Eviction Risk Score
Very Low
#128
of 132 VA counties
3.4 / 10
#128 of 132 counties in Virginia for landlord eviction risk.
County brief·Updated October 23, 2026
Highland County, Virginia Eviction Risk: Low
3 incorporated cities and unincorporated areas. The county Eviction Risk Score is held aloft by the city of Deerfield (4) and a small number of dense urban cores. Rent-control coverage varies by city.
In 2026
Risk score
3.4
LOW
Ranked #128 of 132 VA counties
1k residents · 3 cities · 1 tracts
1976–2026 · pop-weighted from cities
Highland County eviction risk score history
Min2.2
Average3.1
Now3.4
Key metrics
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Tenant beats landlord28.8%/ 100 outcomesIn court-decided eviction outcomes for Highland County, VA, tenants prevail in roughly 28.8% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses and longer calendars.
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Timeline57dfiling → judgmentFrom the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Highland County, VA until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 57 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent for landlords.
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Cost range$2.1–5.7klegal + lost rentA typical eviction in Highland County, VA costs landlords $2,146 to $5,674 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent.
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Average rent$85034% stretched on rentAverage gross rent in Highland County, VA is $850 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey. 34% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent.
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Renters35.4%of households35.4% of occupied housing units in Highland County, VA are renter-occupied. A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings and a more active rental market.
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Poverty6.0%4.7% unemp.6.0% of Highland County, VA residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 4.7%. Both feed the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
Highland County's score of 3.4/10 (Low) spans a tight range of 3.1 to 4 across its three communities, reflecting near-uniform low-risk conditions throughout the county. Ranked 128th of 132 Virginia counties, Highland sits in the lower-risk of the state -- only 3 counties statewide post a lower eviction-risk score.
How Highland County ranks in Virginia
Cost of living
Elevated
#16
of 51 states (statewide)
101.1 index
Virginia ranks #16 of 51 states on overall cost of living (1.1% more expensive than the U.S. avg).
Housing services cost
Elevated
#17
of 51 states (statewide)
106.8 index
Virginia ranks #17 of 51 states on housing services (6.8% more expensive than the U.S. avg).
Income spent on rent
High
#26
of 132 VA counties
33.5% of income
#26 of 132 counties in Virginia on % of income spent on rent.
Landlord guides for Virginia
Virginia Eviction Costs →
Filing fees, attorney fees, lost rent, sheriff lockout
Virginia Eviction Process →
Step-by-step timeline, notices, statute cites
Virginia Rent Control →
Statewide caps, local ordinances, just-cause
Virginia Tenant Screening →
Five-point protocol, legal rules, protected classes
Virginia Tenant Protections →
Just cause, retaliation, habitability, entry
Cities in Highland County
Sorted by Eviction Risk Score · highest first
| City↕ | Population↕ | Risk↕ | % income on rent↕ | Average rent↕ | Lean↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Deerfield | 439 | 3.1 | 33.5% | $850 | Rep |
| 002 | Monterey | 197 | 4.0 | 33.5% | $850 | Rep |
| 003 | McDowell | 58 | 3.1 | 33.5% | $850 | Rep |
County heatmap
Local landlord context
One county, multiple regulatory regimes.
Highland County earns an eviction-risk score of 3.4/10 (Low), placing it 128th out of 132 Virginia counties -- with only 3 counties statewide posting a lower score. With a total population of just 694 and roughly 35.4% of households renting, the county's rental market is one of the smallest and most stable in the Commonwealth. Average asking rent sits at $850 per month, well below statewide norms, and the average rent burden of 33.5% reflects a population that, while cost-sensitive, is not severely squeezed by housing costs. The poverty rate of 6% is among the lowest in rural Virginia eviction laws, further suppressing eviction pressure at the household level.
The county contains three communities tracked by this index. Deerfield, the most populous at 439 residents, carries a score of 3.1/10. Monterey, the county seat and hub of what little commercial rental activity exists in Highland, scores 4/10 -- the highest in the county, though still firmly in Low territory. McDowell, with just 58 residents, scores 3.1/10. The scores range from 3.1 to 4, an extremely compressed spread that reflects how uniformly low-risk this market is across all its communities. There is no meaningful divide between the county's riskiest and least-risky locations.
