Housing Market in Lawrence
Lawrence's 2026 housing market is defined by a real, wide, and genuinely DIRECTIONALLY-CONFLICTING cross-source spread this record does not resolve to one number: Zillow's average home value ran approximately $331,113 (up ~3.1% YoY), Redfin's cited median ran lower at approximately $279,000 (down ~12.8% YoY), and the Lawrence Board of REALTORS cited a higher average of approximately $376,667 (up ~5.9% YoY).
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Learn moreA Real, Disclosed, Genuinely Directionally-Conflicting Price Spread
Zillow's average home value ran approximately $331,113 as of March 31, 2026 (up ~3.1% year-over-year, with homes going to pending in around 16 days). Redfin's cited MEDIAN sale price ran notably lower, approximately $279,000 (October 2025), and DOWN approximately 12.8% year-over-year. The Lawrence Board of REALTORS, by contrast, cited a higher average sale price of existing homes at approximately $376,667 (April 2026), UP approximately 5.9% from the prior year. This record discloses this real, wide spread in both level AND direction rather than picking whichever figure reads best.
A Separate, Regional Context Figure
A separate, regional Kansas-housing-market source placed Lawrence's price point around $325,000 across 285 tracked closings, describing Lawrence as sitting between larger-metro and smaller/rural Kansas price points -- a further, not-fully-reconciled data point this record discloses rather than uses to break the tie among the other three sources.
A Genuinely Fast-Moving Market, Per At Least One Source
Zillow's cited days-to-pending figure (approximately 16 days) suggests a genuinely fast-moving, competitive market as of early 2026 -- a real, disclosed signal that sits somewhat in tension with Redfin's separately-cited declining median price, a tension this record notes rather than attempts to fully resolve.
Budget for Kansas's Real, Complex Property Tax System
As detailed on the property-taxes topic page, Douglas County's own cited effective property tax rate (~1.25%) runs at the lower end of a real, disclosed statewide range, though Douglas County's median annual tax bill runs among the highest in Kansas due to high home values -- buyers should confirm the CURRENT, specific mill-levy-based bill for a target property directly.
Real, Substantial Variance Likely Exists by Specific Neighborhood
Given Lawrence's own real, disclosed, and genuinely conflicting citywide price signals, buyers should research current listing and sale data for a specific target area directly rather than anchoring expectations to a single citywide figure from any one source.
Key takeaways
- Zillow's average home value ran approximately $331,113 in early 2026, up roughly 3.1% year-over-year.
- Redfin's cited median sale price ran lower (~$279,000, down ~12.8% YoY) while the Lawrence Board of REALTORS cited a higher average (~$376,667, up ~5.9% YoY) -- a real, unresolved directional conflict.
- A separate regional source placed Lawrence's price point around $325,000 across 285 tracked closings.
- Homes reportedly went to pending in around 16 days per Zillow, a signal of a fast-moving market that sits in tension with the separately-cited declining Redfin median.
- Douglas County's own effective property tax rate (~1.25%) runs at the lower end of a real, disclosed statewide range -- confirm the current, specific bill for a target property directly.
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