Cheyenne County, Kansas Eviction Risk: Very Low

Cheyenne County sits in the far northwest corner of Kansas with a total population of 1,862 and just two incorporated rental markets: St. Francis (pop. 1,229, risk score 2/10) and Bird City (pop. 633, risk score 2.1/10). The county receives an average eviction risk score of 2/10 - a Low rating - and ranks 72nd out of 105 Kansas eviction laws counties, meaning 71 counties carry higher risk and only 33 are more landlord-friendly. That places Cheyenne firmly in the lower-risk third of the state, a position driven by modest rents, low rent burden, and a landlord-favorable state statute with no rent control of any kind.

The rental market here is small and relatively affordable. Average rent runs $649 per month, and the average rent burden sits at 18.4% of household income - well below the 30% threshold that typically signals financial stress for renters. Approximately 27.3% of households rent rather than own, which is typical for a rural Kansas eviction laws county of this size. The poverty rate averages 15.7%, a figure worth monitoring because elevated poverty can delay rent payments even in otherwise stable markets. Bird City carries the county's highest risk reading at 2.1/10, while St. Francis anchors the lower end at 2/10 - a very narrow spread that signals consistency across both communities.

Kansas landlords operating in Cheyenne County work under K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq. (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), a statute that is broadly favorable to property owners. Nonpayment of rent triggers a 3-day notice to pay or quit; a lease violation that can be cured requires a 14-day notice; and a no-cause end-of-term notice requires 30 days. Kansas does not require just cause for termination and does not permit local rent control ordinances - the state preempts all local rent regulation. An uncontested eviction typically resolves in 21 to 45 days, while a contested case can run 45 to 100 days. Court filing fees range from $120 to $200, sheriff lockout fees run $40 to $150, and attorney fees typically fall between $500 and $2,500 depending on case complexity. Habitability obligations fall under K.S.A. § 58-2553, and retaliation protections for tenants are governed by K.S.A. § 58-2572. Source-of-income discrimination is not a protected class under Kansas law, giving landlords broader screening discretion than in states like California or Illinois.

With only 1,862 residents and two small cities, Cheyenne County represents a very thin rental market where a handful of vacancies or delinquencies can shift local conditions quickly - the low risk score reflects structural stability, not immunity from individual property-level problems.