Williams County, North Dakota Eviction Risk: Very Low

Williams County carries a county-wide average eviction-risk score of 1.6/10, placing it in the Low risk tier, yet that headline number deserves context for anyone operating rental property here. Ranked 9th of 53 counties in North Dakota eviction laws, the county sits in the higher-risk third of the state: 8 counties score worse, while 44 are more landlord-friendly. Across all 10 cities in the county, scores range from 0.9 to 1.6, meaning even the county's quietest corners are still well within manageable territory, but landlords should not treat the county as a monolith.

The broader operating picture is worth noting. Average rent runs $1,104 per month, rent burden sits at 24% of renter household income, and roughly 51.6% of occupied housing units are renter-occupied. Those figures describe a market with a substantial rental population and, at 24% burden, relatively moderate payment stress compared to high-cost metros. The county's 8.9% poverty rate is also on the lower end for a market this size, which generally supports rent-collection stability.

The cities inside Williams County

The county's largest city by far is Williston, with a population of 28,056 and a risk score of 1.6/10. Given that Williston accounts for the overwhelming majority of the county's 31,570 total residents, its score essentially anchors the county average. Tioga (pop. 1,657, score 1.6/10) and Ray (pop. 714, score 1.6/10) match Williston's score, making the upper tier of the county's cities uniform in risk profile. Smaller communities including Grenora and Trenton each score 1.4/10, while Epping, Long Creek, and Springbrook come in at 1.0/10. At the far low end, Blacktail and Alamo both score 0.9/10, representing the most landlord-favorable conditions in the county.

The takeaway for investors is that risk is genuinely hyper-local. A portfolio concentrated in Williston carries a different profile than one spread across the county's smallest towns, even though all of these communities fall in the Low risk tier overall.

State-level laws that apply here

Every rental in Williams County operates under North Dakota eviction laws state law, primarily N.D.C.C. § 47-16 (Leasing of Real Property). For nonpayment of rent or a lease violation, landlords may serve a 3-day notice to quit. Ending a tenancy without cause requires a 30-day notice. Once a case is filed, uncontested proceedings typically resolve in 21 to 40 days; contested matters can run 45 to 100 days. Understanding the North Dakota eviction process in full is essential before assuming a best-case timeline will apply to any given case.

On the cost side, court filing fees range from $75 to $150, sheriff lockout fees from $40 to $125, and attorney fees from $500 to $2,500, depending on complexity. North Dakota eviction costs therefore span a wide band depending on whether a tenant contests the action. The state does not require just cause for eviction, imposes no rent cap, and preempts local rent-control ordinances, all of which are favorable conditions for landlords and investors evaluating long-term operating risk here.

With a poverty rate of 8.9% and a renter share of 51.6%, Williams County has a deep rental market anchored heavily by Williston eviction risk; review the city-by-city scores in the grid above to identify which communities best match your investment criteria.