Decatur County, Iowa Eviction Risk: Low

Decatur County, Iowa scores 3.1/10 on the eviction risk index, a low rating that places it at rank 74 of 99 Iowa counties. That standing means 73 counties carry higher eviction risk, and only 25 are more landlord-friendly, putting Decatur County comfortably in the lower-risk third of the state. For landlords and investors evaluating a rural Iowa market with a total population of roughly 5,061, that risk profile is broadly encouraging: average rent runs $622 per month, rent burden sits at 23.1% of income, and conditions across most of the county's 9 cities reflect the stable, low-turnover character typical of small southern Iowa communities.

Scores across the county span a relatively tight band, from a low of 1.8 to a high of 2.6, which means even the riskiest corners of Decatur County stay well below the state average for eviction pressure. Operators used to higher-risk urban markets in Iowa will find the dynamics here considerably quieter, though the county's 40.2% renter share is worth noting: a meaningful portion of the population rents, so vacancy and tenant-quality decisions still carry real weight at the property level.

The cities inside Decatur County

Leon, the county's second-largest city at 1,899 residents, carries the highest score in the county at 3.4/10, making it the most risk-elevated location for landlords operating here. Grand River follows at 4/10. Both scores remain low in absolute terms, but investors concentrating their portfolios in Leon specifically should account for slightly elevated tenant-turnover and eviction frequency compared to county averages.

Lamoni, the largest city in Decatur County with 2,207 residents, scores 3.1/10, a more comfortable baseline for buy-and-hold operators. Garden Grove, at a population of 171, posts the lowest score in the county at 3.1/10, reflecting the minimal eviction activity typical of very small rural communities. Risk is meaningfully hyper-local even within a low-scoring county: a landlord in Leon faces a noticeably different operating environment than one a few miles away in Garden Grove or Decatur city (score: 3.1/10).

State-level laws that apply here

Every rental in Decatur County operates under Iowa Code § 562A (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law). For nonpayment of rent, Iowa requires a 3-day notice before filing; a lease violation with the right to cure triggers a 7-day notice; and a no-cause end-of-term termination requires 30 days. Iowa does not require just cause to end a tenancy, and the state preempts local rent control ordinances, so no city within Decatur County can impose rent caps. Landlords planning to understand the full timeline before acting should review the Iowa eviction process, which runs roughly 21 to 40 days for an uncontested case and 45 to 100 days if contested.

On the cost side, Iowa eviction costs include a court filing fee of $95 to $200, a sheriff lockout fee of $50 to $150, and attorney fees that typically range from $500 to $2,500 depending on case complexity. Iowa security deposit limits and the broader framework governing tenant remedies, habitability (Iowa Code § 562A.15), and retaliation protections (Iowa Code § 562A.36) are enforced statewide and apply equally in Decatur County. Fair housing complaints in Iowa are handled by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.

With a poverty rate of 12.3% and a renter share of 40.2%, Decatur County presents a manageable risk environment for patient operators; the city-by-city scores in the grid above show where within the county conditions are tightest and where they are most relaxed.