Livingston County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Very Low

Livingston County sits in north-central Missouri with a total population of 9,854 spread across 8 incorporated places. The county carries an eviction risk score of 2.1/10 - a Low rating that places it 107th out of 115 Missouri counties, meaning only 8 counties statewide show lower risk levels. For landlords operating here, that standing reflects a legal environment that leans toward straightforward enforcement, limited tenant-side protections, and manageable court costs under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant).

Chillicothe is the county's economic and population center, accounting for 8,923 of Livingston County's residents and scoring 2.1/10 - consistent with the county average. At the higher end of the local range, Wheeling and Ludlow each score 2.4/10, still well within the Low tier but worth noting for landlords with properties in those smaller communities. Dawn and Avalon sit at the floor of the county range at 1.8/10. Average rent across the county runs $771 per month, with renters carrying an average rent burden of 23.2% of household income - below the 30% threshold that typically signals housing stress. Roughly 35.2% of households rent rather than own, and the average poverty rate is 16.6%, a figure that affects tenant payment reliability more than it reshapes the legal landscape.

Missouri provides no rent control protections at the state or local level - RSMo § 441 preempts any municipality from enacting rent caps, so there are no rent increase restrictions to navigate anywhere in Livingston County. Just cause is not required to end a tenancy. For nonpayment of rent, Missouri allows an immediate rent-and-possession action under RSMo § 535.010 with no mandatory cure period before filing. Lease violations carry a 10-day notice requirement under RSMo § 441.060, and month-to-month tenancies require 30 days. Once filed, an uncontested eviction typically resolves in 21 to 45 days; contested cases extend to 45 to 120 days. Court filing fees range from $70 to $180, sheriff lockout fees from $40 to $150, and attorney costs from $500 to $3,000 depending on complexity. Habitability obligations are codified at RSMo § 441.500, and retaliation claims fall under RSMo § 441.020 - both standard provisions that set a clear floor without adding unusual procedural burden. Source of income is not a protected class in Missouri, giving landlords full discretion on tenant screening criteria. The Missouri Commission on Human Rights handles fair housing complaints under federal protected categories.

Livingston County's Low risk score reflects Missouri eviction laws's landlord-favorable statutory framework, the county's below-average rent burden of 23.2%, and the absence of local tenant protection ordinances that would layer on top of state law.