Guthrie County, Iowa Eviction Risk: Low

Guthrie County, Iowa scores 2.4/10 on the eviction-risk scale, a Low rating that places it among the more landlord-friendly counties in the state. At rank 73 of 99 Iowa counties, 72 counties carry higher risk, and only 26 are calmer operating environments. Across all 8 cities in the county, landlords encounter a market characterized by modest renter demand, a 18.9% renter share, and an average rent of $906, conditions that tend to support stable collections relative to higher-density Iowa markets.

The intra-county spread runs from 2.2/10 to 2.7/10, a range narrow enough to suggest consistent conditions throughout the county, yet wide enough that city selection still matters at the margin. With a county-wide average rent burden of 32.6% and a poverty rate of 12.6%, the fundamentals point to a workable but not frictionless landlord environment, one where rent collections are generally achievable and court proceedings are the exception rather than the routine.

The cities inside Guthrie County

Panora carries the highest risk score in the county at 2.7/10, and with a population of 1,579 it is also the second-largest city. That combination, meaningful population and the county's peak risk reading, means landlords in Panora should expect the widest exposure to potential payment stress, even though 2.7/10 remains objectively low on a statewide basis. Yale, Casey, and Bagley each score 2.4/10, putting them at the county average and representing a mid-tier within an already low-risk setting.

At the opposite end, Lake Panorama posts the county's lowest score at 2.2/10 with a population of 928. Guthrie Center, the county seat and largest city at 1,689 residents, scores 2.3/10, just a notch above the floor. The practical takeaway: risk is hyper-local even within a quiet county, and an investor comparing Panora to Lake Panorama or Guthrie Center is looking at meaningfully different tenant-pool profiles despite a half-point score difference.

State-level laws that apply here

Iowa's landlord-tenant framework, governed by Iowa Code § 562A (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law), gives owners relatively efficient tools for problem tenancies. For nonpayment of rent, the required notice period is just 3 days. A lease-violation cure notice requires 7 days, while a no-cause end-of-term notice runs 30 days. Understanding the full Iowa eviction process is essential before acquiring any rental property here, because the difference between an uncontested and a contested case is significant: uncontested proceedings typically resolve in 21 to 40 days, while a contested case can extend to 45 to 100 days.

Iowa eviction costs break down across three fee categories: court filing fees run $95 to $200, sheriff lockout fees add $50 to $150, and attorney fees range from $500 to $2,500 depending on case complexity. Iowa does not require just cause for non-renewal, and state law preempts local rent control ordinances, so no municipality in the county can impose rent caps. Landlords must provide 24 hours notice before entry. Iowa security deposit limits and tenant protections beyond the habitability standard at Iowa Code § 562A.15 are worth reviewing before signing any new lease.

With a poverty rate of 12.6% and only 18.9% of households renting, Guthrie County's rental pool is small and relatively stable; review the city grid above to compare individual scores before committing to a specific market within the county.