In Emporia, a typical home is worth $132,700 and typical rent is $815 a month. Compared with all of Lyon County, typical household income is 12% lower, the typical home value is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 8 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $141,542 to $175,396.
Typical rent
$718a month
▼ 1.8% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2023 to September 2026: from $657 to $718.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Emporia is in Lyon County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lyon County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Iola, the typical home value is $78,300: 41% less than in Emporia ($132,700).
2
Emporia has the 5th lowest homeownership rate of the 64 cities in Kansas with more than 5,000 people (50%).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Emporia
What homes there are in Emporia, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Emporia
Lyon County
Kansas
United States
Kind of home: Emporia and its comparisons
Measure
Emporia
Lyon County
Kansas
United States
Detached house
54%
61%
72%
61%
Attached house
2%
2%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
11%
8%
6%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
26%
20%
13%
19%
Mobile home
8%
9%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
The detached house is still the most common home in Emporia, but it weighs less than in Lyon County: 54% against 61%.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Emporia
Lyon County
Kansas
United States
Year built: Emporia and its comparisons
Measure
Emporia
Lyon County
Kansas
United States
Before 1960
37%
37%
32%
26%
1960–1979
34%
32%
24%
24%
1980–1999
17%
18%
23%
25%
2000–2009
7%
7%
12%
14%
2010 or later
6%
6%
9%
11%
By age, homes in Emporia look like those in Lyon County: the typical year built is 1969.
In Emporia, 19% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 49% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 53% in Lyon County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K35%
$100K–$200K41%
$200K–$300K15%
$300K–$500K8%
$500K–$750KUnreliable
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Emporia and its comparisons
Measure
Emporia
Under $100K
35%
$100K–$200K
41%
$200K–$300K
15%
$300K–$500K
8%
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
At least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Emporia are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Lyon County ($541,287).
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $5005%
$500–$99967%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $961
$1,000–$1,49923%
$1,500–$1,999Unreliable
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Emporia and its comparisons
Measure
Emporia
Under $500
5%
$500–$999
67%
$1,000–$1,499
23%
$1,500–$1,999
Unreliable estimate
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
About 67% of rented homes in Emporia cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Lyon County ($961).
With a mortgage
$1,259 a month
Lyon County: $1,345 a month
Without a mortgage
$605 a month
Lyon County: $610 a month
Owners with a mortgage
52%
Lyon County: 51%
Owning costs less in Emporia: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,259 a month; in Lyon County, $1,345. Without one, $605.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Emporia+49%
Lyon County+41%
Kansas+43%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Emporia+22%
Lyon County+21%
Kansas+25%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Emporia+30%
Lyon County+29%
Kansas+25%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Emporia and its comparisons
Measure
Emporia
Lyon County
Kansas
United States
Typical home value
+49%
+41%
+43%
+53%
Typical rent
+22%
+21%
+25%
+33%
Typical household income
+30%
+29%
+25%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Emporia rose 49%; in Lyon County, it rose 41%.
The typical rent in Emporia rose 22% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Lyon County (21%).
To compare: typical income in Emporia rose 30%; the home, +49%; the rent, +22%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Emporia and its comparisons
Measure
Emporia
Lyon County
Kansas
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
6.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
2.9%
2.1%
3.4%
People per household
2.22
2.31
2.44
2.53
Drive alone
77%
78%
75%
69%
Carpool
11%
11%
9%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
Walk or bike
5%
4%
3%
3%
Work from home
6%
6%
12%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Lyon County, a household in Emporia has 2.22 people on average.
To get to work, 77% of workers in Emporia drive alone; in Lyon County, 78%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Emporia?
A typical home is within reach of the typical income
We start with a typical home in Emporia, worth $132,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 27% of the typical household income in Emporia, which is $52,704 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lyon County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Emporia. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $4,645 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$1,185
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$130,296
Total interest
$187,465
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $2,241 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,230 a month
Your payment · 27%
Tight
$1,230 to $1,581 a month
Hard
more than $1,581 a month
Compared with the typical household income in Emporia ($52,704 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$883
Property tax
$188
Home insurance
$55
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$59
You need at least $4,645 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $1,185; principal and interest $883.
