Outcomes for May 2019

Residential summary process: Outcomes Report This report examines cases filed at least one year before reading, for which outcomes were largely known. Search Period Start: 2019-05-01 Search Period End: 2019-05-31 Earliest Case: 2019-05-01 Latest Case: 2019-05-31 Total Cases: 2974 Total Transfers: 87 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 34.0% Of those, percentage pro se: 57.3% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Hyannis Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 99 Housing crisis baseline max cases per day (UCL): 130 Housing crisis baseline min cases per day (LCL): 44 The number of filings this period is not statistically different from the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent Northeast 497 16.7% Central 431 14.5% Western 419 14.1% Southeast 317 10.7% Eastern 313 10.5% Metro South 235 7.9% central 85 2.9% eastern 83 2.8% quincy district 66 2.2% chelsea district 47 1.6% malden district 44 1.5% cambridge district 42 1.4% pittsfield district 40 1.3% lynn district 32 1.1% barnstable district 27 0.9% attleboro district 20 0.7% lowell district 18 0.6% framingham district 16 0.5% somerville district 16 0.5% springfield district 15 0.5% northern berkshire district 14 0.5% fall river district 13 0.4% brockton district 12 0.4% waltham district 11 0.4% bmc east boston 10 0.3% bmc dorchester 9 0.3% fallmouth district 9 0.3% orleans district 9 0.3% woburn district 8 0.3% brookline district 7 0.2% new bedford district 7 0.2% salem district 7 0.2% bmc west roxbury 6 0.2% holyoke district 6 0.2% stoughton district 6 0.2% wrentham district 6 0.2% gloucester district 4 0.1% haverhill district 4 0.1% lawrence district 4 0.1% northampton district 4 0.1% palmer district 4 0.1% peabody district 4 0.1% ayer district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 3 0.1% chicopee district 3 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% dedham district 3 0.1% hingham district 3 0.1% nantucket district 3 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% milford district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% western 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1962 12 Natural Person 1012 2962 Total 2974 2974 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 66.0% 0.4% Natural Person 34.0% 99.6% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1902 60 1962 Optional 432 580 1012 Total 2334 640 2974 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 64.0% 2.0% 66.0% Optional 14.5% 19.5% 34.0% Total 78.5% 21.5% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1 11 12 Optional 152 2810 2962 Total 153 2821 2974 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.4% 0.4% Optional 5.1% 94.5% 99.6% Total 5.1% 94.9% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 193 6.5% 1 1944 65.4% 2 677 22.8% 3 100 3.4% 4 44 1.5% 5 11 0.4% 6 4 0.1% 7 1 0.0% Total 2974 100.0% Note: Households may appear with zero adults due to clerical delay entering known defendants, identity protection obscuring known defendants (e.g., 42 USC Sections 13701 through 1404 Violence Against Women Act), or no adult defendants (e.g., abandonment of minors). Initiating Action Count Percent Non-payment 1733 58.3% Unknown/Other 594 20.0% No Fault 314 10.6% Cause 262 8.8% Foreclosure 71 2.4% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 421 4 Hyannis 234 33 Pittsfield 167 75 North Adams 138 19 Holyoke 130 52 Fiskdale 129 4 Springfield 125 192 Adams 117 10 Cummington 114 1 Randolph 112 36 Fitchburg 111 45 Lawrence 109 84 Fall River 108 96 Worcester 108 196 Athol 103 12 South Deerfield 97 2 Brockton 94 89 West Yarmouth 94 5 Chelsea 93 33 West Wareham 92 2 Webster 89 15 North Oxford 88 2 Buzzards Bay 87 3 Lynn 87 79 New Bedford 87 83 Winchendon 87 9 East Sandwich 86 3 Greenfield 85 15 Hyde Park 83 28 