Real Estate Investing in Manhattan, Kansas (66503)

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

Riley County • Population: 17,272 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66503 (Manhattan, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 12.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Manhattan, KS (66503)?

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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 $362,487
Avg Monthly Rent $1,614
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $96,327
% Renters 38.4%

Market Analysis: 66503 Manhattan

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Manhattan's 66503 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $362K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 66503 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Put differently, 66503 offers a low basis, the region around Manhattan has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 66503 ZIP's population of 17,272 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Manhattan's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 66503. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,614/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 66503

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$91,419/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $227,477 $1,220 3.9% +5.3% $113,738
3BR $293,989 $1,700 4.2% +6.2% $97,996
4BR $365,675 $2,050 4.0% +5.7% $91,419
5BR $481,160 +5.9% $96,232

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$373K$343K$313K$283K$253K$223KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,680$1,536$1,393$1,250$1,106$963Aug 2019Feb 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66503 Compare?

Metric 66503 Manhattan Manhattan, KS Kansas
Home Value $362,487 $157,544 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.4% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $1,614 $1,413 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66503? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 38% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 66503 (Manhattan, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
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 $362,487
Monthly Rent $1,614
Price-to-Rent 18.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.3%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +24.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +12.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.5% ▲
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
12.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66503

Population: 17,272

💰 Median Household Income
$96,327
This area
$96,327
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.4%
This area
38.4%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
61.6%
This area
61.6%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.3 years
This area
38.3 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.2%
This area
12.2%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.4%
Other/Mixed 9.2%
Asian 5.4%
Black/African American 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.8%
👶 Under 18
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.3%
This area
14.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
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 66503

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.5:1 Avg Class Size
$19,424 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Amanda Arnold Elem

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,424 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Frank V Bergman Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
555 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 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 Area Technical College
968 students · 5.9 mi
C
Bellus Academy
223 students · 6.5 mi
B
Kansas State University
19,745 students · 7.6 mi
C
Manhattan Christian College
145 students · 7.9 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Manhattan, KS?

Median home price in Manhattan, KS is near $362K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What does house hacking look like in Manhattan, KS?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Manhattan, KS reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What is the renter demographic in Manhattan, KS?

Tenant quality in Manhattan, KS ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $1,614/mo.

What are rental rates like in Manhattan, KS?

Rental rates in Manhattan, KS average $1,614/mo. Tenant demand and $362K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Does Manhattan, KS favor landlords or tenants?

Manhattan, KS operates under KS law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

You know 66503 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 66503 ranks in Manhattan, KS

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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