Carroll County, Tennessee Eviction Risk: Very Low

Carroll County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.2/10 (Low), but that headline figure deserves a closer look before you draw conclusions. Across the county's 10 rated cities, scores run from 1.9 to 2.9, a range that spans nearly a full point on the scale. In Tennessee overall, 26 counties score higher (riskier) and 68 score lower, placing Carroll County in the higher-risk third of the state despite its Low label. Landlords should read that as a workable market with pockets that demand careful tenant screening and lease enforcement, not as a blanket green light.

The economic backdrop reinforces the need for selectivity. Average rent across the county sits at $762 per month, average rent burden runs 30% of income, and the poverty rate reaches 20%. That combination, modest rents against meaningful household financial strain, compresses the buffer between a tenant falling behind and a landlord having to act. The renter share of 34.4% is broad enough to support steady demand, but underscores why lease terms and payment history matter here more than in wealthier suburban counties.

The cities inside Carroll County

At the top of the risk range, McKenzie (population 5,631) and Huntingdon (population 4,441) both score 2.9/10, making them the county's two largest cities and its two highest-risk markets simultaneously. Investors concentrating holdings in either city should build in conservative vacancy buffers and lean on rigorous income verification. McLemoresville comes in at 2.2/10, essentially matching the county average, while Bruceton and Hollow Rock each sit at 2.7/10.

On the friendlier end, Clarksburg scores just 2.4/10, the lowest figure recorded in the county, followed by Atwood and Trezevant at 2.6/10 each. The near-half-point gap between Clarksburg and McKenzie is a meaningful difference in expected collections friction and tenant stability. Risk is genuinely hyper-local here: a landlord comparing two properties a few miles apart in Carroll County could be looking at materially different operating profiles.

State-level laws that apply here

Carroll County's population falls under 75,000, which means Tennessee's non-URLTA framework governs evictions. Under TCA Title 29 Chapter 18, a landlord must give 30 days notice before filing, rather than the shorter URLTA timelines that apply in larger counties. For reference, URLTA counties require only 7 days notice for nonpayment of rent (TCA § 66-28-505 as amended by SB-1088) and 14 days for a material breach. A full picture of the Tennessee eviction process, including which counties fall under each framework, appears in the state guide. Once you file, an uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 45 days; a contested matter can stretch to 45 to 120 days.

On Tennessee eviction costs, expect a court filing fee of $200 to $300, a sheriff lockout fee of $40 to $150, and attorney fees ranging from $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity. Tennessee does not require just cause for eviction, and state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, meaning no city inside Carroll County can cap rents. Source of income (e.g., housing vouchers) is not a protected class under state law, though federal fair housing rules still apply through the Tennessee Human Rights Commission.

With a poverty rate of 20% and a renter share of 34.4%, Carroll County is a market where landlord fundamentals matter: the city grid above breaks out every rated jurisdiction so you can compare risk scores side by side before committing capital.