City Report · KS

Great Bend

Pop. 14,479·25th most expensive in Kansas·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$756/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.3%
vs US Median
-$1,176
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Great Bend · $756
More affordable than 100% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
17% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $756/mo, rent takes about 17% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$30,000/yr
Local median income
$54,139/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Great Bend's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$640
1 BR
$720
2 BR
$890
3 BR
$1,250
4 BR+
$1,290
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$890/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $756 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($54,139) is $1,353 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,290).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Great Bend. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$9,072/yr
At $756/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Great Bend, KS is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 19.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
14,479
Median income
$54,139
Median age
36.5
Renters
44.1%
Age distribution
24.4%
24.1%
18.7%
14.1%
18.7%
Under 1824.4%
18–3424.1%
35–5418.7%
55–6414.1%
65+18.7%
Gender
47.6%
52.4%
Male47.6%
Female52.4%
Race & ethnicity
73.1%
24.9%
White73.1%
Black0.5%
Hispanic24.9%
Other1.1%
Education (25+)
13.5%
27.4%
39.2%
19.9%
No HS diploma13.5%
HS diploma27.4%
Some college39.2%
Bachelor's+19.9%
Housing tenure
55.9%
44.1%
Owner55.9%
Renter44.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Great Bend, KS has changed in 5 years

Income
$48,465 → $54,139
up 11.7%
Population
14,864 → 14,479
down 2.6%
Renter share
40.7% → 44.1%
+3.4 pts
Bachelor's+
20.4% → 19.9%
-0.5 pts
Median age
36 → 36.5
+0.5 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $48,465 to $54,139 across the same window, up 11.7% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 14,864 to 14,479 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.6% change. About 44.1% of households rent today, against 40.7% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Great Bend

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View Great Bend rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Great Bend on your salary?

At $756/mo, how Great Bend rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Great Bend rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Great Bend. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Great Bend

About renting in Great Bend, KS

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Great Bend is $756/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $640/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $890/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $720/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,250/mo.

At 17% of local median household income ($54,139/yr), Great Bend ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Great Bend?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $30,000/year (about $14/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $756/mo in Great Bend. The local median household income is $54,139/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Great Bend?

Rent in Great Bend has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Great Bend rent compare to other cities in Kansas?

Great Bend is one of the more affordable among Kansas cities for rent, ranking #25 of 26 tracked cities at $756/mo.
Income Affordability
17%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $756/mo, rent takes ~17% of Great Bend's median household income ($54,139/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Great Bend 17%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.1–5.7%
Run the Great Bend affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Great Bend, KS

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