Average Rent in Lawrence, KS↑ Rents rising 8.0% YoY🔺 3rd priciest in KS

Lawrence, KS has rental prices ranging from $846/month to $1,911/month in 2025, depending on unit size. The typical 1-bedroom apartment rents for $955/month — 32% below the national average of $1,400/month. With a median household income of $68,756/year, spending $955/month on a 1-bedroom represents 17% of gross income — within the recommended 30% threshold.

How Lawrence Compares

With an average 2-bedroom rent of $1,138/month, Lawrence ranks #3 most expensive of the 96 cities tracked in Kansas — pricier than 78% of all US cities in our data.

The Lawrence Rental Market

The Lawrence, KS area has a population of about 119,547 and 51% of households renting rather than owning. That renter share runs above the US average of ~34%, pointing to a competitive rental market where vacancies clear quickly and rents are less negotiable.

Rent Trends

2-bedroom rents in Lawrence, KS have risen by $84/month (8.0%) over the past year, from $1,054 to $1,138. This modest growth is consistent with broader inflationary trends seen across US rental markets.

Affordability

To afford a 1-bedroom apartment in Lawrence, KS without exceeding the 30% housing cost guideline, a renter needs an annual income of approximately $38,200. The local median household income of $68,756 exceeds that threshold by $30,556, making Lawrence relatively accessible compared to local wages.

Rent vs. Buy

The median home value in Lawrence, KS is $337,937, giving a price-to-rent ratio of 24.7. With a break-even horizon of approximately 25 years, renting is likely the more financially prudent option for most residents unless they plan to stay long-term.

Neighborhoods

Home values — and by extension rent levels — vary significantly across Lawrence's neighborhoods. Among the highest-value areas are Pinckeny ($219,709 median home value), Brook Creek ($226,496 median home value), East Lawrence ($256,960 median home value). Rental prices typically follow home value patterns, with premium neighborhoods commanding higher rents than outer areas. Renters on a tighter budget may find better value in less central neighborhoods or in adjacent metros with lower overall rent levels.

Is Lawrence, KS Affordable?

Income needed to rent or buy, price history, and how this city compares to nearby metros.

Rent or Buy in Lawrence?

Break-even analysis and mortgage estimates based on local market data.

Living in Lawrence

Cost of living, job market, crime rates, and moving cost estimates.