Treasure County, Montana Eviction Risk: Very Low

Treasure County, Montana eviction laws posts a county average eviction-risk score of 1.9/10 (Low), placing it in the middle third of the state, with 29 Montana counties carrying more risk and 26 carrying less. Spread across just 2 incorporated places and a total population of roughly 450 residents, the county is one of the most sparsely settled rental markets in Montana eviction laws, and day-to-day operating conditions reflect that: vacancy pressure is limited, the average rent runs $497 per month, and the average rent burden sits at a relatively modest 18.2% of income, suggesting tenants here are not, on average, straining to cover housing costs.

That said, the county-level average obscures a meaningful spread within its borders. Individual city scores range from 1.5 to 2.5, a full point of separation that matters when you are underwriting a specific property. Landlords should treat the 1.9 average as a starting point, not a guarantee, and drill down to the city-level data before making commitments. The renter share stands at 25.8% of households, a relatively thin tenant pool that can make lease-up slower but also tends to keep eviction volumes low.

The cities inside Treasure County

The highest-risk location in the county is Custer, scoring 2.5/10 with a population of 199. While still a Low-risk designation in absolute terms, Custer sits a full point above the county's low end and warrants more careful tenant screening given its smaller renter base. At the opposite end of the county, Hysham scores 1.5/10 with a population of 251, making it the county seat and the most landlord-favorable market in Treasure County.

The gap between Hysham and Custer is a useful reminder that eviction risk is hyper-local. Two towns fewer than 20 miles apart, both with populations under 300, can still diverge by a full score point. Investors evaluating rural Montana should always look at individual city scores rather than relying on the county average alone.

State-level laws that apply here

All residential tenancies in Treasure County fall under MCA § 70-24 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). For non-payment of rent or a lease violation, Montana law requires only a 3-day notice to quit or cure, one of the shorter cure windows in the region. A no-cause termination on a month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days notice. Understanding the full Montana eviction process from notice through writ is straightforward compared to many states, but you still need to budget for costs: court filing fees run $90 to $170, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $125, and attorney fees typically range $500 to $2,500 depending on whether the case is contested. An uncontested eviction resolves in roughly 21 to 45 days; a contested case can stretch to 45 to 120 days. Montana eviction costs can therefore total several thousand dollars when legal representation is required, which is a meaningful figure relative to the county's average monthly rent of $497.

Montana does not impose rent control, and state law preempts any local government from enacting it. Just-cause eviction is not required under Montana state law, giving landlords flexibility to non-renew without stating a reason. Landlords should also review Montana tenant protections and Montana security deposit limits before drafting leases, as MCA § 70-24 sets specific habitability standards under MCA § 70-24-303 and limits landlord entry to situations where at least 24 hours notice is provided. Source of income is not a protected class under state fair housing enforcement handled by the Montana Human Rights Bureau, though standard federal protected classes apply.

With an average poverty rate of 18% among residents and a renter share of 25.8%, Treasure County is a thin but low-stress rental market; the city grid above breaks out individual risk scores for Hysham and Custer so you can pinpoint where within the county conditions are most favorable.