Southbridge 83 14 Blandford 81 1 Framingham 81 56 Sunderland 81 3 Gardner 79 16 Indian Orchard 79 8 Lowell 79 85 Chester 74 1 Dorchester 73 68 Chicopee 72 40 Ware 70 7 Canton 69 15 East Falmouth 69 4 South Grafton 67 3 Charlestown 65 11 Woburn 65 25 Marlborough 64 25 Orange 63 5 Otis 62 1 Whitman 62 9 Beverly 60 24 Salem 60 25 Haverhill 59 36 Spencer 59 7 Princeton 58 2 Revere 57 30 Whitinsville 57 4 Becket 56 1 Danvers 56 15 Leominster 56 23 North Billerica 56 6 Russell 56 1 Attleborough 55 24 Braintree 55 20 South Dennis 54 2 Wales 54 1 Quincy 53 49 Buckland 52 1 Everett 52 22 Gloucester 52 15 Clinton 51 7 South Yarmouth 51 6 Taunton 51 29 Millis 50 4 Truro 49 1 Westborough 49 9 Cambridge 48 51 Hull 48 5 Malden 48 29 Roslindale 48 14 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Foxborough 47 8 Hudson 47 9 West Townsend 47 1 Dorchester Center 46 43 Huntington 45 1 Millbury 45 6 Roxbury 45 27 South Boston 44 15 Carver 43 5 Oxford 43 6 Pepperell 43 5 Feeding Hills 42 5 Jamaica Plain 42 16 West Springfield 42 12 Chelmsford 41 14 Mattapan 41 15 Stoughton 40 11 Williamsburg 40 1 Halifax 39 3 Lunenburg 39 4 Newtonville 38 2 Bridgewater 37 10 Rutland 37 3 Saugus 37 10 Bellingham 36 6 Somerville 36 28 Waltham 36 22 Wellfleet 36 1 East Weymouth 35 19 Peabody 35 18 Lynnfield 34 4 Three Rivers 34 1 Methuen 33 16 Orleans 33 2 Chatham 32 2 Northfield 32 1 Dennis Port 31 1 Fairhaven 31 5 Tewksbury 31 9 Amesbury 30 5 Cheshire 30 1 Dracut 30 9 Acushnet 29 3 Bradford 29 4 Brookfield 29 1 East Boston 29 12 Nantucket 29 3 Walpole 29 7 Milford 28 8 Rockland 28 5 Rockport 28 2 Belchertown 27 4 Brighton 27 12 East Wareham 27 6 North Attleborough 27 8 West Brookfield 27 1 Westminster 27 2 Ayer 26 2 Cohasset 26 2 North Reading 26 4 Westfield 26 11 Mansfield 25 6 Melrose 25 7 Sterling 25 2 Ashland 24 4 Edgartown 24 1 Harwich 24 3 North Andover 24 7 Plainville 24 2 Turners Falls 24 1 Brookline 23 14 Holden 23 4 Kingston 23 3 Monson 23 2 Avon 22 1 Boylston 22 1 North Brookfield 21 1 North Chelmsford 21 2 Allston 20 6 Boxborough 20 1 Eastham 20 1 Hopkinton 20 3 Marstons Mills 20 1 Hampden 19 1 Lenox 19 1 Manchester 19 1 Medford 19 11 Rochester 19 1 Shrewsbury 19 7 South Easton 19 2 Warren 19 1 Abington 18 3 Andover 18 6 Cherry Valley 18 2 Easthampton 18 3 Holbrook 18 2 E. Boston 17 7 Middleborough 17 4 Newburyport 17 3 Northampton 17 5 Rehoboth 17 2 Belmont 16 4 Dedham 16 4 Lee 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Palmer 16 2 Topsfield 16 1 Bedford 15 2 East Taunton 15 1 Harvard 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Merrimac 15 1 Natick 15 5 Wayland 15 2 Centerville 14 2 Hanover 14 2 Northborough 14 2 Raynham 14 2 Seekonk 14 2 Swampscott 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Wilbraham 14 2 Duxbury 13 2 Norwood 13 4 Shirley 13 1 Upton 13 1 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Westford 13 3 Wilmington 13 3 Billerica 12 5 Hamilton 12 1 Lancaster 12 1 North Dartmouth 12 3 Salisbury 12 1 Williamstown 12 1 Assonet 11 1 Blackstone 11 1 Boston 11 73 Douglas 11 1 Middleton 11 1 Roxbury Crossing 11 7 Sharon 11 2 Somerset 11 2 Agawam 10 3 Marblehead 10 2 Norton 10 2 Plymouth 10 6 Southborough 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Franklin 9 3 Groton 9 1 Hanson 9 1 Lakeville 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Lexington 9 3 Ludlow 9 2 Norwell 9 1 Onset 9 2 Sandwich 9 2 Watertown 9 3 West Roxbury 9 3 Wrentham 9 1 Burlington 8 2 Dudley 8 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Marshfield 7 2 Mashpee 7 1 Medway 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Weymouth 7 4 Auburn 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Northbridge 6 1 Swansea 6 1 Westport 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Concord 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 South Hadley 5 1 South