Outcomes for August 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: 2019-08-01 Search Period End: 2019-08-31 Earliest Case: 2019-08-01 Latest Case: 2019-08-30 Total Cases: 3372 Total Transfers: 97 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 33.0% Of those, percentage pro se: 55.9% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Indian Orchard Least stable with 10+ filings: Indian Orchard Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 112 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 577 17.1% western 545 16.2% central 502 14.9% eastern 461 13.7% southeast 429 12.7% metro_south 244 7.2% quincy district 85 2.5% pittsfield district 61 1.8% chelsea district 39 1.2% lynn district 37 1.1% malden district 29 0.9% somerville district 25 0.7% springfield district 23 0.7% northern berkshire district 22 0.7% cambridge district 21 0.6% fall river district 21 0.6% haverhill district 18 0.5% lowell district 18 0.5% waltham district 15 0.4% barnstable district 14 0.4% woburn district 14 0.4% bmc east boston 11 0.3% brockton district 10 0.3% dedham district 10 0.3% attleboro district 9 0.3% orleans district 9 0.3% wrentham district 9 0.3% bmc dorchester 8 0.2% framingham district 8 0.2% holyoke district 8 0.2% bmc west roxbury 7 0.2% fallmouth district 7 0.2% bmc roxbury 5 0.1% plymouth district 5 0.1% ayer district 4 0.1% edgartown district 4 0.1% lawrence district 4 0.1% milford district 4 0.1% northampton district 4 0.1% palmer district 4 0.1% southern berkshire district 4 0.1% taunton district 4 0.1% westfield district 4 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% salem district 3 0.1% worcester district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% bmc south boston 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% brookline district 1 0.0% chicopee district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% concord district 1 0.0% gloucester district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% hingham district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% newburyport district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% stoughton district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2258 20 Natural Person 1114 3352 Total 3372 3372 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 67.0% 0.6% Natural Person 33.0% 99.4% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2192 66 2258 Optional 491 623 1114 Total 2683 689 3372 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 65.0% 2.0% 67.0% Optional 14.6% 18.5% 33.0% Total 79.6% 20.4% 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 2 18 20 Optional 187 3165 3352 Total 189 3183 3372 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.5% 0.6% Optional 5.5% 93.9% 99.4% Total 5.6% 94.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 200 5.9% 1 2179 64.6% 2 810 24.0% 3 119 3.5% 4 38 1.1% 5 13 0.4% 6 6 0.2% 7 2 0.1% 8 3 0.1% 11 1 0.0% 12 1 0.0% Total 3372 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 2075 61.5% Unknown/Other 614 18.2% No Fault 312 9.3% Cause 300 8.9% Foreclosure 71 2.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Indian Orchard 208 21 Pittsfield 207 93 North Adams 189 26 Springfield 189 290 Randolph 165 53 New Bedford 150 143 Fall River 144 128 Florida 132 1 Haverhill 128 78 Lowell 123 132 Holyoke 122 49 Dorchester 121 112 Southbridge 119 20 Worcester 119 216 Whitinsville 115 8 Lawrence 109 84 Florence 105 1 Greenfield 97 17 Turners Falls 97 4 Fitchburg 96 39 Dennis Port 94 3 South Yarmouth 94 11 Gardner 93 19 Mattapan 90 33 Tyngsborough 88 10 West Warren 88 1 Gilbertville 86 1 Saugus 86 23 West Springfield 84 24 Petersham 81 1 Ware 81 8 Charlemont 78 1 Roxbury 78 47 Foxborough 77 13 Hull 77 8 Spencer 77 9 Webster 77 13 Orange 76 6 Brockton 75 71 West Yarmouth 75 4 Chicopee 74 41 Edgartown 73 3 Revere 73 38 Bridgewater 71 19 Lynn 71 65 Adams 70 6 Three Rivers 68 2 Lakeville 66 7 Framingham 65 45 Hyannis 63 9 Salem 62 26 Whitman 62 9 Braintree 61 22 Ashland 60 10 Taunton 60 34 Phillipston 59 1 Leominster 58 24 East Sandwich 57 2 Everett 57 24 Becket 56 1 Hyde Park 56 19 Jamaica Plain 56 21 Littleton 56 5 Barre 55 3 Erving 55 1 Holbrook 55 6 Sagamore Beach 55 2 Chelsea 54 19 Leverett 54 1 North Chelmsford 54 5 Ayer 53 4 Westfield 53 22 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Newton