Top 10 Emerging Self Storage Markets of 2026

We are revisiting the nation’s top emerging self storage markets, based on how they performed in 2025. This year’s markets share a few characteristics: In-migration remains a key demand driver, many are secondary metros benefiting from affordability, and most are supported by durable economic anchors. At the same time, they carry above-average storage supply per capita and active development pipelines.

Overall, the self storage performance has improved. The national advertised street rate increased 0.3 percent year-over-year as of December 2025, a significant improvement over the 2.3 percent decline of December 2024. Nationally, developers had 54.2 million net rentable square feet of storage space under construction, accounting for 2.7 percent of total stock. Based on forecasts, the national inventory is expected to grow by 43.6 million net rentable square feet by the end of 2026, followed by an additional 37.3 million square feet added in 2027.

The table below highlights the top 10 emerging U.S. self storage markets, with Florida metros strongly represented once more. The ranking is guided by rent growth, development pipelines and demographic momentum.

1. Jacksonville, Fla.

Jacksonville, Fla., moved into the top spot, up from the second place on the 2025 emerging self storage markets list. The metro was propped up by a healthy labor market. Jacksonville closed 2025 with the unemployment rate at 4.6 percent, according to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The education and health services sector recorded the strongest job growth at 6.9 percent year‑over‑year.

As of December, the metro totaled more than 15.8 million net rentable square feet, which translated to 10.8 net rentable square feet per capita—well above the national average of 7.8. Even with this rather high supply, development remained strong. The pipeline included 11 facilities under construction totaling 913,201 net rentable square feet, along with 20 planned projects totaling more than 1.5 million. Altogether, projects in these various stages of development represented 15.4 percent of the metro’s existing inventory. Over the next five years, Jacksonville is expected to gain another 2.4 million net rentable square feet of storage space.

The metro’s annualized asking rent averaged $15.96 per square foot across the main unit types, down 1.4 percent year-over-year. Jacksonville’s average slid below the national figure of $16.32, which recorded a 0.3 percent increase on an annual basis.

2. Sarasota-Cape Coral, Fla.

Sarasota-Cape Coral rose to second place from third on the 2025 emerging markets list. The metro’s momentum gain has not been overlooked. The October Yardi Matrix self storage report revealed an amended Top 30 Metros list. Sarasota-Cape Coral was among the new additions, along with Detroit, Indianapolis and Salt Lake City. Since then, the metro has remained on top when it comes to under-construction supply relative to total stock.

With an inventory of approximately 22.8 million net rentable square feet, Sarasota-Cape Coral stood out with the biggest self storage footprint on the list. Even with 11.4 net rentable square feet of self storage space per capita, it continued to see robust development. As of December, Sarasota-Cape Coral had 23 projects underway totaling close to 2 million net rentable square feet of storage space, strengthened by 60 planned facilities encompassing more than 5 million net rentable square feet. These projects accounted for 30.8 percent of the metro’s existing stock. Sarasota-Cape Coral is on track to add another 6 million net rentable square feet over the coming five years.

The metro’s annualized asking rent came in at $14.96 per square foot across the main unit types, lower than the national figure of $16.32. Sarasota-Cape Coral’s averages marked a steep 3.6 percent decline year-over-year, while the national figure was up 0.3 percent.

3. Savannah-Hilton Head, Ga.

Savannah-Hilton Head rose to third place from sixth on the 2025 list. One of the cornerstones of the metro, the Port of Savannah, handled approximately 5.7 million TEUs in 2025, a 2.6 percent increase year-over-year, according to The Georgia Ports Authority. The metro’s logistics base will be further strengthened by GPA’s ongoing $4.5 billion investment in Savannah.

With an inventory encompassing just over 6.9 million net rentable square feet, Savannah-Hilton Head had the smallest self storage footprint among the metros on the list. As of December, it had 10 projects totaling 660,045 net rentable square feet under construction, with 13 facilities planned totaling 825,960 square feet. The development pipeline amounted to 21.5 percent of the metro’s existing inventory. Between 2026 and 2030, the metro is expected to gain an additional 1.3 million net rentable square feet of storage space. All in all, Savannah-Hilton Head offered 11.7 net rentable square feet of storage space per capita, outpacing the national average of 7.8.

