What is the eviction risk score for Mescal?

The landlord eviction risk score for Mescal, AZ is 5.2 out of 10, rated Moderate risk.

Does Mescal have rent control?

The rent-control risk score for Mescal is 8.9 out of 10.

How long does an eviction take in Mescal?

Typical eviction timeline is about 38 days from notice to writ of possession.

Mescal, AZ Eviction Risk Score Santa Cruz County · Arizona · Population 1,760 · Updated April 18, 2026

5.2 Moderate

★★★ High confidence

13.7%Tenant-law probabilityi

$1,774–3,830Typical eviction costi

38 daysTypical timelinei

4.35%Eviction filing ratei

$1,114HUD 2BR FMR 2025i

$774Median gross renti

38.9%Rent burdeni

10.0%Rentersi

Sub-score breakdown

Local political climate

7.1

Dem margin +35.5% in 2020

Regional political climate

7.1

Dem margin +35.5% in 2020

State political climate

2.2

Economic stress

4.3

18.7% poverty · 0.0% unemployed

Supply constraint

3.0

$774 median rent · 10.0% renters

Rent-control risk

8.9

38.9% rent burden

Eviction process difficulty

2.5

Tenant organizing strength

3.0

10.0% renters

Housing court bias

8.3

Eviction filing rate (ground truth)

6.4

4.35 filings per 100 renter households (county, latest year)

Voucher gap (market vs HUD FMR)

0.0

Market rent -30.5% vs HUD 2BR FMR ($1,114)

Sub-scores are national percentile rankings (1 = most landlord-friendly, 10 = most tenant-protective) derived from ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state law weighting. Source: ACS 2023 5-year + Gazetteer 2024.

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About eviction risk in Mescal, AZ

Mescal, AZ has an eviction risk score of 5.2 out of 10, placing it in the moderate-risk tier for landlords operating in Santa Cruz County and the state of Arizona. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.

Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 38.9% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Mescal is $774/month. About 10.0% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 18.7%, unemployment 0.0%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, Santa Cruz County voted Democratic by 35.5 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 5.2/10, Mescal is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.