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 ten emerging U.S. self storage markets, with Florida metros strongly represented once more. The ranking is guided by rent growth, development pipelines along with 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 a 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 the third on the 2025 emerging markets list. The metro gaining momentum 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 as well as Detroit, Indianapolis and Salt Lake City. Since then, the metro 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, the metro 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. These projects accounted for 30.8 percent of the metro’s existing stock. Sarasota-Cape Coral is on track to add an additional 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, the metro had 10 projects totaling 660,045 net rentable square feet under construction with 13 planned facilities 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...

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