Perry County, Indiana Eviction Risk: Very Low

Perry County earns an average eviction-risk score of 2/10 (Low) across its 4 incorporated places, making it one of the most landlord-stable markets in Indiana eviction laws. With 90 of the state's 92 counties carrying a higher score, operators here face a fundamentally different environment than they would in most of the state: lower litigation pressure, more predictable cash flow, and an average rent of $687 that reflects a modest but functional rental market. The county's average rent-burden figure of 27.2% of income suggests renters are not, on average, stretched to the breaking point, which reduces the conditions that typically drive eviction filings.

The intra-county spread runs from 1.8 to 2.7, a range that is narrow in absolute terms but still meaningful to a landlord choosing between submarkets. The lowest-risk city sits well below even this already-low county average, while the highest-risk city edges closer to moderate territory. Across the county's 9,667 total residents, the renter share stands at 36.6%, confirming a real rental market worth serving.

The cities inside Perry County

Tell City anchors the county's rental market with a population of 7,505 and the lowest risk score in Perry County at 1.8/10. For landlords who want the most stable operating environment this county offers, Tell City is the clear first choice. It accounts for the large majority of the county's renters and sets the floor for what low eviction risk looks like locally.

Cannelton, with 1,404 residents, carries the highest risk score in the county at 2.7/10. While that number remains low in an absolute sense, it is meaningfully higher than Tell City and warrants tighter tenant screening. Troy (2.3/10, population 608) and Leopold (2.2/10, population 150) sit in the middle range. The spread illustrates a pattern that holds across Indiana: risk is hyperlocal, and two communities separated by a few miles can post materially different profiles. Landlords should evaluate each city on its own figures rather than assuming the county average applies uniformly.

State-level laws that apply here

All Perry County landlords operate under Indiana state law, specifically Ind. Code § 32-31 (Landlord-Tenant Relations). For nonpayment of rent, the required notice period is 10 days under IC 32-31-1-6. A material lease violation requires a 30-day notice under IC 32-31-1-8, and terminating a month-to-month tenancy also requires 30 days under IC 32-31-1-1. Indiana does not require just cause for non-renewal, and the state preempts local rent-control ordinances, so no city in Perry County can impose a rent cap. Understanding the Indiana eviction process is therefore straightforward by landlord-state standards, with no layered local rules to navigate.

On costs, the Indiana eviction costs for a filing run $150 to $200 in court fees, with sheriff lockout fees of $50 to $200 and attorney fees ranging $500 to $2,500 depending on whether the case is contested. An uncontested eviction typically resolves in 21 to 45 days; a contested case can extend to 45 to 100 days. Planning for the high end of those ranges is prudent when underwriting any Perry County rental investment.

With a poverty rate of 19.3% and a renter share of 36.6%, Perry County carries underlying economic pressure that landlords should weigh against its low average risk score; review the city grid above to identify which specific markets fit your screening and return thresholds.