Lawrence, KS Local Data & Statistics

State: KS

Total population: 96,051 Household income: $65,009 Rent: $1,091

Overview

Total population

96,051

Rent

$1,091

Year built

1988

Household income

$65,009

Per capita income

$39,194

Poverty rate

17.4%

Unemployment rate

2.7%

Household size

2.2 persons

Rent over 30% of income

50.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Kansas

Total population

96,051

Adults over 25

55,061

Total households

41,129

Household size

2.2 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$65,009

Per capita income

$39,194

Poverty rate

17.4%

Unemployment rate

2.7%

Rent over 30% of income

50.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,091

Year built

1988

Households that rent

56.4%

Households that own

43.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.1

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

75.2%

Black

Asian

5.1%

Two or more races

11.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

7.9%

Not Hispanic or Latino

92.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

84.5%

Commute time to work

20 mins

Work from home

15.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

22.5%

High school graduate or GED

16.1%

Some college or associate degree

5.6%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

55.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Lawrence, KS with: Kansas United States

Lawrence, KS

Total population96,051

Rent$1,091

Year built1988

Household income$65,009

Per capita income$39,194

Poverty rate17.4%

Unemployment rate2.7%

Kansas State

Total population2,947,197

Rent$1,060

Year built1976

Household income$74,275

Per capita income$40,978

Poverty rate11.3%

Unemployment rate3.6%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityLawrence, KS	StateKansas	CountryUnited States
Total population	96,051	2,947,197	334,922,499
Rent	$1,091	$1,060	$1,413
Year built	1988	1976	1980
Household income	$65,009	$74,275	$80,734
Per capita income	$39,194	$40,978	$44,673
Poverty rate	17.4%	11.3%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	2.7%	3.6%	4%

View the complete comparison of Lawrence, KS, Kansas and United States →

Summary for Lawrence, KS

Lawrence is located in Kansas.

Rent & Income

In Lawrence, the typical monthly rent is $1,091 and the typical household income is $65,009. Rent here is similar to Kansas and lower than the U.S., and household income is lower than both Kansas and the U.S. The estimated poverty rate is 17.4%, which is higher than in both Kansas and national.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 56.4% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 50.5% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 55.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 2.7%, which is lower than both Kansas and the national rate.

Lawrence, KS — Rent vs Household Income

Lawrence, KS — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Lawrence, KS compares in Kansas (9 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$1,091	4 / 9	from lower rent	$975 – $1,515
Household income	$65,009	5 / 9	from higher income	$56,956 – $114,009
Poverty rate	17.4%	8 / 9	from lower poverty	5.3% – 23.3%
Unemployment rate	2.7%	2 / 9	from lower unemployment	2.5% – 4%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Kansas with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

💰 Rent in Lawrence, KS (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,091 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Lawrence, KS

Annual Household Income: $65,009

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Lawrence, KS

Estimated Rate: 17.4%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Lawrence, KS

In Lawrence, KS, households that rent: 23,198 (56.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	23,198	56.4%
Owner-Occupied	17,931	43.6%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Lawrence, KS

In Lawrence, KS, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 11,705 (50.5%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	11,705	50.5%
Other renter households	11,493	49.5%
Total renter households	23,198	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Lawrence, KS

Less than High School: 12,386 people (22.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 8,879 people (16.1%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,091 people (5.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 30,705 people (55.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 55,061

📊 Unemployment Rate in Lawrence, KS

Estimated Rate: 2.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Deltona, FL95,682 Edmond, OK95,618 Sunrise, FL96,633 Suffolk, VA96,638 Tracy, CA95,358 Yakima, WA96,810 Conroe, TX96,976 Orem, UT97,048 Fayetteville, AR97,227 Reading, PA94,836

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.