Pondera County, Montana Eviction Risk: Very Low

Pondera County, Montana scores 1.9/10 (Low) on the EvictionRiskMap eviction-risk scale, placing it in the middle third of the state at rank 31 of 56 Montana eviction laws counties, meaning 30 counties carry higher risk and 25 are considered more landlord-friendly. For landlords and investors sizing up this market, that average tells a reassuring story: operating conditions here lean in your favor, with a relatively low pressure environment across a county of roughly 4,158 residents and an average rent of $904 per month.

The intra-county spread runs from 1.6 to 2.2, a narrow band that reflects a broadly consistent risk profile across 14 tracked cities. Rent burden averages 27.7% of income, a figure that sits at a moderate level and generally correlates with stable rent payment behavior. Investors considering single-family or small multi-unit assets in this rural Montana county will find the structural conditions comparatively manageable.

The cities inside Pondera County

The highest-risk locations in the county are New Miami Colony and Santa Rita, each scoring 2.2/10, followed closely by Birch Creek Colony and Little Browning at 2.1/10. New Miami Colony has a population of 330, and Birch Creek Colony and Little Browning serve populations of 121 and 102 respectively, meaning these are very small communities where a handful of troubled tenancies can shift local risk dynamics noticeably.

The county seat and largest city, Conrad (population 2,618), scores 1.9/10, right at the county average, making it a relatively stable anchor for landlords with multi-property portfolios. Valier (population 573) and Dupuyer score 1.8/10, while Brady and Rockport Colony come in at the low end at 1.7 and 1.6/10 respectively. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here: a landlord operating in Rockport Colony faces a meaningfully different environment than one holding units in New Miami Colony, even though both sit within the same county lines.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Pondera County operates under Montana state law, specifically MCA § 70-24 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). For non-payment of rent or a lease violation, the required notice period is just 3 days. End-of-term no-cause terminations require 30 days notice. Montana does not require just cause for most terminations and the state preempts local rent control, so no rent cap applies here. Understanding the Montana eviction process from notice through lockout is essential before acquiring rental property in the county.

If a tenant contests the eviction, expect timelines of 45 to 120 days. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days. Total out-of-pocket costs range 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 if you retain counsel. Reviewing Montana eviction costs in full before your first filing will prevent budget surprises. Landlords should also note that Montana requires 24 hours notice before entering a tenant's unit under MCA § 70-24-303.

With an average poverty rate of 25.6% and a renter share of 33.5%, Pondera County carries meaningful underlying economic stress despite its low overall risk score; the city-level breakdown in the grid above shows exactly where that stress concentrates.