Pope County, Illinois Eviction Risk: Moderate

Pope County carries an average eviction-risk score of 3/10 (Low), placing it among the more landlord-accessible markets in Illinois eviction laws. Ranked 83rd of 102 Illinois counties, 82 counties statewide carry higher risk, while only 19 are considered lower-risk, putting Pope County comfortably in the lower-risk third of the state. For landlords and investors evaluating rural southern Illinois eviction laws, that positioning signals a market where regulatory friction is limited and tenant-turnover dynamics tend to be manageable.

The county's intra-market spread is narrow, running from 3/10 to 3.2/10 across its 2 incorporated cities, a range tight enough that no single pocket dramatically outperforms or underperforms the county average. Gross rents average $401 per month, and the average rent-burden rate sits at 18.7%, both figures that reflect the county's rural, low-cost character. Total population across both cities is 755, so absolute eviction volume will be low, but so will prospective tenant pools -- a factor worth weighing against the favorable regulatory climate.

The cities inside Pope County

Eddyville is the highest-risk city in the county at 3.2/10, though with a population of just 64 that score reflects a very small tenant base. Golconda, the county seat and by far the larger market with 691 residents, scores 3/10 -- matching the county floor. Both cities sit in similar risk territory, but Golconda's larger renter pool makes it the more realistic operating location for any landlord considering Pope County.

Even within a low-risk county, scores are hyper-local: a landlord operating exclusively in Eddyville faces slightly different tenant-demographics and payment dynamics than one in Golconda, even though the gap between them is modest.

State-level laws that apply here

Illinois eviction laws eviction process rules are set by 735 ILCS 5/9 (Forcible Entry and Detainer) and apply uniformly across Pope County. For nonpayment of rent, landlords must serve a 5-day notice before filing; a material lease violation requires a 10-day notice; and a month-to-month holdover requires 30 days. End-of-fixed-term leases require no additional notice under state law. Once filed, an uncontested case typically resolves in 30 to 60 days, while a contested matter can run 60 to 150 days. Illinois eviction costs can add up quickly: court filing fees range from $200 to $400, sheriff lockout fees from $60 to $200, and attorney fees typically from $750 to $3,500, so even a straightforward case carries real out-of-pocket exposure.

On the regulatory side, Illinois eviction laws does not require just-cause for eviction and state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, meaning no municipality in Pope County can impose rent caps. Illinois security deposit limits and Illinois tenant protections remain governed at the state level through the Illinois eviction laws Department of Human Rights and statutes including 765 ILCS 720/1 (retaliation) and 765 ILCS 742 (habitability). These frameworks are consistent with the low-friction environment the county's risk scores reflect.

With a poverty rate of 31.1% and a renter share of 41.2% across its cities, Pope County's tenant base carries real economic stress despite the favorable risk scores -- review the individual city scores above before committing to a specific location.