Lincoln County, Wisconsin Eviction Risk: Low

Lincoln County scores 3/10 on the eviction-risk scale, placing it in the Low overall risk tier, yet that label needs context for landlords operating in Wisconsin. With 23 of the state's 72 counties carrying higher risk scores, Lincoln County sits in the higher-risk third of Wisconsin eviction laws, meaning conditions here are noticeably more demanding than the majority of the state's rental markets. Investors should read the 3.7 as a moderate caution flag rather than a green light, particularly given an average rent burden of 31.9% and a poverty rate of 15.9% among the county's roughly 12,751 residents tracked across its 2 incorporated cities.

The intra-county score range runs from 3.7 to 3.7, meaning both cities have landed at exactly the same composite score. Renter share across the county averages 35.2% and average rent sits at $707, which signals a price-sensitive tenant pool. Landlords who depend on quick turnover or above-market rent increases should temper expectations accordingly.

The cities inside Lincoln County

Both incorporated cities, Merrill (population 9,356) and Tomahawk (population 3,395), post identical eviction-risk scores of 3/10. Merrill is the county seat and the larger of the two markets; Tomahawk serves a more recreational and seasonal renter base to the north. Despite the uniform county-level figure, granular conditions at the street or neighborhood level can diverge sharply. Vacancy cycles, local employer health, and seasonal turnover patterns all vary between a city of 9,000 and one of 3,400, so operators should underwrite each asset city by city rather than relying on the blended county average.

Risk in this county is hyper-local by nature: a two-city market this small means that a single large employer departure or a cluster of distressed properties can shift conditions for a meaningful portion of the rental stock almost overnight. Running property-level due diligence in both Merrill and Tomahawk before acquiring is essential.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord in Lincoln County operates under Wisconsin eviction laws state law, specifically Wis. Stat. § 704 (Landlord and Tenant). For nonpayment of rent, the required notice period is 5 days; a lease-violation cure notice requires 14 days; and a no-cause end-of-term notice requires 30 days. Wisconsin eviction laws does not require just cause to terminate a tenancy, and state law preempts any local rent-control ordinance, so neither Lincoln County nor its cities can impose rent caps. Landlords must give 12 hours advance notice before entering an occupied unit. Understanding the full Wisconsin eviction laws eviction process is critical before filing, because uncontested cases typically resolve in 21 to 45 days while contested matters can run 45 to 120 days.

On the cost side, Wisconsin eviction costs include a court filing fee of $95 to $175, a sheriff lockout fee of $50 to $150, and attorney fees that commonly range from $500 to $3,000 depending on case complexity. Wisconsin security deposit limits and other landlord-side protections are governed by the same statute chapter, and the Wisconsin eviction laws Equal Rights Division handles fair-housing complaints under state law. Source-of-income status is not a protected class under Wisconsin state law as of the last review date.

With a poverty rate of 15.9% and a renter share of 35.2%, a meaningful share of Lincoln County tenants are financially stretched, which elevates the practical likelihood of late payments even when the headline risk score looks modest. Review the individual city scores for Merrill and Tomahawk in the grid above before committing capital to either market.