Why Micro Units Are Gaining Momentum

Micro Apartment Units

Micro unit apartments are become more popular for a few key reasons:

  • Affordability in Expensive Markets: In areas such as Palm Beach County, where Fair Market Rents have increased 55% in three years, micro units provide more attainable pricing for rental units.

  • Simplicity and Efficiency: Residents are rethinking space, prioritizing functionality over square footage and minimizing maintenance and clutter.

  • Younger Demographics: Micro units in neighborhoods with easy access to transportation, health care, parks/recreation, and grocery stores are desirable to younger renters and professionals who value location and community over space.

Micro Living, Macro Benefits

While micro apartments may be small in size, they’re big on impact. Residents report higher satisfaction when units are thoughtfully designed with amenities, shared spaces, and flexible layouts. For developers, micro units offer an opportunity to build more housing without relying on subsidies or sacrificing design.

As the housing landscape evolves, micro living continues to prove that sometimes, less really is more.

A Slow Shift

While micro units are gaining ground in many urban markets across the US, some Florida cities have been slower to adopt this compact living trend. Cities like West Palm Beach still show no presence of micro-apartments, largely due to zoning restrictions, cultural preferences for larger homes, and the region’s historical embrace of suburban sprawl.

However, Miami is starting to break the mold—which ranks among the top 20 large U.S. cities for micro housing. Driven by rising rents and a severe housing shortage, Miami has begun actively expanding its inventory of micro units, some as small as 180 square feet. The city’s density, walkability, and demand for attainable housing have created the right environment for smaller-footprint living to thrive.

As affordability continues to challenge renters across the state, Florida may be at the forefront of a Southern shift toward smarter, smaller housing solutions.