Top 25 Furnished Cities Guide 2026

How to Read a Mid-Term Market

Mid-term supply and vacation-rental supply look identical on most platforms, but they are not the same product. A vacation rental repriced monthly comes with nightly-rental infrastructure, flexible cancellation, and a landlord whose default assumption is weekly checkouts. A genuine mid-term rental comes from a landlord who wants occupancy stability. These five signals help you tell the two apart before you send a single inquiry.

• Medical demand signal: large hospital systems or VA campuses anchor the strongest mid-term markets. Travel nurses are one of the most consistent mid-term tenant segments, since assignments run on predictable 13-week cycles.
• Corporate supply signal: the presence of corporate housing vendors, not Airbnb Superhosts, points to professional management, predictable pricing, and faster inquiry response.
• Military signal: proximity to a base such as Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Fort Bragg, Luke Air Force Base, or Camp Pendleton sustains TDY and PCS demand year-round. Landlords near bases often keep furnished units configured for service members.
• Insurance signal: a history of catastrophe events, including flood zones and wildfire corridors, sustains ALE housing demand between major disasters, not only during them.
• Red flag: a landlord offering a "30-day minimum" on an Airbnb-managed property with a nightly base rate. Their default is short stays, and the 30-day minimum often exists only to qualify for a platform discount.

Five Demand Signals, Mapped to Cities

Strong mid-term markets usually run on more than one demand driver. A city with two or three active signals tends to hold deeper furnished inventory and steadier landlord quality than a single-driver market. Here is how each of the 25 markets maps to the five signals.

• Tampa, FL: Medical / VA, Corporate, Military / Gov, Insurance / ALE.
• Phoenix, AZ: Corporate, Medical / VA, Military / Gov.
• Los Angeles, CA: Insurance / ALE, Corporate, Medical / VA.
• Sacramento, CA: Insurance / ALE, Military / Gov, Medical / VA.
• Nashville, TN: Medical / VA, Corporate, Remote.
• Atlanta, GA: Corporate, Medical / VA, Remote.
• Austin, TX: Corporate, Remote, Medical / VA.
• Baltimore, MD: Medical / VA, Military / Gov.
• Boston, MA: Medical / VA, Corporate.
• Charlotte, NC: Corporate, Medical / VA.
• Chicago, IL: Corporate, Medical / VA.
• Colorado Springs, CO: Military / Gov.
• Dallas, TX: Corporate, Medical / VA.
• Denver, CO: Corporate, Remote, Medical / VA.
• Houston, TX: Medical / VA, Corporate, Insurance / ALE.
• Jacksonville, FL: Military / Gov, Medical / VA, Insurance / ALE.
• New Orleans, LA: Insurance / ALE, Medical / VA.
• Norfolk, VA: Military / Gov, Medical / VA, Insurance / ALE.
• Orlando, FL: Insurance / ALE, Corporate, Medical / VA.
• Philadelphia, PA: Medical / VA, Corporate.
• Raleigh, NC: Corporate, Remote, Medical / VA.
• San Antonio, TX: Military / Gov, Medical / VA.
• San Diego, CA: Military / Gov, Medical / VA.
• Seattle, WA: Corporate, Remote, Medical / VA.
• Washington, DC: Military / Gov, Medical / VA, Corporate.

City Profiles

Twenty-five markets, core markets first. Each profile lists the active demand drivers, the current unfurnished median rent by bedroom size from Zumper, a furnished mid-term rental estimate for each size, the neighborhoods where furnished inventory tends to cluster, and the tenant segments each market fits best. Every profile links straight to current listings for that city.

