Craving Extra Square Footage? Here’s Where Renters Can Score the Most Space for Their Money

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After being homebound for months on end, many Americans are craving a bit more square footage, some outdoor space, and a home office or two—all the better to ride out the rest of the pandemic and beyond. But where can those seeking a bit more room go while still being within commuting distance of the big cities?

They should probably head south. John’s Creek, GA, about 30 minutes northeast of Atlanta, offers the largest average apartment size outside one of the 30 largest cities, according to a recent analysis by RENTCafe. Apartments in the Atlanta suburb clocked in at an average of roughly 1,225 square feet. That’s plenty of space for an extra work area, an online schooling nook for the kids, or even a hobby room.

The median rent in John’s Creek was $1,950 a month, according to realtor.com® data.

The rental site looked at apartments only within the 30 largest metropolitan areas, which include a main city and surrounding suburbs, towns, and smaller urban areas. RENTCafe used Yardi Matrix data to analyze apartment sizes. Only rentals in buildings with 50 or more units were included.

More Americans have been moving out of the cities, seeking more privacy and space since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the suburbs have become hot markets for both renters and home buyers. And as white-collar workers continue to be allowed to work remotely, they’re moving farther and farther out.

Only two other burbs offered more than an average 1,200 square feet.

Wellington, FL, about an hour and 20 minutes north of Miami, offers renters an average of 1,208 square feet. Meanwhile, Lake Wylie, SC, about 30 minutes southwest of Charlotte, NC, provides an average 1,205 square feet.

Rounding out the rest of the top 10 were Pikesville, MD, outside of Baltimore, at 1,185 square feet; Longwood, FL, outside of Orlando, at 1,178 square feet; Avenel, NJ, outside of New York, at 1,176; Park Forest, IL, outside of Chicago, at 1,168; Bear, DE, outside of Philadelphia, at 1,141; Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, outside of Los Angeles, at 1,133; and Woodbury, MN, outside of Minneapolis, at 1,123.

Other notable metro areas not in the top 10 were Camp Springs, MD, roughly 30 minutes southeast of Washington, DC; Peabody, MA, about 30 minutes northeast of Boston; and Menlo Park, CA, about 30 miles south of San Francisco.

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Watch: How to Calculate Your Home’s Square Footage–It’s Surprisingly Tricky

 

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source https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/renters-find-most-space-in-these-suburbs/