Kiowa County, Colorado Eviction Risk: Low

Kiowa County sits in the far southeast corner of Colorado's High Plains, and by every measure in our dataset it is the lowest-risk county in the state - ranking 64th of 64 Colorado counties, where rank 1 is highest risk. With a county-wide average eviction risk score of 3.2/10, landlords here operate in an environment shaped more by thin rental market depth than by aggressive tenant-protection law. The county's total population of 926 residents is spread across five small communities, and the rental stock is correspondingly modest - only about 26.7% of households rent, against a statewide figure that runs considerably higher.

The county seat, Eads (population 677), accounts for the bulk of rental activity and carries a score of 3.2/10, matching the county average. McClave (population 128) also scores 3.2/10. The highest individual score in the county belongs to Brandon, a tiny community of 8 residents that registers a 4/10 - Low risk by any standard but worth noting for landlords who concentrate units there. Sheridan Lake scores 3.5/10 and Haswell comes in at the county's low end, 3.1/10. The range from 3.1 to 4 is narrow, which means conditions are consistent across the county rather than concentrated in one hotspot.

Average rent across Kiowa County is $817/month, and renters carry an average rent burden of 22.5% of income - below the 30% threshold that housing researchers use to flag affordability stress. The average poverty rate sits at 7.8%, relatively low. These figures together point to a rental market where most tenants are paying within their means, reducing the structural pressure that drives eviction filings in higher-risk markets. Still, landlords should remain current on Colorado's statewide eviction framework. Under C.R.S. § 38-12, Colorado now requires just cause for eviction, and HB24-1098 imposes a 90-day notice for no-fault terminations such as owner move-in or renovation - a meaningful lead time even in a rural county where informal arrangements have historically been common. A nonpayment-of-rent case triggers a 10-day demand notice under C.R.S. 13-40-104(1)(d), while a substantial violation (such as a safety threat) can be resolved on a compressed 3-day notice under C.R.S. 13-40-107.5. Court filing fees in Colorado run $105 to $200, and uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested matters can extend to 60 to 120 days. Attorney fees for a full eviction defense range from $750 to $3,500 depending on complexity. Colorado also protects source of income under state fair housing law, administered by the Colorado Civil Rights Division, so refusing a voucher-holding tenant is not a permissible screening basis statewide.

Kiowa County's Low risk rating reflects a combination of below-average rent burden (22.5%), a small renter share of 26.7%, and a poverty rate of 7.8% - all of which reduce the conditions that typically drive eviction filing rates upward in other parts of Colorado eviction laws.