The city and its county
Emporia and Lyon County
Emporia is in Lyon County, Kansas. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Emporia
Map of Lyon County, Kansas, with Emporia marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Emporia
Lyon County
Emporia's own numbers
Typical home value
$132,700
Typical monthly rent
$815
Typical yearly household income
$52,704
Households that own their home
50%
Effective property tax rate
1.7%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Lyon County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$961
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+42%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.7%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lyon County.
A typical home in Emporia is worth $132,700: 12% below the county and 39% below Kansas. With the typical household income in Emporia ($52,704 a year), a typical home costs 2.5 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Emporia2.5 years
Lyon2.5 years
Kansas2.9 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Lyon County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lyon County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lyon County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Lyon County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +9.4% +9.4% 2016
2017: +3.7% +3.7% 2017
2018: +5.0% +5.0% 2018
2019: +2.9% +2.9% 2019
2020: +5.2% +5.2% 2020
2021: +8.4% +8.4% 2021
2022: +10.9% +10.9% 2022
2023: +14.0% +14.0% 2023
2024: +2.9% +2.9% 2024
2025: +0.7% +0.7% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Lyon County, Kansas and the United States
Period
County
Kansas
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.7%
+4.1%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+42%
+49%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+83%
+84%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Emporia next to Lyon County, Kansas and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Emporia$132,700
Lyon$150,600
Kansas$217,200
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Emporia$815
Lyon$817
Kansas$1,060
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Emporia$52,704
Lyon$59,912
Kansas$74,275
United States$80,734
See the full table
Emporia next to Lyon County and Kansas
Measure
Emporia
Lyon County
Kansas
U.S.
Typical home value
$132,700 ▼12% below the county
$150,600
$217,200
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$815
$817
$1,060
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$52,704 ▼12% below the county
$59,912
$74,275
$80,734
Households that own their home
50% ▼8 points below the county
58%
67%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,257 ▼4% below the county
$2,341
$2,798
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
1.7% ▲0.15 points above the county
1.55%
1.29%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
42%
41%
43%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lyon County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Emporia
For a typical $132,700 home in Emporia, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Emporia's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,185a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$4,645
Cash to close
$8,626
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $59
Conventional, 5% down$1,160a month
Down payment
$6,635
Cash to close
$10,616
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $63
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$962a month
Down payment
$26,540
Cash to close
$30,521
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,085a month
Down payment
$19,905
Cash to close
$23,886
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Emporia
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,185
$4,645
$130,296
7.18%
FHA MIP · $59
$8,626
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,160
$6,635
$126,065
7.18%
PMI · $63
$10,616
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$962
$26,540
$106,160
7.18%
None
$30,521
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,085
$19,905
$112,795
8.18%
None
$23,886
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Emporia is $815 a month: about the same as the county. In Emporia, 42% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lyon County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($961 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.48 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Lyon County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$701
$13.48
$28,040
1 bedroom
$747
$14.37
$29,880
2 bedrooms
$961
$18.48
$38,440
3 bedrooms
$1,250
$24.04
$50,000
4 bedrooms
$1,554
$29.88
$62,160
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Emporia
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Emporia is in ZIP code 66801.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,000: $39 more than the fair market rent for Lyon County ($961).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Emporia, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
66801
$730
$780
$1,000
$1,300
$1,620
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
66801 $1,000$1,300
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Emporia when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lyon County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Emporia or Lyon County. The ones below are statewide in Kansas: they work in Emporia the same as in the rest of the state.
Kansas state corporation 0% loan for 15% or 20% of the price for the down payment and closing costs, forgiven after 10 years in the home, for households with income up to 80% of the area median; not available in Johnson County or in Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka and Wichita.Offered by Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC).
No legal help resource on our list is for Emporia or Lyon County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Emporia and all of Lyon County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Emporia?
The typical home value in Emporia is $132,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lyon County it is $150,600.
How much does it cost to rent in Emporia?
Typical rent in Emporia is $815 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lyon County is $961.
What is the FHA loan limit in Emporia?
Emporia uses the FHA limit for all of Lyon County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Emporia?
The typical homeowner in Emporia pays $2,257 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.7% of the home’s value; in Lyon County, the rate is 1.55%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Emporia?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lyon County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
