Side-by-side comparison of Lawrence, KS and Manhattan, KS — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Lawrence has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.44% compared to Manhattan's 3.44%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $255,000 in Lawrence vs $235,000 in Manhattan, while rents come in at $1,250/mo and $1,150/mo respectively.
Growth & appreciation: Lawrence is growing faster at 0.8% annually vs Manhattan's 0.6%. Lawrence leads on home value appreciation at 2.6% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.36% in Lawrence vs 1.34% in Manhattan. Vacancy rates of 4.8% and 5% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.
Bottom line: Lawrence edges out Manhattan on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.44%, Lawrence's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Lawrence or Manhattan.