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the housing market in Kansas

Kansas Housing Market Trends & Forecast [2026]

March 4, 2026

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Every state is unique when it comes to the real estate market. That’s why it’s critical to understand the market you live or operate in. Whether you’re renting, buying or selling, it will impact many aspects of your life.

Kansas Housing Market Overview

Kansas’s housing market in 2026 remains relatively affordable compared with many U.S. states, though prices have risen steadily in recent years. The statewide median home price is around $280,000, reflecting moderate year-over-year growth driven by limited inventory and stable demand in cities like Wichita, Kansas City (KS), and Overland Park.

Inventory in Kansas has slowly improved compared with the tight conditions seen during the pandemic housing boom, but supply still remains below long-term balanced levels in many markets. At the same time, Kansas continues to attract buyers because of its relatively low cost of living, lower home prices than the national median, and steady job growth in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.

Overall, Kansas’s housing market in 2026 is characterized by moderate price growth, improving but still limited inventory, and relatively strong affordability compared with most U.S. housing markets.

Kansas Housing Market Trends

To understand the Kansas real estate market, it’s important to keep up with trends. Let’s look at some key ones in the state:

Note: These statistics are based on Redfin’s monthly housing data from January 2026.

Median Home Price

Kansas’s median home price is $280,800, according to Redfin’s monthly housing market data from January 2026. This is a growth of about 6.4% since January of last year. The median home price for a house in America was $423,000 in January of 2026, so Kansas is well below that mark.

Number of Homes Sold in January 2026

In January, there were 1,816 homes sold in Kansas, stable from last year according to the Redfin dataset. Thus, even though Kansas’s market has some issues, selling and buying are occurring at a high rate. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this number might be lower compared to other months since nationally speaking, sales usually peak during the spring and summer months and slow considerably in the winter. In fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) predicts that in February and March alone, sales activity increases by as much as 34% and prices by 3%.

Median Days on Market (DOM)

Days on Market (DOM) is the average length of time a home remains listed on the market before being put under contract. A lower DOM signals an extremely competitive seller’s market with more pressure on buyers to come in with higher offers and remove contingencies. A higher DOM signals a buyer's market with slower sales and less leverage for sellers.

The current median DOM in Kansas is 47 days. This is below the national average, so Kansas leans to sellers when it comes to this metric. Kansas’s DOM is another indicator that the market is a more of a sellers’ market then buyers’ market.

New Supply Statistics

Housing construction in Kansas remains steady but limited relative to overall need. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Kansas authorized 9,063 new housing units by building permit in 2024, reflecting ongoing development activity across the state.

Property Tax Rate

The average property tax rate in Kansas is 1.34%, according to Rocket Mortgage. This places Kansas’s average property tax rate as the 37th lowest in the United States (includes District of Columbia). It’s important to point out that property taxes vary widely depending on the specific county of Kansas and the value of the home, so this average rate may or may not be indicative of your situation.

Foreclosure Rate in January of 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, 1 in every 9,654 homes experienced a foreclosure filing (according to recent data from ATTOM). Based on this data, Kansas’s foreclosure rate is one of the lowest in the nation at 45th overall.

Hottest Local Markets in Kansas

The Kansas real estate market has several noteworthy markets. Here are two of the most noteworthy:

1. Wichita

Wichita is the most populated city in Kansas. Home to almost 400,000 citizens, Wichita is an industrial and technological hub and center for media, culture, and commerce.

The Wichita real estate market is extremely competitive with houses selling in 9 days on average. The median sale price was $209,000 in January 2026, down almost 5.0% from last year.

Wichita boasts the third-lowest income-to-debt ratio in the country and has a low unemployment rate at 3% (national average is up around 4% for context). Many experts refer to it as a recession-proof area.

1. Topeka

Topeka is the capital of Kansas. It runs along the Kansas River and is home to a rich arts scene and a busy commerce scene. It has a population of around 126,000.

The real estate market is somewhat competitive with a median home price of $175,000 in January 2026. The DOM is 35 days in Topeka, so houses typically sell very quickly. According to this 2023 study from Realtor.com, Topeka was the top emerging housing market in America. This study emphasizes housing markets that offer a reasonable cost of living and booming local economies that are appealing without being over-crowded.

Factors Impacting the Kansas Housing Market

Kansas’s market is influenced by macroeconomic trends and more granular economic factors specific to the state.

Mortgage Rates

High mortgage rates are a continuing difficulty for would-be homeowners in the U.S. Kansas’s average rates for 30-year mortgages in January of 2026 are below the national average at 5.60%. Higher interest rates deter borrowing and discourage those who already own homes from putting their homes on the market. Many homeowners across the nation report feeling “tied” to their current homes, as it is unlikely they will secure a mortgage rate as low as their current one if they move to a new property. Prospective buyers in Kansas would be wise to monitor mortgage rates in the coming months for a better understanding of how they impact the housing market.

Inflation and Cost of Living

Mortgage rates relate directly to inflation, another massive contributing factor to the affordability of housing and the status of housing markets in general. Inflation has increased the cost of living for many across the U.S., including in Kansas. This means fewer people can truly afford to limit housing costs to less than the recommended 30% of their monthly income.

Population Changes and Demographics

Kansas continues to grow slowly, with the population up about 1.3% from April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state is also aging as Kansans 65 and older increased from 13.2% of the population in 2010 to 17.2% in 2022, and the Census Bureau’s latest QuickFacts estimate puts the 65+ share at 17.8%.

Kansas has also become more urban over time. The Kansas Health Institute reports that the share of Kansans living in urban counties rose from 54.9% (2010) to 57.3% (2020), and those urban counties grew 7.5% over that decade (just under the national metro average).

