
22	McKinney, TX	173,887	6%	8.18
23	Denver, CO	168,054	3%	3.45
24	Hialeah, FL	165,406	15%	2.04
25	Chesapeake, VA	160,701	6%	6.51
26	Greensboro, NC	159,909	4%	11.07
27	Corpus Christi, TX	156,930	4%	12.29
28	Aurora, IL	154,054	20%	2.49
29	Mesa, AZ	152,460	3%	5.9
30	Arlington, TX	149,075	4%	5.78
31	Portland, OR	144,000	3%	4.3
32	Newport News, VA	143,745	9%	6.32
33	Charlotte, NC	136,315	2%	7.24
34	Tallahassee, FL	136,234	5%	11
35	Port St. Lucie, FL	129,090	8%	6.62
36	Nashville, TN	128,745	3%	6.57
37	Chandler, AZ	124,109	6%	4.49
38	Omaha, NE	123,845	3%	7.3
39	Baton Rouge, LA	118,536	3%	11.36
40	Louisville, KY	117,201	2%	7.58
41	Fort Worth, TX	114,747	1%	6.48
42	Winston-Salem, NC	112,850	5%	7.06
43	Garland, TX	112,301	5%	4.08
44	North Las Vegas, NV	109,873	4%	4.67
45	Augusta, GA	107,305	4%	9.34
46	Lexington, KY	104,445	4%	8.01
47	Newark, NJ	101,796	13%	0.92
48	Overland Park, KS	100,125	9%	3.01
49	Fort Lauderdale, FL	98,031	4%	3.77
50	Scottsdale, AZ	96,858	3%	8.2
51	Oakland, CA	96,669	6%	2.44
52	Santa Rosa, CA	95,124	4%	7.94
53	Raleigh, NC	92,387	2%	7.29
54	Sacramento, CA	91,686	1%	4.99
55	Knoxville, TN	86,500	2%	9.95
56	Virginia Beach, VA	85,848	1%	10.7
57	Peoria, AZ	84,894	5%	4.32
58	Wichita, KS	84,298	3%	6.73
59	Columbus, OH	84,298	2%	4.44
60	Colorado Springs, CO	84,298	1%	11.4
61	Glendale, CA	81,747	12%	1.9
62	Spring Valley, NV	78,619	38%	0.65
63	Oklahoma City, OK	76,950	1%	8.67
64	Madison, WI	76,597	5%	4.54
65	Richmond, VA	75,609	2%	5.75
66	Fayetteville, NC	72,200	2%	12.39
67	Huntsville, AL	69,477	2%	11.51
68	Sioux Falls, SD	67,374	4%	7.65
69	Amarillo, TX	64,080	2%	12.89
70	Buffalo, NY	61,275	7%	1.61
71	Lincoln, NE	57,950	3%	6.48
72	Paradise, NV	56,700	55%	0.71
73	Little Rock, AR	56,061	2%	12.77
74	Frisco, TX	53,232	3%	3.76
75	Indianapolis, IN	48,075	1%	6.87
76	Chicago, IL	47,925	0%	3.39
77	San Bernardino, CA	34,808	2%	3.35
78	Brownsville, TX	16,818	2%	5.31
79	Orlando, FL	5,652	0%	7.09

RentCafe Self Storage analysis of Yardi Matrix data
* Construction (%) for 2025 as a percentage of the total existing inventory at the end of 2024

Floridian cities’ presence among the most active nationally for self storage construction mirrors the state’s ongoing migration boom. Jacksonville, FL, is set to add 593K square feet of self storage in 2025, representing a massive 214% increase compared to last year’s deliveries and underscoring, once more, local developers’ optimism related to the self storage sector. Despite already having 9.6 square feet per capita, demand remains high as the city continues to attract new residents. Miami also makes the list, with 348K square feet planned, reflecting the strong demand in South Florida’s densely populated markets and a welcome addition on a market with just 3.8 square feet of space per capita. Currently, renting a self storage unit in Miami hovers around $173 per month, significantly higher than the national average and increasing by 1% year-over-year.

Arizona is another key region for self storage expansion, with Phoenix (496K square feet) and Tucson (465K square feet) both preparing for significant new deliveries this year. Despite a relatively high 8.6 square feet per capita in Tucson, developers continue to invest, likely driven by ongoing population growth and housing expansion. Phoenix, with 5.5 square feet per capita, remains a relatively undersupplied area as the metro continues its rapid urban sprawl.

Outside of the Sun Belt, Los Angeles, CA, and Philadelphia, PA, represent undersupplied, high-demand markets where storage remains an essential service. Los Angeles, with 509K square feet of planned deliveries, maintains one of the lowest storage availability rates in the country at 1.8 square feet per capita, which helps justify continued expansion despite the city’s high costs. Similarly, Philadelphia, with 426K square feet in the pipeline, has a modest 3.3 square feet per capita of self storage, suggesting that the market is still underbuilt relative to its population size.

Check out how street rates and inventory fare in the 150 largest cities in the U.S.:

Methodology

This analysis was conducted by RentCafe Self Storage, an online platform offering nationwide apartment and storage unit listings.

The article is based on our research into self storage data from our sister division, Yardi Matrix, a business development and asset management tool widely used by brokers, sponsors, banks, and equity sources for underwriting investments in the multifamily, office, industrial, and self-storage sectors.

The report considers the largest 150 cities by population with an active self storage inventory of at least 10 units.

This report analyzes self storage rents and deliveries estimates for 2025 based on January 2025 data.

The self storage street rate is calculated as the weighted averages of the street rates for all storage unit sizes, non-climate-controlled and climate-controlled units included.

For the ranking, we analyzed the total rentable square footage within Yardi Matrix’s coverage area, calculating each company’s inventory as a percentage of the nation’s total inventory or each state’s inventory, depending on the scope. The data is accurate as of January 2025.

For data on population changes, we've turned to the U.S. Census (2017-2022 dataset).

Please note that data and coverage areas may evolve, and actual figures are subject to change.

Fair use and distribution

This study is intended as a resource for the general public on topics of common interest and should not be considered investment advice. The data presented is accurate to the best of our knowledge, based on thorough and good-faith research, but it may change due to external factors.

We permit the distribution of this content, provided that proper attribution is given to "RentCafe Self Storage" with a link back to the research study.