Real Estate Investing in Lawrence, Kansas (66047)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Douglas County • Population: 20,344 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66047 (Lawrence, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Lawrence, KS (66047)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $359,082
Avg Monthly Rent $1,471
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,339
% Renters 56.3%

Market Analysis: 66047 Lawrence

Looking more closely, ZIP 66047 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $359K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 66047 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

On balance, 66047 offers a low basis, the region around Lawrence has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

In practical terms, 20,344 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 66047 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lawrence:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,471/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Lawrence, KS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Lawrence, KS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 66047

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$99,480/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $208,647 $1,060 3.7% $208,647
2BR $248,483 $1,250 3.6% +6.8% $124,241
3BR $300,741 $1,740 4.2% +7.4% $100,247
4BR $397,919 $2,100 3.8% +6.6% $99,480
5BR $600,425 +7.0% $120,085

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$376K$332K$288K$244K$200K$156KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,806$1,635$1,465$1,294$1,123$952Feb 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66047 Compare?

Metric 66047 Lawrence Lawrence, KS Kansas
Home Value $359,082 $268,296 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 6.2% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $1,471 $1,418 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66047? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

56% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66047 (Lawrence, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Lawrence, KS metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
39%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $359,082
Monthly Rent $1,471
Price-to-Rent 20.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
2.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66047

Population: 20,344

💰 Median Household Income
$60,339
This area
$60,339
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
56.3%
This area
56.3%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
55.4%
This area
55.4%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.5 years
This area
31.5 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.2%
Other/Mixed 15.4%
Hispanic/Latino 8.3%
Asian 6.1%
Black/African American 2.3%
👶 Under 18
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.4%
This area
16.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 66047

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$13,764 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Sunflower Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
452 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,764 Per Student
B Good

Lawrence Southwest Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
654 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,764 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 6,045 Off-Campus Students
C+
Haskell Indian Nations University
878 students · 7.4 mi
B
University of Kansas
28,406 students · 7.5 mi
C+
WellSpring School of Allied Health-Lawrence
36 students · 8.4 mi
C
Baker University
1,945 students · 11.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 6,045 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Lawrence, KS?

Median home price in Lawrence, KS is near $359K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Which real estate strategy fits Lawrence, KS?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Lawrence, KS. The numbers - $359K homes against $1,471/mo rents - support that play.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Lawrence, KS?

Tenant demand in Lawrence, KS is solid. The local workforce $1,471/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is rental property easy to operate in Lawrence, KS?

Landlord-friendliness in Lawrence, KS is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Is Lawrence, KS a good market for FHA house hackers?

Lawrence, KS is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $359K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 66047 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 66047 ranks in Lawrence, KS

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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