Moniteau County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Low

Moniteau County sits in central Missouri with a total population of 8,086 and an eviction risk score of 3.3/10 - a Low rating that places it at rank 100 of 115 Missouri counties, meaning 99 counties carry higher risk. That position in the lower-risk third of the state reflects a combination of moderate rent levels, a tenant base that is not severely cost-burdened, and a state legal framework under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant) that keeps eviction timelines relatively short once a landlord files.

The county seat of California eviction laws (population 4,509) and Tipton (population 2,667) account for the bulk of the county's rental activity. California scores 3.2/10 and Tipton 3.4/10, both well within Low territory. Clarksburg is the outlier at 4.6/10, the highest score among Moniteau's six tracked cities, though its population of 304 limits its overall weight on the county average. At the other end, Jamestown and Latham each score 3.1/10, the floor for the county. Average rent across Moniteau County is $765/month, and the average rent burden sits at 24.3% of household income - below the standard 30% stress threshold that signals widespread affordability pressure. About 30% of households rent rather than own, and the average poverty rate is 13.6%.

Missouri gives landlords a direct path under RSMo § 535.010 for nonpayment: no advance notice is required before filing a rent-and-possession action. A material lease violation triggers a 10-day notice under RSMo § 441.060, and ending a month-to-month tenancy requires a 30-day notice under the same statute. Court filing fees run $70 to $180 and sheriff lockout fees $40 to $150. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested matters extend to 45 to 120 days. Missouri is a no just-cause state - landlords are not required to give a reason before non-renewing a tenancy - and state law preempts any city or county from enacting rent control, so Moniteau's Low score is unlikely to change from local policy shifts. The Missouri Commission on Human Rights handles fair housing complaints, though source-of-income is not a protected class under state law.

Scores are computed from court filing rates, rent-burden trends, legal framework variables, and local economic data; a lower score reflects fewer structural eviction pressures on both landlords and tenants.