Beaverhead County, Montana Eviction Risk: Very Low

Beaverhead County carries an average eviction-risk score of 1.9/10 (Low), placing it in the middle third of Montana's 56 counties, with 33 counties scoring higher and 22 scoring lower. For landlords and investors, that figure translates to a market where tenant-side stress indicators, rent burden, and litigation pressure are all well below the state norm. Across the county's 8 tracked cities, average rent runs $854 per month with an average rent burden of 25.9%, suggesting most tenants can carry their leases without the financial strain that tends to precede defaults and filings.

The intra-county score range, from 1.3 to 1.9, is narrow and stays firmly in Low territory throughout. That consistency is reassuring for operators diversifying across multiple Beaverhead County addresses: there is no hidden high-risk pocket quietly dragging returns. The county's total tracked population of roughly 4,600 means deal flow is limited, but the operators already here face a comparatively forgiving environment.

The cities inside Beaverhead County

Dillon, the county seat and by far the largest community at 4,085 residents, ties for the county's top score at 1.9/10, as does the much smaller community of Dell. Jackson, a rural village of 61 people, follows at 1.8/10. These three represent the ceiling of local risk, and even at 1.9 they sit near the bottom of the statewide range, meaning conditions in Dillon are materially easier than in many Montana markets.

At the other end of the spectrum, Maverick Mountain posts the county's lowest score at 1.3/10, followed by Lima and Argenta, both at 1.5/10, and Grant and Glen, both at 1.6/10. Risk really is hyper-local: the 0.6-point spread between Maverick Mountain and the Dillon/Dell tier represents a meaningful difference in the underlying tenant-stress indicators, even though every city in the county remains in Low territory.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Beaverhead County works under the Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (MCA § 70-24). For non-payment of rent or a curable lease violation, the required written notice is just 3 days. A no-cause termination at end of term requires 30 days. Montana does not impose just-cause eviction requirements and the state pre-empts local rent control, so no city within the county can cap rents above what the market sets. Full detail on required steps is in the Montana eviction process guide.

On the cost side, a typical proceeding in Montana runs from a court filing fee of $90 to $170, a sheriff lockout fee of $40 to $125, and attorney fees of $500 to $2,500, depending on complexity. An uncontested case resolves in roughly 21 to 45 days; a contested matter can extend to 45 to 120 days. Landlords should budget for the full range when underwriting. A closer look at all fee components is available in the Montana eviction costs guide. Landlords may also want to review Montana tenant protections and Montana security deposit limits before drafting lease terms.

With an average poverty rate of 18.2% and a renter share of 42.6%, Beaverhead County carries notable economic sensitivity beneath its low overall risk score; see the city grid above to compare individual community profiles before committing to a specific address.