Rents are 7% below what Emporia's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $718 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
Rent in Emporia is 3.2% below its high of $742 in June 2026, at $718 as of September 2026.
Rent in Emporia changed -1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 21 Kansas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.2%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,704) is $1,318 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,160); a 4-bedroom is $1,370.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Emporia. 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
Emporia, KS is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 24.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Emporia, KS has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $52,704 today, compared with $46,642 five years earlier.
Discussions about Emporia
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Can you afford rent in Emporia on your salary?
At $718/mo, how Emporia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Emporia rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Emporia. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Emporia
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Emporia is $718/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $600/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $870/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $670/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,160/mo.
At 16% of local median household income ($52,704/yr), Emporia ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Emporia?
Is rent going up or down in Emporia?
How does Emporia rent compare to other cities in Kansas?
At $718/mo, rent takes ~16% of Emporia's median household income ($52,704/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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