Drew County, Arkansas Eviction Risk: Low

Drew County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.1/10, placing it in the Low tier, yet that headline number deserves some unpacking. Ranked 22nd of 75 Arkansas eviction laws counties, the county sits in the higher-risk third of the state: 21 counties are riskier, but 53 are more landlord-friendly. Across the county's 5 cities, individual scores range from 1.5 to 2.2, meaning where exactly you own property shapes your operating environment considerably. With an average rent of $719, rent burden averaging 29.1% of income, and a renter share of 51.7%, roughly half the county's households are renters, making the landlord market reasonably active even if incomes are tight.

Arkansas eviction laws state law does not require just cause to end a tenancy and preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so the legal framework is more permissive than in many other states. That legal backdrop, combined with low scores, makes Drew County a workable market for buy-and-hold investors who underwrite conservatively for tenant quality and vacancy.

The cities inside Drew County

Monticello is by far the county seat and its most populated city, with 8,257 residents and the county's highest risk score at 2.2/10. It anchors nearly all of the county's rental stock and sets the practical context for most landlord activity. Wilmar comes in second at 2.0/10 with a population of 523, a modest score reflecting its small scale and limited rental market depth.

At the lower end, Lacey scores 1.6/10 with 746 residents, and Tillar matches that score at 1.6/10 with a population of only 119. Collins registers the county's lowest risk at 1.5/10 but has just 60 residents, making it a negligible market in practice. The spread from 1.5 to 2.2 underlines that risk is genuinely hyper-local, and investors evaluating Drew County should model each municipality individually rather than rely on the county average.

State-level laws that apply here

Under Ark. Code § 18-17 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act), Arkansas eviction laws landlords serve a 3-day notice for non-payment of rent, a 14-day cure notice for lease violations, and a 30-day no-cause notice to end a month-to-month tenancy. Uncontested evictions typically resolve in 30 to 60 days; contested cases can run 90 to 150 days. Understanding the full Arkansas eviction laws eviction process from notice to writ is essential before acquiring rental property here, because contested timelines can erode returns even in a low-risk county.

Court filing fees run $165 to $250, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $120, and attorney fees range from $500 to $2,500 depending on case complexity. Investors should also review Arkansas eviction costs alongside holding costs when stress-testing cash flow on tight-margin assets. Critically, Arkansas eviction laws preempts local rent-control ordinances statewide and does not require just cause for non-renewal, which preserves landlord flexibility on lease terms and pricing.

Drew County's poverty rate of 30.3% is an important underwriting signal: nearly one in three residents lives below the poverty line, which concentrates credit and income risk in the tenant pool. Review the city grid above to compare individual scores for Monticello, Lacey, Wilmar, Tillar, and Collins before committing to a specific submarket.