What is the eviction risk score for Smithville?

The landlord eviction risk score for Smithville, TN is 5.1 out of 10, rated Moderate risk.

Does Smithville have rent control?

The rent-control risk score for Smithville is 7.5 out of 10.

How long does an eviction take in Smithville?

Typical eviction timeline is about 37 days from notice to writ of possession.

Smithville, TN Eviction Risk Score DeKalb County · Tennessee · Population 5,288 · Updated April 18, 2026

5.1 Moderate

★★☆ Medium confidence

20.3%Tenant-law probabilityi

$1,211–2,811Typical eviction costi

37 daysTypical timelinei

$937HUD 2BR FMR 2025i

$740Median gross renti

33.7%Rent burdeni

45.3%Rentersi

Sub-score breakdown

Local political climate

2.9

GOP margin +57.8% in 2020

Regional political climate

2.9

GOP margin +57.8% in 2020

State political climate

1.9

Economic stress

8.8

38.3% poverty · 7.3% unemployed

Supply constraint

5.7

$740 median rent · 45.3% renters

Rent-control risk

7.5

33.7% rent burden

Eviction process difficulty

2.2

Tenant organizing strength

9.3

45.3% renters

Housing court bias

8.5

Voucher gap (market vs HUD FMR)

0.0

Market rent -21.0% vs HUD 2BR FMR ($937)

Sub-scores are national percentile rankings (1 = most landlord-friendly, 10 = most tenant-protective) derived from ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state law weighting. Source: ACS 2023 5-year + Gazetteer 2024.

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About eviction risk in Smithville, TN

Smithville, TN has an eviction risk score of 5.1 out of 10, placing it in the moderate-risk tier for landlords operating in DeKalb County and the state of Tennessee. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.

Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 33.7% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Smithville is $740/month. About 45.3% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 38.3%, unemployment 7.3%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, DeKalb County voted Republican by 57.8 points — classified as strongly landlord-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 5.1/10, Smithville is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.