Lawrence, Kansas Short-Term Rental Market
Lawrence, KS STRs averaged $135/night at 49.0% occupancy in April 2026 across 4,312 listings, with a 94.8 investability score driven by University of Kansas demand.
Quick Answer: Lawrence, Kansas is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy in the Kansas Area market area is 53%. average monthly revenue in the Kansas Area market area is $2,228. average daily rate in the Kansas Area market area is $148. the top operator in the Kansas Area market area is Evolve with 60 listings. market score is 86/100 (grade A).
Market data reflects the Kansas Area regional market, which includes Lawrence. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Lawrence.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions StaySTRA evaluates per market.
Market Overview
The Lawrence, KS short-term rental market is anchored by the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University, creating consistent event-driven demand across football, basketball, graduation, and cultural programming. The market reported 4,312 active listings as of the latest snapshot. In April 2026, listings averaged $135 per night at 49.0% occupancy, producing a RevPAR of $66. Year-over-year through April 2026, occupancy declined approximately 9.75% from the prior April period and revenue fell 5.1%, while ADR grew 2.4%, indicating rate discipline amid softer booking volume. Supply is dominated by entire-place units: 3,843 of 4,312 listings (89.1%) are entire-place rentals, with 466 private rooms and 3 shared rooms. By bedroom count, 1-bedroom properties lead with 1,408 listings, followed by 2-bedroom (1,320), 3-bedroom (936), 4-bedroom (420), and 5-bedroom (223). The channel mix favors Airbnb-only listings: 2,866 are on Airbnb only, 1,241 on both platforms, and 205 on VRBO only. The overall market score is 85.8 out of 100, with an exceptional investability sub-score of 94.8. Year-round demand consistency (seasonality score 91.7) is a structural positive; revenue growth (48.2) reflects the current softening period.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $100 | $1,206 |
| Feb | 45% | $99 | $1,135 |
| Mar | 49% | $105 | $1,394 |
| Apr | 50% | $109 | $1,459 |
| May | 52% | $119 | $1,665 |
| Jun | 54% | $122 | $1,827 |
| Jul | 56% | $114 | $1,795 |
| Aug | 52% | $112 | $1,652 |
| Sep | 51% | $118 | $1,634 |
| Oct | 49% | $118 | $1,628 |
| Nov | 53% | $116 | $1,691 |
| Dec | 47% | $115 | $1,556 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Kansas Area market area
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape. Operator data is published for the Kansas Area market as a whole, which includes Lawrence, so these counts are not Lawrence-only figures.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evolve | 60 | 2,085 | ★ 4.74 |
| 2 | Stay Awhile | 18 | 2,445 | ★ 4.95 |
| 3 | OwlStays | 11 | 445 | ★ 4.55 |
| 4 | Equi-Venture Farm | 10 | 2,664 | ★ 4.85 |
| 5 | Swin Housing | 8 | 451 | ★ 4.87 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Lawrence?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 1,408 |
| 2 bed | 1,320 |
| 3 bed | 936 |
| 4 bed | 420 |
| 5 bed | 223 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $153 |
| Luxury | $256 |
| Professionally Managed | $181 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $1,890 |
| Entire Place | $2,360 |
| House | $2,443 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 66.5% |
| vrbo | 4.8% |
| both | 28.8% |
Investment Analysis
Lawrence presents a strong investability profile: the market scored 94.8 on the investability sub-index, the highest dimension score in this market’s dataset. Entry cost is moderate: the Zillow typical home value was $335,513 as of April 2026, with a median sale price of $313,817 and a median list price of $371,133 against 214 active for-sale listings. The median sale-to-list ratio of 0.846 (homes selling at approximately 84.6% of list) and a 8-day median time to pending reflect a market where buyers have negotiating room despite quick contract timelines. Using the 2025 full-year average of $1,941 per month, annualized revenue is approximately $23,300, implying a gross yield of about 6.9% against the $335,513 typical home value. Tier premiums are meaningful: luxury-tier properties averaged $237 per night versus the all-listings ADR of $135 (a 76% premium), and professionally managed properties averaged $168 per night. By property type, houses generate approximately $1,947 per month versus $1,881 for entire-place listings and $1,614 for apartments. Revenue declined 5.1% year-over-year through April 2026, though ADR held positive at +2.4%, suggesting rates are being maintained while occupancy faces pressure. Investors who can capture KU athletic event and graduation weekends can meaningfully exceed the monthly average.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
Run a Free Address Analysis
Skip the market averages. Get revenue projections, comp analysis, and ROI for your specific property address. Free, instant, no signup required.
