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Fort Hunter Liggett, California eviction risk overview
City brief · 1,119 residents

Fort Hunter Liggett, CA Eviction Risk: MODERATE

Monterey County · Population 1,119

In 2026
Risk score
4.6
MODERATE

16th percentile, California.

50-yr Eviction Risk Score history

1976 — 2026 · climbing fast since 2010

Min1.4 Average3.1 Now4.6
10 5 1976 · score 1.4 1977 · score 1.4 1978 · score 1.4 1979 · score 1.5 1980 · score 1.4 1981 · score 1.5 1982 · score 1.5 1983 · score 1.4 1984 · score 1.4 1985 · score 1.4 1986 · score 1.4 1987 · score 1.4 1988 · score 1.7 1989 · score 1.7 1990 · score 1.8 1991 · score 1.8 1992 · score 2.5 1993 · score 2.5 1994 · score 2.5 1995 · score 2.5 1996 · score 2.6 1997 · score 2.6 1998 · score 2.6 1999 · score 2.7 2000 · score 2.7 2001 · score 2.8 2002 · score 2.8 2003 · score 2.8 2004 · score 2.9 2005 · score 3.0 2006 · score 3.0 2007 · score 3.1 2008 · score 3.8 2009 · score 4.0 2010 · score 4.1 2011 · score 4.1 2012 · score 4.1 2013 · score 4.2 2014 · score 4.2 2015 · score 4.3 2016 · score 4.6 2017 · score 4.8 2018 · score 5.0 2019 · score 5.2 2020 · score 6.0 2021 · score 6.0 2022 · score 6.0 2023 · score 5.9 2024 · score 5.7 2025 · score 4.6 2026 · score 4.6

Key metrics

Estimated values: The U.S. Census suppresses field-level data for small places. Estimated from county average — pop-weighted from real underlying ACS data.
Time machine

Scrub 50 years

2026
● LIVE · today ◀ REPLAY · historical

Nine-axis profile

9-axis profile · today

Shape of the risk surface

1 landlord · 10 tenant
Local 7.4 Regional 7.4 State 6.8 Economic 5.5 Supply 3.1 Rent Control 5.5 Eviction 6.6 Tenant 2.0 Housing 3.8 4.6 MODERATE
Sub-scores · with sparkline

Where the score comes from

1 → 10 scale
  1. Local political climate
    Dem margin +29.9% (2024)
    7.4
  2. Regional political climate
    County-weighted neighbor mix
    7.4
  3. State political climate
    California legislature & governorship
    6.8
  4. Economic stress
    14.5% poverty · 3.7% unemp.
    5.5
  5. Supply constraint
    $1,676 average · 43.0% renters
    3.1
  6. Rent Control risk
    30.5% of income on rent
    5.5
  7. Eviction process difficulty
    246 days filing → judgment
    6.6
  8. Tenant organizing strength
    43.0% renters
    2.0
  9. Housing court bias
    County bench composition
    3.8
Geographic context

Risk heat across Fort Hunter Liggett and the region

Click any city to see its score

How Fort Hunter Liggett compares

Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Monterey County
Low
#20 of 25 cities
Rank in county — 21th percentileBottomTop
#20 of 25 cities in Monterey County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in California
Very Low
#1355 of 1,594 cities
Rank in state — 15th percentileBottomTop
#1355 of 1,594 cities in California for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Fort Hunter Liggett risk score vs. county / state / U.S.Fort Hunter Ligget: 4.64.6Fort Hunter LiggetThis cityCounty: 5.75.7Countyavg in countyState: 6.66.6Stateavg in stateU.S.: 5.35.3U.S.national avg
Score story

Six-stop tour of the risk profile

  1. 4.6
    / 10 · MODERATE
    The verdict

    A Moderate-tier market.

    Composite 4.6/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a sharp climb.

    50-yr trend+3.2 over 50 yr
    197620012026

    Steepening since 2010 · COVID inflection visible

  2. 246d
    Typical timeline
    The money

    What renting (and evicting) looks like.

    Rent published at $1,676/mo. A contested eviction takes 246 days and costs $14,253–$37,690 per case.

    50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
    197620012026

    Court-clerk data lands in the next release.