Weymouth 5 3 Sudbury 5 1 Winthrop 5 1 Acton 4 1 Arlington 4 2 Easton 4 1 Reading 4 1 Stoneham 4 1 Wakefield 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Falmouth 3 1 Milton 3 1 North Weymouth 3 2 Amherst 2 1 Newton 2 2 (not given) 0 25 Monument Beach 0 1 span 0 1 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Berkshire 681 110 Hampden 476 339 Plymouth 389 168 Worcester 388 432 Barnstable 383 74 Bristol 334 275 Essex 332 365 Franklin 265 28 Norfolk 265 226 Suffolk 213 421 Middlesex 204 477 Hampshire 152 28 Nantucket 85 3 Dukes 24 1 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2380 80.0% Ongoing/Error 594 20.0% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 1206 50.7% Defaulted 549 23.1% Dismissed 488 20.5% Heard 120 5.0% Other 17 0.7% Total 2380 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 43 54 142 14 0 Foreclosure 12 24 24 7 0 No Fault 64 51 169 25 0 Non-payment 369 420 870 59 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 1 15 16 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 1.8% 2.3% 6.0% 0.6% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.5% 1.0% 1.0% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 2.7% 2.1% 7.1% 1.1% 0.0% Non-payment 15.5% 17.6% 36.6% 2.5% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.6% 0.7% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1117 46.9% 37.6% No judgment entered 1263 53.1% 42.5% Total 2380 100.0% 80.0% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 88 3.7% 0 6,417 1,187 1,590 104,458 Foreclosure 29 1.2% 0 5,537 952 1,557 27,624 No fault 121 5.1% 0 8,573 1,791 1,662 216,791 Non-payment 873 36.7% 0 37,752 3,573 3,534 3,119,867 Unknown/Other 6 0.3% 0 13,542 4,235 4,499 25,412 All 1117 46.9% 0 37,752 3,128 3,348 3,494,153 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 10 0.4% 521 9,994 3,691 3,246 36,919 Defaulted 535 22.5% 140 33,317 2,913 3,530 1,558,968 Mediated 525 22.1% 0 37,752 3,357 3,148 1,762,829 Heard 41 1.7% 0 14,665 2,683 2,930 110,023 Other 6 0.3% 0 13,542 4,235 4,499 25,412 All 1117 46.9% 0 37,752 3,128 3,348 3,494,153 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 1 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% plaintiff 830 74.3% 34.9% 27.9% unknown 194 17.4% 8.2% 6.5% Total 1117 100.0% 46.9% 37.6% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1117 Range: 0.000 - 37752.090; Mean: 3128.159; Median: 2243.430; Stddev: 3349.873 Percentiles: 90th: 7058.000; 95th: 9442.010; 99th: 14925.000 0.000 - 2.177: 1 | 2.177 - 204.629: 105 ############ 204.629 - 582.255: 92 ########### 582.255 - 1653.368: 223 ########################## 1653.368 - 4691.514: 458 ##################################################### 4691.514 - 13309.031: 214 ######################### 13309.031 - 37752.090: 20 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 88 Range: 0.000 - 6417.040; Mean: 1187.028; Median: 201.000; Stddev: 1599.286 Percentiles: 90th: 3690.870; 95th: 4529.230; 99th: 6417.040 0.000 - 205.556: 47 ##################################################### 205.556 - 301.591: 3 ### 301.591 - 442.276: 2 ## 442.276 - 950.285: 2 ## 950.285 - 1392.571: 6 ####### 1392.571 - 2040.491: 10 ########### 2040.491 - 2989.651: 4 ##### 2989.651 - 4380.109: 8 ######### 4380.109 - 6417.040: 5 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 29 Range: 0.120 - 5537.490; Mean: 952.555; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 1585.194 Percentiles: 90th: 4206.060; 95th: 5053.850; 99th: 5537.490 0.120 - 1.622: 1 ## 1.622 - 430.658: 22 ##################################################### 430.658 - 2364.778: 1 ## 2364.778 - 5537.490: 5 ############ No Fault: Count: 121 Range: 0.000 - 8573.660; Mean: 1791.667; Median: 1608.420; Stddev: 1669.883 Percentiles: 90th: 4050.000; 95th: 4998.590; 99th: 7061.440 0.000 - 143.787: 3 ##### 143.787 - 226.863: 33 ##################################################### 226.863 - 357.605: 2 ### 357.605 - 563.364: 1 ## 563.364 - 887.183: 8 ############# 887.183 - 1396.801: 8 ############# 1396.801 - 2198.825: 23 ##################################### 2198.825 - 3461.032: 24 ####################################### 3461.032 - 5447.463: 15 ######################## 5447.463 - 8573.660: 3 ##### Non-payment: Count: 873 Range: 0.000 - 37752.090; Mean: 3573.731; Median: 2595.710; Stddev: 3536.948 Percentiles: 90th: 7737.990; 95th: 9924.190; 99th: 16444.630 0.000 - 292.354: 43 ########### 292.354 - 502.254: 31 ######## 502.254 - 862.342: 50 ############# 862.342 - 1480.081: 122 ################################ 1480.081 - 2539.822: 184 ################################################ 2539.822 - 4357.830: 203 ##################################################### 4357.830 - 7476.658: 142 ##################################### 7476.658 - 12827.067: 78 #################### 12827.067 - 22005.798: 16 #### 22005.798 - 37752.090: 3 # Unknown/Other reason: Count: 6 Range: 0.000 - 13542.320; Mean: 4235.373; Median: 3100.005; Stddev: 4929.174 Percentiles: 90th: 13542.320; 95th: 13542.320; 99th: 13542.320 0.000 - 1020.668: 1 ##################################################### 1020.668 - 2416.956: 1 ##################################################### 2416.956 - 4293.118: 1 ##################################################### 4293.118 - 5721.512: 1 ##################################################### 5721.512 - 13542.320: 1 ##################################################### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 10 Range: 521.340 - 9994.000; Mean: 3691.921; Median: 2112.070; Stddev: 3422.396 Percentiles: 90th: 9666.970; 95th: 9994.000; 99th: 9994.000 521.340 - 700.675: 1 ############# 700.675 - 1265.200: 1 ############# 1265.200 - 2283.904: 4 ##################################################### 2283.904 - 4122.196: 1 ############# 4122.196 - 5537.815: 1 ############# 5537.815 - 9994.000: 2 ########################### Defaulted: Count: 535 Range: 140.000 - 33317.230; Mean: 2913.960; Median: 1936.390; Stddev: 3533.903 Percentiles: 90th: 6568.100; 95th: 9395.160; 99th: 16800.000 140.000 - 242.537: 89 ####################################### 242.537 - 419.641: 22 ########## 419.641 - 725.537: 21 ######### 725.537 - 1253.886: 59 ########################## 1253.886 - 2166.457: 95 ########################################## 2166.457 - 3742.663: 120 ##################################################### 3742.663 - 6465.110: 73 ################################ 6465.110 - 11167.359: 41 ################## 11167.359 - 19289.152: 12 ##### 19289.152 - 33317.230: 3 # Mediated: Count: 525 Range: 0.000 - 37752.090; Mean: 3357.770; Median: 2614.250; Stddev: 3151.563 Percentiles: 90th: 7089.640; 95th: 9437.000; 99th: 12808.420 0.000 - 2.177: 1 | 2.177 - 204.629: 40 ######### 204.629 - 582.255: 22 ##### 582.255 - 1653.368: 105 ######################## 1653.368 - 4691.514: 230 ##################################################### 4691.514 - 13309.031: 120 ############################ 13309.031 - 37752.090: 5 # Heard: Count: 41 Range: 0.000 - 14665.540; Mean: 2683.510; Median: 1863.930; Stddev: 2967.339 Percentiles: 90th: 5690.600; 95th: 7807.260; 99th: 14665.540 0.000 - 272.901: 7 ##################################################### 272.901 - 425.261: 2 ############### 425.261 - 662.372: 2 ############### 662.372 - 1031.378: 1 ######## 1031.378 - 1605.646: 6 ############################################# 1605.646 - 2499.355: 6 ############################################# 2499.355 - 3890.197: 7 ##################################################### 3890.197 - 6054.704: 5 ###################################### 6054.704 - 9423.236: 3 ####################### 9423.236 - 14665.540: 1 ######## Other Outcome: Count: 6 Range: 0.000 - 13542.320; Mean: 4235.373; Median: 3100.005; Stddev: 4929.174 Percentiles: 90th: 13542.320; 95th: 13542.320; 99th: 13542.320 0.000 - 1020.668: 1 ##################################################### 1020.668 - 2416.956: 1 ##################################################### 2416.956 - 4293.118: 1 ##################################################### 4293.118 - 5721.512: 1 ##################################################### 5721.512 - 13542.320: 1 ##################################################### Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 637 57.0% 26.8% 21.4% Issued 586 52.5% 24.6% 19.7% Levied 101 9.0% 4.2% 3.4% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 15 14.9% 1.3% 0.6% 0.5% Foreclosure 12 11.9% 1.1% 0.5% 0.4% No Fault 12 11.9% 1.1% 0.5% 0.4% Non-payment 62 61.4% 5.6% 2.6% 2.1% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 101 100.0% 9.0% 4.2% 3.4% Read as X% of cases filed are levied for nonpayment, for example. Levied by outcome: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Dismissed 1 1.0% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% Defaulted 46 45.5% 4.1% 1.9% 1.5% Mediated 50 49.5% 4.5% 2.1% 1.7% Heard 4 4.0% 0.4% 0.2% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 101 100.0% 9.0% 4.2% 3.4% Read as X% of cases filed are levied following default, for example. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case is about X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Foreclosure 12 71 16.9% Cause 15 262 5.7% No Fault 12 314 3.8% Non-payment 62 1733 3.6% Unknown/Other 0 594 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across reasons. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case ends with X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Defaulted 46 549 8.4% Mediated 50 1206 4.1% Heard 4 120 3.3% Dismissed 1 488 0.2% Other 0 17 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 7 238 29 37 Non-payment 0 518 24 37 No Fault 0 509 32 48 Foreclosure 4 308 46 65 Unknown/Other 0 547 58 109 All Reasons 0 547 26 42 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 518 33 55 Defaulted 0 377 20 23 Mediated 0 377 22 27 Heard 0 509 72 84 Other 6 547 71 144 All Outcomes 0 547 26 42 All Cases: Count: 2380 Range: 0.000 - 547.000; Mean: 26.958; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 42.092 Percentiles: 90th: 42.000; 95th: 82.000; 99th: 238.000 0.000 - 2.506: 5 | 2.506 - 5.146: 10 | 5.146 - 9.773: 99 #### 9.773 - 17.886: 1281 ##################################################### 17.886 - 32.106: 632 ########################## 32.106 - 57.034: 180 ####### 57.034 - 100.731: 68 ### 100.731 - 177.332: 49 ## 177.332 - 311.612: 42 ## 311.612 - 547.000: 7 | By Reason Cause: Count: 253 Range: 7.000 - 238.000; Mean: 29.553; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 37.592 Percentiles: 90th: 58.000; 95th: 88.000; 99th: 238.000 7.000 - 10.236: 27 ################### 10.236 - 14.782: 62 ########################################### 14.782 - 21.166: 76 ##################################################### 21.166 - 30.132: 28 #################### 30.132 - 42.726: 28 #################### 42.726 - 60.415: 9 ###### 60.415 - 85.259: 10 ####### 85.259 - 120.154: 3 ## 120.154 - 169.164: 5 ### 169.164 - 238.000: 5 ### Non-payment: Count: 1719 Range: 0.000 - 518.000; Mean: 24.318; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 37.295 Percentiles: 90th: 36.000; 95th: 66.000; 99th: 193.000 0.000 - 2.487: 5 | 2.487 - 5.079: 9 | 5.079 - 9.599: 81 #### 9.599 - 17.479: 995 ##################################################### 17.479 - 31.218: 413 ###################### 31.218 - 55.171: 111 ###### 55.171 - 96.932: 35 ## 96.932 - 169.742: 32 ## 169.742 - 296.683: 27 # 296.683 - 518.000: 6 | No Fault: Count: 309 Range: 0.000 - 509.000; Mean: 32.036; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 