Estimated values: The U.S. Census suppresses field-level data for small places. Estimated from county average, pop-weighted from real underlying ACS data.
Tenant beats landlord
13.1%
/ 100 outcomes
In court-decided eviction outcomes for Dupont City, WV, tenants prevail in roughly 13.1% of contested cases. A higher number means landlords face stronger tenant defenses, longer calendars, and more required documentation, and landlord-friendliness drops as this rises.
Timeline
31d
filing → judgment
From the moment an unlawful-detainer notice is filed in Dupont City, WV until a money judgment is entered, a contested eviction takes about 31 days on average. Longer timelines mean more lost rent and higher carry costs for landlords.
Cost range
$0.9–3.2k
legal + lost rent
A typical eviction in Dupont City, WV costs landlords $864 to $3,194 all-in, covering court filing fees, process-server costs, attorney time, and lost rent during the calendar between filing and possession.
Average rent
$889
29% stretched on rent
Average gross rent in Dupont City, WV is $889 per month per the U.S. Census American Community Survey (5-year 2023). 29% of renter households here spend more than 30% of pre-tax income on rent, the federal cost-burden threshold.
Renters
42.1%
of households
42.1% of occupied housing units in Dupont City, WV are renter-occupied (vs owner-occupied). A higher renter share usually correlates with more eviction filings, more turnover, and a more active rental market.
Poverty
17.1%
6.3% unemp.
17.1% of Dupont City, WV residents live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment runs at 6.3%. Both feed into the economic-stress sub-score in our Eviction Risk Score model because rent payment problems track poverty + joblessness more reliably than any other single signal.
Time machine
Scrub 50 years
197619861996200620162026
2026
● LIVE · today◀ REPLAY · historical
Nine-axis profile
9-axis profile · today
Shape of the risk surface
1 landlord · 10 tenant
Sub-scores · with sparkline
Where the score comes from
1 → 10 scale
Local political climate
GOP margin +17.4% (2024)
4.8
Regional political climate
County-weighted neighbor mix
4.8
State political climate
West Virginia legislature & governorship
1.8
Economic stress
17.1% poverty · 6.3% unemp.
4.3
Supply constraint
$889 average · 42.1% renters
2.6
Rent Control risk
29.0% of income on rent
1.0
Eviction process difficulty
31 days filing → judgment
1.6
Tenant organizing strength
42.1% renters
1.4
Housing court bias
County bench composition
1.9
Geographic context
Risk heat across Dupont City and the region
Click any city to see its score
How Dupont City compares
Risk score vs. peers, county, state, and the U.S.
Rank in Kanawha County
Moderate
#18of 31 cities
#18 of 31 cities in Kanawha County for landlord eviction risk.
Rank in West Virginia
Moderate
#230of 439 cities
#230 of 439 cities in West Virginia for landlord eviction risk.
vs. county · state · U.S.
Score story
Six-stop tour of the risk profile
2.8
/ 10 · LOW
The verdict
A Low-tier market.
Composite 2.8/10. Mid-range market; standard documentation usually wins. The 50-year curve shows a slow, steady climb.
50-yr trend-1.6 over 50 yr
197620012026
Steady ratchet · no large swings
31d
Typical timeline
The money
What renting (and evicting) looks like.
Rent published at $889/mo. A contested eviction takes 31 days and costs $864–$3,194 per case.
50-yr trendCalendar drag rising since '15
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
42.1%
Renters
The renters
Who you'll be renting to.
Out of 501 residents, 42.1% rent. 29% are spending 30%+ income on rent, 17.1% below the poverty line.
50-yr trendRenter share rising
197620012026
ACS 1970-present · once the migration overlay is in.
4.8
Local + regional
The politics
Mid-range climate. Not a coastal market.
Local & regional political climate score 4.8 and 4.8 (GOP margin +17.4% (2024)). State climate at 1.8, a mid-range statehouse.
50-yr trendTracks county vote margin
197620012026
Built on 50-yr presidential margins back to 1976.
