Jackson County, Minnesota Eviction Risk: Moderate

Jackson County sits in the southwestern corner of Minnesota with a total population of 5,836 and earns a Moderate eviction risk score of 4.4/10 - placing it 86th out of 87 Minnesota counties. That ranking means 85 counties statewide carry higher eviction risk than Jackson, putting this county firmly in the lower-risk third of Minnesota. For landlords operating here, the combination of a rural renter market, below-average rent levels, and straightforward state statute creates a relatively workable environment compared to the metro-area counties that dominate the high-risk end of the scale.

Across Jackson County's 7 incorporated cities, average rent sits at $769/month and the average rent burden runs 20.2% - well below the 30% threshold that housing researchers treat as a stress marker. Renters account for 23.9% of households, and the average poverty rate is 11.9%. The county seat, Jackson (population 3,287), carries the second-highest individual score at 4.6/10 and is home to the largest share of the county's rental stock. Lakefield (population 1,507) and Heron Lake (population 593) both score 4.2/10, reflecting the lighter tenant-protection exposure in smaller markets. The highest-scoring city in the county is Okabena at 4.7/10, even though its population of just 210 means it contributes little to countywide totals. Alpha and Fish Lake each sit at 4.3/10, and Wilder scores 4.2/10.

Minnesota's landlord-tenant framework under Minn. Stat. § 504B governs all eviction proceedings in Jackson County. A nonpayment case requires a 14-day notice under Minn. Stat. § 504B.291 before filing; lease-violation and month-to-month terminations require 30 days under Minn. Stat. § 504B.135. Court filing fees range from $310 to $410 and sheriff lockout fees add $55 to $150. Uncontested cases typically close in 30 to 60 days; a contested matter can run 60 to 150 days. Attorney fees in rural southwest Minnesota generally fall in the $750 to $3,000 range for a full eviction. Landlords must give 24 hours notice before entry under Minn. Stat. § 504B.161, and retaliation by the landlord is prohibited under Minn. Stat. § 504B.441. Source of income is a protected class in Minnesota, administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights - meaning landlords cannot refuse to rent solely because a prospective tenant holds a housing voucher. There is no state rent cap, no just-cause requirement, and no local preemption statute in effect for Jackson County.

Jackson County's score range runs from 4.2/10 in Lakefield, Heron Lake, and Wilder up to 4.7/10 in Okabena, a narrow band that reflects a consistent, low-friction rental market across all seven cities in the county.