Monroe County, Mississippi Eviction Risk: Low

Monroe County scores 2.6/10 (Low risk) across its 7 cities, placing it at rank 52 of 82 Mississippi eviction laws counties, meaning 51 counties carry higher eviction risk and 30 are more landlord-friendly. That middle-third position reflects a county where operating conditions are generally workable: average rent sits at $785, rent burden averages 38.7% of renter income, and the renter share of housing is 33.1%. For investors evaluating Mississippi eviction laws markets, Monroe County offers a measured risk environment without being among the state's easiest landlord markets.

The intra-county score range runs from 1.8 to 2.7, a spread of 1.4 points across a county with a total population of roughly 13,468. That gap is meaningful: a landlord choosing between the county's urban and rural submarkets is not making equivalent bets. The average poverty rate of 18% adds context, signaling a tenant pool that can be income-sensitive, which in turn affects delinquency exposure and collection timelines.

The cities inside Monroe County

The highest-risk markets in the county are Aberdeen (2.7/10, population 6,500) and Aberdeen (2.7/10, population 4,890). These two cities together account for the bulk of the county's renter population, and their scores sit at the top of the county range. Amory eviction risk, as the county's largest city, concentrates the most rental activity and the most eviction pressure. Aberdeen follows closely. Both markets warrant tighter tenant screening and lease enforcement protocols than the county average alone would suggest.

On the lower end of the county's range, Gattman scores 1.9/10 and New Hamilton scores 2.5/10, both very small markets with populations of 133 and 480 respectively. Smithville (2.5/10, population 559) and Hatley (2.6/10, population 586) occupy the mid-range. The takeaway for investors is that risk in Monroe County is hyper-local: city-level scores diverge enough that a county average alone should not drive acquisition or pricing decisions.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Monroe County is governed by Mississippi eviction laws state law, specifically Miss. Code § 89-8 (Landlord and Tenant). For non-payment of rent, the required notice period is 3 days. Lease violations carrying a right to cure require 14 days notice, and no-cause terminations at end of term require 30 days. Mississippi eviction laws does not require just cause for non-renewal and has preempted local rent control ordinances, so no city in Monroe County can impose rent caps. Understanding the full Mississippi eviction laws eviction process is essential before placing a tenant, since an uncontested eviction typically takes 30 to 60 days and a contested case can run 60 to 120 days.

Mississippi eviction costs range materially depending on complexity. Court filing fees run $75 to $150, sheriff lockout fees add $30 to $120, and attorney fees, if needed, range from $500 to $2,500. Reviewing Mississippi security deposit limits and Mississippi tenant protections before drafting leases will help landlords structure agreements that hold up in court and minimize costly disputes.

With an average poverty rate of 18% and a renter share of 33.1%, Monroe County's rental market is real but income-constrained; the city-level grid above breaks down where within the county that pressure is concentrated.