Virginia eviction laws law governs eviction procedure statewide under Va. Code § 55.1-1200 et seq. (Virginia eviction laws Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). For Highland County landlords, the practical timeline for a nonpayment eviction begins with a 5-day pay-or-quit notice (Va. Code § 55.1-1245). If the tenant does not cure, the landlord may file in General District Court; filing fees run $58 to $90. An uncontested matter typically resolves in 21 to 45 days from filing; contested cases can extend 45 to 120 days. The sheriff's lockout fee adds another $40 to $150. Landlords are required to give 24 hours notice before entering an occupied unit (Va. Code § 55.1-1220). For material lease violations, the notice period is 21 days (Va. Code § 55.1-1245(A)); for non-curable breaches, 30 days (Va. Code § 55.1-1245(B)). Virginia eviction laws does not require just cause for non-renewal, and the state actively preempts local rent control ordinances, meaning no Highland County municipality can impose its own caps or tenant-protection rules beyond what state law provides.
Highland County's Low risk score of 3.4/10 reflects a combination of extremely low population density, below-average rents, and a landlord-favorable statewide legal framework. With 128 Virginia eviction laws counties scoring higher and only 3 scoring lower, this is one of the least contentious rental markets in the state. The absence of just-cause eviction requirements, no source-of-income protections, and state preemption of local rent control all keep the regulatory burden minimal for property owners operating here.
Eviction filings in Virginia
The Princeton Eviction Lab Tracking System covers Virginia statewide (no county-level tracker available for Highland County). In the past month, 10,534 statewide filings were recorded, 1.07× the historical baseline (near baseline).
- 10,534Past month (state)
- 139,873Past 12 months
- 1.02×vs baseline (12 mo)
Virginia statewide, last 36 months
2023-05-01 – 2026-04-01
Notice requirement: at least five days notice (in some cases more). Filing fee: minimum filing fee of $36.
1 Eviction filings in Highland County
In September 2025, 4 eviction filings were recorded in Highland County, 400.0% of the historical average (well above average).2
- 4Sep 2025
- 400.0%of historical avg
- 119Renter households
- 10.3%Poverty rate
Last 24 months of filings
2019-12 – 2025-09
Historical eviction filings in Highland County
From 2010 to 2016, eviction filings in Highland County increased. The peak was 3 filings in 2014.3
- 12010
- 3Peak (2014)
- 12016
Annual filings 2010–2016
No filing data published after 2018
Data covers 2000–2018, the full span of the Princeton Eviction Lab's national county court-records dataset.
How Highland County compares
At 3.4/10 (Low), Highland County scores substantially below the Virginia eviction laws statewide average of 4.3/10, placing it among the least-risky rental markets in the Commonwealth. Peer rural counties -- including Powhatan, Bath, Bland, New Kent, and Floyd -- cluster at comparable or marginally higher risk levels, reflecting the broadly landlord-favorable character of Virginia eviction laws's lower-density markets. Highland's lower-risk standing in the state (128th of 132) means landlords here face fewer structural risk factors than in nearly any other Virginia county.
Peer counties in Virginia
Peer county
Bath County eviction risk
3.4
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 614
Peer county
New Kent County eviction risk
3.1
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 801
Peer county
Goochland County eviction risk
3.2
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 1.2K
Peer county
Madison County eviction risk
3.4
/ 10 · Low
Pop. 1.6K
Where eviction risk concentrates in Highland County
Top cities by population
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Highland County
Q1
What is the eviction risk score for Highland County, VA?
Highland County scores 3.4/10 on the Eviction Risk Map index, earning a Low risk rating. It ranks 128th out of 132 Virginia counties, meaning only 3 counties statewide are considered lower risk for landlords.
Q2
How long does an eviction take in Highland County, Virginia?
Under Virginia law (Va. Code § 55.1-1245), a landlord must give a 5-day written notice for nonpayment of rent before filing. Once filed, uncontested cases in General District Court typically resolve in 21 to 45 days; contested matters can take 45 to 120 days. Court filing fees are $58 to $90, plus a sheriff lockout fee of $40 to $150 if needed.
Q3
Does Highland County have rent control?
No. Virginia eviction laws state law preempts any local rent control ordinance, so no municipality in Highland County -- including Monterey -- can impose rent caps or stabilization rules. There is no statewide rent cap formula either.
Q4
Is just cause required to evict a tenant in Highland County?
No. Virginia eviction laws does not require landlords to have just cause to decline to renew a lease. A month-to-month tenancy requires 30 days written notice to terminate (Va. Code § 55.1-1253), but no specific reason is legally required.
Q5
How does Highland County compare to the Virginia average for eviction risk?
Highland County's score of 3.4/10 sits well below the Virginia eviction laws statewide average of 4.3/10, confirming it as one of the most landlord-friendly rental markets in the Commonwealth.
Q6
What are the main cities in Highland County for rental market purposes?
Highland County has three tracked communities. Deerfield (population 439) is the most populated and scores 3.1/10. Monterey, the county seat, scores 4/10. McDowell (population 58) scores 3.1/10. All three fall within the same Low risk band.