Lawrence Kansas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Lawrence, KS (the Lawrence metro area) was $961 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Lawrence was $959 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Lawrence median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Lawrence rental vacancy rates, Lawrence rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Lawrence.
Real Gross Rent in Lawrence Kansas (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Kansas Median Gross Rent | $862 | +0.82% | +4.36% |
| Lawrence, KS Median Gross Rent | $961 | -2.44% | +7.13% |
Lawrence, KS Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Lawrence peaked in real terms in 2018 at $985 and is now $24 (2.44%) lower. Average gross rent for Lawrence peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,021 and is now $62 (6.07%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Lawrence: Lawrence KS Median, Lawrence KS Average, Kansas Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Lawrence
| Date | US Median |
Kansas Median |
Lawrence, KS Median |
Lawrence, KS Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $862 | $961 | $959 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $855 | $985 | $1,021 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $840 | $911 | $952 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $826 | $897 | $1,017 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $830 | $877 | $896 |
| 2014 | $986 | $816 | $888 | $903 |
| 2013 | $953 | $785 | $880 | $951 |
| 2012 | $940 | $756 | $864 | $906 |
| 2011 | $941 | $766 | $936 | $953 |
| 2010 | $955 | $762 | $916 | $976 |
| 2009 | $960 | $765 | $931 | $949 |
| 2007 | $927 | $732 | $844 | $847 |
| 2005 | $910 | $735 | $876 | $914 |
Lawrence Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2013 the rental vacancy rate for Lawrence Kansas was 5.69% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Lawrence Kansas
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Kansas | 7.83% | -0.11% | -0.47% |
| Lawrence, KS | — | — | — |
Trends in Lawrence, KS Rental Vacancy Rate
At 5.69%, Lawrence residential rental vacancy rate in 2013 is at the highest point since 2005, the beginning of our reporting for this series.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Lawrence KS, Kansas, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Lawrence
| Date | US | Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.83% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.94% | — |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 7.49% | — |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 8.30% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 7.74% | — |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.45% | — |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.54% | 5.69% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.92% | — |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.09% | — |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 7.42% | — |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.41% | — |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.18% | — |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.02% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Lawrence, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Lawrence, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.95% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Lawrence Kansas Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Kansas | 16.66% | -0.65% | -0.57% |
| Lawrence, KS | 17.95% | -3.29% | -0.30% |
Trends in Lawrence, KS Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Lawrence household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.61%. Since then it has fallen by 4.65% to 17.95%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Lawrence KS, Kansas, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Lawrence Kansas
| Date | US | Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 16.66% | 17.95% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 17.31% | 21.25% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.33% | 19.06% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 17.23% | 18.25% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 17.41% | 18.74% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 17.67% | 20.78% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 17.54% | 19.24% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 16.98% | 19.42% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 17.38% | 21.79% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 16.96% | 20.82% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 16.84% | 22.61% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 15.76% | 20.14% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.44% | 21.46% |
Renter Fraction in Lawrence Kansas
You can calculate the renter fraction in Lawrence in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Lawrence as a fraction of total Lawrence households. In 2019 50.72% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Lawrence Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Kansas | 33.54% | -0.30% | -0.77% |
| Lawrence, KS | 50.72% | +3.68% | +0.91% |
Trends in the Lawrence, KS Renter Fraction
The Lawrence household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 51.79% and is now 1.07% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Lawrence KS, Kansas, US
History of Lawrence Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.54% | 50.72% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 33.84% | 47.04% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 34.14% | 48.80% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.31% | 49.81% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 33.58% | 46.18% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.37% | 47.38% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.94% | 46.56% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.64% | 49.03% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.19% | 48.45% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.93% | 51.79% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.20% | 46.70% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.84% | 42.68% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.54% | 48.93% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
