Jefferson County, Indiana Eviction Risk: Low

Jefferson County, Indiana scores 3.5/10 (Low risk) on the eviction-risk scale, averaging across 7 incorporated places that together hold a total population of roughly 16,414. Among Indiana's 92 counties, Jefferson County sits at rank 35, meaning 34 counties carry higher eviction risk and 57 are considered less risky, placing this county squarely in the middle third of the state. For landlords and investors, that middle-ground position reflects a market that is broadly manageable, with average rents of $839 and an average rent burden of 28%, suggesting most tenants are not in a chronic payment crunch.

The intra-county risk range, from a low of 2.1 to a high of 3.5, is meaningful. A landlord operating in the county seat faces a meaningfully different risk profile than one holding a small-town rental a few miles away. Operating conditions here are stable relative to many Indiana markets, but the spread across cities underscores that portfolio location within the county still matters.

The cities inside Jefferson County

Madison, the county's largest city at a population of 12,223, carries the highest risk in the county at 3.5/10. As the commercial and population hub, Madison concentrates the tenant volume that drives most eviction activity. Hanover, with 3,554 residents, scores 3.4/10, a close second. Dupont comes in at 3.2/10, and Brooksburg at 3.1/10. These four represent the upper band of local risk.

The lower end of the county tells a different story. Canaan scores 2.5/10, Kent scores 2.4/10, and Deputy, the smallest community in the county at a population of just 37, scores 2.1/10. That 1.4-point gap between Madison and Deputy illustrates how hyper-local eviction risk is: two properties in the same county, a short drive apart, can sit in materially different operating environments. Investors weighing the smaller communities should weigh that lower risk against the thin tenant pools those markets offer.

State-level laws that apply here

Indiana state law, under Ind. Code § 32-31 (Landlord-Tenant Relations), sets the procedural floor for every landlord in Jefferson County. For nonpayment of rent, landlords must serve a 10-day notice under IC 32-31-1-6 before filing. Material lease violations require a 30-day cure or quit notice under IC 32-31-1-8, and terminating a month-to-month tenancy also requires 30 days under IC 32-31-1-1. Once filed, an uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 45 days; a contested matter can extend to 45 to 100 days. The full cost picture, detailed in the Indiana eviction costs guide, runs from a court filing fee of $150 to $200, a sheriff lockout fee of $50 to $200, and attorney fees ranging from $500 to $2,500 depending on case complexity.

Indiana does not require just cause to terminate a tenancy, and the state preempts local rent control ordinances, so no city within Jefferson County can impose its own cap. Understanding the Indiana eviction process from notice through lockout is essential for landlords who want to move efficiently when disputes arise. Indiana does not extend source-of-income protection to tenants, which preserves landlord screening flexibility under state law.

With a 14% average poverty rate and roughly 37.2% of residents renting, Jefferson County presents moderate tenant-turnover exposure, concentrated most heavily in Madison and Hanover; the city grid above breaks down each community's individual score so investors can calibrate at the level that actually matters.