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Wichita, KS

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wichita, KS is $1,099 per month, ranking #494 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $68,930, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 19.1% of income on housing. Rent in Wichita has increased 8.1% year over year. The area has a population of 649K, with 35.3% of households renting.

19.1%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,099
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$68,930
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$969
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+8.1%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
649K
Population
Census ACS
35.3%
Renters
of occupied housing
$188,200
Median Home Value
9.2%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
13.1%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$782
Studio
$849
1 Bedroom
$1,099
2 Bedroom
$1,444
3 Bedroom
$1,784
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Wichita, KS, a household earning the area median income of $68,930 would spend 19.1% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$43,960
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$21
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$969
$130 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+28.7% since 2021
$8542021$8232022$9202023$1,0172024$9952025$1,0992026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Kansas is $7.25/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 116.6 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Wichita is 13.1%, near the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$7.25/hr
Hours/Week Needed
116.6 hrs
Poverty Rate
13.1%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Wichita is $188,200. At a median income of $68,930, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 2.7x. 9.2% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is near the national average.

Rent vs. Buy
$1,317 est. mortgage
vs $1,099 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
9.2%
of housing units

Other Areas in Kansas

Kansas City
$1,358/mo
2BR FMR · 19.9% burden
Lawrence
$1,182/mo
2BR FMR · 20.6% burden
St. Joseph
$1,077/mo
2BR FMR · 20.5% burden
Manhattan
$1,068/mo
2BR FMR · 20% burden
Sumner County
$1,065/mo
2BR FMR · 21.2% burden

Compare Wichita

vs Kansas City, KSvs Lawrence, KSvs St. Joseph, KS

Areas With Similar Rent to Wichita

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Wichita, KS is $1,099 per month. A studio is $782/mo, a 1-bedroom is $849/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,444/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $969/mo.

Wichita has a rent burden of 19.1%, meaning a household earning the median income of $68,930 would spend 19.1% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $43,960.

Wichita's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,099/mo is $151 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Wichita ranks #494 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Wichita without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $43,960, or a full-time hourly wage of $21/hour. The area median income is $68,930.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Wichita increased by 8.1% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.