These US Cities Are a Goldmine for Curbside Furniture Finds, New Report Says

Every summer, college towns are flooded with discarded furniture as students move out of short-term rentals and temporary housing.

Many leave behind bulky items like sofas, bed frames, and tables that are ripe for scavenging. As college move-out season approaches, now's the time to start searching for abandoned pieces that can be reused, refurbished, or even resold.

Of course, it's not just college students who are kicking stuff to the curb. In cities with high turnover—whether driven by tourism, short-term rentals, or transient populations—you'll find tons of discarded goods.

According to research from lighting brand Pooky, in cities like Las Vegas, households throw away over 547,000 tons of furniture per 100,000 residents annually—that's the equivalent of around 20,700 couches per day.

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But the rise of resale platforms has made it easier than ever for those who scavenge to monetize second-hand furniture. Items sourced for free from curbsides or bulk trash can often be cleaned, refurbished, and resold, sometimes within hours.

Based on its research, Pooky just revealed the top cities across the country that are the biggest hotspots for finding homewares.

To determine the list, the company analyzed 25 of the most populated U.S. cities using landfill tonnage data, renter population percentages, and search volumes for terms including “cheap furniture,” “furniture disposal,” and “bulk trash pickup.” Cities with higher levels of furniture disposal were identified as offering greater potential for furniture scavenging due to increased availability of discarded items.

Here are the top 10 cities where you have the greatest chance of scoring furniture finds.

Top 10 Cities for Furniture Scavenging

1. Las Vegas, Nev.
2. Denver, Colo.
3. Boston, Mass.
4. Washington, D.C.
5. Houston, Texas
6. San Jose, Calif.
7. Nashville, Tenn.
8. Seattle, Wash.
9. San Diego, Calif.
10. Columbus, Ohio