Marion County, Kansas Eviction Risk: Very Low

Marion County sits in the Flint Hills region of central Kansas with a total population of 7,285 spread across 13 municipalities. The county carries an eviction risk score of 2/10 - a Low rating that places it at rank 73 out of 105 Kansas counties, meaning 72 counties in the state carry higher risk. For landlords, that positioning in the lower-risk third of Kansas reflects an environment where state law leans toward straightforward, predictable proceedings and where market rents stay well below statewide urban averages.

The county seat of Marion and its largest community, Hillsboro (population 2,700), anchor the local rental market. Hillsboro scores 2/10 and Marion city scores 1.8/10 - both firmly in the Low tier. The county's riskiest communities are Lincolnville (2.4/10) and Peabody (2.3/10), with Elbing also at 2.3/10 and Florence at 2.2/10. Even at the top of the county's range, a 2.4 score remains well within the Low band. The lowest-risk city in the county is Lehigh at 1.7/10. This relatively tight spread - just 0.7 points between the lowest and highest city scores - suggests consistent low-risk conditions across Marion County rather than pockets of elevated exposure in specific communities.

Kansas's rental framework under K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq. (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) sets the operating rules for every lease in the county. Non-payment of rent requires a 3-day notice before filing; lease violations carry a 14-day cure notice; and no-cause terminations require 30 days. Kansas does not require just cause for non-renewal and has no rent control, with the state statute preempting any local ordinance that might attempt to cap rents. Court filing fees run $120 to $200, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and attorney costs typically range $500 to $2,500 depending on whether the case is contested. Uncontested proceedings resolve in as few as 21 to 45 days, while contested evictions can extend to 45 to 100 days. The average rent in the county sits at $734 per month, and renters represent 23.4% of occupied housing units - a relatively modest renter share that keeps overall eviction filing volume low compared to more urbanized Kansas counties. The county's average rent burden of 22.1% of income falls below the standard 30% affordability threshold, which limits the financial stress that typically drives non-payment cases. Average poverty stands at 11.7%, consistent with rural central Kansas norms.

Marion County's Low risk score reflects its rural character, below-30% rent burden, and Kansas eviction laws's landlord-favorable statutory framework - a combination that keeps eviction exposure limited for property owners operating here.