Stutsman County, North Dakota Eviction Risk: Very Low

Stutsman County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.1/10 (Low) across its 9 cities, placing it among the higher-risk counties in North Dakota despite the low absolute number. That ranking reflects a specific reality: with rank 5 of 53 North Dakota counties, only 4 counties in the state score higher, meaning landlords here face more exposure than roughly 90 percent of the state's counties. Average rent sits at $770 per month against a rent-burden rate of 31%, and renters make up 43.9% of the occupied housing in the county. Those figures suggest a tenant base that is stretched but not severely so, and a rental market that functions with manageable churn under normal conditions.

The intra-county score range runs from 1.3 to 2.1, a spread that matters operationally. Where you own property inside Stutsman County affects your real exposure more than the county average alone suggests. Investors evaluating multiple submarkets should treat city-level scores as the primary input, with the county average as a baseline orientation only.

The cities inside Stutsman County

Jamestown is the county seat and by far its largest city, with a population of 15,787 and a risk score of 2.1/10, matching the county average. It is also the county's highest-risk city, which is worth noting given that it concentrates the great majority of the county's 17,103 residents and most of its rental inventory. Cleveland scores 1.6/10, and both Medina and Woodworth come in at 1.3/10. These four cities cluster at the upper end of the county's risk range and account for the bulk of available units.

At the lower end, Spiritwood Lake and Buchanan each score 1.7/10, the lowest marks in the county. Kensal reaches 1.6/10, and Gackle sits at 1.8/10. The difference between a 1.1 and a 1.8 in this county is meaningful at the margin. Risk in Stutsman County is hyper-local: two properties separated by a short drive can sit in meaningfully different operating environments.

State-level laws that apply here

North Dakota law governs all residential tenancies in Stutsman County under N.D.C.C. § 47-16 (Leasing of Real Property). For nonpayment of rent or a lease violation, landlords must serve a 3-day notice before filing. Terminating a month-to-month tenancy at end of term requires a 30-day no-cause notice. North Dakota does not require just cause for eviction and the state preempts local rent-control ordinances, so no city in the county can impose rent caps independently. The North Dakota eviction process runs 21 to 40 days for uncontested cases and 45 to 100 days if contested. Court filing fees range from $75 to $150, sheriff lockout fees from $40 to $125, and attorney fees from $500 to $2,500, meaning a contested eviction with legal representation can cost a landlord between $615 and $2,775 in hard costs before attorney fees are added, or up to roughly $2,775 at the high end of out-of-pocket expenses before counsel. Reviewing the full North Dakota eviction costs breakdown and the North Dakota tenant protections guide will give landlords a complete picture of their obligations and exposure before signing a lease in this market.

With a poverty rate of 13.7% and renters representing 43.9% of occupied housing, Stutsman County's risk profile is driven heavily by conditions in Jamestown eviction risk; the city-level grid above breaks down scores for each of the county's 9 cities so landlords can pinpoint where within the county their specific asset sits on the risk spectrum.