Benton County, Indiana Eviction Risk: Very Low

Benton County, Indiana scores 2.6/10 on the eviction-risk index, placing it in the Low risk category and ranking 67th out of 92 Indiana counties. That rank means 66 counties in the state carry higher risk for landlords, and only 25 are rated less risky, putting Benton County comfortably in the lower-risk third of Indiana. For a rural county of roughly 5,513 residents, that profile reflects modest tenant-side stress: an average rent of $735, a rent-burden rate of 31.3%, and a renter share of just 22%. Demand for rentals is limited but stable, and the absence of meaningful tenant-protection ordinances at the local level keeps operating conditions predictable.

Across all 7 cities tracked inside the county, scores range from 1.8 to 2.8, a full point of variation that matters when screening a specific submarket. The county-wide average of 2.6/10 is a useful starting point, but investors focusing on a single community will want to look at city-level data before drawing conclusions about tenant-turnover exposure or eviction likelihood.

The cities inside Benton County

The highest-risk city in the county is Fowler, the county seat, which scores 2.8/10 and is home to roughly 2,360 residents, making it by far the largest community in the county. Oxford, with a population of 1,113, follows at 2.7/10. Both communities sit at the upper end of the county range, and landlords operating there should be aware that a slightly higher concentration of renters relative to the rest of the county contributes to those scores. Goodland checks in at 2.6/10, matching the county average, while Earl Park scores 2.5/10.

At the lower end of the range, Boswell scores 2.2/10 and Raub 2.4/10. Templeton, with a population of just 15, posts the county's lowest score at 1.8/10, though its rental market is effectively negligible in size. The takeaway is that even within a low-risk county, the difference between Fowler and Templeton represents a meaningful divergence in operating conditions, and risk in Benton County is genuinely hyper-local.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Benton County operates under Indiana state law, specifically Ind. Code § 32-31 (Landlord-Tenant Relations). For nonpayment of rent, Indiana requires a 10-day notice to the tenant before filing (IC 32-31-1-6). A material lease violation triggers a 30-day notice (IC 32-31-1-8), and terminating a month-to-month tenancy also requires 30 days (IC 32-31-1-1). Indiana does not require just cause for eviction, and the state preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so no municipality inside Benton County can impose a rent cap. Understanding the full Indiana eviction process, including those notice requirements, is essential before serving any tenant.

Once a case is filed, costs add up quickly. Court filing fees run $150 to $200, sheriff lockout fees run $50 to $200, and attorney fees typically fall in the range of $500 to $2,500, depending on whether the tenant contests the case. Uncontested matters resolve in roughly 21 to 45 days; contested cases can stretch 45 to 100 days. Indiana eviction costs are manageable compared to many states, but even an uncontested filing in Benton County can clear $700 in out-of-pocket expenses before attorney time is counted. Indiana security deposit limits and other tenant-side rules are governed by the same chapter of the code and should be reviewed before any new lease is signed.

With a poverty rate of 14.6% and renters making up just 22% of households, Benton County's rental market is small but lower-stress than most of Indiana eviction laws; use the city grid above to pinpoint which of the county's 7 communities best fits your investment criteria.