Eviction Risk Score
Low
#67
of 100 NC counties
4.1 / 10
#67 of 100 counties in North Carolina for landlord eviction risk.
County brief·Updated June 3, 2026
McDowell County, North Carolina Eviction Risk: Moderate
5 incorporated cities and unincorporated areas. The county Eviction Risk Score is held aloft by the city of Marion (4.3) and a small number of dense urban cores. Rent-control coverage varies by city.
In 2026
Risk score
4.1
MODERATE
Ranked #67 of 100 NC counties
11k residents · 5 cities · 12 tracts
50-yr Eviction Risk Score history
1976 to 2026 · pop-weighted from cities
Min1.9
Average3.0
Now4.1
Key metrics
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Tenant beats landlord23.5%/ 100 outcomesIn court-decided eviction outcomes for McDowell County, NC, tenants prevail in roughly 23.5% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses and longer calendars.
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Timeline43dfiling → judgmentFrom the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in McDowell County, NC until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 43 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent for landlords.
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Cost range$1.3–4.7klegal + lost rentA typical eviction in McDowell County, NC costs landlords $1,325 to $4,716 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent.
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Average rent$82029% stretched on rentAverage gross rent in McDowell County, NC is $820 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey. 29% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent.
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Renters43.6%of households43.6% of occupied housing units in McDowell County, NC are renter-occupied. A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings and a more active rental market.
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Poverty21.7%8.1% unemp.21.7% of McDowell County, NC residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 8.1%. Both feed the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
How McDowell County ranks in North Carolina
Cost of living
Moderate
#31
of 51 states (statewide)
94.3 index
North Carolina ranks #31 of 51 states on overall cost of living (5.7% cheaper than the U.S. avg).
Housing services cost
Moderate
#30
of 51 states (statewide)
81.4 index
North Carolina ranks #30 of 51 states on housing services (18.6% cheaper than the U.S. avg).
Income spent on rent
Moderate
#54
of 100 NC counties
30.3% of income
#54 of 100 counties in North Carolina on % of income spent on rent.
Cities in McDowell County
Sorted by Eviction Risk Score · highest first
| City↕ | Population↕ | Risk↕ | % income on rent↕ | Average rent↕ | Lean↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Marion | 7,579 | 4.3 | 27.6% | $762 | Rep |
| 002 | Nebo | 1,670 | 3.3 | 34.2% | $1,087 | Rep |
| 003 | West Marion | 1,066 | 4.3 | 33.3% | $866 | Rep |
| 004 | Old Fort | 555 | 4.2 | 25.4% | $818 | Rep |
| 005 | Glenwood | 226 | 3.1 | 31.2% | $562 | Rep |
County heatmap
Local landlord context
One county, multiple regulatory regimes.
McDowell County spans 5 cities serving approximately 11,096 residents. The average landlord eviction risk across the county is 4.1/10. The county voted Republican by 48.0 points in 2020.
Risk varies city-by-city. The table above shows exact scores, population, and average rent for every municipality. Click any city for the full sub-score breakdown, including local political climate, rent-control exposure, tenant organizing strength, and typical eviction cost and timeline.
Eviction filings in McDowell County
In June 2023, 24 eviction filings were recorded in McDowell County — 105.5% of the historical average (near average).1
- 24Jun 2023
- 105.5%of historical avg
- 4,788Renter households
- 14.0%Poverty rate
Last 24 months of filings
2021-07 — 2023-06
Historical eviction filings in McDowell County
From 2000 to 2018, eviction filings in McDowell County increased 49%. The peak was 275 filings in 2018.2
- 1852000
- 275Peak (2018)
- 2752018
Annual filings 2000–2018
Data unavailable after 2018 due to California sealed records law
Data covers 2000–2018. California courts sealed eviction records beginning in 2019 under AB 2819, ending statewide tracking.
Peer counties in North Carolina
Peer county
Montgomery County eviction risk
4.1
/ 10 · Moderate
Pop. 8.7K
Peer county
Davie County eviction risk
4.1
/ 10 · Moderate
Pop. 12.1K
Peer county
Duplin County eviction risk
4
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 13.5K
Peer county
Transylvania County eviction risk
3.9
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 8.6K
Where eviction risk concentrates in McDowell County
Top cities by population
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about McDowell County
Q1
Why is rent-to-income ratio 29.1% in McDowell County?
Rent-to-income ratio of 29.1% reflects the ratio of average gross rent to average household income across 5 cities in McDowell County.
Q2
What court hears evictions in McDowell County?
North Carolina state court hears unlawful detainer or summary process actions in McDowell County. See the North Carolina eviction laws eviction-process guide for court name and procedure.
Q3
Does McDowell County have just-cause eviction?
Just-cause eviction is determined by state law. North Carolina eviction laws framework applies; see the North Carolina eviction laws tenant-protections guide.