• Tampa, FL (core market). Tampa General, Moffitt Cancer Center, and the James A. Haley VA anchor medical demand, MacDill Air Force Base drives military stays, and Gulf Coast storm exposure keeps ALE demand steady. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,435, 1BR $1,400, 2BR $1,825, 3BR $2,448, 4BR $3,300. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,950–$2,200, 1BR $1,900–$2,150, 2BR $2,450–$2,850, 3BR $3,300–$3,800, 4BR $4,450–$5,100. Neighborhoods: South Tampa, Westshore, Channel District. Best fit: Travel nurses, military PCS and TDY, insurance-displaced households.
• Phoenix, AZ (core market). Mayo Clinic Arizona and Banner Health anchor medical demand, Luke Air Force Base drives military stays, and steady Sun Belt relocation feeds corporate demand. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $950, 1BR $1,150, 2BR $1,495, 3BR $2,160, 4BR $2,767. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,300–$1,450, 1BR $1,550–$1,800, 2BR $2,000–$2,300, 3BR $2,900–$3,350, 4BR $3,750–$4,300. Neighborhoods: Downtown and Roosevelt Row, Tempe, the Camelback Corridor. Best fit: Travel nurses, corporate relocators, military PCS.
• Los Angeles, CA (core market). Wildfire displacement, including the January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, drives heavy ALE demand, with Cedars-Sinai, UCLA Health, and the entertainment industry adding medical and corporate need. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,595, 1BR $2,100, 2BR $2,875, 3BR $4,065, 4BR $5,600. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $2,150–$2,450, 1BR $2,850–$3,250, 2BR $3,900–$4,450, 3BR $5,500–$6,300, 4BR $7,550–$8,700. Neighborhoods: Mid-City and Beverly Grove, Westwood, Pasadena. Best fit: ALE households, travel nurses, project-based professionals.
• Sacramento, CA (core market). Northern California wildfire displacement drives ALE demand, UC Davis Health anchors medical stays, and the state capital sustains government and contractor demand. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,438, 1BR $1,495, 2BR $1,847, 3BR $2,527, 4BR $2,950. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,950–$2,250, 1BR $2,000–$2,300, 2BR $2,500–$2,850, 3BR $3,400–$3,900, 4BR $4,000–$4,550. Neighborhoods: Midtown, East Sacramento, Downtown. Best fit: ALE households, travel nurses, government and contract workers.
• Nashville, TN (core market). HCA Healthcare is headquartered here, Vanderbilt anchors a deep hospital base, and a long relocation boom keeps corporate and remote-worker demand high. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,522, 1BR $1,605, 2BR $1,795, 3BR $2,320, 4BR $3,495. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $2,050–$2,350, 1BR $2,150–$2,500, 2BR $2,400–$2,800, 3BR $3,150–$3,600, 4BR $4,700–$5,400. Neighborhoods: Midtown and The Gulch, Green Hills, East Nashville. Best fit: Travel nurses, corporate relocators, remote workers.
• Atlanta, GA. A dense cluster of corporate headquarters plus Emory Healthcare and the CDC drive corporate and medical demand, with a large film-production workforce on rotating contracts. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,425, 1BR $1,650, 2BR $2,035, 3BR $2,260, 4BR $2,735. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,900–$2,200, 1BR $2,250–$2,550, 2BR $2,750–$3,150, 3BR $3,050–$3,500, 4BR $3,700–$4,250. Neighborhoods: Midtown, Buckhead, Druid Hills near Emory. Best fit: Corporate relocators, travel nurses, project-based crews.
• Austin, TX. Tech employers and Dell Medical School drive corporate, remote, and medical demand, though Apartment List flags Austin as the softest large rental market, down 5.1 percent year over year (April 2026). Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,620, 1BR $1,573, 2BR $2,059, 3BR $2,550, 4BR $3,000. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $2,200–$2,500, 1BR $2,100–$2,450, 2BR $2,800–$3,200, 3BR $3,450–$3,950, 4BR $4,050–$4,650. Neighborhoods: Downtown, The Domain, Central Austin near UT. Best fit: Corporate relocators, remote workers, travel nurses.
• Baltimore, MD. Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland Medical Center anchor strong travel-nurse demand, with federal and defense employment nearby at Fort Meade. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,225, 1BR $1,195, 2BR $1,650, 3BR $1,950, 4BR $2,300. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,650–$1,900, 1BR $1,600–$1,850, 2BR $2,250–$2,550, 3BR $2,650–$3,000, 4BR $3,100–$3,550. Neighborhoods: Fells Point and Canton near Hopkins, Federal Hill, Inner Harbor. Best fit: Travel nurses, federal and contract workers.
