Dyer County, Tennessee Eviction Risk: Low

Dyer County carries an average eviction-risk score of 3.4/10 (Low), but that headline number compresses real variation across the county's 7 cities, where scores range from 2.7 to 3.4. Despite the Low label, Tennessee state rankings put Dyer County at 11th of 95 counties, meaning only 10 counties statewide carry higher risk, placing it firmly in the higher-risk third of Tennessee. For landlords evaluating this market, the Low score signals a workable operating environment, not a risk-free one: a 48.2% renter share paired with a 22.2% poverty rate means a meaningful portion of tenants operate on thin financial margins, and collections pressure is real.

Average rent runs $792 per month, and renters here spend roughly 29.2% of income on housing costs, a burden level that leaves limited buffer when unexpected expenses hit. Investors comparing Dyer County to nearby peer counties will find it sits above Tipton County (3.25), Hardeman County (3.32), and Bedford County (3.35), and just below Lauderdale County (3.45) and Weakley County (3.5), positioning it in the middle of that regional cluster but closer to the riskier end.

The cities inside Dyer County

Dyersburg anchors the county with a population of 15,979 and an eviction-risk score of 3.4/10, matching the county average exactly. As the dominant rental market by far, conditions in Dyersburg eviction risk largely set the tone for the county overall. Newbern (3,289 residents, 3.3/10) and Fowlkes (3.3/10) come in just below, while Finley scores 3.2/10. The gap between the county's top tier and its lower end is meaningful: Lenox and Miston both score 2.7/10, and Bogota sits at 2.8/10. Even within a single county, risk is hyper-local, and a portfolio concentrated in Dyersburg faces materially different conditions than one spread across the smaller western communities.

State-level laws that apply here

Tennessee state law governs landlord-tenant relationships here under T.C.A. § 66-28 (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Because Dyer County has a population under 75,000, the controlling notice period for most terminations falls under non-URLTA rules (TCA Title 29 Chapter 18), requiring 30 days notice, rather than the shorter URLTA periods used in larger counties. That said, if URLTA applies, nonpayment of rent triggers a 7-day notice under TCA § 66-28-505, a material breach requires 14 days, and a non-curable breach requires just 3 days. Understanding the Tennessee eviction process matters here precisely because the applicable notice framework turns on population thresholds, not just county lines. Tennessee imposes no just-cause requirement for terminations and state law preempts any local attempt at rent control, so landlords face no rent caps. Tennessee security deposit limits are set at the state level with no local override possible.

On cost: court filing fees run $200 to $300, sheriff lockout fees add $40 to $150, and attorney fees range from $500 to $2,500 depending on complexity. An uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 45 days; a contested matter can stretch to 45 to 120 days. Understanding Tennessee eviction costs in full, including attorney time on disputed cases, is essential for underwriting any acquisition here.

With a 22.2% poverty rate and nearly half of residents renting, individual city scores matter as much as the county average, so review the city grid above before committing capital to any specific submarket in Dyer County.