Vermilion County, Illinois Eviction Risk: Moderate

Vermilion County, Illinois eviction laws carries an average eviction risk score of 5.2/10, placing it in the Moderate tier across its 19 cities. That average, however, understates the operating environment: only 5 of Illinois's 102 counties score higher, putting Vermilion in the higher-risk third of the state. Landlords and investors entering this market should treat that statewide ranking as a meaningful signal, not a technicality.

The intra-county score range runs from 4.8 to 5.3, a relatively narrow band that tells a consistent story: conditions are moderately challenging county-wide, with no pocket of the market offering meaningfully lower risk. The average rent of $841 and a rent burden rate of 28.6% suggest tenants are stretched but not overwhelmed, which tends to correlate with sporadic rather than chronic eviction pressure. Still, a 20.4% poverty rate is a real underwriting variable that investors should factor into vacancy and collections assumptions.

The cities inside Vermilion County

Danville is the county seat and by far the largest city, with a population of 28,595 and the highest risk score in the county at 5.3/10. Because Danville accounts for the bulk of the county's rental stock, its score effectively anchors the county average. Operators concentrating units in Danville should plan for conditions at the higher end of the county range.

Hoopeston and Westville both score 5.2/10, with populations of 5,034 and 3,419 respectively. Georgetown, Tilton, Catlin, Rossville, and Fairmount each come in at 5.1/10, representing the lower end of the risk range within the county. Oakwood, at a score of 5/10, is the most landlord-friendly market in the dataset. The spread between the highest and lowest scores is only 0.3 points, which means risk here is more uniform than hyper-local, but individual city pages still carry distinct demand, vacancy, and collections profiles worth reviewing before committing capital.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Vermilion County operates under Illinois state law, specifically 735 ILCS 5/9 (Forcible Entry and Detainer). For nonpayment of rent, the required notice period is 5 days. A material lease violation triggers a 10-day notice, and a month-to-month holdover requires 30 days. An uncontested eviction typically resolves in 30 to 60 days; a contested case can stretch to 60 to 150 days. Court filing fees run $200 to $400, sheriff lockout fees add $60 to $200, and attorney fees typically range from $750 to $3,500, making total out-of-pocket costs variable but potentially significant. The Illinois eviction process is procedurally strict, and missteps on notice timing or documentation frequently reset the clock.

Illinois does not require just cause for eviction in standard residential tenancies, and the state preempts local rent control ordinances, so Vermilion County landlords face no local rent caps. Illinois security deposit limits are governed at the state level, and landlords should review those rules carefully before collecting or applying deposits. Source-of-income status is a protected class under the Illinois Department of Human Rights, which affects how landlords may screen applicants. Retaliation protections are codified under 765 ILCS 720/1. For a full breakdown of fee components and timelines, see Illinois eviction costs.

With a renter share of 35% and a poverty rate of 20.4%, Vermilion County's rental market carries real credit risk alongside its moderate eviction scores; the city grid above breaks down conditions for each of the 19 cities in the county.