Montgomery County, Iowa Eviction Risk: Low

Montgomery County carries a county average eviction-risk score of 3.1/10 (Low), placing it in the higher-risk third of Iowa, ranked 26 of 99 counties statewide. That ranking means 25 Iowa eviction laws counties carry more risk and 73 are more landlord-friendly, so landlords here are operating in a market that leans riskier than most of the state. Across the county's 5 cities, scores range from 2.5 to 3.3, a relatively tight band that still translates into meaningful differences in tenant-pool stability depending on which community you own property in.

The broader operating picture adds context. Average rent sits at $789 per month against an average rent burden of 34.4% of household income, meaning a substantial share of renters in Montgomery County are cost-stressed. A poverty rate of 15% and a renter share of 36% of occupied units round out a profile that calls for careful tenant screening and consistent lease enforcement, even at scores that nominally read as Low.

The cities inside Montgomery County

Red Oak, the county seat and by far the largest community at roughly 5,510 residents, posts the highest risk score in the county at 3.3/10. That score still qualifies as Low on the national scale, but Red Oak sits meaningfully above the smaller towns around it. Stanton, with about 522 residents, comes in at 2.7/10, and Coburg at 2.6/10.

At the lower end, Villisca (1,048 residents, 2.5/10) and Elliott (420 residents, 2.5/10) share the county's lowest risk reading. The 0.8-point spread between Red Oak and those two communities is a reminder that eviction risk is hyper-local. A landlord owning units in Red Oak faces a meaningfully different operating environment than one in Villisca, even though both markets sit within the same county boundaries.

State-level laws that apply here

Under Iowa eviction laws Code § 562A (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Law), landlords in Montgomery County must serve a 3-day notice for non-payment of rent, a 7-day cure notice for lease violations, and a 30-day notice to terminate at end of term with no cause. Understanding the Iowa eviction laws eviction process end-to-end matters here: uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 40 days, while contested matters can run 45 to 100 days. Filing fees range from $95 to $200, sheriff lockout fees from $50 to $150, and attorney fees from $500 to $2,500 when counsel is retained, so even a single eviction can cost several hundred to several thousand dollars when all components are tallied.

Iowa eviction laws imposes no rent control and no just-cause eviction requirement, and state law preempts any local jurisdiction from enacting rent caps. Reviewing Iowa eviction costs and Iowa tenant protections before finalizing lease terms will help landlords stay compliant and minimize exposure. Landlords must give 24 hours notice before entry. There is no source-of-income protection under Iowa eviction laws state law, though federal fair housing rules still apply through the Iowa eviction laws Civil Rights Commission.

With 15% of residents at or near the poverty line and renters making up 36% of occupied units, income fragility is real across Montgomery County. The city-by-city grid above breaks down scores for all 5 communities so landlords can compare risk at the address level before committing capital.