Marion County, Ohio Eviction Risk: Low

Marion County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.9/10 (Low) across its 8 incorporated places, a figure that places it among the higher-risk markets in Ohio. Statewide, only 7 of the state's 88 counties score higher, putting Marion County in the top tenth of the risk distribution, a meaningful signal for landlords and investors doing due diligence. Average rent runs $854 per month, and with a rent-burden rate of 30.7% and a renter share of 40.8% of households, the tenant pool is financially stretched by any standard measure.

Within the county, conditions are not uniform. The intra-county score range spans from 3.5 at the most landlord-friendly end to 4.9 at the highest-risk end, a spread wide enough to make a material difference in underwriting assumptions, tenant-quality expectations, and vacancy recovery timelines. Investors treating Marion County as a single undifferentiated market will price risk incorrectly.

The cities inside Marion County

The city of Marion anchors the county with a population of 35,669, making it by far the largest market and also the riskiest at 4.9/10. New Bloomington (3.2/10) and Waldo (2/10) follow closely, both sitting above the county average. Green Camp scores 2.4/10, rounding out the cluster of above-average-risk communities. These four cities together represent the operating environments where eviction exposure is most pronounced and where landlords should build the most conservative cash-flow cushions.

On the other end, Prospect scores 2.3/10, the lowest in the county, despite a population of just 1,157, a small but notably calmer rental market by the numbers. La Rue (2.6/10), Morral (2.6/10), and Caledonia (2.4/10) all fall below the county average as well, offering relatively more predictable landlord-tenant dynamics. The pattern here is consistent with what risk data shows across Ohio: even within a single county boundary, a few miles of distance can shift the risk profile by a full scoring tier.

State-level laws that apply here

Under ORC § 5321 (Landlords and Tenants), Ohio gives landlords relatively direct remedies compared with many states. For nonpayment of rent or a material lease violation, the required notice period is just 3 days under ORC § 1923.04. Month-to-month holdover tenancies require 30 days notice under ORC § 5321.17, and a fixed-term lease that simply expires requires no additional notice at all. Ohio does not require just cause for termination and, critically, the state preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so Marion County municipalities cannot layer on rent caps or additional eviction restrictions above the state floor. Understanding the full Ohio eviction process, from notice through court filing and lockout, is essential before acquiring any rental asset here.

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 whether the case is contested. An uncontested matter resolves in roughly 21 to 45 days; a contested case can stretch to 45 to 120 days. Reviewing Ohio eviction costs in full before penciling in projections is prudent, especially in the higher-scoring cities where contested proceedings are more likely. Landlords should also be aware that Ohio requires 24 hours notice before entry under ORC § 5321.

With a poverty rate of 21.5% and more than four in ten households renting, Marion County's baseline risk drivers are structural rather than cyclical, which is why score differences across the eight cities in the grid above deserve close attention before committing capital to any specific market.