In court-decided eviction outcomes for Grayville, IL, tenants prevail in roughly 39.5% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
115d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Grayville, IL until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 115 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$5.6–13.8k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Grayville, IL costs landlords $5,633 to $13,753 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$677
20% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Grayville, IL is $677 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 20% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
28.4%
of households
28.4% of occupied housing units in Grayville, IL are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
32.1%
6.9% unemp.
32.1% of Grayville, IL residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 6.9%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +71.1% (2024)
2.4
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
2.4
State political climate
Illinois legislature & governorship
5.2
Economic stress
32.1% poverty · 6.9% unemp.
8.5
Supply constraint
$677 average · 28.4% renters
4.8
Rent Control risk
20.4% of income on rent
2.3
Eviction process difficulty
115 days filing → judgment
4.7
Tenant organizing strength
28.4% renters
7.2
Housing court bias
County bench composition
5.8
Geographic context
Risk heat across Grayville and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Grayville compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Edwards County
Moderate
#4of 6 cities
#4 of 6 cities in Edwards County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Illinois
Low
#982of 1,456 cities
#982 of 1,456 cities in Illinois for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
3.9
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 3.9/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a sharp climb.
50-yr trend+2.0 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steepening since 2010 · COVID inflection visible
115d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $677/mo. A contested eviction takes 115 days and costs $5,633–$13,753 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
28.4%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 1,590 residents, 28.4% rent. 20% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 32.1% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
2.4
Local + regional
The politics
Light-statute interior market.
Local & regional political climate score 2.4 and 2.4 (GOP margin +71.1% (2024)). State climate at 5.2, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
5.2
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 5.2/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 4.7, housing court bias 5.8, rent-control risk 2.3. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-0.3 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
8.5
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the real risk.
Economic stress: 8.5. Supply constraint: 4.8. The numbers behind those: 32.1% poverty, 6.9% unemployment, 20% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Grayville sits in the slow & expensive quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Grayville · 115d · ~$9.7k all-in ($84/day) · score 3.9National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Grayville, Illinois, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 3.9/10 (LOW 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.
Grayville is a city of 1,590 residents where 28.4% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 20.4% of income on rent. At an average rent of $677/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 Grayville eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 4.7/10, 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 Grayville closes 115 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 Grayville's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 5.8/10 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 Grayville runs $5,633 to $13,753 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 115 days of typical timeline and $677/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 7.2/10 in Grayville, and the city has limited rent control exposure (2.3/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 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 Illinois, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them 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 Grayville: 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 LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since 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 Illinois's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $13,753 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Grayville
Trap · 2.3/10
The 3.6/10 score weighs nine sub-factors including political climate, court bias, supply constraint, and tenant organizing strength. Grayville's rent-control-risk sub-score is 2.3/10, driven by state preemption and market dynamics.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
What if my tenant only pays part of the rent after I give a 5-day notice?
If you accept a partial payment after issuing a 5-day pay-or-quit notice, you generally waive your right to evict based on that specific notice. You'll likely have to issue a new 5-day notice for the remaining balance. This is a common trap. It's usually best to demand full payment or none at all, unless you have a written agreement specifying how a partial payment affects the notice and future payments.
Q2
Can I evict a tenant in Grayville without a reason?
For a month-to-month tenancy, yes, you can typically terminate the tenancy without a specific "just cause" by providing a proper 30-day notice. However, you cannot evict for discriminatory reasons or in retaliation for a tenant exercising their legal rights. Illinois does not have statewide "just-cause" eviction requirements, but always consult local ordinances to ensure no specific rules apply to your property. Also, be aware of Illinois tenant protections, including source-of-income laws.
Q3
How long does it really take to get a tenant out once I file in court?
The typical timeline for an eviction in Grayville, from serving the initial notice to getting the tenant out, is about 115 days. This isn't just court time; it includes the notice period, court scheduling, judgment, and the time the sheriff gives the tenant to vacate. If the tenant fights the eviction, it can take significantly longer.
Q4
Do I need a lawyer for an eviction in Edwards County?
While you can legally represent yourself in an eviction case, it is highly recommended to hire an attorney, especially once you file in court. Eviction law is complex, and even small procedural errors can lead to delays or dismissal of your case. An attorney specializing in landlord-tenant law will ensure all notices are correct, court filings are proper, and your case is presented effectively, saving you time and money in the long run.
Q5
What are the rules for late fees in Illinois?
Illinois law allows landlords to charge reasonable late fees, but they must be clearly stated in the lease agreement. While there's no statewide cap, courts generally consider a late fee of $20 or 20% of the monthly rent (whichever is greater) per month as reasonable. Excessive late fees can be challenged in court. Always make sure your lease specifies the exact amount and when it applies.
Q6
Can I refuse to rent to someone who uses a Section 8 voucher in Grayville?
No. Illinois has statewide source-of-income protection. This means you cannot refuse to rent to a prospective tenant solely because they use a Section 8 voucher or other lawful source of income. You must apply your normal screening criteria to all applicants, regardless of their income source. For more information, see our Illinois rent control rules and Illinois tenant protections guides, which often touch on these aspects.
A 3.9/10 places Grayville in the 36th percentile of Illinois cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 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.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Grayville (3.9/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
