Holmes County, Ohio Eviction Risk: Very Low

Holmes County sits in the heart of Ohio's Amish Country, a largely rural landscape of small towns, working farms, and tight-knit communities. With a population of roughly 9,812 residents and a renter share of 34.9%, the county's rental market operates on a notably different scale than Ohio eviction laws's urban centers. The county's eviction risk score of 2.3/10 (Very Low) places it at rank 82nd of 88 Ohio counties - meaning only 6 counties in the state carry a lower risk profile for landlords. That standing reflects both the area's modest economic pressures and Ohio's landlord-favorable statutory framework under ORC § 5321.

Across the county's 12 tracked communities, risk scores range from 1.7 to 2.7. The county seat, Millersburg (pop. 3,206), sits at 2.3/10 - roughly in line with the county average. At the lower end, Fredericksburg scores 1.7/10 and Berlin scores 1.9/10, both reflecting very limited renter-protection activity and small, stable rental inventories. On the higher end, Killbuck (2.7/10) and Lake Buckhorn (2.7/10) represent the county's top-risk outliers - communities where a combination of lower incomes and tighter housing stock pushes risk metrics upward. Walnut Creek comes in at 2.6/10, driven partly by tourism-adjacent housing demand that can strain affordability for year-round renters.

The county's average rent of $913 per month is well below Ohio's urban averages, yet the 29.2% rent burden still signals that a meaningful share of renters are stretching their budgets. Poverty sits at 8.6% - low by statewide standards - and the absence of local rent control (Ohio's preemption statute bars municipal rent caps statewide) means landlords operate under consistent, predictable rules throughout the county. Ohio requires only a 3-day notice for nonpayment of rent (ORC § 1923.04), court filing fees run $160-$250, and an uncontested eviction can clear in as few as 21 days. These factors combine to keep Holmes County's risk score well below the statewide average of 2.7/10, making it one of the more operationally predictable counties for landlords in northeastern Ohio.

Holmes County's Very Low eviction risk reflects a stable rural rental market: low poverty (8.6%), modest average rents ($913/mo), and no local rent-control overlay. Ohio eviction laws's 3-day notice rule and streamlined court process under ORC § 5321 keep procedural exposure limited across all 12 communities tracked in the county.