Prairie County, Arkansas Eviction Risk: Very Low

Prairie County's county-wide average eviction-risk score of 1.9/10 (Low) positions it squarely in the middle third of Arkansas, with 45 of the state's 75 counties carrying higher risk and 29 sitting at lower risk. For landlords holding rental units across the county's 5 cities, that average translates to a market where tenant default and eviction pressure are meaningfully below the state norm, though not negligible. With average rent running $571 per month and a rent burden of 33.1%, tenants are spending a real share of income on housing, which keeps some default risk present even in a low-risk county.

The county's intra-market range, 1.3 to 2/10, is narrow by Arkansas standards, meaning landlords won't find dramatically safer pockets simply by shifting a few miles. Operating conditions across Prairie County are generally stable, but the renter share of 31.8% is modest, so vacancy discipline matters more than in denser rental markets.

The cities inside Prairie County

The highest-risk location in the county is Fredonia (Biscoe), which scores 2/10 with a population of 135. While that score is still Low on the statewide scale, it represents the ceiling of local risk. Hazen, the county's largest city at 1,874 residents, and Des Arc, with 1,591 residents, both score 1.9/10, closely tracking the county average. De Valls Bluff, at 553 residents, also comes in at 1.9/10. Risk across these four communities is nearly indistinguishable, which means landlord due diligence should focus on individual tenant screening rather than geographic sorting within this tier.

Ulm, the smallest city in the county at 174 residents, carries the lowest score at 1.3/10, making it the most landlord-favorable location in Prairie County. That gap from 1.3 to 2 illustrates that even within a low-risk county, risk is hyper-local and worth tracking at the city level.

State-level laws that apply here

All Prairie County landlords operate under Ark. Code § 18-17 (Residential Landlord-Tenant Act). For non-payment of rent, Arkansas law requires only a 3-day notice before filing, one of the shorter notice windows in the region. A lease-violation or cure notice requires 14 days, and a no-cause end-of-term notice requires 30 days. Understanding the full Arkansas eviction process is essential before filing, because even an uncontested case typically runs 30 to 60 days from filing to possession, and a contested case can stretch 90 to 150 days. Court filing fees run $165 to $250, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $120, and attorney fees, if needed, range from $500 to $2,500. Landlords budgeting for a worst-case contested eviction should plan for those components individually rather than assuming a fixed total. Arkansas eviction costs, including the filing and enforcement fees, are generally moderate compared to high-cost states, which contributes to the county's low-risk rating. Arkansas does not require just cause for non-renewal, and state law preempts local rent control, so no local rent caps apply anywhere in Prairie County.

With an average poverty rate of 14.5% and a renter share of 31.8%, Prairie County's rental pool is modest in size but carries real economic stress, making thorough tenant screening the most reliable risk-management tool available to landlords here. Review the city-level scores in the grid above to compare individual markets before committing capital.