Estimated values: The U.S. Census suppresses field-level data for small places. Estimated from constituent census tracts, pop-weighted from real underlying ACS data.
Tenant beats landlord
21.7%
/ 100 outcomes
In court-decided eviction outcomes for Arcadia University, PA, tenants prevail in roughly 21.7% 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
72d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Arcadia University, PA until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 72 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$2.6-7.7k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Arcadia University, PA costs landlords $2,633 to $7,662 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$1,894
43% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Arcadia University, PA is $1,894 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 43% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
50.8%
of households
50.8% of occupied housing units in Arcadia University, 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
14.0%
4.7% unemp.
14.0% of Arcadia University, PA residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 4.7%. 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
Dem margin +22.8% (2024)
8.4
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
8.4
State political climate
Pennsylvania legislature & governorship
3.4
Economic stress
14.0% poverty · 4.7% unemp.
6.4
Supply constraint
$1,894 average · 50.8% renters
3.0
Rent Control risk
43.1% of income on rent
2.2
Eviction process difficulty
72 days filing → judgment
3.3
Tenant organizing strength
50.8% renters
2.5
Housing court bias
County bench composition
2.4
Geographic context
Risk heat across Arcadia University and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Arcadia University compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Montgomery County
Very Low
#57of 67 cities
#57 of 67 cities in Montgomery County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in Pennsylvania
Moderate
#894of 1,952 cities
#894 of 1,952 cities in Pennsylvania for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
4.9
/ 10 · MODERATE
The verdict
A Moderate-tier market.
Composite 4.9/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a sharp climb.
50-yr trend+2.7 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steepening since 2010 · COVID inflection visible
72d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $1,894/mo. A contested eviction takes 72 days and costs $2,633-$7,662 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
50.8%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 792 residents, 50.8% rent. 43% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 14.0% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
8.4
Local + regional
The politics
Strong-tenant coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 8.4 and 8.4 (Dem margin +22.8% (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 3.3, housing court bias 2.4, rent-control risk 2.2. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-1.7 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
6.4
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 6.4. Supply constraint: 3. The numbers behind those: 14.0% poverty, 4.7% unemployment, 43% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Arcadia University sits in the slow & expensive quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Arcadia University · 72d · ~$5.1k all-in ($71/day) · score 4.9National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0-4 4-7 7-10
Landlording in Arcadia University, Pennsylvania, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 4.9/10 (MODERATE 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.
Arcadia University is a city of 792 residents where 50.8% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 43.1% of income on rent. At an average rent of $1,894/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 Arcadia University eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 3.3/10, 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 Arcadia University closes 72 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 Arcadia University's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 2.4/10 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 Arcadia University runs $2,633 to $7,662 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 72 days of typical timeline and $1,894/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 2.5/10 in Arcadia University, and the city has limited rent control exposure (2.2/10). 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 Arcadia University: 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 MODERATE 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 $7,662 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Arcadia University
Trap · PENNSYLVANIA
For state-level context, see the Pennsylvania overview link in the guides section below. The score combines political climate, rent-to-income ratio, court bias, and tenant organizing strength under 68 PS 250.501.
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 tenant claims they lost their job and can't pay?
While you can sympathize, you still need to follow the legal process. Pennsylvania doesn't have statewide just-cause eviction requirements. If they can't pay, you must issue the 10-day pay-or-quit notice. You can offer a payment plan or "cash for keys," but don't let emotions override your business decisions.
Q2
Can I turn off utilities if a tenant won't leave?
Absolutely not. Turning off utilities, changing locks, or removing a tenant's belongings are illegal "self-help" eviction tactics. These actions can land you in serious legal trouble, including fines and lawsuits from the tenant. Always follow the proper court process and let the sheriff handle the lockout.
Q3
How long does an eviction actually take in Arcadia University, PA?
The typical timeline is around 72 days. This includes the notice period, court hearings, and any appeal periods. It can be shorter if the tenant moves out quickly after notice, or longer if there are appeals or delays in court scheduling. Be prepared for it to take the full 72 days or more.
Q4
Do I need an attorney for an eviction?
You are not legally required to have an attorney, especially for the initial Magisterial District Court hearing. However, if the tenant hires an attorney, or if the case becomes complicated, having your own legal representation is highly recommended. An attorney can ensure you follow all procedures correctly and represent your interests effectively.
Q5
What if the tenant leaves belongings behind after an eviction?
Pennsylvania law requires you to store a tenant's abandoned property for a specific period, usually ten days after the lockout, and notify them. If they don't retrieve it, you can then dispose of or sell the items. Don't just throw everything out immediately; there are rules you must follow.
A 4.9/10 places Arcadia University in the 54th 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 risen sharply 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 Arcadia University (4.9/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