48.852 Percentiles: 90th: 54.000; 95th: 94.000; 99th: 266.000 0.000 - 11.121: 48 ############################# 11.121 - 17.365: 88 ##################################################### 17.365 - 26.825: 79 ################################################ 26.825 - 41.158: 52 ############################### 41.158 - 62.875: 13 ######## 62.875 - 95.778: 13 ######## 95.778 - 145.631: 6 #### 145.631 - 221.164: 2 # 221.164 - 335.606: 6 #### 335.606 - 509.000: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 67 Range: 4.000 - 308.000; Mean: 46.552; Median: 21.000; Stddev: 65.691 Percentiles: 90th: 146.000; 95th: 217.000; 99th: 308.000 4.000 - 6.552: 1 ### 6.552 - 16.229: 19 ################################################ 16.229 - 25.023: 21 ##################################################### 25.023 - 38.306: 12 ############################## 38.306 - 58.369: 2 ##### 58.369 - 88.673: 3 ######## 88.673 - 134.444: 2 ##### 134.444 - 203.578: 2 ##### 203.578 - 308.000: 5 ############# Unknown/Other reason: Count: 32 Range: 0.000 - 547.000; Mean: 58.219; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 109.347 Percentiles: 90th: 150.000; 95th: 294.000; 99th: 547.000 0.000 - 9.826: 6 ################################### 9.826 - 15.743: 9 ##################################################### 15.743 - 24.894: 5 ############################# 24.894 - 39.047: 2 ############ 39.047 - 60.935: 2 ############ 60.935 - 94.787: 2 ############ 94.787 - 147.141: 1 ###### 147.141 - 228.110: 2 ############ 228.110 - 353.334: 1 ###### 353.334 - 547.000: 1 ###### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 488 Range: 1.000 - 518.000; Mean: 33.852; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 55.033 Percentiles: 90th: 70.000; 95th: 137.000; 99th: 267.000 1.000 - 2.487: 4 # 2.487 - 5.079: 9 ## 5.079 - 9.599: 34 ####### 9.599 - 17.479: 243 ##################################################### 17.479 - 31.218: 92 #################### 31.218 - 55.171: 44 ########## 55.171 - 96.932: 22 ##### 96.932 - 169.742: 18 #### 169.742 - 296.683: 20 #### 296.683 - 518.000: 2 | Defaulted: Count: 549 Range: 0.000 - 377.000; Mean: 20.169; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 23.580 Percentiles: 90th: 27.000; 95th: 39.000; 99th: 100.000 0.000 - 10.763: 58 ############# 10.763 - 16.297: 243 ##################################################### 16.297 - 24.434: 174 ###################################### 24.434 - 36.398: 44 ########## 36.398 - 53.991: 11 ## 53.991 - 79.860: 7 ## 79.860 - 117.897: 7 ## 117.897 - 173.828: 1 | 173.828 - 256.070: 1 | 256.070 - 377.000: 2 | Mediated: Count: 1206 Range: 0.000 - 377.000; Mean: 22.117; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 27.394 Percentiles: 90th: 35.000; 95th: 51.000; 99th: 133.000 0.000 - 3.866: 1 | 3.866 - 6.892: 2 | 6.892 - 11.801: 290 ############################### 11.801 - 19.762: 501 ##################################################### 19.762 - 32.675: 263 ############################ 32.675 - 53.619: 90 ########## 53.619 - 87.589: 29 ### 87.589 - 142.687: 13 # 142.687 - 232.053: 8 # 232.053 - 377.000: 4 | Heard: Count: 120 Range: 0.000 - 509.000; Mean: 72.308; Median: 31.000; Stddev: 84.047 Percentiles: 90th: 186.000; 95th: 217.000; 99th: 297.000 0.000 - 6.940: 2 ### 6.940 - 11.609: 10 ################# 11.609 - 19.024: 15 ########################## 19.024 - 30.799: 31 ##################################################### 30.799 - 49.498: 16 ########################### 49.498 - 79.192: 10 ################# 79.192 - 126.347: 8 ############## 126.347 - 201.232: 18 ############################### 201.232 - 320.152: 8 ############## 320.152 - 509.000: 1 ## Other Outcome: Count: 17 Range: 6.000 - 547.000; Mean: 71.588; Median: 12.000; Stddev: 144.266 Percentiles: 90th: 294.000; 95th: 547.000; 99th: 547.000 6.000 - 