Jefferson County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Very Low

Jefferson County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.4/10 (Very Low) across its 23 cities, a figure that looks reassuring on the surface. But landlords operating in Missouri should read that number carefully: the county ranks 9th of 115 Missouri counties, meaning only 8 counties statewide carry more risk. That places Jefferson County squarely in the higher-risk third of the state, and average rents of $1,117 per month leave thin margin for the carrying costs that come with a contested eviction.

The intra-county spread tells a more granular story. Individual city scores range from 1.8 to 2.8, a 1.5-point spread that means the neighborhood you buy in matters far more than the county headline. Rent burden sits at an average of 26.8% of income across the county, a level that keeps tenant cashflow tight and elevates the likelihood that income disruptions translate directly into payment problems for landlords.

The cities inside Jefferson County

At the top of the risk range, Murphy (population 8,285) and High Ridge both score 2.4/10, tied for the county's highest-risk designation. Arnold, the county's largest city at 20,956 residents, scores 4/10, joined by Cedar Hill at the same level. Pevely (population 6,055) and Byrnes Mill both score 2.5/10, while Festus (population 13,201) sits at 2.4/10. These communities, concentrated along the I-55 corridor, warrant closer due-diligence on tenant screening and rent-to-income ratios before acquisition.

Lower risk within the county clusters at the other end of the range. Herculaneum scores 2.3/10 and Barnhart comes in at 2.2/10, offering meaningfully better operating conditions than the county's upper tier. The gap between Murphy's 4.1 and Herculaneum's 3.3 illustrates why city-level data, not county averages, should drive buy-box decisions in Jefferson County.

State-level laws that apply here

All Jefferson County landlords operate under Missouri state law (RSMo § 441, Landlord and Tenant). For nonpayment of rent, Missouri permits a rent-and-possession action with no advance notice period before filing (RSMo § 535.010), one of the more creditor-friendly postures in the region. A material lease violation requires a 10-day notice to quit (RSMo § 441.060), and ending a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days notice under the same statute. Understanding the full Missouri eviction process is essential, particularly how quickly an uncontested case can resolve, typically 21 to 45 days, versus a contested matter that can run 45 to 120 days.

On the cost side, court filing fees run $70 to $180, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and attorney fees for a standard eviction typically range from $500 to $3,000. Missouri eviction costs therefore vary considerably depending on whether a tenant contests the action. Missouri imposes no rent control and does not require just cause for non-renewal; state law explicitly preempts local rent-control ordinances, so no Jefferson County municipality can impose caps independently. The Missouri Commission on Human Rights handles fair-housing complaints statewide.

With a poverty rate averaging 10.7% across the county and only 22.6% of residents renting, Jefferson County's landlord base is relatively small, making hyper-local city-level risk scores the most reliable guide, use the city grid above to compare specific communities before committing capital.