Turner County, Georgia Eviction Risk: Low

Turner County sits in south-central Georgia with a population of 5,611 and an eviction risk score of 2.7/10 - a Low rating that places it 32nd out of 159 Georgia counties. That ranking means 31 counties in the state carry higher eviction pressure, and 127 are less risky for landlords. While the overall score is on the lower end, Turner County is still within the higher-risk third of Georgia, a distinction worth noting for landlords managing properties here.

The county's three incorporated places show a tight score range. Sycamore carries the highest risk at 2.8/10 despite its population of 1,096 - a reflection of higher renter concentration and poverty rates within that small market. Ashburn, the county seat and largest city with 4,231 residents, scores 2.7/10 and represents the bulk of the county's rental activity. Rebecca scores the lowest at 2.5/10 with 284 residents. Average rents across the county run $702 per month, well below Georgia's statewide average, which keeps nominal rent burden at 24.8% - a level that is manageable for many tenants. However, the county's 26.4% poverty rate is a meaningful counterweight: even at low rent levels, households near the poverty line are financially fragile, and a single income disruption can quickly trigger nonpayment.

Georgia landlord-tenant law operates under O.C.G.A. § 44-7 (Landlord and Tenant), and Turner County landlords operate entirely within this state framework - no city or county-level tenant protections exist here, and none can be enacted under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-19, which prohibits local rent control statewide. For nonpayment and material lease violations, Georgia requires just a 3-day notice under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-50. Holdover or no-cause terminations require 60 days notice under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7. Uncontested eviction proceedings typically resolve in 14 to 30 days; contested cases can run 45 to 90 days. Court filing fees range from $60 to $250, sheriff lockout fees from $25 to $100, and attorney fees from $500 to $3,000 depending on case complexity. Tenant habitability protections fall under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-13, and any retaliation claim against a landlord would be evaluated under O.C.G.A. § 44-7-24. With 48.4% of residents renting and poverty elevated at 26.4%, diligent tenant screening is the highest-leverage risk control available in this market.

Turner County's Low risk score reflects its modest rent levels and straightforward Georgia eviction laws state-law framework, though a 26.4% poverty rate and 48.4% renter share mean landlords should screen carefully and maintain reserves for contested cases.