Leflore County, Mississippi Eviction Risk: Low

Leflore County carries an average eviction risk score of 2.9/10 (Low), ranking it 1st of 82 counties in Mississippi, meaning no other county in the state scores higher. That distinction matters for landlords and investors: the local renter population, economic stress indicators, and eviction dynamics place this Delta county at the top of the state's risk distribution, with 81 counties sitting in friendlier territory. The 7 cities tracked here span a range of 1.7 to 3, so your exposure is substantially determined by which specific municipality you choose to operate in.

With a total county population of roughly 17,665 and an average renter share of 51%, the majority of occupied housing units here are rentals, which amplifies both the opportunity and the operational complexity. Average rent runs approximately $700/month, while the average rent burden sits at 30.2% of household income. A poverty rate of 28.2% signals that tenant cash-flow disruptions are not edge-case events. Landlords operating across Leflore County should build collection and notice protocols into their standard operating procedures from day one.

The cities inside Leflore County

At the top of the local risk ladder, Greenwood (population 14,086) and Itta Bena (population 1,967) each score 3/10, making them the county's highest-risk municipalities. Greenwood eviction risk dominates by sheer population, accounting for the bulk of the county's rental inventory, and its score reflects persistent economic stress in the urban core. Itta Bena, though smaller, matches that risk level. Cruger scores 3/10, nearly as elevated. Mississippi Valley State University scores 1.7/10, and with its student-renter population of 741, turnover and payment variability are the primary operational concerns there.

The lower end of the range tells a different story. Schlater and Morgan City both score 2.6/10, and Sidon comes in at 2.2/10. These smaller communities, with populations under 200, present a materially different risk profile than Greenwood. The gap between a 3.6 in Morgan City and a 5.2 in Greenwood is not cosmetic. Landlords who treat Leflore County as a single undifferentiated market will systematically misjudge their actual exposure. Risk here is hyper-local, and the city-level grid below is where due diligence should begin.

State-level laws that apply here

Mississippi state law governs the eviction process for every lease in Leflore County. Under Miss. Code § 89-8 (Landlord and Tenant), landlords must serve a 3-day notice for non-payment of rent, a 14-day notice for a lease violation with opportunity to cure, and a 30-day notice to end a month-to-month tenancy without cause. Mississippi does not require just cause to terminate a tenancy, and the state preempts local rent control, so no city or county in Mississippi can impose rent caps. Understanding the full Mississippi eviction process is essential before serving any notice, because procedural errors restart the clock. An uncontested case typically resolves in 30 to 60 days; a contested case can run 60 to 120 days.

Direct costs under Mississippi eviction costs break down as follows: court filing fees range from $75 to $150, sheriff lockout fees from $30 to $120, and attorney fees from $500 to $2,500, depending on case complexity. In a contested scenario, total out-of-pocket costs can approach or exceed $2,770 (the sum of the high-end components) before lost rent is counted. On top of those procedural costs, the Mississippi security deposit limits and tenant protections under Miss. Code § 89-8-23 establish habitability standards that landlords must maintain independently of the eviction outcome. Source of income is not a protected class under state law, and there is no state retaliation statute on record, but landlords should verify compliance with fair housing rules through the Mississippi Attorney General, Consumer Protection division.

With a county poverty rate of 28.2% and renters making up 51% of households, the economic fundamentals here demand careful tenant screening and proactive lease enforcement; the city-by-city risk grid above is the most direct tool for comparing your specific target markets within Leflore County.