Shelby, MS Eviction Risk Score Bolivar County · Mississippi · Population 1,700 · Updated April 18, 2026

Shelby, MS has an eviction risk score of 5.5 out of 10, placing it in the elevated-risk tier for landlords operating in Bolivar County and the state of Mississippi. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.

Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 41.8% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Shelby is $666/month. About 32.2% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 58.5%, unemployment 27.4%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, Bolivar County voted Democratic by 30.8 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 5.5/10, Shelby is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.

Nearby Cities — Eviction Risk Comparison

Landlord Guides & Research Tools

Deepen your market research with these ACS-data guides. The metrics powering this score feed directly into each ranking.

• Rent Control Cities 2026 — Full National List & Map
• Best Cities for Landlords 2026 — see where Shelby ranks nationally
• Most Rent-Burdened Cities in America — ACS 2023 leaderboard
• Mississippi Eviction Risk Overview — all counties & cities in Mississippi
• Bolivar County — compare every city in the county