The story of this market
The typical home in Lawrence, Kansas sells for about $324,000, or $178 per square foot.
Homes take about 47 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,250 a month.
Monthly price momentum
Home values since 2015
+4.2%
KS · past 12 months
Freddie Mac House Price Index, single-family homes, monthly through 2026-08. Each line starts at 100 in January 2015, so a reading of 180 means prices are up 80% since then.
Lawrence, Kansas
The Lawrence housing market is currently experiencing a period of stagnation, characterized by a significant slowdown in new single-family construction and a slight decline in population. While home prices remain relatively stable, the lack of inventory and affordability challenges continue to strain residents, particularly renters. Market activity is currently driven by the university-anchored economy, though the overall pace of sales remains modest.
No ARED county foreclosure postings attributed to Lawrence yet — the verified ledger covers every county the foreclosure ingest has read, attributed by published city area. Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.
Median prices moved sideways 0.0% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 47 days on market with 5.1 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 100% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 3.2% · poverty 18.6% — a stable, low-distress profile.
- Zip KC4.817.1 mi
- Lawrence Aquatic Center4.30.2 mi
- Breakout Lawrence4.80.1 mi
- Kansas Speedway4.523.7 mi
- KC Wine Co4.417.8 mi
- Allen Fieldhouse4.91.5 mi
- David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium4.40.8 mi
- Azura Amphitheater4.321.6 mi
- Clinton State Park4.57.3 mi
- Regal Southwind4.33.8 mi
- Royal Crest Lanes4.41.5 mi
- KU Natural History Museum4.71 mi
- Spencer Museum of Art4.61 mi
- Lawrence Public Library4.50.1 mi
- KU Natural History Museum4.71 mi
- Spencer Museum of Art4.61 mi
- Combat Air Museum4.823.9 mi
- Watkins Community Museum-History4.70.5 mi
- Clinton State Park4.57.3 mi
- Prairie Park Nature Center4.72.9 mi
- Lexington Lake Park4.812.6 mi
- Woodridge Primitive Park4.511.2 mi
- South Park4.70.6 mi
- Clinton Marina, Inc.4.76.8 mi
- Eagle Bend Golf Course4.16 mi
- Oak Country Golf Course414.7 mi
- The Jayhawk Club4.43.4 mi
- Lawrence Country Club4.61.6 mi
- GreatLife Golf at Burning Tree3.814.8 mi
- Hy-Vee Grocery Store4.33.1 mi
- Dillons4.21.4 mi
- Dillons4.32 mi
- Dillons4.12.4 mi
- Dillons4.23.7 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
The amenity base that shapes daily life and property demand in this city — what residents actually live with, and what the pipeline is adding.
A large state park offering camping, boating, and hiking trails on the shores of Clinton Lake, serving as a major outdoor recreation hub.
The city's primary economic and cultural anchor, providing extensive educational, sports, and research facilities that drive local demand.
A historic district featuring a high concentration of local businesses, restaurants, and entertainment venues, serving as the city's social core.
A modern athletic facility hosting regional sports tournaments and providing high-quality recreational space for residents.
A premier public golf course located near Clinton Lake, offering scenic views and professional-grade facilities.
Lawrence is an ideal fit for university-affiliated professionals, families seeking a strong educational environment, and investors looking for stable rental demand. The city's blend of historic charm and academic culture appeals to those who value a walkable, amenity-rich lifestyle.
The city is served by Lawrence Public Schools (USD 497), which is widely regarded for its strong academic programs and integration with the University of Kansas. Schools in the district consistently maintain competitive ratings within the state of Kansas.
Lawrence is served by a network of state highways, including K-10, which provides connectivity to the Kansas City metropolitan area. Local transit is supported by the Lawrence Transit system, which provides bus services throughout the city and university campus.
Lawrence offers a robust amenity base centered on the University of Kansas campus, historic Downtown Lawrence, and extensive park systems. Residents enjoy access to Clinton State Park for water recreation, multiple golf courses, and a vibrant arts and dining scene.
The rental market is characterized by high demand driven by the university student population and a lack of new housing supply. Vacancy rates remain tight, and rent growth has been persistent, placing significant cost burdens on a large share of the renter population.
The economy is heavily influenced by the University of Kansas and the public sector, with a growing emphasis on research and development. The city maintains a stable employment base, though it faces challenges in housing supply to support its workforce.
Economic momentum is anchored by the University of Kansas and a growing biotech and research sector at the KU Innovation Park. While the city has faced a slowdown in single-family housing construction, infrastructure investment continues to support long-term development goals.
The city is currently focused on addressing housing affordability through various planning initiatives and incentivizing new residential developments. Major projects are largely concentrated on university-related infrastructure and mixed-use expansion near the campus.
Parcels in Lawrence are subject to the Lawrence Public Schools (USD 497) district and various municipal utility districts. Special assessments may apply for specific infrastructure projects within the city limits.
Lawrence experiences crime rates generally consistent with other mid-sized university cities in the Midwest. Local law enforcement reports stable trends, though property crime remains a primary focus for community safety initiatives.
The region faces standard Midwestern climate risks, including severe thunderstorms, occasional tornadoes, and localized flooding near the Kansas and Wakarusa rivers. Property insurance markets remain stable, though premiums reflect the regional exposure to wind and hail events.
The property insurance market in Lawrence is stable, with premiums reflecting regional risks such as severe weather and wind. Homeowners are generally able to secure coverage, though costs are influenced by national trends in reinsurance and disaster exposure.
Composed from the ARED governance burden registry — tier-native tax structure (state + county + city + special districts), never averaged. State (Kansas) — Kansas Residential Property Tax: Annual tax bill calculated as: (Appraised Fair Market Value * 11.5% Assessment Rate) * (Mill Levy / 1,000). The mill levy is the combined tax rate set by local taxing jurisdictions.
Researched annual trajectory for this city, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this city's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.1%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau QuickFacts and Census Reporter.