Real Estate Investing in Manhattan, Kansas (66502)

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

Riley County • Population: 43,247 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66502 (Manhattan, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Manhattan, KS (66502)?

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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 $267,691
Avg Monthly Rent $1,212
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,614
% Renters 58.2%

Market Analysis: 66502 Manhattan

The 66502 ZIP in Manhattan, KS is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $268K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 66502 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Manhattan have seen price recovery that 66502 has not matched. Riley County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A sturdy renter share of 58% in 66502 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The right play in 66502 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Manhattan:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,212/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Manhattan, KS Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
33 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.9%
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 Manhattan, KS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 66502

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$71,083/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $150,644 $860 4.1% +1.4% $150,644
2BR $174,938 $1,050 4.3% +4.5% $87,469
3BR $236,486 $1,460 4.4% +6.4% $78,829
4BR $284,331 $1,760 4.5% +5.9% $71,083
5BR $360,923 +5.8% $72,185

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$277K$249K$221K$193K$165K$137KDec 2008Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,435$1,355$1,274$1,194$1,113$1,033Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66502 Compare?

Metric 66502 Manhattan Manhattan, KS Kansas
Home Value $267,691 $157,544 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.4% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $1,212 $1,413 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66502? Click to expand

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

58% 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 66502 (Manhattan, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Manhattan, KS metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
48%
Days Pending
0/2
33 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $267,691
Monthly Rent $1,212
Price-to-Rent 18.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 9.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -12.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
11.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66502

Population: 43,247

💰 Median Household Income
$50,614
This area
$50,614
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
58.2%
This area
58.2%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
46.5%
This area
46.5%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
24.9 years
This area
24.9 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.3%
This area
11.3%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.2%
Other/Mixed 9.7%
Black/African American 4.9%
Asian 4.2%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
👶 Under 18
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.8%
This area
9.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.7%
This area
16.7%
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 66502

A Avg School Grade
11 Schools
14.5:1 Avg Class Size
$19,424 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Lee Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bluemont Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
215 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Woodrow Wilson Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
232 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dwight D Eisenhower Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
756 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Marlatt Elem

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Northview Elem

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
403 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Susan B Anthony Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
762 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
A Very Good

Oliver Brown Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
A Very Good

Manhattan Virtual Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
174 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Manhattan High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,996 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
B Good

Theo Roosevelt Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
24.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 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 4,399 Off-Campus Students
C
Manhattan Christian College
145 students · 4.0 mi
B
Kansas State University
19,745 students · 4.3 mi
C
Bellus Academy
223 students · 5.5 mi
C
Manhattan Area Technical College
968 students · 6.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,399 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Manhattan, KS rate as a rental market?

Yes - Manhattan, KS a 3.0/5 investability score. With $268K home prices against $1,212/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How do home values compare in Manhattan, KS?

Manhattan, KS median home values land near $268K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,212/mo-per-month rentals.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Manhattan, KS?

Manhattan, KS carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect consistent absorption at market rents of $1,212/mo.

Are renters plentiful in Manhattan, KS?

The renter base in Manhattan, KS is reasonable for the $1,212/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

How much do tenants pay in Manhattan, KS?

Rental rates in Manhattan, KS average $1,212/mo. Tenant demand and $268K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

You know 66502 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 66502 ranks in Manhattan, KS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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