Most affordable cities for renters in Kansas

Name: Most Affordable Cities to Rent in Kansas
Creator: RentDataNow

Cities in Kansas ranked by lowest median rent. Includes cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.

Key findings

Emporia ranks first, with a median rent of $718/mo.
Across all 20 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,322/mo.

Data as of September 2026. Median rent from RentDataNow's monthly city data (Zillow's rent index where Zillow covers the city). Rank a year ago compares the same cities' rent 12 months earlier. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

20 cities

Rank	City	Median rent	1-yr change	5-yr change	Rent/income	Vs. a year ago
01	EmporiaKS Pop. 24KCompare →	$718/mo	-1.6%	--	16.3%	same
02	HutchinsonKS Pop. 40KCompare →	$805/mo	+5.1%	+37.6%	16.5%	same
03	PittsburgKS Pop. 21KCompare →	$899/mo	+3.9%	--	24.8%	same
04	NewtonKS Pop. 18KCompare →	$1,007/mo	+8.4%	--	17.5%	same
05	SalinaKS Pop. 46KCompare →	$1,066/mo	+5.0%	--	20.7%	same
06	Junction CityKS Pop. 22KCompare →	$1,132/mo	+0.9%	+27.6%	22.2%	↑1 from #7
07	WichitaKS Pop. 398KCompare →	$1,159/mo	+4.4%	+28.8%	21.5%	↓1 from #6
08	LeavenworthKS Pop. 37KCompare →	$1,182/mo	+2.7%	+32.7%	19.4%	same
09	TopekaKS Pop. 126KCompare →	$1,249/mo	+4.5%	+36.7%	26.3%	same
10	ManhattanKS Pop. 54KCompare →	$1,315/mo	+5.3%	+28.2%	26.2%	↑1 from #11
11	Kansas CityKS Pop. 155KCompare →	$1,322/mo	+6.1%	+37.0%	25.4%	↓1 from #10
12	ShawneeKS Pop. 69KCompare →	$1,497/mo	+0.6%	+29.3%	16.3%	↑1 from #13
13	DerbyKS Pop. 26KCompare →	$1,497/mo	+2.0%	--	21.4%	↓1 from #12
14	LawrenceKS Pop. 96KCompare →	$1,580/mo	+4.8%	+39.9%	29.2%	same
15	GardnerKS Pop. 25KCompare →	$1,602/mo	+4.8%	+35.6%	19.9%	same
16	LenexaKS Pop. 58KCompare →	$1,730/mo	+4.2%	+28.3%	20.1%	same
17	Overland ParkKS Pop. 200KCompare →	$1,754/mo	+3.1%	+32.7%	20.1%	same
18	OlatheKS Pop. 145KCompare →	$1,809/mo	+3.3%	+28.8%	19.0%	same
19	LeawoodKS Pop. 34KCompare →	$2,076/mo	-2.7%	--	13.4%	same
20	Prairie VillageKS Pop. 23KCompare →	$2,195/mo	+1.7%	+37.6%	23.2%	same