The best U.S. mid-term rental markets in 2026
The best U.S. cities for mid-term rentals in 2026, by gross rent yield, are Detroit, MI (26.1%), Cleveland, OH (15.9%), and El Paso, TX (14.5%), based on MTR Analytics data on active furnished monthly listings and U.S. Census home values for July 2026.
This ranking covers the 168 U.S. cities with at least 250 active furnished monthly listings and 100,000+ residents. It shows where furnished monthly rents are highest relative to home prices, where the furnished premium over long-term rent is largest, and which markets have the most supply.
Published October 6, 2026. Last updated October 21, 2026. Data: MTR Analytics, July 2026; U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates.
1. How we ranked the markets
- Universe: U.S. cities with at least 250 active furnished monthly (30+ night) listings tracked by MTR Analytics and at least 100,000 residents: 168 cities. Cities are postal city names, so Brooklyn appears separately from New York.
- Gross rent yield: the latest-month median furnished monthly rent times 12, divided by the city's median home value from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey.
- Premium vs long-term rent: how far the median furnished rent sits above the city's Census median gross rent for all rental units.
- Exclusions: cities where the median furnished rent is more than three times the Census median rent, a sign of a data anomaly or a luxury niche. One city was excluded.
Medians, not averages, drive the ranking so a handful of luxury listings can't move a city. Definitions and sources are in the data methodology.
2. Top 20 cities by gross rent yield
Ranked by gross rent yield, July 2026. Each city links to its free market page.
| # | City | Median furnished rent | Active listings | Median home value | Gross yield | Premium vs long-term rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Detroit, MI | $2,278 | 321 | $104,864 | 26.1% | +121% |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $1,876 | 764 | $141,291 | 15.9% | +94% |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | $2,091 | 377 | $173,463 | 14.5% | +98% |
| 4 | Memphis, TN | $2,046 | 592 | $170,924 | 14.4% | +80% |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $1,663 | 332 | $145,169 | 13.7% | +66% |
| 6 | Buffalo, NY | $2,129 | 358 | $201,757 | 12.7% | +105% |
| 7 | Augusta, GA | $1,889 | 534 | $180,356 | 12.6% | +76% |
| 8 | Rochester, NY | $1,778 | 705 | $175,125 | 12.2% | +62% |
| 9 | Pensacola, FL | $2,236 | 458 | $227,719 | 11.8% | +79% |
| 10 | Dayton, OH | $1,706 | 358 | $174,417 | 11.7% | +71% |
| 11 | Fayetteville, NC | $1,760 | 281 | $181,300 | 11.7% | +56% |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $2,004 | 716 | $209,196 | 11.5% | +88% |
| 13 | Daytona Beach, FL | $2,213 | 265 | $231,132 | 11.5% | +72% |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $1,781 | 744 | $186,021 | 11.5% | +66% |
| 15 | Tulsa, OK | $1,996 | 483 | $210,125 | 11.4% | +99% |
| 16 | Wichita, KS | $1,708 | 294 | $180,027 | 11.4% | +76% |
| 17 | Springfield, MO | $1,789 | 255 | $190,891 | 11.2% | +93% |
| 18 | Yuma, AZ | $1,819 | 317 | $195,645 | 11.2% | +71% |
| 19 | Arlington, TX | $2,505 | 316 | $269,385 | 11.2% | +75% |
| 20 | Columbia, SC | $1,927 | 473 | $211,031 | 11.0% | +62% |
3. What the leaders have in common
- Low home prices. Every top-five city has a median home value under $175,000. Furnished monthly rents there are moderate in dollars, but high relative to what the property costs.
- Military towns. El Paso, Augusta, Fayetteville, Pensacola, Columbia, and Yuma all host major military installations, which bring a steady flow of personnel, contractors, and families who need furnished housing for months at a time.
- Rust Belt and upstate New York. Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Dayton, and Milwaukee pair affordable housing with large hospital systems and universities.
- Real premiums over long-term rent. Every top-20 city's furnished median runs at least 56% above its Census median rent.
High yield is not the same as low risk. Cheaper markets can carry higher vacancy, older housing stock, and neighborhood-level swings that a citywide median hides, which is why the next step is always the ZIP.
5. The largest mid-term rental markets
By active furnished monthly listings. These markets have the deepest tenant demand and the most comps to price from, but high home prices keep their gross yields low, so they tend to suit operators who rent units they already own or lease.
| # | City | Median furnished rent | Active listings | Median home value | Gross yield | Premium vs long-term rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $2,462 | 11,526 | $1,054,023 | 2.8% | +34% |
| 2 | New York, NY | $4,050 | 7,989 | $1,061,855 | 4.6% | +79% |
| 3 | Brooklyn, NY | $2,556 | 6,418 | $975,892 | 3.1% | +35% |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $2,963 | 5,808 | $879,818 | 4.0% | +31% |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $2,291 | 4,683 | $573,809 | 4.8% | +30% |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $2,570 | 4,186 | $867,122 | 3.6% | +31% |
| 7 | New Orleans, LA | $1,838 | 3,714 | $337,812 | 6.5% | +50% |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $2,092 | 3,525 | $592,736 | 4.2% | +29% |
| 9 | San Francisco, CA | $3,231 | 3,236 | $1,452,833 | 2.7% | +33% |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $2,484 | 2,978 | $742,297 | 4.0% | +28% |
6. How to use this ranking
Treat the list as a shortlist, not a buy signal. Rents and home values vary sharply inside a city, so pick the ZIP codes near the hospitals, bases, campuses, or employers that generate demand, price from comps with your bedroom count, and underwrite the specific property against a long-term lease. The market analysis playbook walks every step, and Market Finder screens every U.S. market by your own criteria.
Frequently asked questions
- Which cities have the best furnished rental investment returns in 2026?
- By gross rent yield, Detroit, MI led U.S. cities with at least 250 active furnished monthly listings in July 2026 at 26.1%, followed by Cleveland, OH (15.9%) and El Paso, TX (14.5%). Gross yield is a screen. The best market for a specific purchase still depends on budget, financing, and the demand drivers near the property.
- What is a good gross rent yield for a mid-term rental?
- Across the 168 cities ranked here, the median gross yield was 7.1% in July 2026, and every top-20 city cleared 11%. Gross yield is a screening metric; net returns after vacancy, furnishing, utilities, and financing are much lower.
- How is gross rent yield calculated?
- Gross rent yield is the median furnished monthly rent times 12, divided by the median home value. A city with a $2,000 median rent and a $200,000 median home value has a 12% gross yield.
- Which markets have the strongest demand for monthly stays?
- By active furnished monthly listings in July 2026: Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, Brooklyn, NY, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO. Each of those five has a gross yield under 5%. Deep demand and a high investment return are different lists. Use the listing count to see where 30+ night stays already exist, then underwrite the property.
- How often is this ranking updated?
- It is rebuilt from MTR Analytics data as new monthly releases publish. This edition uses July 2026 data; every city links to its live market page for current numbers.
Related guides
- How to analyze a mid-term rental market
How to run mid-term rental market analysis on your ZIP: 30+ night comps, furnished monthly rent, demand drivers, and the premium over a long-term lease.
- How to underwrite a mid-term rental
AMR from real comps, occupancy with placement gaps, the MTR expense stack, and the decision metrics: cash flow, cap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCR, and the MTR vs LTR premium.
- How to price a mid-term rental
What the average monthly rate (AMR) means, how to build a comp band for your exact unit, what to include in rent, where to launch, and when to re-price.