Lawrence County, Arkansas Eviction Risk: Low

Lawrence County, Arkansas scores 2.6/10 on the eviction-risk index, placing it in the Low risk tier. That figure reflects the average across all 14 incorporated places in the county, and it lands toward the safer end of the statewide spectrum: 57 of 75 Arkansas counties carry a higher risk score, while only 17 rank lower. For landlords and investors weighing a market in northeast Arkansas, those numbers translate to a relatively stable tenant base, an average rent of $710, and an average rent burden of 28.5%, conditions that do not typically signal the payment stress that drives eviction filings.

The intra-county spread runs from 1.9 to 2.9/10, a range that is narrow in absolute terms but still meaningful when selecting a specific submarket. At roughly 12,566 total residents and a renter share of 39.3%, the county's rental pool is modest in size, which means individual properties carry more idiosyncratic weight than in a large metro. Operators who screen carefully and price at or near market will find operating conditions here among the more favorable in the state.

The cities inside Lawrence County

The highest-risk location in the county is Black Rock, which posts the maximum observed score of 2.9/10. Three additional communities, Swifton (population 1,101), Imboden (population 621), and Portia (population 453), each score 2.3/10, putting them a step above the county average but still well within the Low-risk band. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here: a short drive separates a 2/10 market from several communities sitting at 2.6/10, so due diligence at the city level matters more than any county-wide headline figure.

The county seat area, centered on Walnut Ridge (population 5,434, score 2.5/10), represents the largest rental pool in the county. Hoxie (population 2,618, score 2.6/10) is the second most populous city and scores identically. Black Rock and Strawberry share the same 2.9/10 mark, putting most of the county's population in communities clustered at the county average or just above it. Investors who want volume over yield compression will generally find the two largest cities the most liquid options.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Lawrence County works under the Arkansas Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, Ark. Code § 18-17. For nonpayment of rent, Arkansas requires only a 3-day notice to vacate before filing. Lease-violation notices carry a 14-day cure period, and end-of-tenancy no-cause terminations require 30 days. Once a case is filed, an uncontested proceeding typically resolves in 30 to 60 days; a contested matter can stretch to 90 to 150 days. Filing fees run $165 to $250, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $120, and attorney fees commonly range from $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity. Understanding the full Arkansas eviction process before you place a tenant saves money and avoids procedural missteps that extend timelines. Arkansas imposes no rent cap and no just-cause requirement for termination, and state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so landlords here operate without the regulatory overlay found in many other states. Reviewing Arkansas eviction costs alongside the notice requirements gives investors a realistic picture of worst-case carrying costs when a tenancy goes wrong.

With a poverty rate of 22.6% and a renter share of 39.3%, Lawrence County carries real financial vulnerability in its tenant base, which is why city-level scores in the grid above deserve a closer look before committing to a specific submarket.