Stone County, Mississippi Eviction Risk: Low

Stone County, Mississippi eviction laws carries an average eviction-risk score of 3.6/10 (Low), placing it in the middle third of the state, ranked 53 of 82 Mississippi counties. By that measure, 52 counties are riskier and 29 are more landlord-friendly, making Stone County a relatively stable operating environment without being among the state's easiest markets. Across its 2 incorporated cities, scores range from 3 to 3.7, a narrow band that reflects broadly consistent conditions county-wide.

With an average rent of $883 and a rent-burden rate of 40.1%, a meaningful share of Stone County tenants are stretched thin financially, which does elevate late-payment risk even in a low-risk county. The renter share sits at 36% of households, a moderate figure that keeps vacancy competition manageable. Landlords here should calibrate expectations: the county's Low rating is real, but the household financial pressure warrants attentive tenant screening.

The cities inside Stone County

Wiggins, the county seat and by far the largest city with a population of 4,293, posts the highest risk score in the county at 3.7/10. That score is Low in absolute terms, but it does represent the most operationally demanding market within Stone County, so landlords concentrating holdings in Wiggins should price their risk reserves accordingly. The city accounts for the bulk of the county's total tracked population of 4,929, meaning county-level averages are heavily shaped by Wiggins conditions.

Bond, the county's smaller city with a population of 636, scores 3/10, the lowest in Stone County. That gap of 0.7 points between the two cities underscores that eviction risk is hyper-local: a landlord operating in Bond faces meaningfully different conditions than one operating in Wiggins, even though both fall within the same county and the same Low tier. Due diligence at the city level, not just the county level, is essential before acquiring rental property here.

State-level laws that apply here

All landlords in Stone County operate under Miss. Code § 89-8 (Landlord and Tenant). For non-payment, the required notice period is 3 days. Lease-violation cure notices require 14 days, and no-cause end-of-term notices require 30 days. Mississippi eviction laws does not require just cause to terminate a tenancy, and state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so no rent caps apply in Stone County. Understanding the full Mississippi eviction laws eviction process is critical before proceeding: an uncontested case typically resolves in 30 to 60 days, while a contested matter can run 60 to 120 days. Reviewing Mississippi eviction costs is equally important, as out-of-pocket expenses stack up quickly: court filing fees run $75 to $150, sheriff lockout fees add another $30 to $120, and attorney fees, if needed, range from $500 to $2,500.

With a poverty rate of 26.1%, Stone County carries above-average household financial vulnerability, a factor that can accelerate late-payment cycles even in a low-risk market; the city grid above breaks down risk at the local level so you can target the areas of Stone County that best match your investment criteria.