Center 51 2 Palmer 49 6 Norwood 48 14 Winchendon 48 5 Belchertown 47 7 North Dighton 47 2 Duxbury 46 7 West Wareham 46 1 Gloucester 45 13 Needham 45 13 West Dennis 45 1 Methuen 44 21 Pepperell 43 5 Dorchester Center 42 39 Medford 42 24 Milford 42 12 North Brookfield 42 2 Quincy 42 39 Southwick 42 4 Marlborough 41 16 Waltham 41 25 Marion 40 2 Rockland 40 7 South Easton 39 4 Manchester 38 2 South Boston 38 13 Abington 37 6 Franklin 37 12 Peabody 37 19 Stoneham 37 8 Weymouth 37 20 Clinton 36 5 Georgetown 36 3 Salisbury 36 3 Swampscott 36 5 Wellfleet 36 1 West Tisbury 36 1 Monson 35 3 Northborough 35 5 Allston 34 10 Athol 34 4 Attleborough 34 15 East Falmouth 34 2 Feeding Hills 34 4 Pocasset 34 1 South Hadley 34 6 Winthrop 34 6 Stoughton 33 9 Beverly 32 13 Canton 32 7 Chatham 32 2 Chelmsford 32 11 Fiskdale 32 1 Northfield 32 1 Fairhaven 31 5 Malden 31 19 Roslindale 31 9 Danvers 30 8 Groveland 30 2 Mansfield 30 7 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Hanson 29 3 Lunenburg 29 3 Oxford 29 4 Great Barrington 28 2 Jefferson 28 1 Mashpee 28 4 Osterville 28 1 Brimfield 27 1 Leicester 27 3 North Attleborough 27 8 Shirley 27 2 South Dennis 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Roxbury Crossing 26 16 Somerville 26 20 Woburn 26 10 Watertown 25 8 Cambridge 24 26 East Boston 24 10 East Weymouth 24 13 Easthampton 24 4 Plainville 24 2 Dracut 23 7 Ludlow 23 5 Avon 22 1 Blackstone 22 2 Brighton 22 10 Concord 22 4 East Wareham 22 5 Melrose 22 6 Townsend 22 2 Wareham 22 5 Wilmington 22 5 Agawam 21 6 Hanover 21 3 Middleborough 21 5 North Andover 21 6 Westborough 21 4 Bolton 20 1 Boxborough 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Southborough 20 2 Tewksbury 20 6 Walpole 20 5 Billerica 19 8 Maynard 19 2 Nantucket 19 2 Northbridge 19 3 Warren 19 1 Amesbury 18 3 Charlestown 17 3 E. Boston 17 7 Sharon 17 3 Weston 17 2 Grafton 16 3 Harwich 16 2 Mattapoisett 16 1 Shrewsbury 16 6 Sudbury 16 3 Bedford 15 2 Charlton 15 2 East Taunton 15 1 Kingston 15 2 Merrimac 15 1 Millbury 15 2 Norton 15 3 Plymouth 15 9 Boston 14 88 Centerville 14 2 Dalton 14 1 Uxbridge 14 2 Wilbraham 14 2 Hingham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Westwood 13 2 Andover 12 4 Auburn 12 2 North Dartmouth 12 3 North Grafton 12 1 Rutland 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Wakefield 12 3 Douglas 11 1 East Walpole 11 3 Freetown 11 1 Marshfield 11 3 Montague 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Pembroke 11 2 Scituate 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Brewster 10 1 Hudson 10 2 Marblehead 10 2 Arlington 9 4 Cherry Valley 9 1 Groton 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 South Weymouth 9 5 Winchester 9 2 Brookline 8 5 Carver 8 1 Dedham 8 2 Dudley 8 1 Lynnfield 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Holliston 7 1 Ipswich 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Northampton 7 2 Wayland 7 1 Wellesley 7 2 Bellingham 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 Lexington 6 2 Longmeadow 6 1 Westport 6 1 Amherst 5 2 Bourne 5 1 Holden 5 1 Acton 4 1 Burlington 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Westford 4 1 Milton 3 1 Natick 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 West Roxbury 3 1 Dartmouth 2 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 19 Byfield 0 2 North Egremont 0 2 Sagamore 0 1 South Attleboro 0 1 West Barnstable 0 3 White Horse Beach 0 1 span 0 3 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 805 130 Hampden 676 481 Bristol 435 358 Plymouth 419 181 Worcester 395 440 Essex 350 385 Franklin 303 32 Norfolk 301 257 Barnstable 279 54 Suffolk 253 501 Middlesex 207 484 Hampshire 162 30 Dukes 121 5 Nantucket 56 2 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 2753 81.6% Ongoing/Error 619 18.4% 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 1418 51.5% Defaulted 664 24.1% Dismissed 530 19.3% Heard 127 4.6% Other 14 0.5% Total 2753 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 42 57 179 17 0 Foreclosure 3 22 31 13 0 No Fault 52 53 180 22 0 Non-payment 433 532 1028 51 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 24 13 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 1.5% 2.1% 6.5% 0.6% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.8% 1.1% 0.5% 0.0% No Fault 1.9% 1.9% 6.5% 0.8% 0.0% Non-payment 15.7% 19.3% 