Madison County, Iowa Eviction Risk: Low

Madison County carries an average eviction-risk score of 3.1/10 (Low) across its 7 cities, ranking 27th of 99 Iowa counties, where rank 1 is highest risk. That placement means 26 counties in Iowa eviction laws are riskier for landlords, but 72 are more landlord-friendly, putting Madison County in the higher-risk third of the state. Average rent runs $990 per month, the average rent-burden rate is 26.1%, and roughly 30.1% of residents are renters, a relatively modest renter pool that tends to limit the frequency of eviction situations compared to urban markets.

Scores within the county range from 2.4 to 3.4, a full point of variation that matters when selecting a specific city to invest in. Landlords operating here generally face favorable conditions by Iowa eviction laws standards, but the county's position in the upper third of state risk means the usual diligence on tenant screening and lease enforcement still pays dividends.

The cities inside Madison County

Winterset is the county seat and by far the largest city, with a population of 5,416 and the highest risk score in the county at 3.4/10. That score sits at the top of the local range and accounts for most of the county's renter population, so landlords concentrating holdings in Winterset should model conditions closer to the county ceiling than the average. Lorimor comes in second at 2.9/10, and Earlham, with a population of 1,528, scores 2.7/10, both sitting in a mid-county band that represents more moderate operating conditions.

The lowest-risk communities are St. Charles at 2.4/10 (population 914) and Truro at 2.5/10 (population 518). Risk here is genuinely hyper-local: a landlord choosing between Winterset and St. Charles is comparing two ends of a full point spread, which can translate to measurable differences in eviction frequency, vacancy, and tenant-quality outcomes. Investors should score each target city individually rather than relying on the county average alone.

State-level laws that apply here

All residential tenancies in Madison County are governed by Iowa Code § 562A (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law). For non-payment of rent, Iowa requires a 3-day notice before filing. Lease violations with an opportunity to cure require a 7-day notice, and a no-cause or end-of-term termination requires 30 days. Iowa does not require just cause for non-renewal, and the state preempts local rent control, so no city in Madison County can cap rents independently. Understanding the Iowa eviction process is essential before placing a first tenant: court filing fees run $95 to $200, sheriff lockout fees add $50 to $150, and attorney fees typically range from $500 to $2,500. An uncontested case resolves in 21 to 40 days; a contested matter can stretch to 45 to 100 days. Iowa eviction costs therefore span a wide band depending on whether the tenant disputes the action, which is the primary variable landlords should plan for when modeling worst-case holding costs.

With an average poverty rate of 9.7% and roughly 30.1% of residents renting, Madison County presents a contained but real risk profile; the city-level grid above breaks that picture down to the individual market level where investment decisions are actually made.