Oregon County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Low

Oregon County, Missouri carries a Low eviction risk score of 3.6/10, placing it at rank 50 of 115 Missouri counties - firmly in the middle third of the state. That ranking means 49 counties present higher risk to landlords, and 65 are less risky. For a rural Ozark county with a total population of only 3,283 and a poverty rate of 33%, that positioning reflects Missouri's broadly landlord-favorable statutory framework more than any local tenant-protection layer, because there is none. Missouri state law under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant) preempts any municipality from enacting rent control, so no city in Oregon County has or can have a rent cap.

The four tracked cities span a narrow score band from 3.6/10 in Thomasville to 3.1/10 in Koshkonong. Thayer, the largest community at a population of 2,333, anchors the county at the average score of 3.6/10. Alton scores 3.6/10. The score spread is tight - less than one full point across the entire county - which is typical for rural Missouri jurisdictions where local ordinances add little complexity on top of state law. Average monthly rent across the county is $637, and average rent burden sits at 29.9% of renter household income. With 35% of households renting and a poverty rate of 33%, the tenant population here is financially stretched, a factor that raises the statistical likelihood of nonpayment disputes even in a low-score county.

Missouri's notice and filing structure is worth understanding in detail. For nonpayment of rent, RSMo § 535.010 permits a rent-and-possession action with no advance written notice period - a landlord may file immediately upon default, making Missouri one of the fastest-moving states on this point. A material lease violation triggers a 10-day notice to cure or quit under RSMo § 441.060, and ending a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days notice under the same statute. Court filing fees in Missouri range from $70 to $180, sheriff lockout fees from $40 to $150, and attorney fees from $500 to $3,000 depending on complexity and whether the case is contested. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested matters can run 45 to 120 days. There is no just-cause eviction requirement under Missouri law, and source of income (including housing vouchers) is not a protected class under state law. Fair housing complaints are handled by the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. Habitability obligations fall under RSMo § 441.500, and landlord retaliation is prohibited by RSMo § 441.020.

Oregon County is a sparsely populated rural county in the Missouri Ozarks. Its small renter base and absence of local tenant-protection ordinances keep the eviction risk score low, though a poverty rate of 33% means landlords here should budget carefully for potential nonpayment disputes.