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 $1,580 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 Lawrence is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2016.
Rent in Lawrence changed +4.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 21 Kansas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Lawrence rose 37.3% while median household income rose 21.2% ($53,639 to $65,009). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Lawrence is 50.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($65,009) is $1,625 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,183); a 3-bedroom is $1,630.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Lawrence, 66044 ($1,960/mo), costs 23% more than the cheapest, 66047 ($1,590/mo).
Topeka, 24 miles away, rents for 21% less ($1,249/mo), about $4,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lawrence. 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, 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 $1,088 to $1,580, up 45.2% 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 $1,580/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 $1,580/mo as of October 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 29% of local median household income ($65,009/yr), Lawrence ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Lawrence?
Is rent going up or down in Lawrence?
Has rent outpaced income 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?
At $1,580/mo, rent takes ~29% 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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