Howell County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Very Low

Howell County, Missouri eviction laws carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.4/10 (Very Low), placing it in the middle third of all 115 Missouri counties, with 52 counties scoring higher and 62 scoring lower. Across the county's 6 cities, individual scores range from 1.7 to 2.9, meaning local market conditions vary more than the countywide average suggests. For landlords and investors, the headline number points to a comparatively manageable operating environment, but the intra-county spread of a full point warrants a city-by-city look before committing capital.

Average rent across Howell County sits at $727 per month, and the average rent-burden rate is 28.2% of renter income. A renter share of 46.3% of households means the rental pool is substantial relative to county size, while a poverty rate of 29% signals meaningful payment-risk concentration. Landlords targeting the higher end of the rent curve should factor both figures into underwriting and tenant-screening criteria before acquiring units here.

The cities inside Howell County

West Plains, the county seat and by far the largest city at 12,441 residents, posts the highest risk score in the county at 2.7/10. That figure sits at the top of the local range and reflects the concentration of lower-income renters in the urban core. Willow Springs (population 2,279) and Pomona both score 2.4/10, representing a middle tier of moderate, manageable risk for landlords with standard screening practices in place.

Brandsville scores 1.8/10, and Mountain View (population 2,658) comes in at 2.5/10, offering somewhat softer conditions. South Fork, the smallest tracked city at 67 residents, records the lowest score in the county at 1.7/10, the most landlord-favorable environment in Howell County. Risk here is genuinely hyper-local: a landlord operating in West Plains faces a meaningfully different tenant-payment profile than one in South Fork or Mountain View, even though all three fall under the same county umbrella.

State-level laws that apply here

Missouri eviction laws state law governs every landlord-tenant dispute in Howell County under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant). For nonpayment of rent, Missouri eviction laws is one of the few states where a landlord can file a rent-and-possession action under RSMo § 535.010 with no advance notice period required. A material lease violation requires a 10-day notice under RSMo § 441.060, and terminating a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days notice under the same section. Understanding these timelines is essential before opening a file, and the full Missouri eviction laws eviction process is outlined in the statewide guides on this site. Missouri eviction laws does not require just cause for non-renewal, and the state preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so no city in Howell County can impose rent caps independent of state law.

Hard costs vary based on case complexity. Court filing fees run $70 to $180, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and attorney fees for a contested matter can reach $500 to $3,000. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested matters extend to 45 to 120 days. Missouri eviction costs at the high end of a contested case can therefore represent a meaningful share of annual rent at the county average. Missouri security deposit limits and other tenant-protection rules are also set at the state level, leaving landlords here with a consistent, predictable statutory framework county-wide.

With 46.3% of households renting and a county poverty rate of 29%, Howell County landlords should weight tenant financial screening carefully; the city grid above breaks down risk scores for all 6 tracked cities so operators can pinpoint which submarkets align with their risk tolerance.