Nemaha County, Kansas Eviction Risk: Very Low

Nemaha County sits in the lower-risk third of Kansas, earning a Low eviction risk score of 2/10 and ranking 88th out of 105 Kansas counties. That ranking is 1-indexed from highest risk, so 87 Kansas counties present greater eviction risk for landlords - placing Nemaha among the more stable rental markets in the state. The county's roughly 5,990 residents are spread across 11 tracked cities, with the two largest being Sabetha (population 2,471, score 2/10) and Seneca (population 2,090, score 1.9/10). Both anchor cities fall at or below the county average, reflecting a broadly consistent, low-friction landlord environment throughout the county.

The rental cost picture here is modest. Average rent across Nemaha County runs $675 per month, and the average rent burden sits at 24.2% of household income - below the 30% threshold that housing researchers typically flag as cost-stressed. With 27.4% of residents renting and an average poverty rate of 11.3%, the renter pool is relatively small and the financial pressure on those renters is lower than in many Kansas markets. That combination keeps eviction filings rare and contested proceedings rarer still. When disputes do reach the courthouse, Kansas law under K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq. (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) governs the process. Uncontested evictions typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested cases can stretch to 45 to 100 days. Court filing fees in Kansas run $120 to $200, and sheriff lockout fees add another $40 to $150. Attorney fees, if needed, typically range from $500 to $2,500.

Within the county, a narrow spread exists between its lowest- and highest-scoring cities. Havensville and Bern both score 1.6/10 at the low end; Goff reaches the county ceiling at 2.7/10, followed by Oneida at 2.6/10 and Corning at 2.4/10. Even Goff's 2.7/10 remains a Low-tier score by national standards. Kansas does not require just cause for non-renewal, does not cap rent increases, and - importantly - preempts any local rent control ordinance, so no city within Nemaha County can impose rules tighter than state law. Notice requirements are fixed statewide: 3 days for non-payment of rent, 14 days to cure a lease violation, and 30 days for no-cause end-of-term termination, all under K.S.A. § 58-2540 et seq. Source of income is not a protected class under Kansas law, and no local ordinance in Nemaha County changes that. Retaliation protections for tenants are addressed under K.S.A. § 58-2572, and habitability obligations fall under K.S.A. § 58-2553.

Nemaha County's Low 2/10 score reflects a small, modestly stressed renter population, no local tenant-protection layers, and a statewide legal framework that keeps notice periods short and just-cause requirements absent.