Rents are 4% below what Gardner'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 $1,602 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
December. Asking rents in Gardner usually run 0.9% below trend in December and 1% above it in June, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Gardner is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2021.
Rent in Gardner changed +4.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 21 Kansas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.2%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($96,818) is $2,420 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,280).
Grandview, MO, 23 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,357/mo), about $2,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Gardner. 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
Gardner, KS is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 32% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gardner, KS has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Gardner, KS has shifted from $1,145 to $1,602, up 39.9% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $83,284 to $96,818 across the same window, up 16.3% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Gardner, KS adding about 1,461 residents over the five-year window, up 6.3% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Gardner, KS look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Gardner on your salary?
At $1,602/mo, how Gardner rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gardner rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gardner. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gardner
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Gardner is $1,602/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,180/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,480/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,300/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,930/mo.
At 20% of local median household income ($96,818/yr), Gardner ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Gardner rent compare to other cities in Kansas?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Gardner?
At $1,602/mo, rent takes ~20% of Gardner's median household income ($96,818/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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