Rents are 20% below what Shawnee'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 $1,577 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
Shawnee, KS is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 53.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Shawnee, KS has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Shawnee, KS has shifted from $1,310 to $1,577, up 20.4% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $93,835 in 2021 to $109,940 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Shawnee, KS adding about 1,521 residents over the five-year window, up 2.3% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 51.1% to 53.1% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Shawnee, KS market of 2021.
Discussions about Shawnee
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Can you afford rent in Shawnee on your salary?
At $1,577/mo, how Shawnee rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Shawnee rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Shawnee. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Shawnee
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Shawnee is $1,577/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,113/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,220/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,813/mo.
At 17% of local median household income ($109,940/yr), Shawnee ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shawnee an affordable city for renters?
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Which Shawnee neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Shawnee rent compare to other cities in Kansas?
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What percentage of Shawnee residents rent vs. own?
How does Shawnee rent compare to the national average?
At $1,577/mo, rent takes ~17% of Shawnee's median household income ($109,940/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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