Caldwell County, Texas Eviction Risk: Very Low

Caldwell County, Texas eviction laws carries a county-average eviction risk score of 2.2/10, placing it in the Low tier, but that number masks something landlords should not overlook: this county ranks 5th of 254 Texas counties by risk, meaning only 4 counties in the entire state carry more exposure. Across the county's 3 cities, the range runs a tight 3.1 to 3.3, so there is little variation in local market conditions to arbitrage. The average renter pays $1,128 per month against a rent burden of 31.4% of income, a figure that signals tenants here are stretched but not at the extreme stress levels seen in the state's urban cores.

For investors, the Low label is accurate in an absolute sense, but the state-level ranking deserves weight. Operating in a county that sits in the higher-risk third of Texas eviction laws requires the same disciplined lease management and tenant screening you would apply anywhere that ranks near the top of a 254-county list. The average renter share of 33.3% of households keeps the rental pool reasonably sized for a county of roughly 21,929 residents, and a poverty rate of 12.3% is a real underwriting variable when evaluating applicant income stability.

The cities inside Caldwell County

Lockhart is the county seat and by far the largest city, with a population of 15,326 and a risk score of 2.2/10, the highest in the county. It concentrates the bulk of the rental inventory and drives the county average almost single-handedly. Luling, with 5,531 residents, scores 3.2/10, a marginal step down in risk but still within the same operating band. Martindale is the smallest market at 1,072 residents and the lowest-risk city in the county at 3.1/10, though its thin tenant pool means vacancy risk can offset the lower eviction-risk score.

The half-point spread from Martindale to Lockhart illustrates that even within a compact, low-variation county, risk is hyper-local. A portfolio concentrated in Lockhart carries measurably more exposure than one spread into Martindale, and underwriting each market on its own numbers is the right discipline here.

State-level laws that apply here

All landlord-tenant relationships in Caldwell County are governed by Texas eviction laws state law under Tex. Prop. Code § 91 and § 92 (Residential Tenancies). Texas requires only a 3-day written notice to vacate for non-payment of rent (whether a first-time or habitually delinquent tenant), lease violations, end-of-lease holdovers, and most other termination grounds. Squatters and unauthorized occupants can be addressed with no notice period under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.011 as added by SB-38. Understanding the full Texas eviction process, from notice through writ of possession, is essential before your first filing.

Once you file, court filing fees range from $54 to $125, sheriff lockout fees add $50 to $175, and attorney fees for contested cases run $500 to $3,500. An uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 30 days; contested cases stretch to 45 to 90 days. Texas eviction costs therefore depend heavily on whether a tenant contests. On the regulatory side, Texas has no statewide rent control and actively preempts any local attempt under TX Local Gov Code § 214.902. Just-cause eviction requirements do not apply, and source-of-income is not a protected class under state law, leaving landlords with maximum statutory flexibility on screening and non-renewal decisions. Texas security deposit limits are set by statute as well, and landlords should confirm their practices align with current requirements before accepting funds.

With a poverty rate of 12.3% and renters making up 33.3% of households, Caldwell County's risk profile is driven primarily by tenant income constraints rather than by aggressive local regulations; see the city grid above for individual scores across Lockhart, Luling, and Martindale.