3 incorporated cities and unincorporated areas. The county Eviction Risk Score is held aloft by the city of Brownsville (4.4) and a small number of dense urban cores. Rent-control coverage varies by city.
In 2026
Risk score
4.4
MODERATE
Ranked #4 of 95 TN counties
10k residents · 3 cities · 6 tracts
1976–2026 · pop-weighted from cities
Haywood County eviction risk score history
Min3.5Average4.3Now4.4
197619861996200620162026
Key metrics
Tenant beats landlord
19.3%
/ 100 outcomes
In court-decided eviction outcomes for Haywood County, TN, tenants prevail in roughly 19.3% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses and longer calendars.
Timeline
31d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Haywood County, TN until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 31 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent for landlords.
Cost range
$1.2–3.3k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Haywood County, TN costs landlords $1,192 to $3,273 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent.
Average rent
$756
31% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Haywood County, TN is $756 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey. 31% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent.
Renters
52.6%
of households
52.6% of occupied housing units in Haywood County, TN are renter-occupied. A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings and a more active rental market.
Poverty
26.8%
8.7% unemp.
26.8% of Haywood County, TN residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 8.7%. Both feed the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Haywood County scores 4.4/10 (Moderate risk), with city scores ranging from 3.7 to 4.4. Brownsville, the county seat, leads at 4.4/10. Ranked 4th of 95 Tennessee counties -- only 3 counties carry higher eviction risk statewide.
How Haywood County ranks in Tennessee
Lower number means more extreme, where #1 is the most
Eviction Risk Score
Very High
#4of 95 TN counties4.4 / 10
#4 of 95 counties in Tennessee for landlord eviction risk.
Cost of living
Low
#38of 51 states (statewide)91.9 index
Tennessee ranks #38 of 51 states on overall cost of living (8.1% cheaper than the U.S. avg).
Housing services cost
Low
#33of 51 states (statewide)79.1 index
Tennessee ranks #33 of 51 states on housing services (20.9% cheaper than the U.S. avg).
Income spent on rent
Elevated
#26of 95 TN counties30.1% of income
#26 of 95 counties in Tennessee on % of income spent on rent.
Haywood County scores 4.4/10 (Moderate risk) on the Eviction Risk Map index, placing it 4th out of 95 Tennessee eviction laws counties -- firmly in the higher-risk third of the state, with only two counties carrying a heavier tenant-protection burden statewide. For landlords operating in west Tennessee eviction laws's cotton-belt communities, that ranking reflects a legal environment that retains meaningful tenant leverage even without big-city ordinances or local rent control.
The county's 10,379 residents spread across three incorporated places, and scores within the county run from 3.7/10 to 4.4/10 -- a narrow band that signals consistent conditions rather than sharp neighborhood-to-neighborhood swings. Brownsville, the county seat and commercial hub with 9,622 residents, leads at 4.4/10; smaller Stanton (704 residents) comes in at 4/10; and Dancyville, the county's smallest incorporated community, sits at the low end at 3.7/10. Owners with units in Brownsville should budget and plan as though they are operating in the county's most challenging regulatory and economic environment.
Three structural factors drive the elevated composite. First, 52.6% of households rent -- more than half the county -- creating a deep renter-majority market where tenant organizing and legal-aid access tend to cluster. Second, the poverty rate stands at 26.8% and average rents are $756 per month, yet rent burden still hits 31.4% of gross income for the typical renter household; that combination means a larger share of tenants are one missed shift from falling behind, compressing landlords' practical margin for late payments before court becomes necessary. Third, Haywood County is classified as a non-URLTA county under TCA Title 29 Chapter 18 (population under 75,000), so the standard eviction notice for lease violations is 30 days rather than the 7- or 14-day windows available in larger Tennessee eviction laws metros -- a timeline that materially extends the landlord's exposure window compared with Shelby or Davidson. The combination of high renter density, deep poverty, and an extended statutory notice period explains why Haywood consistently appears near the top of Tennessee eviction laws's county risk rankings despite carrying a Low absolute score against a national baseline.
Haywood County's 4.4/10 (Moderate) composite sits higher-risk among Tennessee eviction laws's 95 counties; it ranks 4th statewide, meaning only 3 counties carry higher eviction risk. Scores range from 3.7 to 4.4 across the county's three cities, all within a Low-risk band -- but that narrow spread masks real economic stress: a 26.8% poverty rate and 31.4% rent burden keep delinquency risk above what the composite score alone might suggest.
This page was researched and written by the Eviction Risk Map research team at NextGen Properties, drawing on ACS renter and income data, Tennessee eviction laws court filing records, and statutory review of T.C.A. § 66-28 and TCA Title 29 Chapter 18. Our methodology details how eviction risk scores are constructed from court, economic, and legal inputs across all U.S. counties. Data was last reviewed May 29, 2026.
How Haywood County compares
Haywood County's 4.4/10 sits above the 3.7/10Tennessee statewide average, consistent with its 4th of 95 state ranking. Peer counties in this tier -- including Hardeman, Henderson, DeKalb, Giles, and Humphreys -- carry comparable composites and share the same non-URLTA 30-day notice framework, though none matches Haywood's 52.6% renter share or 26.8% poverty rate. Landlords comparing markets should weigh Haywood's deeper economic stress against peers that may show similar scores but serve higher-income or lower-density renter pools.
Peer counties in Tennessee
Same state, closest by population and Eviction Risk Score
What is the eviction risk score for Haywood County, TN?
Haywood County currently scores 4.4/10 (Moderate risk) on the Eviction Risk Map index, ranking 4th out of 95 Tennessee eviction laws counties. Only 3 counties in the state carry higher eviction risk.
Q2
How long does an eviction take in Haywood County?
Because Haywood County has a population under 75,000, it falls outside the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) and operates under TCA Title 29 Chapter 18. Landlords must serve a 30-day notice before filing. Once filed, uncontested cases typically resolve in 21-45 days; contested matters can run 45-120 days. Budget 60-150 days total from first notice to writ in a contested scenario.
Q3
What does it cost to file an eviction in Haywood County?
Court filing fees in Haywood County run $200-$300. A sheriff lockout adds $40-$150. Attorney fees, if you retain counsel, typically range from $500-$2,500 for an uncontested case. Altogether, a straightforward eviction commonly costs $750-$3,000 before lost rent is factored in.
Q4
Is there rent control in Haywood County or Brownsville?
No. Tennessee eviction laws state law (preemption statute) prohibits local rent control ordinances statewide, so neither Haywood County nor Brownsville can cap rent increases. Landlords may raise rents to market rate upon proper notice and lease renewal without just-cause restrictions.
Q5
Does Tennessee require just cause to evict in Haywood County?
No. Tennessee eviction laws does not require just cause for non-renewal of a lease. At lease end, a landlord in Haywood County may decline to renew without stating a reason, provided the required notice period is given. Mid-lease terminations still require a statutory basis (nonpayment, material breach, non-curable breach).
Q6
Why does Haywood County rank so high for eviction risk despite a Low score?
The Moderate label reflects Haywood's position on a national scale. Within Tennessee, however, the county ranks 4th of 95 -- meaning only 3 counties are harder for landlords to navigate. The elevated state ranking stems from a 52.6% renter share, a 26.8% poverty rate, average rent burden at 31.4% of income, and a 30-day statutory notice period that applies because the county falls outside the URLTA's 75,000-population threshold.