How many renters in Lawrence, KS pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Lawrence, KS, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

52.3% (±3.9 points) of renting households in Lawrence, KS spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

42.5% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 31.2% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 52.3% (±3.9 points)
Paying 35% or more: 42.5% (±3.3 points)
Median share of income: 31.2% (±1.7 points)

Rent as a share of income in Lawrence

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Lawrence	Douglas County	Kansas	United States
Less than 15%	11.9% (±2.1 points)	12.1%	16.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	14.1% (±2.5 points)	14.7%	14.5%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	11.2% (±1.9 points)	11.0%	14.6%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	10.5% (±2.1 points)	10.7%	11.1%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	9.8% (±2.0 points)	9.7%	9.0%	9.2%
35% or more	42.5% (±3.3 points)	41.8%	34.5%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Lawrence against Douglas County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Lawrence	Douglas County	Kansas	United States
Paying 30% or more	52.3% (±3.9 points)	51.5% (±3.5 points)	43.5% (±0.7 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	42.5% (±3.3 points)	41.8% (±3.0 points)	34.5% (±0.6 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	31.2% (±1.7 points)	30.8% (±1.6 points)	27.1% (±0.4 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$42,958 (±$2,765)	$43,680 (±$2,718)	$47,106 (±$671)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,091 (±$36)	$1,099 (±$33)	$1,060 (±$7)	$1,413

In Lawrence, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Douglas County (51.5%).

It is also higher than in Kansas (43.5%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

In Douglas County, Lawrence ranks 2 of 12 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 319 of 1,310.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Lawrence

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Lawrence
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Lawrence	—	52.3% (±3.9 points)	—
Wakarusa Township	2.6 mi	4.3% (±18.6 points)	Lower
Grant Township (Douglas County)	4.5 mi	50.0% (±73.4 points)	Not measurably different
Kanwaka Township	8.1 mi	0.0% (±141.4 points)	Not measurably different
Reno Township (Leavenworth County)	8.6 mi	42.4% (±71.3 points)	Not measurably different
Lecompton	8.8 mi	39.4% (±41.8 points)	Not measurably different
Rural Township (Jefferson County)	8.8 mi	0.0% (±56.4 points)	Not measurably different
Eudora Township	9.0 mi	49.3% (±18.7 points)	Not measurably different
Eudora	9.4 mi	46.4% (±18.9 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Wakarusa Township, KS (4.3%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Douglas County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
1	Baldwin City	61.3% (±28.2 points)
2	Lawrence	52.3% (±3.9 points)
3	Grant Township (Douglas County)	50.0% (±73.4 points)
4	Eudora Township	49.3% (±18.7 points)
5	Willow Springs Township	47.3% (±39.1 points)
6	Eudora	46.4% (±18.9 points)
7	Palmyra Township	43.9% (±24.0 points)
8	Lecompton Township	40.0% (±35.4 points)

Showing 8 of 12 places in Douglas County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Lawrence

Are renters in Lawrence rent-burdened?

52.3% of renting households in Lawrence pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Lawrence spend on rent?

The median renting household in Lawrence, KS spends 31.2% (±1.7 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Lawrence city, Kansas (place:38900, in state:20).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.