Davis County, Iowa Eviction Risk: Low

Davis County, Iowa scores 2/10 (Low) on eviction risk, placing it among the most landlord-friendly markets in the state. With a rank of 94 out of 99 Iowa counties, only 5 counties are less risky, while 93 are riskier. For landlords and investors, that standing translates to a market where eviction pressure is low, renter demand is modest, and the fundamentals of buy-and-hold residential investment are relatively predictable. Average rent sits at $925 per month across the county's 4 incorporated cities, and the average rent burden is 24.2% of renter income, well below the threshold typically associated with high default and eviction rates.

The county's total population of 3,422 keeps the rental pool small, which means vacancies can take longer to fill but also that problem tenants are more visible and word travels fast. The intra-county score range, 1.6 to 2.1, is tight, confirming that risk is consistently low across Davis County rather than concentrated in one corner of it. For an investor focused on quiet, stable cash flow rather than aggressive appreciation, this market warrants a serious look.

The cities inside Davis County

Bloomfield anchors the county economically, with a population of 2,742 and the highest risk score in the county at 2.1/10. As the county seat and largest city, Bloomfield holds most of the rental inventory, so investors underwriting a Davis County portfolio will find the bulk of their opportunities, and essentially all of the county's tenant-base concentration, here. Even at 2.1, the score remains firmly in Low territory.

Pulaski scores 1.8/10 with a population of 403, while Floris comes in at 1.7/10 (population 128). The lowest risk in the county belongs to Drakesville at 1.6/10 (population 149). The spread from Drakesville to Bloomfield is only half a point, but the distinction matters at the property level: smaller communities carry thinner rental demand, and a single vacancy in Floris or Drakesville represents a much larger share of available units than it would in Bloomfield. Risk is hyper-local even in a low-risk county like this one.

State-level laws that apply here

Iowa eviction law is governed by Iowa Code § 562A (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law), which applies uniformly to every city and county in the state, including Davis County. For nonpayment of rent, the required notice period is 3 days. A lease-violation cure notice requires 7 days, and a no-cause end-of-term termination requires 30 days. Iowa landlords must give tenants 24 hours notice before entering the unit, under the same statute. Understanding the Iowa eviction process is essential before placing a tenant, because the timeline from first notice to possession can run 21 to 40 days on an uncontested case and 45 to 100 days if contested.

Iowa eviction costs are a real budget line: court filing fees range from $95 to $200, sheriff lockout fees from $50 to $150, and attorney fees from $500 to $2,500 if legal representation is needed. Iowa has no rent control, no just-cause eviction requirement, and state law preempts any local municipality from imposing rent caps, which gives landlords operating in Davis County a stable, predictable regulatory environment that is unlikely to shift at the city level.

With an average poverty rate of 8.5% and a renter share of 27.6% of households, Davis County's rental market is small but stable; review the city-level scores in the grid above to identify which of the 4 cities best fits your investment criteria.