Jones County, Iowa Eviction Risk: Low

Jones County, Iowa eviction laws carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.6/10 (Low) across 10 tracked cities, placing it at rank 38 of 99 Iowa counties, meaning 37 counties are riskier and 61 are less risky. For landlords and investors, that position in the middle third of the state translates to a market where tenant-payment instability and eviction frequency are below the Iowa eviction laws norm, but not negligible. With an average rent of $865 and an average rent burden of 28.2%, most renters here are not deeply cost-pressed, which supports relatively stable tenancy patterns compared with higher-risk Iowa markets.

The intra-county spread of 2.1 to 3.2/10 is narrow, which means risk is fairly consistent across the county rather than concentrated in one pocket. Still, that full-point gap matters at the portfolio level: a landlord choosing between Jones County's lowest-risk and highest-risk communities faces meaningfully different operating environments. The county's total population of 12,583 and a renter share of 27.6% reflect a small, predominantly owner-occupied rural market, so vacancy absorption and tenant-pool depth deserve attention before scaling up.

The cities inside Jones County

At the higher end of county risk, Anamosa, the county's largest city at 5,629 residents, scores 3/10, matching the county maximum. Olin (population 830) and Martelle (population 457) also score 2.8/10, as does the riskiest tier generally. Oxford Junction and Onslow each score 2.5/10. These communities, though small, carry the most concentrated tenant-side pressure within Jones County, and landlords buying there should underwrite for slightly tighter cash flow relative to the county average.

On the lower-risk end, Monticello, the county's second-largest city at 4,071 residents, scores 2.6/10, making it the most landlord-favorable sizable market in the county. Monticello, the county's lowest-scoring city, reaches 2.1/10, well below the county average. Wyoming scores 3/10. The spread between Stone City and Anamosa illustrates how hyper-local risk is even in a compact rural county: city-level scores, not county averages, should drive unit-by-unit acquisition decisions.

State-level laws that apply here

All Jones County landlords operate under Iowa Code § 562A (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law). For non-payment of rent, state law requires a 3-day notice before filing; lease violations requiring a chance to cure carry a 7-day notice; no-cause or end-of-term terminations require 30 days. Understanding the Iowa eviction process fully is essential before acting, because missteps on notice type or timing restart the clock. Iowa does not require just cause for eviction and the state preempts any local rent-control ordinance, giving landlords statewide uniformity on those fronts.

On the cost side, the Iowa eviction costs landlords face range from court filing fees of $95 to $200, plus sheriff lockout fees of $50 to $150, plus attorney fees of $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity. An uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 40 days; a contested one can stretch 45 to 100 days. Landlords who want to understand Iowa security deposit limits and Iowa tenant protections before signing their next lease will find that advance preparation, not reactive filings, keeps those costs at the low end of the range.

With a county-wide poverty rate of 14.3% and renters making up roughly 27.6% of households, Jones County is a small but stable rural rental market; use the city grid above to compare individual community scores before committing to any specific acquisition.