Neighborhood · Springfield, MO

Phelps Grove/University Heights Eviction Risk: Moderate

2 census tracts · pop 9,227 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 5.6/10 · range 4.3–6.4

Phelps Grove/University Heights is a white (non-hispanic) neighborhood in Springfield with 2 census tracts and a population of 9,227 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 5.6/10 (Moderate tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 59% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 39% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $917/month sits 5% lower than the Springfield citywide average ($964).

Risk score

5.6

Moderate

2 tracts · population-weighted

Phelps Grove/University Heights vs Springfield How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

59.2% +101%

Springfield: 29.4%

Average gross rent

$917 -5%

Springfield: $964

Average HH income

$35,221 -23%

Springfield: $45,984

Poverty rate

47.8% +146%

Springfield: 19.4%

Renter share

80.5% +43%

Springfield: 56.1%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across Phelps Grove/University Heights and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 2 tracts span score 4.3–6.4

Why Phelps Grove/University Heights scores 5.6

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 2.1–2.1 across tracts

2.1

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 4.0–4.0 across tracts

4.0

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 3.5–3.5 across tracts

3.5

Rent control risk

59% of income on rent · Range 1.0–1.0 across tracts

1.0

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 2.5–2.5 across tracts

2.5

Tenant organizing strength

81% renter households · Range 2.0–2.0 across tracts

2.0

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 2.5–2.5 across tracts

2.5

Economic stress

47.8% below poverty line · Range 3.0–10.0 across tracts

7.4

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 3.2–5.8 across tracts

4.2

Risk score comparison

Phelps Grove/University Heights vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

2 tracts in Phelps Grove/University Heights

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
29077000200	6.4	5,823	72%	$821
29077000300	4.3	3,404	37%	$1,081

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 54

Pop-weighted across 2 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 81%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 2%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 25%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 74%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab

Court-record eviction history in Phelps Grove/University Heights

Aggregated across 2 validated constituent tracts. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.

Historic baseline (2000–2018)

476Total filings (sum)
3.94%Avg annual filing rate
4.2%Peak year (2017)
3.53%Latest filed (2017)

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in Phelps Grove/University Heights

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

18.4%Housing insecurity
15.3%Utility shutoff threat
27.5%Food insecurity
24.1%SNAP enrollment
10.6%No health insurance
43.9%Any disability

Frequently asked

About Phelps Grove/University Heights

What is the eviction-risk score for Phelps Grove/University Heights?

Phelps Grove/University Heights scores 5.6/10 (Moderate tier) across 2 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does Phelps Grove/University Heights compare to Springfield overall?

Phelps Grove/University Heights scores 3.1 points higher than Springfield overall (2.5/10). Renters spend 59% of income on rent vs 29% citywide. Average rent: $917 vs $964.

What is the average rent in Phelps Grove/University Heights?

Average gross rent in Phelps Grove/University Heights is $917/month (pop-weighted across 2 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 59% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of Phelps Grove/University Heights residents are renters?

81% of Phelps Grove/University Heights households are renter-occupied (vs 56% in Springfield). The neighborhood has 9,227 residents.

Is Phelps Grove/University Heights a high social-vulnerability area?

Phelps Grove/University Heights sits in the 54th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

Which tracts in Phelps Grove/University Heights have the highest eviction risk?

The highest-risk constituent tract in Phelps Grove/University Heights is census tract 29077000200 (score 6.4/10). Across the 2 tracts in this neighborhood the score ranges from 4.3 to 6.4, a spread of 2.1 points.

How safe is Phelps Grove/University Heights for landlords?

Phelps Grove/University Heights carries a moderate-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (5.6/10). Pop-weighted across 2 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Springfield as a whole (2.5/10), this neighborhood is higher-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of Phelps Grove/University Heights?

Phelps Grove/University Heights has 8,861 residents (White (non-Hispanic) Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (85.2%), Other / Multiracial (7.6%), Hispanic / Latino (2.7%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near Phelps Grove/University Heights

5.9 West Central 4 tracts · pop 9,158 4.8 Oak Grove 2 tracts · pop 8,107 4.4 Mark Twain 3 tracts · pop 9,849 5.3 Meador Park 3 tracts · pop 8,345 5.9 Westside 2 tracts · pop 6,665 5.8 Heart of the Westside 2 tracts · pop 6,579

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Springfield

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to Phelps Grove/University Heights.

5.6 Ewing 1 tracts · pop 2,576 5.6 Weller 1 tracts · pop 3,596 5.7 Heart of the Westside 2 tracts · pop 6,579 5.4 Midtown 1 tracts · pop 4,447 5.4 Fassnight 1 tracts · pop 5,238 5.3 Meador Park 3 tracts · pop 8,345

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