Terry County, Texas Eviction Risk: Low

Terry County sits in the southern Texas Panhandle, a sparsely populated agricultural county of roughly 9,775 residents where cotton farming and cattle ranching have long defined the local economy. The county carries an eviction risk score of 3.8/10 (Low), placing it 56th out of 254 Texas eviction laws counties - squarely in the higher-risk of the state by landlord-tenant tension. 55 Texas eviction laws counties score higher and 198 score lower, meaning Terry County occupies a real but not extreme position: the legal framework here is landlord-favorable, but the underlying economic pressures on renters are substantial. Scores across the county's four incorporated places range from 3.1 to 3.9 out of 10.

Brownfield, the county seat and by far the largest community with 8,738 residents, drives most of the county's rental activity. It scores 3.9/10, matching the county average and reflecting the combination of low regulatory friction for landlords and genuine financial strain for renters. Average rent in Terry County runs approximately $805 per month, and the average rent burden sits at 34.8% of household income - a figure that clears the conventional 30% affordability threshold and leaves many renters with little buffer against a missed paycheck or an unexpected cost. Poverty affects 24.6% of county residents, a rate well above national norms and one that compounds the exposure many households carry. Meadow, a small farming community 14 miles north of Brownfield, scores 3.2/10, reflecting slightly lower risk consistent with its smaller and more stable rental stock. The two smallest places - Loop and Wellman - score 3.1/10 and 3.1/10 respectively, both well below the county average, though their combined renter population is modest.

Texas eviction laws law governs the rental relationship under Tex. Prop. Code § 91 and § 92, and it tilts unmistakably toward landlord efficiency. There is no statewide rent control and the legislature has preempted local governments from enacting any (TX Local Gov Code §214.902), so Terry County - like every Texas eviction laws county - operates in a pure market-rate environment. Landlords are not required to demonstrate just cause before nonrenewal or termination at the end of a lease term. Notice periods are among the shortest in the country: a 3-day notice to vacate covers non-payment of rent (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005(a-1) for first-time delinquency, § 24.005(a) for habitual), lease violations, holdovers, and end-of-term terminations. Unauthorized occupants and squatters can be removed with zero days' notice under Tex. Prop. Code § 24.011. Once a notice period lapses, landlords can file for eviction in justice court for $54 to $125 in court fees, with sheriff lockout costs of $50 to $175 after judgment. Uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 30 days; contested matters take 45 to 90 days. Attorney fees for a landlord pursuing eviction typically run $500 to $3,500 depending on complexity. Source-of-income discrimination - refusing a tenant because they use housing vouchers - is not prohibited under Texas eviction laws law, which limits options for the county's lower-income renter households.

Terry County's 3.8/10 score reflects a market where landlord-favorable statutes meet measurable renter financial stress: a 34.8% average rent burden and 24.6% poverty rate keep a significant share of the county's 32.6% renter households financially exposed, even as the overall risk number stays in the Low tier. The county compares to the Texas state average of 3.6/10 and sits 56th of 254 statewide.