Reynolds County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Low

Reynolds County sits deep in the Missouri Ozarks with a population of just 1,637 spread across three small communities. The Eviction Risk Map rates the county 2.6/10 (Low), yet that score still places Reynolds 9th out of 115 Missouri counties - putting it in the higher-risk third of the state despite the Low label. Eight Missouri counties carry a higher score; 106 are rated less risky for landlords. Investors and renters alike should read beyond the label before drawing conclusions about this market.

The county seat, Centerville, posts the lowest individual score at 1.7/10, while Bunker edges to the top of the range at 2.8/10. Ellington, the largest community with a population of 1,057, sits in the middle at 2.7/10. That spread from 1.7 to 2.8 tells a consistent story: every part of the county falls comfortably in the Low band, and there are no outlier pockets driving elevated risk. Still, the gap between Centerville and Bunker is worth noting when choosing where to buy or rent within county lines.

What keeps the score elevated relative to many Missouri peers is a combination of affordability pressure and limited local economic depth. Average rent runs $583/month, and the average rent burden - the share of income renters put toward housing - stands at 24.6%. A 23.4% poverty rate compounds that pressure; roughly one in four residents lives below the poverty line, which shortens the runway when unexpected costs arise. Renters make up 39.9% of occupied housing. Under Missouri law (RSMo § 441), landlords can file a rent-and-possession action immediately upon nonpayment with no prior written notice required under RSMo § 535.010; a material lease violation triggers a 10-day notice under RSMo § 441.060; ending a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days. Filing fees run $70 to $180, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days. Missouri preempts local rent control statewide, so no city in Reynolds County can impose a rent cap regardless of local conditions.

Reynolds County's Low score reflects a rural Ozarks market where low rents, limited tenant-protection law, and a straightforward Missouri eviction laws eviction statute combine to keep friction manageable - but a 23.4% poverty rate and a rank of 9th in the state signal that affordability stress is real and landlords should underwrite collections risk carefully.