Jewell County, Kansas Eviction Risk: Very Low

Jewell County sits in the north-central Kansas plains with a total population of 1,899 spread across 8 incorporated communities. The county carries an average eviction risk score of 1.9/10 - firmly in the Low tier and placing it 94th out of 105 Kansas counties when ranked from highest to lowest risk. That means 93 Kansas counties are more eviction-prone than Jewell, and only 11 statewide post lower scores. For landlords operating here, the environment is comparatively stable: low rents, modest tenant-side financial pressure, and a legal framework that moves quickly when eviction becomes necessary.

Rental housing in Jewell County is inexpensive by any regional measure. The average monthly rent is $611, and the average rent burden - the share of household income going toward rent - sits at 22.7%, well below the 30% threshold commonly used to flag housing stress. About 35.3% of residents are renters, a meaningful share for a rural county, while the average poverty rate of 14.6% is worth monitoring as a forward-looking indicator of potential payment difficulty. Mankato, the county seat and its largest city (pop. 925), scores a low 1.8/10, reflecting the relative stability of its rental stock. The city of Jewell (pop. 469) matches the county average at 1.9/10. At the higher end within the county, Randall and Ionia each score 2.3/10 - still firmly Low, but worth noting for landlords placing units in those communities.

Kansas landlord-tenant law governs all leases in Jewell County under K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq. (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). For non-payment of rent, landlords must serve a 3-day notice to pay or vacate before filing. Lease violations require a 14-day cure notice; month-to-month terminations require 30 days. Court filing fees run $120 to $200, with sheriff lockout fees adding $40 to $150. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested proceedings can extend to 100 days. Attorney fees for eviction work range from $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity. Kansas does not require just cause for non-renewal, and state law preempts any local rent control ordinance, so no city in Jewell County can cap rents independently. Source of income is not a protected class under Kansas law, so housing voucher holders carry no special screening protections here.

Scores across Jewell County's 8 cities range from a low of 1.7/10 in Webber to a high of 2.3/10 in both Randall and Ionia, a tight band that reflects consistent market and legal conditions throughout the county.