Chase County, Kansas Eviction Risk: Very Low

Chase County, Kansas is one of the least populated and lowest-risk counties for landlords in the state, covering the tallgrass prairie of the Flint Hills with just 1,646 residents spread across five communities. The county holds an eviction risk score of 2/10 (Low) and ranks 77th out of 105 Kansas eviction laws counties - meaning 76 counties carry more risk and only 28 are more landlord-friendly. That places Chase County comfortably in the lower-risk third of Kansas eviction laws, a state that already leans strongly toward landlord-side protections under K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq. (the Kansas eviction laws Residential Landlord and Tenant Act).

The two largest communities are Cottonwood Falls (population 1,041, score 1.9/10) and Strong City (population 488, score 2.2/10), which together account for nearly all of the county's renters. Cottonwood Falls is the county seat and the economic hub of the area; Strong City, just across the Cottonwood River, draws some rental demand from employees tied to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The remaining three communities - Elmdale (score 2/10), Matfield Green (score 2.4/10), and Cedar Point (score 1.8/10) - are very small, with combined populations well under 120 people. Matfield Green carries the county's highest individual score at 2.4/10, though even that sits well below state and national averages for landlord risk. Cedar Point, at 1.8/10, is the county's easiest market for landlords. Across all five cities, scores range from a low of 1.8 to a high of 2.4 - an unusually tight band that reflects the county's uniform low-density, low-tension rental market.

Average rent across Chase County is $735 per month, well below Kansas urban benchmarks and affordable relative to local incomes. The average rent burden sits at 25.5% of household income - below the commonly cited 30% threshold at which housing costs are considered unaffordable - which limits the financial stress that typically drives tenant-landlord conflicts. Only 22.8% of Chase County residents rent their homes, a low renter share consistent with rural Kansas ownership patterns. The average poverty rate of 17.8% is a meaningful figure for landlords to note: while the risk score is low, a sizable minority of renters may face payment challenges in a down year. Kansas statutes give landlords strong tools to respond quickly - a 3-day notice for non-payment under K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq., a 14-day cure period for lease violations, and an uncontested eviction timeline of roughly 21 to 45 days from filing. Court filing fees range from $120 to $200 and sheriff lockout fees from $40 to $150, keeping enforcement costs low. Kansas also state-preempts local rent control, so no municipality in Chase County can impose rent caps or additional just-cause requirements beyond state law.

Chase County's low eviction risk reflects a stable, low-density rural rental market with limited regulatory burden, an average rent of $735/month, and a renter share of just 22.8% across five small Flint Hills communities.