1.8
State politics
The process
Moderate calendar, moderate friction.
State political climate 1.8/10 sets the legislative ceiling for landlord remedies, and it shows up in the process. Eviction process difficulty reads 1.6, housing court bias 1.9, rent-control risk 1. Standard process speed for the state.
50-yr trendProcess difficulty +-3.4 since '00
197620012026
Court-clerk data lands in the next release.
4.3
Economic stress
The stress
Economic pressure is the background risk.
Economic stress: 4.3. Supply constraint: 2.6. The numbers behind those: 17.1% poverty, 6.3% unemployment, 29% of income on rent.
50-yr trendTwo visible dips · '08 + COVID
197620012026
Mirrors BLS unemployment series.
US eviction landscape · timeline × all-in cost
Dupont City sits in the quick & cheap quadrant
Bubble size = population · color = risk score
Dupont City · 31d · ~$2.0k all-in ($65/day) · score 2.8National average: 58d · $4.6k all-inHover any bubble for stats · click to openColor: 0–4 4–7 7–10
Landlording in Dupont City, West Virginia, presents a manageable operating environment for documented landlords. The Eviction Risk Score is 2.8/10 (LOW tier), drawn from the nine sub-axes shown above, covering rent-control exposure, eviction-process difficulty, housing-court bias, tenant-organizing strength, supply constraint, economic stress, and local, regional, and state political climate. This is not a quick-fix market: it's a Mid-tier market where lease drafting, screening discipline, and well-documented notices materially change outcomes.
Dupont City is a city of 501 residents where 42.1% of occupied units are renter-occupied, and the typical renter spends 29.0% of income on rent. At an average rent of $889/month, the typical renter household here spends more than the federal 30% threshold on housing, a leading indicator of payment volatility and a precondition for the kinds of tenant defenses that show up most often in housing court.
01Process
How Dupont City eviction process actually works
Eviction process difficulty here reads 1.6/10, a number that combines statutory complexity (notice categories, just-cause rules, mandatory pre-filing disclosures) with operational realities (court calendar length and clerk responsiveness). The typical contested filing in Dupont City closes 31 days after the initial notice. For non-payment of rent the first step is a properly-formatted, properly-served pay-or-quit notice; for material lease breaches it's a cure-or-quit; for tenancies under just-cause protection an at-fault grounds notice (or a no-fault notice with statutory relocation assistance) is required.
The slow part of Dupont City's timeline is usually the calendar, not the motion practice. Housing court bias scores 1.9/10 here, meaning judges read borderline procedural defects in the tenant's favor more often than the national norm. The practical implication: every notice and every proof of service needs to be airtight before it gets filed.
02Cost
What it costs (and how long it takes)
An all-in eviction in Dupont City runs $864 to $3,194 per case once you account for filing fees, attorney time, lost rent during pendency, sheriff lockout, and unit turnover. That range is wide because the upper bound assumes a tenant answer plus motion practice, common when housing court bias is high. The lower bound assumes a default judgment after proper service.
For landlords running the numbers on holding costs vs. cash-for-keys: if your projected timeline times your monthly rent already exceeds the high-end cost number, cash-for-keys at 1–2 months' rent is typically the economically rational choice. With 31 days of typical timeline and $889/month in lost rent, that crossover happens fast here.
03Operations
Security deposits, screening, and lease terms
Tenant organizing strength scores 1.4/10 in Dupont City, and the city has limited rent control exposure (1/10). Operations practice that survives audit in this environment looks like:
Screening discipline. Document income (verified at 2.5 to 3x rent), credit (with a clear minimum), and prior-tenancy reference checks, but do not screen on protected categories or source-of-income where banned. Keep a written, consistent screening criteria document for every applicant.
Lease specificity. Use a state-specific lease that names every term clearly: rent due date, late fees within statutory caps, deposit handling, smoke and CO disclosure, lead paint disclosure (pre-1978 stock), and a clean attorney's-fees clause.
