Hutchinson County, South Dakota Eviction Risk: Very Low

Hutchinson County scores 1.3/10 (Low risk) across its 14 incorporated places, putting it in the middle third of South Dakota eviction laws counties by eviction risk. With 42 of the state's 66 counties rated riskier and only 23 rated more landlord-friendly, this is a measured, stable market rather than a standout in either direction. Average rent runs $622 per month, rent burden sits at 23% of income, and the renter share of households is 25.7%, all figures that point to a modest, rural rental economy where demand is steady but thin.

The intra-county spread is narrow, running from 0.9 to 1.4, which means even the highest-risk corners of the county remain well within the Low tier. For landlords and investors sizing up South Dakota rural markets, Hutchinson County presents few structural red flags, though the small total population of 6,212 residents does cap rent roll ceilings and limits the tenant pool for any individual property.

The cities inside Hutchinson County

The highest scores in the county belong to Freeman (pop. 1,565, score 1.4/10) and Tripp (pop. 574, score 1.4/10), which share the top spot. Parkston, the county's largest community at 1,874 residents, comes in at 1.3/10, the same as the county average, and represents the broadest tenant base available locally. Menno also scores 1.3/10 with a population of 653.

At the lower end, Maxwell Colony, Tschetter Colony, and Kaylor each score 0.9/10, the floor for the county and among the quietest rental markets in the region. Scotland sits at 1.2/10. The practical lesson is that even within a single Low-risk county, risk is hyper-local: a portfolio spread across Freeman and Parkston carries meaningfully different demand and vacancy dynamics than one concentrated in Kaylor or Tschetter Colony.

State-level laws that apply here

South Dakota eviction laws landlord-tenant law under SDCL § 43-32 (Lease of Real Property) is among the more landlord-direct frameworks in the region. For non-payment of rent or a lease violation, the required notice period is just 3 days. A no-cause end-of-term termination requires 30 days notice. South Dakota eviction laws does not require just cause for eviction and, importantly, the state preempts any local rent control ordinance, so no municipality in Hutchinson County can impose caps that conflict with state policy. Understanding the full South Dakota eviction laws eviction process is essential before filing: an uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 40 days, while a contested matter can run 45 to 100 days.

South Dakota eviction costs vary by case complexity. Court filing fees range from $95 to $180, sheriff lockout fees from $40 to $150, and attorney fees from $500 to $2,500, depending on whether the tenant contests the action. South Dakota security deposit limits and South Dakota tenant protections are governed at the state level, and source-of-income is not a protected class under state fair-housing law, giving landlords additional screening flexibility compared to higher-regulation states.

With an average poverty rate of 14.2% and a renter share of 25.7% across the county, the tenant population here is limited in size but relatively stable; the city grid above breaks down scores for each of the 14 places so investors can target the specific communities that match their risk tolerance and portfolio strategy.