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Is Downsizing Worth It?

Is Downsizing Worth It?

The New York Times
2025/12/18
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Wondering if it’s worth it to downsize? New research from StorageCafe found that in some cities, it can save hundreds of thousands of dollars over time, while in others it can actually cost thousands.

StorageCafe analyzed 90 of the country’s largest cities and estimated what a homeowner would gain (or lose) over the course of a decade by downsizing from a four-bedroom home to a two-bedroom. To arrive at the net value, 10 years of property tax savings were added to the equation, and closing costs plus 10 years self-storage fees were subtracted.

Among the cities studied, downsizing was found to save homeowners a median of $177,000 over 10 years. The gains were significantly higher in some areas, particularly in expensive areas. In Irvine, Calif., net savings would be $901,000 over 10 years. In San Jose Calif., it was $715,000.

Of course, in expensive cities, the downsizing gains can be relatively small since two-bedroom homes are also pricey. So the report looked at the estimated 10-year savings compared with the value of the typical home in each city. In Dallas, the downsizing gains — $373,000 over 10 years — exceeded the typical home value by roughly 20 percent, making it the most downsize-friendly city. But in Irvine, Calif., that $901,000 in savings still fell 43 percent short of the average-priced home.

In Cleveland, four-bedroom homes weren’t much more expensive than two-bedroom homes, nor were the respective property taxes, the analysis showed. Closing costs and self-storage unit fees ended up outweighing the savings, meaning downsizers there could actually lose nearly $25,000.

While property taxes and closing costs are not optional, storage units are. In Honolulu, for example, a unit could cost you more than $35,000 over 10 years, eroding the downsize savings. Get rid of enough possessions, and you can eliminate that cost entirely.

A list of major cities where the ten-year cost savings when downsizing from a four-beroom house to a two-bedroom house came closest to the area’s typical home value.

SHARE OF

TYPICAL

HOME VALUE

SHARE OF

TYPICAL

HOME VALUE

TEN-YEAR

SAVINGS

TEN-YEAR

SAVINGS

MARKET

MARKET

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

120%

111%

89%

88%

86%

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Memphis

Oklahoma City

Greensboro, N.C.

Oakland, Calif.

Kansas City, Mo.

86%

86%

85%

82%

81%

Dallas

Lubbock, Texas

Honolulu

Tulsa, Okla,

Irving, Texas

$372,796

$229,145

$670,001

$188,425

$296,336

$124,964

$176,674

$222,806

$595,957

$204,865

SHARE OF

TYPICAL

HOME VALUE

TEN-YEAR

SAVINGS

CITY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Dallas

Lubbock, Texas

Honolulu

Tusla, Okla.

Irving, Texas

Memphis

Oklahoma City

Greensboro, N.C.

Oakland, Calif.

Kansas City, Mo.

120%

111%

89%

88%

86%

86%

86%

85%

82%

81%

$372,796

$229,145

$670,001

$188,425

$296,336

$124,964

$176,674

$222,806

$595,957

$204,865