Renting in Lawrence
Lawrence rent runs genuinely moderate for a Big 12 college town -- approximately $1,075-$1,227/month on average depending on source -- though this record discloses a real, disclosed cross-source spread and a real, current rent increase of approximately 12% year-over-year per at least one reviewed source, rather than understating it.
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Learn moreA Real, Genuinely Moderate Average Rent, With a Disclosed Source Spread
RentCafe's reviewed 2026 data cited an overall average rent of approximately $1,227/month, with one-bedroom units spanning a wide cited range of approximately $675-$2,082/month (average unit size approximately 555 sq ft). Zumper cited a lower overall average of approximately $1,075-$1,100/month (July-August 2026) -- a real, disclosed spread this record does not resolve to one number.
A Real, Current, Genuine Year-Over-Year Increase
Zumper's cited one-bedroom rent rose from approximately $930/month in 2025 to the current 2026 average, a real, disclosed increase of approximately 12% year-over-year -- this record discloses this plainly rather than understating it, consistent with a genuinely active KU-driven rental market.
Rent Sits Genuinely Below the National Average, Per At Least One Source
One reviewed source cited Lawrence rent running approximately 45% below the national average -- a real, favorable relative-affordability signal for renters weighing Lawrence against higher-cost markets, even as this record discloses the real, current year-over-year increase above.
A Genuinely Student-Driven Rental Market
Given KU's large Lawrence-campus enrollment (28,447 students, Fall 2025), Lawrence's rental market runs genuinely shaped by student housing demand and seasonal leasing cycles -- renters should confirm current, lease-cycle-specific availability and pricing directly, particularly for units near campus.
Kansas Landlord-Tenant Law
This pass did not independently confirm current, specific Lawrence-specific rent-control or just-cause eviction ordinance detail beyond general Kansas statewide landlord-tenant law. Confirm current tenant-protection details directly with the Kansas Attorney General's office or a local tenant-rights organization for a specific unit.
Key takeaways
- Lawrence rent ran approximately $1,075-$1,227/month on average depending on source (RentCafe versus Zumper), a real, disclosed cross-source spread.
- At least one source cited a real, current rent increase of approximately 12% year-over-year for a one-bedroom.
- One reviewed source cited Lawrence rent running approximately 45% below the national average.
- Lawrence's rental market runs genuinely shaped by KU's large student population and seasonal leasing cycles -- confirm current, lease-cycle-specific pricing directly.
- This record did not independently confirm current, specific Lawrence rent-control/tenant-protection ordinance details this pass -- confirm directly for a specific unit.
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