Ashland County, Ohio Eviction Risk: Very Low

Ashland County scores 2.3/10 (Low risk) across its 12 incorporated places, placing it among the more landlord-friendly markets in Ohio eviction laws. With 77 of the state's 88 counties carrying higher eviction-risk scores, only 10 counties statewide are considered less risky, putting Ashland County firmly in the lower-risk third of Ohio. For landlords and investors, that translates to a rental environment where tenant-turnover pressure, rent-burden stress, and eviction frequency are all below the state average, though the county is not uniform.

The intra-county spread runs from 1.9 to 2.5, a 1.5-point gap that matters in practice. Average rent across the county is $853, with renters representing 32.8% of households, and an average rent-burden rate of 27.8%. Those figures suggest a working-class rental base, and a poverty rate of 15.4% is a reminder that some pockets carry meaningful tenant-financial stress even in a county that scores well overall.

The cities inside Ashland County

The highest-risk location in the county is Loudonville, scoring 2.5/10 and home to roughly 3,230 residents. It is the one city that sits near the midpoint of the statewide range and warrants tighter tenant-screening and lease-enforcement discipline. Close behind is the county seat, Ashland, scoring 2.3/10 with a population of 18,911, the largest rental market in the county by a wide margin. Perrysville, Bailey Lakes, and Mifflin each score 2.3/10, occupying a middle band where risk remains manageable but is not negligible.

On the other end, Sullivan scores 2/10, the county's lowest-risk city, followed by Cinnamon Lake at 2.2/10 and Jeromesville at 2.2/10. These smaller communities consistently show lower eviction pressure, though their limited rental inventory can mean fewer acquisition opportunities. The gap between Loudonville and Sullivan underscores how hyper-local eviction risk is even within a single county, and investors should evaluate each city on its own data rather than relying on the county average alone.

State-level laws that apply here

All landlords in Ashland County operate under Ohio state law, specifically ORC § 5321 (Landlords and Tenants). For nonpayment of rent or a material lease violation, Ohio requires only a 3-day notice before filing (ORC § 1923.04). Holdover month-to-month tenants require a 30-day notice under ORC § 5321.17, and a fixed-term lease requires no additional notice upon expiration (ORC § 1923.02). Ohio does not require just cause for non-renewal, and state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so no municipality in Ashland County can cap rents independently. Landlords must provide 24 hours notice before entry under ORC § 5321.04. Understanding the full Ohio eviction process, from notice through judgment and lockout, is essential before acquiring rental units here.

When an eviction does proceed to court, filing fees run $160 to $250, sheriff lockout fees add $50 to $175, and attorney fees typically range from $500 to $3,000 depending on case complexity. An uncontested eviction resolves in roughly 21 to 45 days; a contested case can stretch to 45 to 120 days. Factoring in Ohio eviction costs before underwriting a rental acquisition here is prudent, especially for smaller landlords whose cash flow cannot absorb a multi-month vacancy during litigation.

With a poverty rate of 15.4% and renters making up 32.8% of households, Ashland County's low aggregate score masks real variation across its 12 cities, so use the city-by-city grid above to identify where your specific target market sits before drawing conclusions about operating risk.