Tazewell County, Illinois Eviction Risk: Moderate

Tazewell County, Illinois eviction laws carries an average eviction-risk score of 4/10 (Moderate) across its 16 cities and roughly 106,594 residents. That Low rating reflects a county that is easier to operate in than 38 Illinois counties but still sits in the middle third of the state, meaning landlords here face a meaningful level of legal and economic friction. Average rent runs $952 per month, and the average rent-burden share is 26.6% of income, figures that point to a renter base under real financial pressure even if the overall risk picture remains moderate.

The intra-county score range spans 3.6 to 4.4, a half-point spread that is narrow but consequential. A landlord whose portfolio sits entirely in the lowest-rated corners of the county is operating in a materially different environment than one concentrated in the highest-rated cities. Choosing the right submarket within Tazewell County matters as much as choosing the county itself.

The cities inside Tazewell County

Hopedale carries the county's highest eviction-risk score at 4.4/10, making it the single most-elevated submarket in Tazewell County. Pekin, the county's largest city with a population of 31,781, scores 4/10, placing it in the same elevated tier alongside Tremont, Mackinaw, and Green Valley, all at 3.7/10. East Peoria (population 22,324) and Morton (population 16,595) each score 3.9/10, slightly below the county average. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here: a landlord purchasing in Marquette Heights, which scores 3.8/10 and is the county's lowest-risk city, is operating roughly half a full scoring point below Hopedale, a difference that shows up in collections, tenant stability, and vacancy cycles.

The larger cities such as Washington (population 15,919, score 3.6/10) and Creve Coeur (population 4,621, score 3.7/10) sit in the middle of the county's range, offering a balance between tenant-pool depth and manageable risk. Investors who want scale without the elevated pressure of Pekin or Hopedale often find these mid-tier cities a practical compromise.

State-level laws that apply here

Illinois state law under 735 ILCS 5/9 (Forcible Entry and Detainer) sets the procedural framework for every landlord in Tazewell County. For nonpayment of rent, Illinois requires a 5-day written notice before filing; a material lease violation triggers a 10-day notice; a month-to-month holdover requires 30 days. An uncontested case resolves in 30 to 60 days on average; a contested proceeding stretches to 60 to 150 days. Court filing fees run $200 to $400, sheriff lockout fees add $60 to $200, and attorney fees range from $750 to $3,500. Illinois does not require just cause for most evictions, and state law preempts local rent-control ordinances, meaning no city in Tazewell County can impose rent caps. Understanding the full Illinois eviction process from notice through lockout is critical before acquiring rental property here. Landlords should also review Illinois eviction costs carefully before budgeting for a potential removal, since attorney fees alone can dwarf court and sheriff costs.

With an average poverty rate of 9.7% and a renter share of 24.6%, Tazewell County's rental market is relatively owner-dominated, which helps keep vacancy pressure modest; the city-by-city grid above shows how widely conditions vary within those county averages.