Rents are right about where Lawrence's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,540 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Lawrence usually run 0.7% below trend in January and 0.6% above it in June, about $20 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Lawrence is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Lawrence changed +4.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 49 Indiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Lawrence rose 41.1% while median household income rose 30.3% ($56,819 to $74,022). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lawrence is 50% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($74,022) is $1,851 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,620); a 3-bedroom is $2,110.
Indianapolis, 11 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,375/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lawrence. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Lawrence, IN is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 35.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lawrence, IN has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Lawrence, IN has climbed from $1,117 to $1,540, a 37.9% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $64,392 in 2021 to $74,022 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.0% since 2021, moving from about 49,048 residents to roughly 49,517. Renters now make up 33.9% of households, compared with 35.6% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lawrence, IN market of 2021.
Discussions about Lawrence
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Can you afford rent in Lawrence on your salary?
At $1,540/mo, how Lawrence rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lawrence rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lawrence. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lawrence
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lawrence is $1,540/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,205/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,620/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,385/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,110/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($74,022/yr), Lawrence ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Lawrence rent compare to other cities in Indiana?
At $1,540/mo, rent takes ~25% of Lawrence's median household income ($74,022/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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