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Clayton, CA Eviction Risk Score Contra Costa County · California · Population 10,937

5.3 Moderate
46.9%Tenant-law probability
$13,817–35,917Typical eviction cost
276 daysTypical timeline
$3,501Median gross rent
33.0%Rent burden
10.8%Renters

Sub-score breakdown

Local political climate
7.5
Dem margin +45.3% in 2020
Regional political climate
7.5
Dem margin +45.3% in 2020
State political climate
6.8
Economic stress
5.0
2.2% poverty · 7.0% unemployed
Supply constraint
6.4
$3,501 median rent · 10.8% renters
Rent-control risk
7.7
33.0% rent burden
Eviction process difficulty
6.5
Tenant organizing strength
2.8
10.8% renters
Housing court bias
4.9

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 Clayton, CA

Clayton, CA has an eviction risk score of 5.3 out of 10, placing it in the moderate-risk tier for landlords operating in Contra Costa County and the state of California. 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 33.0% — 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 Clayton is $3,501/month. About 10.8% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 2.2%, unemployment 7.0%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, Contra Costa County voted Democratic by 45.3 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 5.3/10, Clayton 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.

Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison

Landlord Guides & Research Tools

Deepen your market research with these ACS-data guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each ranking.

Landlord Guides for California

Eviction Costs — California →
Filing fees, attorney fees, lost rent, sheriff lockout
Eviction Process — California →
Step-by-step timeline, notices, statute cites
Rent Control — California →
Statewide caps, local ordinances, just-cause
Tenant Screening — California →
5-point protocol, legal rules, protected classes
Tenant Protections — California →
Just cause, retaliation, habitability, entry