Stone County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Low

Stone County sits in the southwestern Ozarks along Table Rock Lake, a geography that shapes its rental market in notable ways. The county's 3.6/10 eviction risk score places it 57th out of Missouri's 115 counties - right in the middle third of the state, meaning 56 counties carry more risk and 58 carry less. For landlords operating here, that middle-of-the-pack position reflects a rural market with modest rents and a tenant base under real financial pressure, but without the dense regulatory overlay found in Missouri eviction laws's urban cores.

The county's 7,665 residents are spread across 11 incorporated communities, with Kimberling City (population 2,476) as the largest. The rental market is relatively compact - average rent sits at $817/month - but a 38% average rent burden signals that many renters here are paying a disproportionate share of income toward housing. Pair that with a 17.6% average poverty rate and roughly 34% of households renting, and you have a profile common to Ozark resort-adjacent counties: seasonal economic activity, modest wage bases, and renters who may be one disruption away from falling behind. Poverty at 17.6% meaningfully exceeds the Missouri average and warrants attention when screening applicants and setting late-fee policies.

Within the county, risk is not uniform. Branson West and Coney Island both score 3.2/10 - the highest in the county - driven by their proximity to the Branson tourism corridor and the transient rental population that accompanies it. Galena and Indian Point follow at 3.4/10. At the lower end, Blue Eye (3.4/10) and Kimberling City (3.1/10) show relatively stable tenant profiles. Missouri law governs evictions statewide under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant); there is no local rent control anywhere in Missouri because the state preempts it. For nonpayment, a landlord may file a rent-and-possession action immediately under RSMo § 535.010 - no notice period is required before filing. Court filing fees run $70 to $180, with sheriff lockout fees adding $40 to $150. An uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 45 days; a contested case can stretch to 45 to 120 days. Attorney fees for a contested matter commonly run $500 to $3,000 depending on complexity.

Stone County's Low eviction risk rating reflects a rural Ozark eviction risk market with no local tenant-protection ordinances, a statewide preemption of rent control, and a compact rental base where most disputes resolve through Missouri eviction laws's standard unlawful-detainer process without significant procedural friction.