ZIP Code · KS

ZIP 66044

Part of Lawrence, KS

Pop. 28,820·Douglas County·9th most expensive ZIP in Kansas

Median rent (all units)

$1,960/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.9%

Month-over-Month

-0.3%

vs US Median

+$28

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 66044 · $1,960

More expensive than 59% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$860

1 BR

$960

2 BR

$1,130

3 BR

$1,570

4 BR+

$1,890

Research median

$1,130/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

May. Asking rents in ZIP 66044 usually run 0.5% below trend in May and 1.1% above it in November, about $31 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 66044 is 0.3% below its high of $1,966 in August 2026, at $1,960 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Kansas

Rent in ZIP 66044 changed +3.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 55 Kansas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($55,955) is $1,399 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,130); a 3-bedroom is $1,570.

Rank in Lawrence

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Lawrence.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 66049, 8 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,678/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 66044. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$23,520/yr

At $1,960/mo median

Location

CityLawrence

StateKS

CountyDouglas County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.9% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 66044 (Lawrence, KS) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 54.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

28,820

Median income

$55,955

Median age

24.4

Renters

61.4%

Age distribution

12.1%

53%

16.6%

Under 1812.1%

18–3453%

35–5416.6%

55–647.9%

65+10.4%

Gender

51%

49%

Male51%

Female49%

Race & ethnicity

80.6%

White80.6%

Black4.5%

Hispanic6.7%

Asian3.1%

Other5.2%

Education (25+)

17.6%

22.6%

54.5%

No HS diploma5.3%

HS diploma17.6%

Some college22.6%

Bachelor's+54.5%

Housing tenure

38.6%

61.4%

Owner38.6%

Renter61.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 66044 in Lawrence, KS has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,353 → $1,960

up 44.9%

Income

$47,500 → $55,955

up 17.8%

Population

29,266 → 28,820

down 1.5%

Renter share

63% → 61.4%

-1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

50% → 54.5%

+4.5 pts

Median age

24.9 → 24.4

-0.5 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 66044 in Lawrence, KS stood at $1,353 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,960, reflecting a 44.9% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $47,500 to $55,955 across the same window, up 17.8% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.5% since 2021, moving from about 29,266 residents to roughly 28,820. Renters now make up 61.4% of households, compared with 63% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 54.5% of adults here, versus 50% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 66044 in Lawrence, KS look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 66044

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 66044 covers Lawrence, KS. The median rent here is $1,960/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $960/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,130/mo.

At 42% of local median household income ($55,955/yr), ZIP 66044 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 66044?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $78,000/year (about $38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,960/mo in ZIP 66044. The local median household income is $55,955/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 66044?

Rent in ZIP 66044 has risen 3.9% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $1,966 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 66044?

Asking rents in ZIP 66044 are usually lowest in May, about 0.5% below their yearly trend, and highest in November, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $31 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 66044 compare to other ZIPs in Kansas?

ZIP 66044 is one of the pricier among Kansas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #9 of 70 at $1,960/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 66044 changed +3.9%, against a typical +4.1% across the 55 Kansas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.