Self-Storage Builders Shift Toward Suburbs
Twenty metro areas now have mostly suburban self-storage projects in their development pipelines, according to a StorageCafe analysis of Yardi Matrix data.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Commercial
StorageCafe analyzed Yardi Matrix data and found that 20 metropolitan areas where urban development once accounted for most self-storage construction now have predominantly suburban projects in their pipelines. Fifteen other metros are shifting toward urban self-storage development.
Why it matters
The shift tracks population patterns, with metros moving toward suburban development recording median population growth of 13 percent between 2014 and 2024, compared with 5 percent in metros moving toward urban development.
The analysis compares urban and suburban shares of self-storage construction over the past decade, with 20 metros now leaning suburban and 15 shifting toward urban projects. Orlando, Florida, is cited as an example whose urban share of deliveries is expected to decline from 57 percent to 39 percent.
The players
StorageCafe
StorageCafe is a self-storage listings and market information platform that published the analysis.
Yardi Matrix
Yardi Matrix is a commercial real estate data and research service whose data formed the basis of the analysis.
The details
StorageCafe used Yardi Matrix data to identify which metropolitan areas have changed their self-storage development patterns over the past decade. The findings show a clear divergence between metros moving toward suburban projects and those moving back toward urban ones.
Timeline
Population growth compared across metro groups from 2014 to 2024.
Urban self-storage construction share measured over the past decade.
Market Landscape
The shift reflects where self-storage developers are placing new capacity as population grows unevenly across metropolitan areas. Suburban growth in some metros is drawing construction away from urban sites that dominated the prior decade.
Renters and businesses needing storage space may see new facilities appear in suburban areas rather than urban cores over the coming years. Owners of existing urban storage sites may face more competition from newly built facilities in nearby markets.
The takeaway
Self-storage supply follows population growth, so monitoring where your metro's population is rising can help anticipate where new facilities will open. Compare development pipelines in your area before committing to a long-term storage lease.
Further reading
Explore more Commercial real estate coverage for context on how development patterns are changing nationwide.
