Mercer County, North Dakota Eviction Risk: Low

Mercer County sits in west-central North Dakota, anchored by the energy economy of the Knife River basin. With a countywide eviction risk score of 3.3/10 (Low), it ranks 32nd of 53 counties statewide -- placing it squarely in the middle of North Dakota by risk. Roughly 22.9% of county residents rent their homes, a share well below the national average, and the average asking rent of $1,028 per month produces a rent burden of 32.4% for renter households -- a figure that climbs toward stress territory but remains below the severe thresholds common in western boomtown markets. The county's 10.7% poverty rate is consistent with neighboring rural counties and does not itself drive elevated eviction pressure, though it narrows the margin renters have when income disruptions hit.

Scores across Mercer County's seven incorporated places span from 3.1 to 3.4/10, a relatively tight band that reflects both the county's modest rental market and consistent application of state law. Beulah, the county seat and largest community at 3,040 residents, scores 3.4/10. Hazen, the second-largest city at 2,453 people and the county's main commercial hub for the Antelope Valley area, comes in at 3.2/10 -- one of the higher readings in the county, consistent with its slightly denser rental inventory and higher turnover tied to power plant employment cycles. Hebron (population 677) scores 3.2/10, while Stanton (470 residents) registers 3.1/10. Golden Valley (258 residents) scores 3.2/10. Zap, the smallest incorporated place in the county at roughly 200 residents, posts the lowest risk reading in the county at 3.2/10. At the top of the local range, the small community of Dodge (109 residents) holds the county's highest individual score at 3.2/10, though its tiny rental stock means that score is derived from a thin sample and should be read with appropriate caution.

North Dakota's eviction framework under N.D.C.C. § 47-16 (Leasing of Real Property) is landlord-permissive by national standards. The state does not require just cause to terminate a tenancy, carries no rent control or rent stabilization laws, and preempts any local jurisdiction from enacting either. A non-payment or lease-violation notice requires only 3 days before a landlord may file in district court. Court filing fees run $75 to $150, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $125, and an uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 40 days. Contested matters extend to 45 to 100 days. Attorney costs for a landlord-side eviction typically fall between $500 and $2,500 depending on complexity. The North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights handles fair housing complaints; source-of-income is not a protected class under state law, giving landlords flexibility in tenant screening criteria that many other states have curtailed. The habitability floor is codified at N.D.C.C. § 47-16-13.1, and retaliation protections for tenants appear at N.D.C.C. § 47-16-17.1. Together, these statutory features keep Mercer County in the Low tier -- reflecting a regulatory environment that is comparatively straightforward for landlords operating here.

Mercer County's 3.3/10 risk score reflects a small, stable rental market with low regulatory overhead. The county's 22.9% renter share keeps absolute eviction volumes modest, and North Dakota eviction laws's permissive eviction statutes mean cases that do arise resolve quickly -- typically within 21 to 40 days uncontested -- limiting landlord carrying-cost exposure. Scores range from 3.1 in Zap to 3.4 in Dodge, with the largest rental populations in Beulah eviction risk and Hazen eviction risk clustering near the county average.