Lawrence rent continues to rise for KU students 

Annika Gustafson | @annikaa_gustafson

Rent prices in Lawrence are still rising, forcing University of Kansas students to make tough decisions about where and if they can afford to live in Lawrence next year.

Across the city, both on and off-campus housing costs have surged, with many apartments charging more than they did just a year ago.

“Lawrence is one of the highest rents compared to other college communities in the Midwest,”Rebecca Buford, executive director of Tenants to Homeowners, said . “We are the second-highest cost behind Boulder.”

For many students, the rising costs mean making difficult financial decisions. Some are taking on more work hours or adding a second job, while others are struggling to balance rent payments with their academic responsibilities.

“Apartments are extremely expensive,”KU student Taylor Lupardus  said, “apartments are extremely expensive, that is very hard to keep up with especially as college students, it’s supposed to be our main job to be in college.”

Local housing organizations like Tenants to Homeowners say they’re working to create more affordable options, but demand in Lawrence continues to outpace supply.

Buford says part of the problem is geographic. Lawrence is “boxed in” by natural barriers that limit expansion and new development.

“We’re in between two rivers that limit annexation of new land and new development,” Buford said. “All these reasons lead to less supply. And as demand continues to increase, Lawrence’s population continues to grow, but we haven’t increased our supply to match that.”

With inflation remaining high and the student population growing, experts say rent relief may not come anytime soon.For now, students are keeping a close eye on the housing market and hoping prices start to level out before next fall.