Security deposit handling. Itemize deductions within the statutory window. Photograph move-in/move-out condition. In West Virginia, deposit cap and refund window are statute, so exceed them at your own risk.
Mid-tenancy documentation. Keep date-stamped records of every rent receipt, every habitability request, every notice served. The day you need them in court is too late to start.
04Strategy
What an everyday landlord should actually do here
If you own one to four units in Dupont City: hire a property manager who knows the local court. The pricing differential between self-managing and hiring out is small relative to the cost of one botched eviction in a LOW tier market. If you own five or more: build relationships with a local landlord-side attorney before you need one, since retainer fees are negligible compared to emergency-rate billing when an eviction is already moving.
The avoidable mistakes here are all upstream of the filing: weak screening, an informal lease, sloppy rent receipts, and notice templates pulled off the internet that don't match West Virginia's statutory language. Fix those four, and most cases settle or default. Skip them, and a $3,194 all-in fight is the realistic worst case.
04bPractical traps
Local traps to avoid in Dupont City
Trap · W. VA. CODE 55-3A
Compare Dupont City to nearby cities in Kanawha County via the related-cities grid below. Each municipality scores separately on the same nine sub-factors. State context: W. Va. Code 55-3A.
05FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Q1
Can I change the locks if a tenant hasn't paid rent in Dupont City?
No, absolutely not. Changing locks without a court order is illegal self-help eviction in West Virginia. You must go through the proper legal process, including notices and court proceedings, to legally regain possession of your property. Doing otherwise can lead to significant legal penalties against you.
Q2
How long does a tenant have to move out after an eviction judgment in West Virginia?
Typically, after a judgment for possession is granted, the court will specify a period, often a few days (e.g., 3-5 days), for the tenant to vacate. If they don't leave within that time, you can then request a Writ of Possession from the court, which authorizes the sheriff to physically remove the tenant.
Q3
Do I need an attorney for an eviction in Dupont City?
While you are permitted to represent yourself in Magistrate Court for an eviction, it's highly recommended to consult with or hire an attorney. An attorney ensures all notices are correct, filings are accurate, and you navigate the court process without mistakes that could delay or derail your case. Given the low risk and quick timeline in Dupont City, an attorney can help keep it that way.
Q4
What if my tenant claims they can't pay due to a job loss?
While unfortunate, a tenant's financial hardship does not negate their obligation to pay rent under the lease. You are still legally entitled to pursue eviction for non-payment. You can choose to be flexible and work out a payment plan, but this is at your discretion. If you do, get any agreement in writing. Otherwise, follow the standard 7-day pay-or-quit notice procedure.
Q5
Are there rent control laws in Dupont City or West Virginia?
No, West Virginia has no statewide rent control laws, and there are none specifically in Dupont City. This means you are generally free to set market rent rates and increase them with proper notice as outlined in your lease and state law. For more details, see our West Virginia rent control rules guide. This contributes to Dupont City's very low rent control risk sub-score of 0.5/10.
Q6
What are "tenant protections" in West Virginia that I should be aware of?
West Virginia law protects tenants from illegal self-help evictions, discrimination, and requires landlords to maintain habitable premises. While there's no statewide "just cause" eviction or source-of-income protection, you must still adhere to proper notice periods and court procedures. Understanding West Virginia tenant protections helps you avoid legal missteps.
A 2.8/10 places Dupont City in the 50th percentile of West Virginia cities on the Eviction Risk Score index. The score is the average of the nine sub-axes, all calibrated on a national 1 to 10 scale where 1 is most landlord-friendly and 10 is most tenant-protective. The 50-year reconstruction shows this score has climbed steadily since 1976, a structural drift driven by court-calendar growth, rent-control adoption, and the rise of tenant-side legal aid. The trajectory matters more than the snapshot: the score is the climate, not the weather.
Cities with similar eviction risk to Dupont City (2.8/10)
Same risk band nationally · click any city for its full breakdown.
