Rents are 3% above what Lawrence's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $1,365 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Lawrence, KS is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 55.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lawrence, KS has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Lawrence, KS has shifted from $981 to $1,365, up 39.1% since 2021. Census figures show median household income at $65,009 today, compared with $56,536 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Lawrence, KS adding about 1,306 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Lawrence
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Can you afford rent in Lawrence on your salary?
At $1,365/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: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Lawrence is $1,365/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $893/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,183/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,007/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,630/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($65,009/yr), Lawrence ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lawrence an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Lawrence?
Which Lawrence neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Lawrence rent compare to other cities in Kansas?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lawrence?
What percentage of Lawrence residents rent vs. own?
How does Lawrence rent compare to the national average?
At $1,365/mo, rent takes ~25% of Lawrence's median household income ($65,009/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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