ZIP Code · KS

ZIP 66801

Part of Emporia, KS

Pop. 27,585·Lyon County·70th most expensive ZIP in Kansas

Median rent (all units)

$718/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.6%

Month-over-Month

-1.6%

vs US Median

-$1,214

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 66801 · $718

More affordable than 100% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$630

1 BR

$680

2 BR

$890

3 BR

$1,160

4 BR+

$1,400

Research median

$890/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 66801 is 3.2% below its high of $742 in June 2026, at $718 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Kansas

Rent in ZIP 66801 changed -1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 55 Kansas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($56,794) is $1,420 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,400).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 66801. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$8,616/yr

At $718/mo median

Location

CityEmporia

StateKS

CountyLyon County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 1.6% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.6% YoY, -1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 66801 (Emporia, KS) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 26.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,585

Median income

$56,794

Median age

32.2

Renters

46.3%

Age distribution

21.5%

31.6%

20.5%

15.5%

Under 1821.5%

18–3431.6%

35–5420.5%

55–6410.9%

65+15.5%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

67.7%

27.8%

White67.7%

Black1.6%

Hispanic27.8%

Asian2.4%

Other0.6%

Education (25+)

33.6%

28.3%

26.6%

No HS diploma11.4%

HS diploma33.6%

Some college28.3%

Bachelor's+26.6%

Housing tenure

53.7%

46.3%

Owner53.7%

Renter46.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 66801 in Emporia, KS has changed in 5 years

Income

$50,940 → $56,794

up 11.5%

Population

27,926 → 27,585

down 1.2%

Renter share

45.8% → 46.3%

+0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

27.4% → 26.6%

-0.8 pts

Median household income climbed from $50,940 to $56,794 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.5% shift. Census counts show ZIP 66801 in Emporia, KS losing about 341 residents over the five-year window, down 1.2% on net.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 66801

About renting in ZIP 66801

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 66801 covers Emporia, KS. The median rent here is $718/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $680/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $890/mo.

At 15% of local median household income ($56,794/yr), ZIP 66801 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 66801?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $29,000/year (about $14/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $718/mo in ZIP 66801. The local median household income is $56,794/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 66801?

Rent in ZIP 66801 has fallen 1.6% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 3.2% below its high of $742 in June 2026.

How does ZIP 66801 compare to other ZIPs in Kansas?

ZIP 66801 is one of the more affordable among Kansas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #70 of 70 at $718/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 66801 changed -1.6%, against a typical +4.1% across the 55 Kansas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.