Even with modest population growth, an aging population and uneven housing construction mean demand can still outpace supply in many Kansas markets.

Economic Health

Kansas’s economy has continued to post strong quarterly growth. In Q3 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that Kansas had the largest increase in both current-dollar GDP (10.5% annual rate) and personal income (6.3% annual rate) among all states.

That kind of income and output growth typically supports housing demand by improving household finances and job stability, even when affordability pressures like higher mortgage rates remain a factor.

Kansas Housing Market Forecast 2026

Kansas is positioned for modest, steady growth in 2026. Zillow’s Home Value Index shows Kansas home values up 2.7% year-over-year as of late January 2026, with homes going pending in about a month—signs of stable demand without boom-level acceleration. National forecasters also expect a generally more balanced U.S. market in 2026 as supply improves and demand stabilizes, which aligns with Kansas’s slower, steadier pace

Kansas is and seems likely to continue to be a sellers’ market into the near future. A favorable environment for businesses also impacts the housing market forecast.

Likelihood of Kansas Housing Market Crash

Most experts don’t see a crash anytime soon for the KS housing market. As supply continues to increase and interest rates decline, the market should stabilize a little bit. Demand still outpaces supply, and that doesn’t seem likely to change soon. The overall healthy economy, solid job market, and affordability also make it very unlikely.

The affordability of housing compared to the rest of the nation also bodes well for the future. Tradingpedia created a map showing home affordability with personal income as a percentage of median home price (the higher the percentage, the more affordable the state), and Kansas came in at 24.69%. Comparing this to somewhere like Hawaii (which comes in with the lowest percentage at 10.56%) gives you an idea of how affordable Kansas is.

Forecast for The U.S. Housing Market

Now that we’ve looked at Kansas's housing market, let’s zoom out a little bit. What about the U.S. housing market? What do you need to keep an eye on in the coming years?

The United States' current median existing-home sale price is around $415,200 per the National Association of Realtors. The inventory, though, remains low. A balanced market typically has a 5-to-6-month supply, but the current figure is 3 months, keeping conditions constrained.

We’re currently in a seller’s market with buyers looking at continued rising house prices—although they are rising at a slower pace compared to previous years.. The same trend can be seen with renters. Housing continues to appreciate, in general. 

Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of Research, National Association of Realtors, believes the housing market will appreciate 15 to 25% over the next five years. He thinks that the seller’s market will continue because housing inventory will remain low. In 2026, he predicts that existing home sales will rise an additional 13%. Yun expects mortgage rates to stabilize at the lower end of the current 6-7% range through 2025 and 2026 as the Federal Reserve continues gradual rate cuts. There's an anticipation of a more balanced market in the coming years, with moderate price growth and a greater amount of Americans re-entering the market.

Hybrid work also impacts the housing market. This shift in work culture means suburbia will continue to grow. States like Texas, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Florida should see continual growth.

The number of single-family homes built decreased over the past couple years while the number of multi-family homes increased due to lower prices and a demand for affordable housing. Year-to-date single-family housing starts were down about 7.1% in 2025, whereas starts for buildings with five or more units were up roughly 14.5% Higher mortgage rates and inflation (affecting price of materials) were the main causes.

Lower income households continue to struggle in the current housing market. This trend appears likely to continue into the foreseeable future. According to the National Association of Home Builders, approximately 74.9% of U.S. households were unable to afford a newly built median-priced home in 2025. Without enhanced supply or helpful subsidies, the outlook is that many Americans will still wrestle with housing affordability in the years to come.

Kansas Rental Market

Kansas rents are rising at a steady pace heading into 2026, but the state remains relatively affordable compared with many U.S. markets. Zillow’s Kansas rental tracker puts the statewide average rent at $1,295 as of March 2026, with rents up $49 year-over-year and down $5 month-over-month. RentCafe reports a similar statewide picture, estimating the average apartment rent in Kansas at about $1,316 in early 2026, up roughly 3.8% year-over-year.

Vacancy has tightened compared to earlier years. The U.S. Census Bureau’s annual vacancy data shows Kansas’s rental vacancy rate was 5.4% in 2024 (latest annual release), which helps explain why rents have held firm even as supply improves in some areas.

Below are just a few of the current trends (as of June 2024) for Kansas’s rental market based on data pulled from Zillow:

Kansas Rental Market Key Trends

• Median rent: $1,295
• Month-over-month rent change: -$5
• Year-over-year rent change: +$49
• Available rentals: 3,704

The Kansas rental market, like the housing market, is known for its affordability. Its prices are lower than most other states in the country. In fact, Wichita, Kansas has the second cheapest median rent in North America.

It’s wise to keep an eye on Midwest rental prices in the coming years. This area is one of the main drivers behind the continued increase in rents.

Conclusion

Kansas’s housing market in 2026 looks steady and relatively affordable, with moderate price growth, improving yet still tight inventory, and a solid economic backdrop supporting demand. Buyers should expect competition in stronger metros, while sellers still benefit from shorter time on market than the national norm.

FAQs

Is Kansas a buyer’s or seller’s market in 2026?

Kansas leans seller-friendly, with a 47-day median days on market and inventory still below long-term balanced levels.

Are Kansas home prices expected to keep rising in 2026?

Yes—most indicators point to modest, steady growth, not a boom, especially as supply improves slowly.

What’s the biggest factor affecting Kansas affordability right now?

Mortgage rates and inventory—rates remain elevated, and new construction is steady but not enough to fully relieve supply pressure.

What are Kansas rent trends in 2026?

Rents are rising gradually, with the statewide average around $1,295 and a tighter vacancy rate helping keep rents firm.

Is a housing market crash likely in Kansas?

A crash looks unlikely in 2026 because demand still outpaces supply, and Kansas remains relatively affordable compared to the U.S. overall.