Howard County, Texas Eviction Risk: Low

Howard County's county-wide eviction risk averages 3.8/10, a low rating that covers 4 cities in the Texas Permian Basin. That number signals a market where landlords generally face fewer structural obstacles than most of the state, yet the county still sits in the higher-risk third of Texas, with 51 counties scoring worse and 202 scoring better. For an investor sizing up this market, the headline figure means conditions are workable, but not frictionless, particularly when the local economy is tied to energy cycles that can swing renter demand quickly.

The intra-county range runs from 2.3 to 2.6, a relatively tight spread that tells a consistent story: Howard County does not have dramatic pockets of high distress hiding behind a flattering average. Average rent sits at $1,046 per month, and the average rent burden across the county is 30% of household income, meaning a meaningful share of renters are spending at or near the conventional affordability threshold. That burden level warrants attention when setting lease terms and screening criteria.

The cities inside Howard County

The highest-risk location in the county is Sand Springs, which scores 3.2/10. Despite a small population of 682, it edges above the county average and is the data point most worth watching if you hold or are considering rural rental assets in the area. Coahoma is next at 3.2/10 with a population of 749; its risk profile is modestly elevated but still within the low tier.

Big Spring anchors the county by both size and risk profile. With a population of 23,975, it accounts for the overwhelming majority of Howard County's 25,777 total residents and scores 3.8/10, matching the county average. Forsan also scores 3.4/10. The practical implication is that risk in Howard County is hyper-local: even a quarter-point difference between Sand Springs and Big Spring can reflect meaningfully different tenant pools, income stability, and collection risk. Underwriting each city on its own data, rather than relying solely on the county average, is the disciplined approach here.

State-level laws that apply here

All Howard County landlords operate under Texas state law, specifically Tex. Prop. Code § 91 and § 92 (Residential Tenancies). Texas is one of the more procedurally efficient states for landlords: the notice period for non-payment of rent, lease violations, holdover tenants, and end-of-term situations is uniformly 3 days. Squatters and unauthorized occupants face a 0-day notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.011 as added by SB-38, allowing immediate legal action. Understanding the full Texas eviction process from notice through writ of possession is essential before any filing.

On costs, the Texas eviction costs can add up faster than many landlords anticipate. Court filing fees run $54 to $125, sheriff lockout fees range from $50 to $175, and attorney fees typically fall between $500 and $3,500 depending on case complexity. An uncontested case typically resolves in 21 to 30 days; a contested matter can stretch to 45 to 90 days. Texas has no just-cause eviction requirement and no rent control, and state law under TX Local Gov Code § 214.902 preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so rent pricing in Howard County remains unrestricted.

With an average poverty rate of 17.5% and a renter share of 34.7% of households, Howard County's tenant base carries meaningful financial pressure; review the individual city scores in the grid above to calibrate screening standards and rent levels city by city.