Analyze My Property →Home Value Trends (Lawrence)
Booking Insights
Lawrence guests book an average of 43 days in advance, a moderate lead time reflecting a mix of event-driven bookings (KU games, graduation) planned weeks out and leisure travel with shorter planning horizons. The average length of stay is 3.85 nights, slightly longer than a pure weekend stay, consistent with extended campus visit and event trip patterns. At 49.0% occupancy across a 30-day month (approximately 14.7 occupied nights), a typical listing sees about 4 completed guest stays per month at the 3.85-night average. Operators who apply dynamic pricing around high-demand KU event dates can generate outsized returns on specific nights while managing to budget occupancy levels during academic breaks.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Lawrence requires an annual Short-Term Rental License from the city Planning and Development Services department, obtained through the EPL Civic Access Portal. The annual license fee is $17. Licensed properties must pass annual fire and building code inspections and applicants must show payment of applicable state and local sales and transient guest taxes for the prior year. The city distinguishes Owner-Occupied from Non-Owner-Occupied STRs. Non-owner-occupied operations are prohibited in RS (single-dwelling residential) and PD (planned development) zoning districts and were historically barred from R-1 and R-2 low-density residential districts. Operators were also historically capped at a maximum of 3 STR licenses per licensee citywide. The transient guest tax rate increased from 6% to 8% effective January 1, 2026; combined with state and local sales taxes, total tax on STR stays in Lawrence is approximately 13.75% or more. A temporary regulatory change is in effect: on January 6, 2026, the City Commission voted to lift the 3-license cap and allow non-owner-occupied STRs in R-1 and R-2 districts to accommodate overflow demand from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in nearby Kansas City. This temporary allowance became effective approximately May 25, 2026, with a planned sunset around July 26, 2026. Enforcement is rated moderate, with potential fines up to approximately $1,000 per day per violation for unlicensed operation.
Market Comparison
Against US STR market medians of approximately 55% occupancy and $220 ADR, Lawrence underperforms on both metrics: 49.0% occupancy and $135 ADR in April 2026. However, the market’s 94.8 investability sub-score indicates structural advantages in property value, regulatory clarity, and demand predictability that the raw rate and occupancy figures do not fully capture. The 2025 annual occupancy average (51.9%) was close to the national median. The market is lightly managed professionally: Evolve leads with 60 listings and a 4.74 average rating across 2,085 reviews. Stay Awhile ranks second with 18 listings and a 4.95 rating across 2,445 reviews, a high rating volume relative to listing count, suggesting strong performance efficiency. OwlStays holds third with 11 listings and a 4.55 rating. Together the top three operators manage approximately 89 of 4,312 active listings, representing about 2.1% of the market. The dominant operator size in Lawrence is the independent host rather than the regional or national property manager.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lawrence, Kansas
What is the average nightly rate for short-term rentals in Lawrence, KS?
What was the occupancy rate for Lawrence STRs in April 2026?
What is the STR license requirement in Lawrence, KS?
What transient taxes apply to Lawrence short-term rentals?
What is the typical home value in Lawrence, KS?
What is the estimated gross yield for Lawrence STR investments?
When is peak season for Lawrence, KS vacation rentals?
Analyze Lawrence Rentals
Use our free calculator to estimate Airbnb revenue for any property in Lawrence.
Free Lawrence STR Calculator →