• Boston, MA. The Longwood Medical Area is one of the densest hospital clusters in the country, and the Seaport biotech corridor adds corporate demand. Rents are among the highest in this guide. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $2,450, 1BR $2,850, 2BR $3,495, 3BR $3,895, 4BR $5,100. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $3,300–$3,800, 1BR $3,850–$4,400, 2BR $4,700–$5,400, 3BR $5,250–$6,050, 4BR $6,900–$7,900. Neighborhoods: Longwood Medical Area, Fenway, the Seaport. Best fit: Travel nurses, biotech and corporate relocators.
• Charlotte, NC. Bank of America and Truist headquarters drive corporate relocation, and Atrium Health anchors medical demand. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,435, 1BR $1,399, 2BR $1,724, 3BR $2,049, 4BR $2,450. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,950–$2,200, 1BR $1,900–$2,150, 2BR $2,350–$2,650, 3BR $2,750–$3,200, 4BR $3,300–$3,800. Neighborhoods: Uptown, South End, Dilworth near Atrium. Best fit: Corporate relocators, travel nurses.
• Chicago, IL. A deep corporate headquarters base plus large systems like Northwestern Memorial and the Illinois Medical District sustain corporate and medical demand. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,675, 1BR $2,250, 2BR $2,550, 3BR $3,000, 4BR $3,900. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $2,250–$2,600, 1BR $3,050–$3,500, 2BR $3,450–$3,950, 3BR $4,050–$4,650, 4BR $5,250–$6,050. Neighborhoods: River North and Streeterville, West Loop, the Illinois Medical District. Best fit: Corporate relocators, travel nurses.
• Colorado Springs, CO. Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever, and the Air Force Academy make this one of the most concentrated military markets in the guide. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $901, 1BR $1,100, 2BR $1,495, 3BR $2,235, 4BR $2,700. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,200–$1,400, 1BR $1,500–$1,700, 2BR $2,000–$2,300, 3BR $3,000–$3,450, 4BR $3,650–$4,200. Neighborhoods: Downtown, the Powers corridor near Peterson, Fountain near Fort Carson. Best fit: Military PCS and TDY, defense contractors.
• Dallas, TX. Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the largest corporate relocation hubs in the country, with UT Southwestern and Baylor anchoring medical demand. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,335, 1BR $1,330, 2BR $1,912, 3BR $2,550, 4BR $3,600. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,800–$2,050, 1BR $1,800–$2,050, 2BR $2,600–$2,950, 3BR $3,450–$3,950, 4BR $4,850–$5,600. Neighborhoods: Uptown and Oak Lawn, Las Colinas in Irving, the Medical District. Best fit: Corporate relocators, travel nurses.
• Denver, CO. Steady in-migration drives corporate and remote-worker demand, with the Anschutz Medical Campus in neighboring Aurora adding medical stays. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,369, 1BR $1,550, 2BR $2,197, 3BR $2,995, 4BR $3,330. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,850–$2,100, 1BR $2,100–$2,400, 2BR $2,950–$3,400, 3BR $4,050–$4,650, 4BR $4,500–$5,150. Neighborhoods: LoDo, Cherry Creek, Capitol Hill. Best fit: Corporate relocators, remote workers, travel nurses.
• Houston, TX. The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the world and a major travel-nurse destination, with energy-sector corporate demand and recurring Gulf storm and flood exposure. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,379, 1BR $1,131, 2BR $1,450, 3BR $1,900, 4BR $2,300. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,850–$2,150, 1BR $1,550–$1,750, 2BR $1,950–$2,250, 3BR $2,550–$2,950, 4BR $3,100–$3,550. Neighborhoods: The Texas Medical Center and Museum District, Galleria and Uptown, the Energy Corridor. Best fit: Travel nurses, corporate relocators, ALE households.
• Jacksonville, FL. NAS Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport drive military demand, Mayo Clinic Florida and UF Health anchor medical stays, and coastal storm exposure sustains ALE need. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $904, 1BR $1,010, 2BR $1,350, 3BR $1,800, 4BR $2,150. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,200–$1,400, 1BR $1,350–$1,550, 2BR $1,800–$2,100, 3BR $2,450–$2,800, 4BR $2,900–$3,350. Neighborhoods: Riverside, the Southside, the Beaches near Mayo. Best fit: Military PCS and TDY, travel nurses, ALE households.