Savannah-Hilton Head’s average for advertised asking rates per square foot dropped to $16.99, marking a 0.6 percent decrease year-over-year. The national average annualized rate per square foot settled at $16.32 for the combined mix of unit sizes and types, up 0.3 percent on an annual basis.

4. North Central Florida

The top emerging market of 2025 dropped to fourth place. Within the region, Ocala, Fla., topped the growth cities list featured on U‑Haul’s latest Growth Index. The company ranked metros and cities by the net gain of one‑way movers. This marked the third time in recent years that Ocala has secured the top spot, having previously led the rankings in 2024 and 2022. In-migration has supported sustained self storage demand.

December data showed North Central Florida maintaining development momentum, with 277,228 net rentable square feet of self storage space under construction and an additional 1.9 million square feet in the planning stages. Overall, the metro’s inventory totaled 12.8 million net rentable square feet, offering 10.3 net rentable square feet per capita. The metro-wide figure was well over the national average of 7.8.

North Central Florida’s average annualized rent per square foot for the combined mix of units for both climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled options fell to $15.32, down 3.7 percent year‑over‑year. This marked the steepest decline on the list. Meanwhile, the national average rose 0.3 percent to $16.32.

5. Nashville

Nashville, Tenn., rose from eighth place on the 2025 emerging markets list to fifth. The metro is supported by its diverse economy. At the end of 2025, Nashville’s unemployment rate was a tight 2.9 percent, down 10 basis points year-over-year, according to preliminary BLS data. The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce noted that during the past year the region has netted 17 new companies due to either expansion or relocation. The growth translated to more than $500 million in capital investment.

The metro’s self storage footprint totaled close to 19 million net rentable square feet, amounting to 9.9 net rentable square feet of storage space available per person. This was above the national average of 7.8. Nashville had 8 projects under construction totaling 691,003 net rentable square feet with an additional 15 facilities in the planning stages encompassing 961,760 square feet. These projects combined represented 8.7 percent of existing inventory. Over the next five years, the metro is expected to gain another 1.6 million net rentable square feet of storage space.

Nashville’s annualized average rent per square foot of $15.32 for the combined mix of unit sizes and types, marked a 0.8 percent increase year-over-year. The metro outperformed the national average, which increased 0.3 percent to $16.32.

6. Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho, rose from seventh place on the 2025 emerging markets list to sixth. The metro’s labor force increased by 1.3 percent year-over-year, with the unemployment rate contracting by 0.1 percent as of December, according to a recent report by Idaho Department of Labor. The local top employers were led by St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center, St. Alphonsus Health System as well as Micron Technology.

Boise’s 12.4 million net rentable square feet of storage space translated to 16.0 net rentable square feet per resident. The metro had one of the highest per-capita supply levels on the list, more than double the national average of 7.8. Despite this development continued at a measured pace. As of December, Boise had four facilities totaling 393,905 net rentable square feet under construction with an additional 11 planned projects totaling 981,841 square feet. The pipeline amounted to 11.1 percent of Boise’s total stock. By the end of 2030, developers are expected to add an additional 1.3 million net rentable square feet to the metro’s inventory.

The metro’s annualized average rent per square foot for the combined mix of unit sizes and types came to $13.52, the most affordable among the markets on the list. The figure marked a 0.3 percent increase year-over-year, on par with the national average, which settled at $16.32.

7. Eugene, Ore.

Eugene debuted in seventh place on the emerging markets list. A recent interstate migration study put together by United Van Lines revealed that Eugene-Springfield was the leading metro for in-migration. One of the draws of the region was Springfield’s lower cost of living. The study looked at household moves managed by the UniGroup network.

