Walker County, Alabama Eviction Risk: Very Low

Walker County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.1/10 (Low) across its 10 mapped cities, placing it at rank 48 of 67 Alabama counties. That position means 47 counties in the state score higher (riskier), and only 19 score lower, putting Walker County firmly in the lower-risk third of Alabama. For landlords, the county-level average reflects a relatively stable rental environment, with an average rent of $713 and a rent-burden rate of 24.5%, meaning the typical renter here is not severely stretched, which tends to correlate with steadier on-time payment.

The intra-county range runs from 1.6 to 2.6, a spread that matters when underwriting individual acquisitions. Even within a low-risk county, some cities carry meaningfully different tenant profiles and economic pressures. A poverty rate of 17.9% and a renter share of 33.7% are worth keeping in mind as you evaluate cash-flow assumptions city by city.

The cities inside Walker County

Parrish carries the highest score in the county at 2.6/10, backed by a population of 2,459. It sits at the top of the county risk range and warrants closer due-diligence on tenant screening and lease structure. Jasper, the county seat and by far the largest city with 14,442 residents, scores 2.1/10, matching the county average. Parrish and Sipsey also score 2.6/10, while Cordova and Oakman come in at 2.3/10.

At the lower end, Dora scores 2.1/10 (population 2,668) and Carbon Hill scores 2.2/10 (population 1,536), both sitting well below the county average. The contrast between Sumiton and Carbon Hill, a full 0.7 points on the same 10-point scale, illustrates why risk in Walker County is genuinely hyper-local. Landlords holding units across multiple cities should not treat the county average as a substitute for city-level diligence.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Walker County works within Alabama state law under Ala. Code § 35-9A (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). For non-payment of rent, the required notice is 7 days. Lease-violation cure notices require 14 days, and end-of-term or no-cause terminations require 30 days. Alabama imposes no just-cause requirement for non-renewal, and the state preempts local rent-control ordinances, so no Walker County municipality can impose a rent cap. Understanding the full Alabama eviction process, from notice through writ of possession, typically runs 30 to 45 days for uncontested cases and 60 to 120 days when contested.

On cost, Alabama eviction costs break down to a court filing fee of $200 to $300, a sheriff lockout fee of $30 to $150, and attorney fees typically ranging $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity and whether the tenant contests. Alabama security deposit limits and Alabama tenant protections set out additional obligations landlords must meet under the same statute, including a 48-hour advance notice before entry.

With a poverty rate of 17.9% and roughly 33.7% of households renting, Walker County's rental base is moderate in size but carries meaningful economic sensitivity; the city grid above breaks down how that exposure concentrates city by city.