Douglas County · Lawrence · population 97,271
Where Lawrence stands
At or near all-time high. rents up 5.9% in the last year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 21.0 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Lawrence. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Lawrence has held up across the cycle: home values at $335,513 with +6.3% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Lawrence's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Lawrence
Lawrence is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, with an estimated population of 97,271. The population grew 0.6% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Lawrence is $335,513 as of 2026-04, up 3.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.3% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Lawrence average $1,329 per month, up 5.9% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 73 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Lawrence (Wikipedia)
Lawrence is a city in and the county seat of Douglas County, Kansas, United States, and the sixth-largest city in the state. It is in the northeastern sector of the state, astride Interstate 70, between the Kansas and Wakarusa rivers. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 94,934. The city is a college town with a significant student population, because it is home to both the University of Kansas (KU) and Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU).
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Douglas County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Douglas County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Neighborhoods of Lawrence
17 tracked · ranked by median home valueCities like Lawrence
Run the numbers for Lawrence
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Lawrence listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- City of Lawrence announces City Manager finalists (Updated May 19)City of Lawrence, Kansas (.gov) · 1d ago
- Weekend of art and performance coming to Lawrence streets with Busker Festival, Art TougeauThe Lawrence Times · 5h ago
- United Kansas Party nominates Lawrence’s Scott Morgan in secretary of state’s raceKansas Reflector · 12h ago
- Lawrence police seek leads after double shooting ThursdayWIBW · 5d ago
- Police detain several for questioning after Lawrence shootingKCTV · 5d ago
- Headlines for Wednesday, May 20, 2026Kansas Public Radio · 13h ago
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Lawrence area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Lawrence
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.