  3. 43.0%
    Renters
    The renters

    Who you'll be renting to.

    Out of 1,119 residents, 43.0% rent. 30% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 14.5% below the poverty line.

    50-yr trendRenter share rising
    197620012026

    ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.

  4. 7.4
    Local + regional
    The politics

    Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.

    Local & regional political climate score 7.4 and 7.4 (Dem margin +29.9% (2024)). State climate at 6.8 — mid-range statehouse.

    50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
    197620012026

    Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.

  5. 6.8
    State politics
    The process

    Long calendar, heavy friction.

    State political climate 6.8/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies — and shows up in process. Eviction process difficulty reads 6.6, housing court bias 3.8, rent-control risk 5.5. The slow part is the calendar, not the motion practice.

    50-yr trendProcess difficulty +1.6 since '00
    197620012026

    Court-clerk data lands in the next release.

  6. 5.5
    Economic stress
    The stress

    Economic pressure is the background risk.

    Economic stress: 5.5. Supply constraint: 3.1. The numbers behind those: 14.5% poverty, 3.7% unemployment, 30% of income on rent.

    50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
    197620012026

    Mirrors BLS unemployment series.

US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost

Fort Hunter Liggett sits in the slow & expensive quadrant

Bubble size = population · color = risk score
QUICK BUT COSTLY fast docket · high all-in loss SLOW & EXPENSIVE long calendar · high all-in loss QUICK & CHEAP fast docket · low all-in loss SLOW BUT CHEAP long calendar · low all-in loss 30d 50d 75d 100d 150d 200d 300d 450d $2.0k $3.0k $5.0k $7.5k $10k $15k $20k $30k EVICTION TIMELINE (DAYS) → ↑ ALL-IN COST (LOG SCALE) Los Angeles, CA · 273d · ~$22.4k all-in ($82/day) · score 9.1 Los Angeles San Diego, CA · 277d · ~$25.9k all-in ($94/day) · score 7.7 San Diego San Jose, CA · 261d · ~$24.2k all-in ($93/day) · score 8.4 San Jose San Francisco, CA · 273d · ~$23.9k all-in ($88/day) · score 9.2 San Francisco Fresno, CA · 279d · ~$24.4k all-in ($88/day) · score 6.9 Fresno Sacramento, CA · 281d · ~$25.0k all-in ($89/day) · score 8.0 Sacramento Long Beach, CA · 291d · ~$26.4k all-in ($91/day) · score 8.4 Long Beach Oakland, CA · 282d · ~$24.3k all-in ($86/day) · score 9.1 Oakland Bakersfield, CA · 249d · ~$25.6k all-in ($103/day) · score 6.0 Bakersfield Anaheim, CA · 258d · ~$23.3k all-in ($90/day) · score 7.0 Anaheim Houston, TX · 24d · ~$2.5k all-in ($103/day) · score 3.4 Houston Phoenix, AZ · 38d · ~$3.3k all-in ($86/day) · score 3.7 Phoenix Memphis, TN · 31d · ~$2.0k all-in ($66/day) · score 4.2 Memphis Atlanta, GA · 40d · ~$2.8k all-in ($69/day) · score 4.9 Atlanta Boston, MA · 187d · ~$20.3k all-in ($109/day) · score 8.1 Boston Chicago, IL · 109d · ~$9.0k all-in ($82/day) · score 6.8 Chicago New York, NY · 417d · ~$29.5k all-in ($71/day) · score 7.8 New York Seattle, WA · 162d · ~$12.7k all-in ($79/day) · score 8.2 Seattle Fort Hunter Liggett
Fort Hunter Liggett · 246d · ~$26.0k all-in ($106/day) · score 4.6 National average: 58d · $4.6k all-in Hover any bubble for stats · click to open Color: 0–4   4–7   7–10
00Overview

About eviction risk in Fort Hunter Liggett, CA

Landlording in Fort Hunter Liggett, California, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 4.6/10 (MODERATE tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above — covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.

Fort Hunter Liggett is a city of 1,119 residents where 43.0% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 30.5% of income on rent. At an average rent of $1,676/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing — a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.

