Steuben County, New York Eviction Risk: High

Steuben County carries an average eviction-risk score of 7.8/10 (High) across its 19 scored cities, a rating that puts meaningful pressure on landlords and investors operating in this corner of New York. With 38.3% of residents renting and an average rent burden of 27.4%, a notable share of tenants is already stretching their budgets, which feeds into elevated delinquency exposure for rental portfolios of any size.

The intra-county spread runs from 7 to 8, a 1.4-point gap that matters considerably when you are choosing between submarkets. That range signals Steuben County is not a monolith, but the floor is still squarely in elevated territory, and landlords who treat the county as a single operating environment will underestimate local variation. Statewide, the county ranks 43rd of 60 New York counties, meaning 42 counties are riskier and only 17 are less risky, placing Steuben in the lower-risk third of the state, though its High label reflects real strain that still demands active risk management.

The cities inside Steuben County

The highest-risk city in the county is Hornell, scoring 8/10 with a population of 10,643, making it both the largest city and the riskiest. Hornell (population 8,152) and Painted Post each land at 7.8/10, grouping them in the same high-risk tier. Bath (population 5,560) follows at 7.8/10. These four cities collectively represent the county's densest renter concentrations and should be underwritten with that additional risk premium in mind.

The lower end of the county's range is anchored by cities scoring closer to 6.3, with Riverside coming in at 7.6/10 as one of the more favorable markets relative to the county average. Even the most landlord-friendly corners of Steuben County remain above 6, so investors expecting a low-friction market will need to look carefully at each city's specific score rather than relying on the county average alone. Risk in Steuben County is genuinely hyper-local.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Steuben County operates under New York eviction risk state law, primarily N.Y. RPL § 226 et seq. and RPAPL § 711. Notice requirements vary by situation: a nonpayment case requires a 14-day notice under RPAPL § 711(2), while a material lease violation triggers a 10-day notice under RPAPL § 711(1). Holdover notices scale with tenancy length, from 30 days for tenancies under one year up to 90 days for tenancies of two years or more, all governed by RPL § 226-c. New York eviction costs add up fast: court filing fees run $45 to $210, sheriff lockout fees add $50 to $200, and attorney fees typically range from $1,000 to $4,000, so a contested case can escalate substantially before it resolves. For a full breakdown see the New York eviction process guide.

Just-cause eviction is required under state law, meaning landlords cannot remove a tenant simply by non-renewing without a qualifying reason. Rent regulation varies by locality rather than a single statewide cap. Uncontested cases resolve in 30 to 90 days while contested proceedings can stretch to 90 to 210 days, a timeline that compounds carrying costs considerably. Landlords should review New York security deposit limits and New York tenant protections before drafting any lease in this county, as the statutory framework is among the more tenant-protective in the country.

With an average poverty rate of 15.4% across the county, landlords should account for above-average collection risk in their underwriting; the city grid above breaks down scores city by city so you can pinpoint the specific submarkets that fit your risk tolerance.