In court-decided eviction outcomes for Clark, PA, tenants prevail in roughly 28.2% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
73d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Clark, PA until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 73 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$3.4–6.4k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Clark, PA costs landlords $3,447 to $6,407 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$688
14% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Clark, PA is $688 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 14% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
14.1%
of households
14.1% of occupied housing units in Clark, PA are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
6.2%
5.9% unemp.
6.2% of Clark, PA residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 5.9%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +30.2% (2024)
4.3
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
4.3
State political climate
Pennsylvania legislature & governorship
3.4
Economic stress
6.2% poverty · 5.9% unemp.
5.5
Supply constraint
$688 average · 14.1% renters
2.9
Rent Control risk
13.8% of income on rent
1.4
Eviction process difficulty
73 days filing → judgment
3.7
Tenant organizing strength
14.1% renters
2.9
Housing court bias
County bench composition
2.5
Geographic context
Risk heat across Clark and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Clark compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Mercer County
Elevated
#9of 22 cities
#9 of 22 cities in Mercer County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Pennsylvania
Elevated
#756of 1,952 cities
#756 of 1,952 cities in Pennsylvania for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
3.9
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 3.9/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend+1.4 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
73d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $688/mo. A contested eviction takes 73 days and costs $3,447–$6,407 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
14.1%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 585 residents, 14.1% rent. 14% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 6.2% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
4.3
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 4.3 and 4.3 (GOP margin +30.2% (2024)). State climate at 3.4, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
3.4
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 3.4/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 3.7, housing court bias 2.5, rent-control risk 1.4. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-1.3 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
5.5
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 5.5. Supply constraint: 2.9. The numbers behind those: 6.2% poverty, 5.9% unemployment, 14% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Clark sits in the slow & expensive quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Clark · 73d · ~$4.9k all-in ($67/day) · score 3.9National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Clark, Pennsylvania, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 3.9/10 (LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Clark is a city of 585 residents where 14.1% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 13.8% of income on rent. At an average rent of $688/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Clark eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 3.7/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Clark closes 73 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Clark's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 2.5/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Clark runs $3,447 to $6,407 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 73 days of typical timeline and $688/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 2.9/10 in Clark, and the city has limited rent control exposure (1.4/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In Pennsylvania, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Clark: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match Pennsylvania's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $6,407 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Clark
Trap · 1.4/10
The 4.5/10 score weighs nine sub-factors including political climate, court bias, supply constraint, and tenant organizing strength. Clark's rent-control-risk sub-score is 1.4/10, driven by state preemption and market dynamics.
04Eviction filings
Live filings tracking · Eviction Lab
Princeton Eviction Lab Tracking System, state-level (no county tracker available). Last update 2026-05-01.
In the most recent month, 8,054 eviction cases were filed across the tracker's coverage area, 0.94× the historical baseline (below baseline). Past 12 months: 108,576 filings. Pandemic-era cumulative: 577,537.
8,054Past month
108,576Past 12 months
0.94×vs baseline (past mo)
Notice requirement: at least ten days notice (in some cases more). Filing fee: $162 filing fee on average.
Last 36 months of filings2023-05-01 – 2026-04-01
Filings dropped 12% over the past 12 months.
Source: Eviction Lab Tracking System, Princeton University. Open Data Commons Attribution license.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
What if my Clark tenant just disappears?
If your tenant abandons the property and stops paying rent, you still need to follow proper legal procedures to regain possession. You can't just change the locks. Usually, after a period of non-payment and evidence of abandonment (like utilities being shut off or property removed), you can serve a notice of abandonment. If they don't respond, you can then proceed with an eviction filing based on lease violation and abandonment. It's best to consult an attorney to ensure you don't illegally evict a tenant who might still have a legal claim to the property.
Q2
Can I raise the rent in Clark, PA?
Yes, Pennsylvania does not have statewide rent control, and neither does Clark. This means you are generally free to raise the rent to market rates. However, you must provide proper notice to the tenant, typically 30 days for month-to-month leases, before the increase takes effect. Always check your lease agreement for specific clauses regarding rent increases. For more information, see our Pennsylvania rent control rules.
Q3
What if my tenant refuses to leave after the judge rules in my favor?
If the Magisterial District Judge rules for you and the tenant still doesn't leave after the appeal period (usually 10 days), you must then file for an Order for Possession (Writ of Possession). This order directs the constable or sheriff to physically remove the tenant and their belongings. You cannot remove them yourself. This is the final step in the legal eviction process.
Q4
Are there any specific tenant protections I should know about in Clark?
While Pennsylvania generally favors landlords more than some other states, tenants still have rights. For example, you must maintain a habitable living environment. There are also rules around security deposits, as mentioned. Clark does not have specific local tenant protections beyond state law, and there's no statewide source-of-income protection. To understand the broader context, review our Pennsylvania tenant protections guide.
Q5
Can I evict a tenant for having unauthorized guests or pets?
Yes, if your lease agreement explicitly prohibits unauthorized guests or pets, or limits their duration, then having them can be considered a lease violation. You would typically serve a 15-day notice to cure or quit for such violations. If the tenant does not rectify the situation (e.g., remove the pet or guest), you can then proceed with an eviction filing. Make sure your lease is clear on these points.
Q6
What is the "economic stress" score of 5.5/10 mean for me?
The economic stress sub-score of 5.5/10 for Clark, PA, suggests there's a moderate level of financial pressure on tenants in the area. This doesn't mean everyone is struggling, but it indicates a higher likelihood of tenants facing job loss, reduced income, or unexpected expenses that could impact their ability to pay rent. For you, this means tenant screening becomes even more critical, and having a clear, consistent rent collection policy is essential. Be prepared for occasional payment issues, but don't let "economic stress" be an excuse for not following your lease terms.
A 3.9/10 places Clark in the 63rd percentile of Pennsylvania cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Clark (3.9/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
