ZIP Code · KS

ZIP 66502

Part of Manhattan, KS

Pop. 43,693·Riley County·39th most expensive ZIP in Kansas

Median rent (all units)

$1,264/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$668

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 66502 · $1,264

More affordable than 88% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$850

1 BR

$860

2 BR

$1,050

3 BR

$1,460

4 BR+

$1,760

Research median

$1,050/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

October. Asking rents in ZIP 66502 usually run 1.1% below trend in October and 1.2% above it in February, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 66502 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Kansas

Rent in ZIP 66502 changed +4.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 55 Kansas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 66502 rose 19% while median household income rose 24.3% ($44,108 to $54,833). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 66502 is 32.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($54,833) is $1,371 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,050); a 3-bedroom is $1,460.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 66502. 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

$15,168/yr

At $1,264/mo median

Location

CityManhattan

StateKS

CountyRiley County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.5% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 66502 (Manhattan, KS) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 48% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

43,693

Median income

$54,833

Median age

25.9

Renters

54%

Age distribution

16%

47.9%

18.6%

Under 1816%

18–3447.9%

35–5418.6%

55–647.4%

65+10%

Gender

51.9%

48.1%

Male51.9%

Female48.1%

Race & ethnicity

79.5%

White79.5%

Black4.4%

Hispanic9.3%

Asian4%

Other2.8%

Education (25+)

16.8%

30.9%

48%

No HS diploma4.2%

HS diploma16.8%

Some college30.9%

Bachelor's+48%

Housing tenure

46%

54%

Owner46%

Renter54%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 66502 in Manhattan, KS has changed in 5 years

Rent

$985 → $1,264

up 28.3%

Income

$48,238 → $54,833

up 13.7%

Population

44,789 → 43,693

down 2.4%

Renter share

57.3% → 54%

-3.3 pts

Bachelor's+

46.9% → 48%

+1.1 pts

Median age

25.1 → 25.9

+0.8 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 66502 in Manhattan, KS stood at $985 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,264, reflecting a 28.3% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $54,833 today, compared with $48,238 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.4% since 2021, moving from about 44,789 residents to roughly 43,693. Renters now make up 54% of households, compared with 57.3% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 66502

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 66502 covers Manhattan, KS. The median rent here is $1,264/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $860/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,050/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($54,833/yr), ZIP 66502 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 66502?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,264/mo in ZIP 66502. The local median household income is $54,833/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 66502?

Rent in ZIP 66502 has risen 4.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 66502?

Asking rents in ZIP 66502 are usually lowest in October, about 1.1% below their yearly trend, and highest in February, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $29 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 66502?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 66502 rose 19% while median household income rose 24.3%, from $44,108 to $54,833. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 66502 compare to other ZIPs in Kansas?

ZIP 66502 is in the middle among Kansas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #39 of 70 at $1,264/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 66502 changed +4.5%, against a typical +4.1% across the 55 Kansas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.