Pulaski County, Illinois Eviction Risk: Moderate

Pulaski County, Illinois scores 3.4/10 on the eviction-risk index, placing it in the Low risk tier and ranking 57th of 102 Illinois counties, meaning 56 counties carry more risk for landlords and 45 are considered friendlier. Across all 7 incorporated places in the county, individual city scores range from 3 to 3.6, a compact spread that signals broadly consistent operating conditions throughout this small, rural market. With a total estimated population of roughly 3,170 and an average rent of $652, Pulaski County is a deep-value market where returns depend heavily on tight tenant screening rather than rent-growth upside.

The county's average rent burden sits at 26% of renter income, which is below the stress threshold commonly associated with higher eviction rates. That figure offers some reassurance, though the 28.3% poverty rate is a counterweight landlords should price into vacancy and collections assumptions. On balance, the fundamentals here place Pulaski County in the middle third of Illinois by risk, a positioning that rewards disciplined operators rather than passive ones.

The cities inside Pulaski County

The highest-risk communities cluster at 3.6/10: Mounds (population 986, the county's largest city), Olmsted (population 249), and the city of Pulaski (population 218) all share that score. Karnak (population 466) and New Grand Chain (population 151) follow at 3.5/10. Even at the county's ceiling, a 3.6 remains a Low-tier score, so none of these cities push into genuinely difficult eviction territory by Illinois standards.

The most landlord-favorable end of the range belongs to Ullin at 3/10 (population 419) and Mound City at 3.2/10 (population 681). The 0.6-point spread between Ullin and Mounds underscores a key reality: even in a small, rural county, risk is hyper-local, and the city a landlord chooses within Pulaski County averageingfully shifts the operating profile.

State-level laws that apply here

Illinois eviction law, codified under 735 ILCS 5/9 (Forcible Entry and Detainer), governs every landlord in Pulaski 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 triggers a 30-day notice. Fixed-term lease expirations require no notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-205. The Illinois eviction process moves relatively quickly when uncontested, typically 30 to 60 days, but a contested case can extend to 60 to 150 days, a range that meaningfully affects carrying costs. Illinois imposes no just-cause eviction requirement, and state law preempts local rent-control ordinances, so no jurisdiction in the county can cap rents independently.

On the cost side, landlords should budget for court filing fees of $200 to $400, sheriff lockout fees of $60 to $200, and attorney fees typically ranging from $750 to $3,500, depending on complexity. Understanding Illinois eviction costs before a problem tenant arises is the single most effective way to avoid surprises. Tenant protections in Illinois also include source-of-income protections administered through the Illinois Department of Human Rights and anti-retaliation provisions under 765 ILCS 720/1, both of which are worth reviewing as part of a sound lease strategy. A thorough read of Illinois security deposit limits and Illinois tenant protections remains essential for any landlord operating in this state.

With 40.7% of county residents renting and a poverty rate of 28.3%, Pulaski County's low average score reflects restrained legal risk rather than strong economic fundamentals; the city-by-city grid above shows where within the county that risk concentrates.