Anderson County, Kansas Eviction Risk: Very Low

Anderson County, Kansas earns a Low eviction risk score of 2.4/10, landing at rank 7 out of 105 Kansas counties - meaning only 6 counties in the state carry higher risk for landlords. With a total population of roughly 4,434 spread across 9 cities and an average monthly rent of $893, the county sits in the higher-risk third of Kansas despite its overall Low designation. That apparent contradiction reflects real cost pressure: renters here devote an average of 30.5% of their income to housing, a burden level that keeps eviction filings a live concern even in a small rural market.

Garnett is the county seat and by far the largest community, with 3,202 residents and a score of 2.5/10 - the highest in the county alongside Greeley and Lone Elm. Welda, at the other end of the range, scores 1.8/10, reflecting a smaller and somewhat more stable renter pool. Across the county, renters make up 31.3% of all households, and the poverty rate averages 10.5% - both figures that shape how quickly a missed rent payment can escalate. Landlords who work the Garnett market in particular should factor in that the county-high score there matches the county average only narrowly; a few additional economic shocks could push that number upward.

Kansas law governs the eviction process through K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq. (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Nonpayment of rent triggers a 3-day notice requirement before a landlord can file. Lease violation cases allow 14 days to cure, and no-cause terminations at end of term require 30 days. Once filed, court costs run $120 to $200 to initiate, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and attorney fees for contested matters typically fall between $500 and $2,500. An uncontested case resolves in roughly 21 to 45 days; a contested dispute can stretch 45 to 100 days. Kansas also state-preempts local rent control, so no city in Anderson County can impose a rent cap independent of state law - a meaningful structural advantage for landlords here compared to markets in states that permit local ordinances.

Scores range from 1.8/10 in Welda to 2.5/10 in Garnett, Greeley, and Lone Elm, reflecting the concentration of the county's renter population and rent-burden pressure in its larger communities.