Dent County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Moderate

Dent County sits in the lower-risk third of Missouri, scoring 4/10 on the Eviction Risk Map and ranking 90th out of 115 counties statewide - meaning 89 counties carry higher eviction risk for landlords and only 25 fall below it. That positioning reflects a combination of modest rents, a manageable rent burden, and a statutory framework under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant) that leans toward landlord efficiency rather than extended tenant protections.

Salem, the county's only tracked city and home to all 4,677 residents, anchors the picture. Average rent runs $639 per month, and renters spend an average of 27.8% of income on housing - below the 30% threshold that housing researchers treat as the tipping point for financial stress. That said, with a poverty rate of 16.6% and a renter share of 50% of occupied units, the pool of cost-burdened households is not negligible, and landlords should not read the low risk score as a guarantee of frictionless collections. Even in low-burden counties, nonpayment cases reach the courthouse, and Missouri eviction laws's rent-and-possession statute (RSMo § 535.010) requires no advance notice before filing - the clock starts the moment rent is late.

Missouri eviction laws state law preempts any local rent control ordinance, so no city or county in the state - including Dent - can cap rent increases. There is no just-cause eviction requirement, and source-of-income is not a protected class under Missouri eviction laws fair housing law. For landlords, that means full discretion on pricing and lease renewal decisions. The practical cost of an eviction filing starts at $70 (court fee) and can reach $180 depending on the courthouse; sheriff lockout fees add another $40 to $150. Uncontested cases typically close in 21 to 45 days, while a contested proceeding can stretch to 120 days and draw attorney fees of $500 to $3,000. Those figures are manageable by most standards, but a run of contested filings in a small-population county like Dent can strain a portfolio faster than the headline score suggests.

Dent County's score reflects favorable Missouri eviction laws statutes and a rent level well below the state's urban markets, though a 16.6% poverty rate means landlords should maintain tight screening and clear lease terms to avoid the small share of cases that do become contested.