Big Horn County, Montana Eviction Risk: Very Low

Big Horn County, Montana scores 2.7/10 (Low) as an average across its 8 tracked cities, placing it in the higher-risk third of Montana's 56 counties, ranked 6th in the state where rank 1 is the riskiest. Only 5 Montana counties carry higher eviction risk, while 50 are less risky. That context matters: a Low score countywide reflects favorable state-level landlord laws and a low rent burden, but investors should not mistake the label for uniformity. The county's intra-city score range runs from 2 to 3/10, meaning the gap between its calmest and its most pressured markets is real and actionable.

With a total tracked population of roughly 7,574, an average rent of $639, and an average rent burden of just 17%, most renters here are not straining to pay. The renter share sits at 38.9% of households, a moderate figure. The county's poverty rate of 25.9%, however, is notably elevated, which can translate to slower lease-up periods and higher tenant turnover even when formal eviction rates stay low. Landlords who price conservatively and screen thoroughly tend to fare best in markets with that combination.

The cities inside Big Horn County

Hardin is the county seat and by far the largest city, with a population of 3,742 and the county's highest risk score at 3/10. It concentrates the greatest share of the county's rental stock and the highest operational pressure. Wyola scores 2.8/10 and is the second-most elevated location, despite a population of only 481, suggesting that small size does not insulate a market from risk factors. Lodge Grass comes in at 2.5/10 with a population of 429.

The least pressured corners of the county are Fort Smith at 2.1/10, St. Xavier at 2.2/10, and Forty Mile Colony at the floor of 2/10. Crow Agency, with a population of 2,192, scores 2.2/10, making it the second-largest city and one of the more manageable operating environments in the county. The spread confirms that risk is hyper-local here: two neighboring communities can carry materially different tenant-market dynamics, and underwriting decisions made at the county level will miss that nuance.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Big Horn County operates under the Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (MCA § 70-24). For nonpayment of rent or a curable lease violation, Montana requires only a 3-day notice before filing, one of the shorter windows in the country. A no-cause termination at end of term requires a 30-day notice. The Montana eviction process moves from filing to judgment in 21 to 45 days for uncontested cases, or 45 to 120 days if the tenant contests. Montana state law does not require just cause to terminate a tenancy, and the state preempts local rent-control ordinances, so no Montana city or county can impose rent caps. Understanding the Montana eviction costs is equally important for budgeting: court filing fees run $90 to $170, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $125, and attorney fees for a contested matter typically range from $500 to $2,500. Landlords must also give tenants 24 hours notice before entry under MCA § 70-24-303.

With a poverty rate of 25.9% and renters making up 38.9% of households, Big Horn County's numbers reward careful tenant screening at every price point, a dynamic that shows up differently across the 8 cities in the grid above.