Mason County, Michigan Eviction Risk: Low

Mason County sits along Michigan's Lake Michigan shoreline with a population of 9,629 and earns a Low eviction risk score of 3/10 on the Eviction Risk Map. Among Michigan's 83 counties, Mason ranks 48th for risk, meaning 47 counties carry higher eviction pressure while 35 are more landlord-favorable -- placing Mason squarely in the middle third of the state. The county seat of Ludington (population 7,676, score 3/10) accounts for most of the rental market, while smaller Scottville and Fountain carry the county's highest localized scores at 3.1/10 and 3.3/10 respectively.

Renter households make up 38.9% of Mason County's occupied units, and average rent sits at $881 per month. The average rent burden of 30.6% of income and a poverty rate of 23.9% are meaningful -- roughly one in four residents falls below the poverty line, which elevates nonpayment risk even in a low-risk county. Landlords should price vacancy periods and legal reserves accordingly. A nonpayment-of-rent notice under MCL 600.5714 requires just 7 days' notice before filing, giving owners a relatively fast path to court compared to many Midwest jurisdictions. Material lease violations and no-cause month-to-month terminations both require a 30-day notice under MCL 554.134. Michigan's state-level preemption statute bars any municipality in Mason County from enacting local rent control, so no city-specific caps apply.

Filing costs in Michigan run $45 to $150 in court fees plus a sheriff lockout fee of $50 to $150. Attorney fees for a straightforward case typically land in the $500 to $2,500 range. Uncontested cases resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested matters stretch to 45 to 120 days. Michigan does not protect source of income at the state level, and just cause is not required to terminate a tenancy, keeping the legal framework relatively straightforward for landlords operating in Ludington, Scottville, Custer, and Fountain. The habitability statute at MCL § 554.139 defines the landlord's maintenance obligations, and retaliatory conduct against tenants is prohibited under MCL § 600.5720 -- both worth keeping in the lease file.

Scores and cost figures are computed from court records, Census rental data, and Michigan eviction laws statute fees reviewed as of May 2026; individual case outcomes vary by court docket and tenant response.