• New Orleans, LA. One of the highest hurricane-exposure markets in the country drives durable ALE demand, with Ochsner and LSU Health anchoring medical stays. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,173, 1BR $1,400, 2BR $1,650, 3BR $2,000, 4BR $3,700. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,600–$1,800, 1BR $1,900–$2,150, 2BR $2,250–$2,550, 3BR $2,700–$3,100, 4BR $5,000–$5,750. Neighborhoods: Mid-City near the medical district, the Garden District, the Warehouse District. Best fit: ALE households, travel nurses, contract recovery workers.
• Norfolk, VA. Naval Station Norfolk is the largest naval base in the world, with Sentara and EVMS anchoring medical demand and coastal flooding sustaining ALE need. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,520, 1BR $1,225, 2BR $1,450, 3BR $2,195, 4BR $2,695. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $2,050–$2,350, 1BR $1,650–$1,900, 2BR $1,950–$2,250, 3BR $2,950–$3,400, 4BR $3,650–$4,200. Neighborhoods: Ghent near Sentara, Ocean View, Downtown. Best fit: Military PCS and TDY, travel nurses, ALE households.
• Orlando, FL. Central Florida storm exposure drives ALE demand, the hospitality economy fuels corporate relocation, and AdventHealth and Orlando Health anchor medical stays. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,590, 1BR $1,440, 2BR $1,750, 3BR $2,300, 4BR $2,950. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $2,150–$2,450, 1BR $1,950–$2,250, 2BR $2,350–$2,700, 3BR $3,100–$3,550, 4BR $4,000–$4,550. Neighborhoods: Lake Nona's Medical City, Winter Park, Downtown. Best fit: ALE households, corporate relocators, travel nurses.
• Philadelphia, PA. University City packs Penn Medicine, CHOP, and Drexel, with Jefferson and Temple nearby, into one of the largest medical and education zones on the East Coast. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,195, 1BR $1,492, 2BR $1,750, 3BR $1,950, 4BR $2,650. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,600–$1,850, 1BR $2,000–$2,300, 2BR $2,350–$2,700, 3BR $2,650–$3,000, 4BR $3,600–$4,100. Neighborhoods: University City, Center City, Fairmount near the hospitals. Best fit: Travel nurses, corporate relocators, graduate and research staff.
• Raleigh, NC. The Research Triangle drives corporate and remote-worker demand, with Duke and UNC health systems nearby anchoring medical stays. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,195, 1BR $1,205, 2BR $1,530, 3BR $1,950, 4BR $2,410. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,600–$1,850, 1BR $1,650–$1,850, 2BR $2,050–$2,350, 3BR $2,650–$3,000, 4BR $3,250–$3,750. Neighborhoods: Downtown and North Hills, Morrisville and Cary near RTP, Durham adjacency. Best fit: Corporate relocators, remote workers, travel nurses.
• San Antonio, TX. Joint Base San Antonio, home to the military's largest medical training enterprise, makes this a leading market for both military and medical mid-term stays. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $800, 1BR $950, 2BR $1,250, 3BR $1,650, 4BR $2,055. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,100–$1,250, 1BR $1,300–$1,450, 2BR $1,700–$1,950, 3BR $2,250–$2,550, 4BR $2,750–$3,200. Neighborhoods: Government Hill near Fort Sam Houston, the Medical Center district, Downtown and Pearl. Best fit: Military PCS and TDY, travel nurses.
• San Diego, CA. Naval Base San Diego is the Pacific Fleet's largest home port, with Camp Pendleton nearby and UC San Diego Health anchoring medical demand. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,850, 1BR $2,195, 2BR $2,950, 3BR $4,200, 4BR $5,500. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $2,500–$2,850, 1BR $2,950–$3,400, 2BR $4,000–$4,550, 3BR $5,650–$6,500, 4BR $7,450–$8,550. Neighborhoods: Point Loma near the naval base, Hillcrest near UCSD Medical, Mission Valley. Best fit: Military PCS and TDY, travel nurses.
• Seattle, WA. South Lake Union's tech employers drive corporate and remote demand, and First Hill's hospital cluster, known locally as Pill Hill, anchors travel-nurse stays. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,379, 1BR $1,925, 2BR $2,757, 3BR $3,700, 4BR $4,795. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $1,850–$2,150, 1BR $2,600–$3,000, 2BR $3,700–$4,250, 3BR $5,000–$5,750, 4BR $6,450–$7,450. Neighborhoods: South Lake Union, First Hill, Capitol Hill. Best fit: Corporate relocators, remote workers, travel nurses.
• Washington, DC. Federal government and contractor demand runs year-round, with MedStar, GW, and VA facilities anchoring medical stays. Unfurnished median rent (Zumper, May 2026): Studio $1,793, 1BR $2,290, 2BR $3,000, 3BR $3,700, 4BR $5,100. Furnished mid-term rental estimate: Studio $2,400–$2,800, 1BR $3,100–$3,550, 2BR $4,050–$4,650, 3BR $5,000–$5,750, 4BR $6,900–$7,900. Neighborhoods: Foggy Bottom near GW, NoMa, Navy Yard. Best fit: Government and contract workers, travel nurses, corporate relocators.

