Lawrence, KS at a glance
Median household income
$65,009$5,417 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Lawrence, KS?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Lawrence, KS? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Lawrence, KS MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $895 | $10,740 | $35,800 | 16.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,006 | $12,072 | $40,240 | 18.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,182 | $14,184 | $47,280 | 21.8% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,644 | $19,728 | $65,760 | 30.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,983 | $23,796 | $79,320 | 36.6% |
What a typical income covers in Lawrence, KS
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $65,009 a year ($5,417 a month before tax).
What $65,009 leaves after Kansas taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Kansas tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Kansas
Living in Lawrence, KS: common questions
What is the median household income in Lawrence, KS?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Lawrence, KS is $65,009 per year (approximately $5,417 per month).
What is the average rent in Lawrence, KS?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $895 for a studio, $1,006 for one bedroom, $1,182 for two, $1,644 for three and $1,983 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Lawrence, KS expensive to live in?
Prices there run 9.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 90.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Lawrence, KS?
To keep a $1,182 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $47,280 a year, or $3,940 a month. That is 73% of what the typical household in Lawrence, KS earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Lawrence, KS?
On the local median income of $65,009 ($5,417 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,709 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,625 for everything else and $1,083 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,182 takes 44% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Lawrence, KS?
Homes in Kansas paid 15.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $141. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.