Valley County, Idaho Eviction Risk: Very Low

Valley County sits in central Idaho's mountain interior, home to roughly 5,276 residents spread across four incorporated places. It carries an eviction risk score of 2.2/10 - rated Low - and ranks 9th riskiest among Idaho's 44 counties, meaning only 8 counties in the state post higher scores. That places Valley County in the upper third of Idaho's risk distribution, a position worth noting for landlords and tenants alike given the relatively thin rental market here.

The county's largest city, McCall (population 3,946), scores 2.2/10 and accounts for the overwhelming share of the county's rental housing. Cascade is the riskiest city at 2.3/10 and holds 1,118 residents; Donnelly comes in at 2.1/10 with 195 people, and Yellow Pine - a remote mountain community of just 17 - scores the county's lowest at 1.6/10. The narrow spread from 1.6 to 2.3 across all four cities reflects a consistently low-risk profile with little internal variation. Average rent across the county is $1,078 per month, and the average rent burden sits at 31.9% of renter income - a figure that edges above the common 30% affordability threshold and signals that a meaningful portion of Valley County renters are already stretched. Renters make up 27.8% of occupied housing units, and the average poverty rate runs at 24.5%, which is elevated relative to Idaho's general profile and suggests financial fragility for a substantial share of the rental population.

Idaho's landlord-tenant framework is governed by Idaho Code § 6-301 et seq. (Forcible Entry and Detainer). The state requires a 3-day notice for non-payment of rent and lease violations before a landlord can file in court; no-cause terminations require a 30-day notice. Idaho has no rent control and, critically, the state preempts local governments from enacting rent caps - no city or county in Idaho can impose rent control independently. There is no just-cause eviction requirement, meaning landlords are not obligated to state a reason when issuing a no-cause notice. Court filing fees run $160 to $260, sheriff lockout fees from $30 to $120, and attorney costs typically range from $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested proceedings can stretch from 45 to 120 days. Retaliation and habitability protections for tenants fall under Idaho Code § 6-320, and fair housing complaints are handled by the Idaho Human Rights Commission. Source-of-income is not a protected class in Idaho, meaning landlords may lawfully decline housing voucher holders. For landlords operating in Valley County, the legal environment is comparatively straightforward - short notice timelines, no rent cap exposure, and a relatively fast court process when disputes remain uncontested.

Valley County's Low score reflects Idaho eviction laws's landlord-favorable statutes and a small, spread-out rental market anchored in McCall eviction risk; the above-30% rent burden and 24.5% poverty rate are the primary stress indicators worth tracking here.