Furnished Mid-Term Cost Ranges

A quick visual comparison of the furnished mid-term rental estimate for a 2-bedroom, a common mid-term unit, across all 25 markets, low to high. Each city profile breaks the estimate down from studio through 4-bedroom. Use these ranges to budget, not to negotiate a specific quote.

Booking Direct vs. Airbnb

Booking the same furnished unit can cost different amounts depending on where you book it. The most predictable difference is the platform fee.

• On Airbnb's split-fee model, the guest pays a service fee of roughly 14 to 16 percent of the booking subtotal (Airbnb Help Center, 2026).
• A no-fee direct platform does not add that guest service fee, so the same unit booked direct usually costs less for the same dates.
• Airbnb's monthly discount and any cleaning fee move the math in both directions. Always compare the final all-in total, not the headline nightly or monthly rate.

What a Quality Mid-Term Listing Looks Like

• States the minimum stay explicitly, in weeks or months. "Flexible" or "negotiable" is a red flag, not a feature.
• Quotes an all-in monthly total: rent plus utilities, parking, and fees in one number, not a base rent with additive surprises.
• Lists furnishing specifics. Bed size, a desk and chair, in-unit laundry, and kitchen basics are the items most mid-term tenants check before they inquire.
• Includes a real address or a specific neighborhood, not only a city name.
• Provides lease terms or a sample lease before you pay any deposit.

Calculating True Monthly Cost

The cheapest listed rent is rarely the cheapest total cost. Standardize to an all-in monthly figure before you compare any two options.

• Add every mandatory fee before comparing. Admin fees, cleaning fees, pet fees, and parking are additive, so start there.
• Estimate utilities realistically if they are tenant-paid. Electricity alone in a hot-summer market can run $150 to $250 a month above the base rent a landlord quotes.
• Account for booking fees. On Airbnb's split-fee model, the guest typically pays a service fee of roughly 14 to 16 percent of the booking subtotal (Airbnb Help Center, 2026). Booking the same unit direct on a no-fee platform avoids that fee.
• Check the security-deposit refund timeline. Thirty days is standard; some landlords hold 45 to 60. A $2,000 deposit held 60 days ties up two months of cash.
• Ask in writing: "What is the total all-in cost for X months, including every fee, deposit, and utility?" Get one number before you commit.

Sources and Method

Every number in this guide traces to a named public source. Here is where each one comes from.

• Rent figures: Zumper Rent Research, as of May 2026. Listed figures are median asking rents by bedroom size for unfurnished long-term units, pulled from each city's Zumper rent page.
• Furnished mid-term rental estimates: furnished and mid-term units typically rent at a premium over unfurnished long-term rent. We apply a 35 to 55 percent premium to each bedroom-size median as a budgeting assumption, rounded to the nearest $50. Treat these ranges as estimates, not quotes.
• Airbnb fees: guest service fee of roughly 14 to 16 percent of the booking subtotal on the split-fee model (Airbnb Help Center, 2026).
• Demand drivers: based on public facts about each metro, including its hospital systems, VA medical centers, military installations, state-capital or federal employment, and catastrophe-exposure history.