Polk County, Wisconsin Eviction Risk: Low

Polk County carries an average eviction-risk score of 2.9/10, placing it in the Low risk tier across its 11 incorporated places. Within Wisconsin eviction laws, the county sits at rank 32 of 72, meaning 31 counties are riskier and 40 are more landlord-friendly, a position squarely in the middle third of the state. For landlords, that translates to a market where tenant-financial stress is present but contained: the average rent burden sits at 25.6% of income, a figure that stays below the threshold most researchers associate with widespread housing instability.

The intra-county score range, 3 to 4, is narrow but still meaningful. An investor comparing Clear Lake to St. Croix Falls is effectively comparing two different operating environments, even though both fall inside the same county. Average rent across the county runs $951 per month, and 36.9% of residents rent rather than own, so the tenant pool is real and active, without the concentration levels that tend to amplify default risk in larger metro counties.

The cities inside Polk County

The highest-risk location in the county is Clear Lake, scoring 4/10 with a population of 957. Close behind are Balsam Lake at 3.9/10, and both Amery (pop. 2,959) and Osceola (pop. 2,849) at 3.8/10. These four communities represent the elevated end of the county's risk band and warrant closer scrutiny of tenant-screening practices relative to the county average.

On the lower-risk end, St. Croix Falls, the county's third-largest city at 2,423 residents, scores 3/10, followed by Luck and Dresser, each at 3.3/10. The gap between St. Croix Falls and Clear Lake, a full point on a 10-point scale, is a reminder that eviction risk in Polk County is hyper-local. Underwriting a portfolio based on county averages alone will obscure meaningful variation at the city level.

State-level laws that apply here

Every landlord operating in Polk County works under Wis. Stat. § 704 (Landlord and Tenant). For non-payment of rent, Wisconsin eviction laws requires a 5-day notice before filing; lease violations allow a 14-day cure period; and month-to-month or no-cause terminations require 30 days. Once a case is filed, uncontested matters typically resolve in 21 to 45 days, while contested proceedings can run 45 to 120 days. Court filing fees range from $95 to $175, sheriff lockout fees from $50 to $150, and attorney fees from $500 to $3,000, depending on case complexity. Understanding the full Wisconsin eviction laws eviction process, from notice through writ of restitution, is essential before a dispute escalates. Wisconsin eviction laws also preempts local rent control, meaning no city or county within the state can impose rent caps, and just cause is not required to end a tenancy, both significant advantages for landlords compared with many other states. For a full breakdown of what owners actually spend to remove a non-paying tenant, see the Wisconsin eviction costs guide.

With a county-wide poverty rate of 12.5% and roughly 36.9% of residents renting, Polk County presents a manageable but real risk profile, one that varies noticeably across the 11 cities detailed in the grid above.