With an inventory of 11.1 million net rentable square feet, the metro offered 10.7 net rentable square feet available per capita. This was considerably higher than the national average of 7.8. Developers had five self storage properties under construction totaling 229,164 net rentable square feet, with eight in the planning stages totaling 561,471 square feet. Over the next five years, Eugene is expected to gain an additional 675,171 net rentable square feet of storage space.

Eugene’s annualized average rent per square foot for the combined mix of unit sizes and types settled at $17.06, above the national average of $16.32. Rent growth for the metro was negative, down 0.9 percent, while the national average gained 0.3 percent.

8. Charleston, S.C.

Charleston reached seventh place on the growth metros list featured on U-Haul’s 2025 Growth Index. The metro climbed six positions from its 13th place on the 2024 ranking, highlighting the region’s continued in-migration momentum. Charleston–North Charleston, S.C., ranked third among large metros featured on the Milken Institute’s 2026 Best-Performing Cities index.

Charleston moved up one position on the emerging markets list. The metro also gained storage space, which as of December came to 15.2 million net rentable square feet. Charleston offered 12.8 net rentable square feet per person, surpassing the national average of 7.8. Even so, construction activity remained strong. The metro had seven projects under construction totaling 649,078 net rentable square feet, as well as six planned projects encompassing 358,115 square feet. Charleston’s development pipeline amounted to 6.6 percent of existing inventory. By the end of 2030, its self storage footprint is expected to gain an additional 1.1 million net rentable square feet.

The metro’s annualized average rate was $14.61 per square foot for the usual mix of unit sizes and types, settling below the national average of $16.32. Charleston recorded a 2.6 percent increase year-over-year, outperforming the national 0.3 percent growth.

9. Reno, Nev.

Sparks, a component of the metro, debuted in 21st place on the growth cities list highlighted by U-Haul’s 2025 Growth Index. In addition, Grand Sierra Resort broke ground last September on a $1 billion arena project slated to come online in 2027. The large project will hopefully boost job growth and in-migration, translating to storage demand.

Reno had 9.9 million net rentable square feet of storage space, amounting to 16.5 net rentable square feet per person. This was the highest among the metros on the list and more than double the national average of 7.8. Despite this, construction activity maintained momentum. Developers had one facility totaling 88,055 net rentable square feet under construction and 11 planned projects totaling 894,600 square feet. These projects amounted to 9.9 percent of Reno’s total stock. Over the next five years, the metro is expected to add an additional 802,137 net rentable square feet to its inventory.

The metro’s annualized rate per square foot for the main unit sizes and types was $16.33 as of December. The figure was down 0.4 percent year-over-year, while the national average increased 0.3 percent settling at $16.32.

10. Appalachian

Charlottesville, Va., placed 31st among small cities on the Milken Institute’s 2026 Best-Performing Cities ranking. Charlottesville climbed six positions from its 37th place on the 2025 ranking.

Appalachian had a self storage footprint of 8.3 million net rentable square feet. This provided 9.8 net rentable square feet of storage space available per capita, above the 7.8 national average. Developers across the metro had four self storages under construction totaling 237,443 net rentable square feet and 11 planned projects totaling 642,592 square feet. These projects in various stages of development amounted to 10.6 percent of Appalachian’s existing inventory. Over the next five years, developers are expected to add another 962,884 net rentable square feet of storage space.

The average annualized rate per square foot for the metro was $17.61 for the usual mix of unit sizes and types. The figure was above the national average of $16.32 and marked a 3.6 rise year-over-year. This was the steepest increase among the metros on our list.

Methodology

Working with Yardi Matrix data, we filtered out all metros with 2 million or more residents, leading to a 104-strong metro list. Then, we decided on a series of significant data points that would separate the best-performing markets from the rest. We looked at the population growth rate within a 3-mile radius in 2023 utilizing U.S. Census data. Other data points included in this ranking are: Total completed rentable stock, year-over-year rent increases as of December 2025, completed inventory available per capita, projects under construction and in the planning phases as of December 2025, and forecast completions in the next five years. We then compared the 104 markets based on the performance of these data points and eventually assigned them a final score that indicates their position in our ranking.