9.826: 3 ################## 9.826 - 15.743: 9 ##################################################### 15.743 - 39.047: 1 ###### 39.047 - 60.935: 1 ###### 60.935 - 228.110: 1 ###### 228.110 - 353.334: 1 ###### 353.334 - 547.000: 1 ###### -- Data Sources (report errors to hello@masslandlords.net): County Data Households Percent Renters Barnstable 96,509 20.0% Berkshire 53,792 30.0% Bristol 220,528 37.3% Dukes 18,146 22.6% Essex 297,898 36.9% Franklin 30,927 34.1% Hampden 179,970 39.5% Hampshire 60,002 30.7% Middlesex 612,366 38.1% Nantucket 11,399 30.8% Norfolk 269,717 31.6% Plymouth 191,041 22.6% Suffolk 309,945 63.7% Worcester 316,162 35.2% County Households: 2019 ACS TableID S1101 County Households and Renters, Dukes and Nantucket: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts County Households and Renters, Large Counties: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S11&g=0400000US25.050000&d=ACS%201-Year%20Estimates%20Subject%20Tables&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1101&hidePreview=true Dukes County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts Nantucket County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/nantucketcountymassachusetts -- Methodology Publicly available records at MassCourts.org are read fully manually at two intervals: 1.) For a filings report, once within approximately one week of filing; 2.) For an outcomes report, once again approximately 12 to 18 months after filing. Cases are searched by 'case type' = 'summary process', party type = 'plaintiff' within date ranges, typically weekly. MassCourts.org displays matches, not cases. X plaintiffs on a single case result in X separate matches. Cases are manually de-duplicated. Where the number of matches exceeds the number displayed (e.g., 'Displaying 100 of 257 total matches.'), date ranges are reduced until all cases may be viewed. If the date range cannot be reduced (i.e., is one day) but matches still exceed the display limit of 100, then two additional passes are taken. First, municipalities are filtered in stages. Second, to capture cases with no municipality entered, the search switches from 'case type' to 'case number', guessing the missing numbers assuming serialized entry. This method results in 'matches' reconciled to case counts. This effort costs more than 1 FTE. Summary spreadsheets are produced by copying exactly what is read. The spreadsheets are processed using proprietary software. Repeated analyses of local spreadsheets does not burden the MassCourts servers. The software is developed using best practices for revision control and regression testing. Limitations: Data are snapshots. As such, we cannot track individual cases over time or produce real-time reports. MassLandlords does not have access to court databases beyond what is published in human readable form at MassCourts.org. As of this report, MassLandlords staff were not considering information available to attorneys (e.g., the contents of notices, discovery, evidence, etc.) but not available to the general public. All data presented here are readily verifiable at MassCourts.org without special permission. Information is not independently verified outside of the court record. For instance, clerical errors in address, omissions of a defendant, etc. are not readily verifiable. As this process matures, reporting algorithms may change. Transfers are counted as new cases. Clerical differences between original case and transfer (e.g., middle initial included then dropped; defendant dropped on transfer; street address spelling changed) as well as the potential for indefinite circular transferring (e.g., foreclosure cases moving between housing, land, and/or superior courts) make it very difficult to programmatically identify continuing matters. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.