Can A Licensed Practical Nurse Afford Rent in Lawrence, KS?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28.3% of gross income.

Lawrence rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Kansas state estimate).

Lawrence median rent
$1,288/mo
Licensed Practical Nurse salary (Kansas)
$54,711/yr
Rent as % of income
28.3%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,559, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,368/mo in rent. Lawrence's median rent of $1,288 leaves roughly $80/mo of headroom under that threshold. A licensed practical nurse works roughly 49 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a licensed practical nurse salary

LPN pay sits modestly above the US median household income and covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost metros. At the national-average LPN salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,520 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets stay in range.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Kansas cities have lower median rent than Lawrence, which improves the affordability math on a licensed practical nurse salary:

Topeka, KS
$1,283/mo (28.1% of income)
Kansas City, KS
$1,274/mo (27.9% of income)
Leavenworth, KS
$1,273/mo (27.9% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Lawrence

View full rent data for Lawrence, KS

Frequently asked questions

Can a licensed practical nurse afford rent in Lawrence, KS?

Median rent in Lawrence is $1,288 a month. A typical licensed practical nurse in Kansas earns about $54,711 a year, which makes that rent 28.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a licensed practical nurse afford in Lawrence?

Using the 30% rule, a licensed practical nurse salary in Kansas (~$54,711/yr) supports up to $1,368 a month in rent. Lawrence's current median rent is $1,288/mo, which leaves a $80/mo buffer.

How many hours does a licensed practical nurse work to cover rent in Lawrence?

At an hourly equivalent of about $26 an hour, a licensed practical nurse in Kansas works roughly 49 hours a month to cover Lawrence's median rent of $1,288.

Where is rent cheaper than Lawrence for a licensed practical nurse?

Nearby Kansas cities with lower median rent include Topeka ($1,283/mo), Kansas City ($1,274/mo), Leavenworth ($1,273/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a licensed practical nurse salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Kansas state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Lawrence, KS. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.