Wichita Kansas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Wichita, KS (the Wichita metro area) was $838 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Wichita was $856 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 Wichita median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Wichita rental vacancy rates, Wichita rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Wichita.
Real Gross Rent in Wichita 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% |
| Wichita, KS Median Gross Rent | $838 | +4.88% | +5.28% |
Wichita, KS Real Gross Rent Trends
At $838, real median gross rent in Wichita was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $856, real average gross rent in Wichita was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Wichita: Wichita KS Median, Wichita KS Average, Kansas Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Wichita
| Date | US Median |
Kansas Median |
Wichita, KS Median |
Wichita, KS Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $862 | $838 | $856 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $855 | $799 | $834 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $840 | $814 | $834 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $826 | $796 | $816 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $830 | $797 | $826 |
| 2014 | $986 | $816 | $780 | $808 |
| 2013 | $953 | $785 | $742 | $760 |
| 2012 | $940 | $756 | $731 | $762 |
| 2011 | $941 | $766 | $745 | $751 |
| 2010 | $955 | $762 | $731 | $759 |
| 2009 | $960 | $765 | $719 | $733 |
| 2007 | $927 | $732 | $694 | $707 |
| 2005 | $910 | $735 | $723 | $746 |
Wichita Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Wichita Kansas was 8.62% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Wichita Kansas
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Kansas | 7.83% | -0.11% | -0.47% |
| Wichita, KS | 8.62% | -0.76% | +0.24% |
Trends in Wichita, KS Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Wichita peaked in 2005 at 10.57%. Since then it has fallen by 1.95% to 8.62%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2008 post peak low of 5.16%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.46%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Wichita KS, Kansas, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Wichita
| Date | US | Kansas | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.83% | 8.62% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.94% | 9.38% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 7.49% | 7.72% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 8.30% | 8.38% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 7.74% | 7.32% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.45% | 9.23% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.54% | 6.12% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.92% | 8.11% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.09% | 8.70% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 7.42% | 8.00% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.41% | 6.73% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.18% | 10.22% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.02% | 10.57% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Wichita, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Wichita, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.82% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Wichita 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% |
| Wichita, KS | 16.82% | +0.27% | -0.17% |
Trends in Wichita, KS Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Wichita household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.47%. Since then it has fallen by 0.65% to 16.82%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Wichita KS, Kansas, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Wichita Kansas
| Date | US | Kansas | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 16.66% | 16.82% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 17.31% | 16.55% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.33% | 17.39% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 17.23% | 16.99% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 17.41% | 17.47% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 17.67% | 16.98% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 17.54% | 17.10% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 16.98% | 16.99% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 17.38% | 16.63% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 16.96% | 17.01% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 16.84% | 15.71% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 15.76% | 14.96% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.44% | 16.03% |
Renter Fraction in Wichita Kansas
You can calculate the renter fraction in Wichita 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 Wichita as a fraction of total Wichita households. In 2019 35.46% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Wichita 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% |
| Wichita, KS | 35.46% | +1.85% | +0.99% |
Trends in the Wichita, KS Renter Fraction
At 35.46%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Wichita was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Wichita KS, Kansas, US
History of Wichita Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Kansas | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.54% | 35.46% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 33.84% | 33.61% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 34.14% | 35.15% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.31% | 34.47% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 33.58% | 34.74% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.37% | 34.30% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.94% | 34.99% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.64% | 34.71% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.19% | 32.46% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.93% | 32.11% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.20% | 32.72% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.84% | 29.72% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.54% | 32.49% |
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. ↩
