Rent rising fastest in Kansas

Cities in Kansas with the largest year-over-year rent increases. Cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.

Key findings

Newton ranks first, with +8.4% over the past year.
Across all 18 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,322/mo.
Manhattan moved from #15 to #3 compared with a year ago.

Data as of September 2026. Change in Zillow's rent index over the past 12 months. Rank a year ago uses the change over the 12 months before that. 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

18 cities

Rank	City	1-yr change	Median rent	5-yr change	Vs. a year ago
01	NewtonKS Pop. 18KCompare →	+8.4%	$1,007/mo	--	--
02	Kansas CityKS Pop. 155KCompare →	+6.1%	$1,322/mo	+37.0%	↑8 from #10
03	ManhattanKS Pop. 54KCompare →	+5.3%	$1,315/mo	+28.2%	↑12 from #15
04	HutchinsonKS Pop. 40KCompare →	+5.1%	$805/mo	+37.6%	↑5 from #9
05	SalinaKS Pop. 46KCompare →	+5.0%	$1,066/mo	--	↓1 from #4
06	LawrenceKS Pop. 96KCompare →	+4.8%	$1,580/mo	+39.9%	↓3 from #3
07	GardnerKS Pop. 25KCompare →	+4.8%	$1,602/mo	+35.6%	same
08	TopekaKS Pop. 126KCompare →	+4.5%	$1,249/mo	+36.7%	same
09	WichitaKS Pop. 398KCompare →	+4.4%	$1,159/mo	+28.8%	↑3 from #12
10	LenexaKS Pop. 58KCompare →	+4.2%	$1,730/mo	+28.3%	↑4 from #14
11	PittsburgKS Pop. 21KCompare →	+3.9%	$899/mo	--	--
12	OlatheKS Pop. 145KCompare →	+3.3%	$1,809/mo	+28.8%	↓7 from #5
13	Overland ParkKS Pop. 200KCompare →	+3.1%	$1,754/mo	+32.7%	↑3 from #16
14	LeavenworthKS Pop. 37KCompare →	+2.7%	$1,182/mo	+32.7%	↓8 from #6
15	DerbyKS Pop. 26KCompare →	+2.0%	$1,497/mo	--	↓4 from #11
16	Prairie VillageKS Pop. 23KCompare →	+1.7%	$2,195/mo	+37.6%	↓15 from #1
17	Junction CityKS Pop. 22KCompare →	+0.9%	$1,132/mo	+27.6%	↓15 from #2
18	ShawneeKS Pop. 69KCompare →	+0.6%	$1,497/mo	+29.3%	↓5 from #13