Shannon County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Very Low

Shannon County sits in Missouri's Ozark highlands with a total population of 1,704 and just four incorporated communities tracked by Eviction Risk Map. The county's overall eviction risk scores 2.3/10, a Low rating that places it 65th out of 115 Missouri counties - meaning 64 counties carry higher risk for landlords and 50 carry less. That middle-third position reflects a rural rental market where modest rents and limited tenant-protection statutes keep friction relatively low, though a 26.7% poverty rate introduces real income volatility that landlords should weigh carefully before assuming smooth collections.

Average rent across the county runs $439 per month, one of the lower figures in the state, and the average rent burden sits at 25.1% of household income - below the conventional 30% stress threshold but notable given how thin incomes are in this part of the Ozarks. Roughly 30.5% of households rent rather than own, a meaningful share for a county this size. Within the county, Eminence carries the highest individual score at 2.8/10, driven partly by its role as the county seat and a modest concentration of rental housing near the Current River recreation corridor. Winona and Birch Tree both score 2.2/10, reflecting similar landlord-tenant dynamics and small tenant populations. Montier comes in at the county's lowest, 1.8/10, consistent with its very small population of 60.

Missouri's landlord-tenant framework, codified under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant), governs all Shannon County landlords without any local overlay - the state preempts local rent control, so no municipality here can impose caps or just-cause requirements beyond what the statute provides. Nonpayment cases proceed under RSMo § 535.010 with no mandatory pre-filing notice period; a material lease violation triggers a 10-day notice under RSMo § 441.060; ending a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days' notice under the same section. Court filing fees run $70 to $180, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days - contested matters stretch to 45 to 120 days. Attorney fees for a contested eviction generally fall between $500 and $3,000. The Missouri Commission on Human Rights handles fair housing complaints; source-of-income is not a protected class under state law, giving landlords standard screening flexibility here.

Shannon County's Low eviction risk score reflects a combination of low prevailing rents, a modest renter share, and a state legal framework that gives landlords relatively straightforward procedural tools - offset by a poverty rate of 26.7% that warrants careful tenant screening.