01Process

How Fort Hunter Liggett eviction process actually works

Eviction process difficulty here reads 6.6/10 — a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Fort Hunter Liggett closes 246 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.

The slow part of Fort Hunter Liggett's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 3.8/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.

02Cost

What it costs (and how long it takes)

An all-in eviction in Fort Hunter Liggett runs $14,253 to $37,690 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice — common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.

For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 246 days of typical timeline and $1,676/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.

03Operations

Security deposits, screening, and lease terms

Tenant organizing strength scores 2.0/10 in Fort Hunter Liggett, and the city has limited rent control exposure (5.5/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:

  • Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5–3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks — but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
  • Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
  • Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In California, deposit cap and refund window are statute — exceed at your own risk.
  • Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy

What an everyday landlord should actually do here

If you own one to four units in Fort Hunter Liggett: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a MODERATE tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one — retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.

The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match California's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $37,690 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.

04bPractical traps

Local traps to avoid in Fort Hunter Liggett

Trap · AB 1482
Compare Fort Hunter Liggett to nearby cities in Monterey County via the related-cities grid below. Each municipality scores separately on the same nine sub-factors. State context: AB 1482 + Costa-Hawkins.
05FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Q1

Can I evict a tenant in Fort Hunter Liggett for no reason?

No, California has statewide just-cause eviction laws. You must have a legally valid reason, such as non-payment of rent, lease violations, or specific "no-fault" reasons like an owner move-in (which often requires relocation assistance). A 60-day notice for no-cause termination is generally not allowed unless specific local exemptions apply or the property is exempt from just-cause, which is rare.

Q2

How long does it take to get a tenant out for non-payment of rent?

Even for non-payment, the typical timeline for an eviction in Fort Hunter Liggett is 246 days. This includes the notice period, court proceedings, and sheriff lockout. It's a lengthy process in California.

Q3

What's the maximum security deposit I can charge?

In California, for an unfurnished unit, you can charge a maximum of 1.00 month's rent for the security deposit. For furnished units, it's 2.00 months' rent. This is a statewide cap.

Q4

Can I refuse to rent to someone who uses a housing voucher?

No, California has statewide source-of-income protection. You cannot refuse to rent to an applicant solely because they use a housing voucher or other forms of public assistance to pay rent. You must treat them the same as any other applicant regarding your screening criteria.

Q5

Should I use a lawyer for an eviction in Fort Hunter Liggett?

Absolutely. Given the complexity of California's landlord-tenant laws, the high costs of mistakes, and the lengthy timelines, attempting an eviction without an experienced attorney is a significant risk for an everyday landlord. The money saved upfront is almost always lost many times over in delays, legal fees for corrected mistakes, and lost rent.

Q6

What if my tenant damages the property beyond normal wear and tear?

You can deduct the costs of repairing damages beyond normal wear and tear from the security deposit. Make sure to document the condition of the property thoroughly with photos and videos before the tenant moves in and immediately after they move out. You must provide an itemized statement of deductions within 21 days of the tenant vacating.

===META_TITLE=== Fort Hunter Liggett Eviction Risk 4.6/10: CA Landlord Playbook ===META_DESC=== Fort Hunter Liggett's 4.6/10 eviction risk means 3-day notices, but 246-day timelines. Costs average $14K-$37K. Get the landlord's step-by-step guide. ===INTRO_HTML===

Owning rental property in Fort Hunter Liggett, CA (population 1,119) means operating under California’s tenant-friendly laws, even in a smaller community. Don't let the low population fool you. The eviction process here carries a 4.6/10 eviction risk score, placing it in the moderate tier. This isn't a "set it and forget it" market. Landlords need to be precise and proactive.

For an everyday landlord with a few units, this 4.6/10 score signals that while the legal framework is strict, tenant organizing strength (2.0/10) is low, and housing court bias (3.8/10) isn't excessively stacked against you compared to larger California cities. However, the process itself remains difficult (6.6/10), expensive, and lengthy. Understanding these nuances is key to protecting your investment here.

06Score

What this score means for landlords2

A 4.6/10 places Fort Hunter Liggett in the 16th percentile of California cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1–10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has risen sharply since 1976 — a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.