Texas County, Missouri Eviction Risk: Moderate

Texas eviction laws County, Missouri eviction laws carries an eviction risk score of 4/10, placing it in the moderate risk tier and ranking it 6th out of 115 Missouri eviction laws counties - meaning only five counties in the state present a higher eviction risk for landlords. That position in the higher-risk third of Missouri is worth noting: while the score is low in absolute terms, the combination of a 31.9% poverty rate and a rent burden averaging 31.6% of household income creates a tenant base that is materially stretched. Average rent across the county sits at $613/month, and renters make up 43.2% of occupied housing units - a share that reflects how much of the local economy runs through the rental market.

Within the county, Licking is both the largest city by renter population and the riskiest, scoring 4.2/10. Houston, the county seat, follows at 4.2/10 with a population of 2,226. Smaller communities like Raymondville (3.4/10), Summersville (3.2/10), and Cabool (3.8/10) cluster in the mid-range, while Plato is the lowest-risk incorporated place in the county at 3.1/10. The spread from 3.1 to 4.2 across six tracked cities means the county average of 4/10 reflects real variation - landlords in Licking and Houston face materially different conditions than those in Plato or Cabool.

Missouri eviction laws's eviction framework under RSMo § 441 (Landlord and Tenant) is among the more landlord-favorable in the Midwest. The state does not require just cause for eviction, source of income is not a protected class under Missouri eviction laws fair housing law, and state law preempts any local rent control ordinance - so no city or county in Missouri eviction laws can impose a rent cap. For nonpayment, landlords may file a rent-and-possession action immediately under RSMo § 535.010 with no cure period required. Material lease violations require a 10-day notice under RSMo § 441.060, and month-to-month tenancies require 30 days. Court filing fees run $70 to $180, sheriff lockout fees $40 to $150, and attorney costs typically range $500 to $3,000 depending on complexity. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested matters can run 45 to 120 days. The Missouri eviction laws Commission on Human Rights handles fair housing complaints statewide.

Texas County is a rural Ozarks county in south-central Missouri with a total tracked renter population of 8,587. Its poverty rate of 31.9% and rent burden of 31.6% are both significantly above state averages, making payment consistency the primary risk driver despite low absolute rent levels.