37.3% 1.9% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.9% 0.5% 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 1327 48.2% 39.4% No judgment entered 1426 51.8% 42.3% Total 2753 100.0% 81.6% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 107 3.9% 0 9,346 1,492 2,023 159,699 Foreclosure 36 1.3% 0 287,571 8,613 47,187 310,070 No fault 106 3.9% 149 20,039 2,431 3,757 257,726 Non-payment 1071 38.9% 0 258,670 3,842 8,902 4,115,227 Unknown/Other 7 0.3% 559 19,074 4,951 6,061 34,663 All 1327 48.2% 0 287,571 3,675 11,279 4,877,386 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 17 0.6% 184 20,039 4,167 5,675 70,847 Defaulted 653 23.7% 0 258,670 3,230 10,652 2,109,816 Mediated 603 21.9% 0 41,402 3,690 4,573 2,225,367 Heard 51 1.9% 142 287,571 8,839 39,562 450,821 Other 3 0.1% 559 19,074 6,844 8,648 20,533 All 1327 48.2% 0 287,571 3,675 11,279 4,877,386 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% plaintiff 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% unknown 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Total 1327 100.0% 48.2% 39.4% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1327 Range: 0.000 - 287571.230; Mean: 3675.499; Median: 2252.210; Stddev: 11283.501 Percentiles: 90th: 6933.530; 95th: 9779.180; 99th: 20039.480 0.000 - 176.321: 29 ### 176.321 - 402.111: 163 ################### 402.111 - 915.411: 139 ################# 915.411 - 2082.318: 284 ################################## 2082.318 - 4735.099: 445 ##################################################### 4735.099 - 10765.784: 212 ######################### 10765.784 - 24475.609: 41 ##### 24475.609 - 55642.761: 8 # 55642.761 - 287571.230: 2 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 107 Range: 0.000 - 9346.690; Mean: 1492.516; Median: 303.960; Stddev: 2033.198 Percentiles: 90th: 4337.990; 95th: 6330.460; 99th: 8332.040 0.000 - 133.028: 2 ## 133.028 - 213.798: 43 ##################################################### 213.798 - 343.243: 9 ########### 343.243 - 550.695: 3 #### 550.695 - 883.165: 5 ###### 883.165 - 1415.992: 9 ########### 1415.992 - 2269.919: 10 ############ 2269.919 - 3638.451: 11 ############## 3638.451 - 5831.706: 8 ########## 5831.706 - 9346.690: 6 ####### Foreclosure: Count: 36 Range: 0.000 - 287571.230; Mean: 8613.069; Median: 205.775; Stddev: 47857.136 Percentiles: 90th: 358.340; 95th: 9779.180; 99th: 287571.230 0.000 - 305.739: 29 ##################################################### 305.739 - 655.128: 2 #### 655.128 - 6420.671: 1 ## 6420.671 - 13735.239: 1 ## 13735.239 - 287571.230: 1 ## No Fault: Count: 106 Range: 149.030 - 20039.480; Mean: 2431.379; Median: 1043.135; Stddev: 3774.961 Percentiles: 90th: 6202.420; 95th: 8486.010; 99th: 18716.560 149.030 - 243.766: 35 ##################################################### 243.766 - 398.323: 3 ##### 398.323 - 650.474: 5 ######## 650.474 - 1061.845: 10 ############### 1061.845 - 1732.976: 10 ############### 1732.976 - 2827.890: 18 ########################### 2827.890 - 4614.185: 9 ############## 4614.185 - 7528.430: 9 ############## 7528.430 - 12282.867: 3 ##### 12282.867 - 20039.480: 4 ###### Non-payment: Count: 1071 Range: 0.000 - 258670.080; Mean: 3842.416; Median: 2574.060; Stddev: 8906.454 Percentiles: 90th: 7339.300; 95th: 10134.840; 99th: 20430.140 0.000 - 174.453: 11 ## 174.453 - 393.662: 56 ######## 393.662 - 886.750: 116 ################ 886.750 - 1995.898: 241 ################################# 1995.898 - 4490.809: 388 ##################################################### 4490.809 - 10102.842: 204 ############################ 10102.842 - 22726.512: 44 ###### 22726.512 - 51122.105: 8 # 51122.105 - 114994.951: 1 | 114994.951 - 258670.080: 1 | Unknown/Other reason: Count: 7 Range: 559.570 - 19074.340; Mean: 4951.866; Median: 2309.060; Stddev: 6546.798 Percentiles: 90th: 19074.340; 95th: 19074.340; 99th: 19074.340 559.570 - 796.653: 1 ##################################################### 796.653 - 1134.006: 1 ##################################################### 1134.006 - 2297.089: 1 ##################################################### 2297.089 - 3269.025: 1 ##################################################### 3269.025 - 4652.024: 1 ##################################################### 4652.024 - 6619.939: 1 ##################################################### 6619.939 - 19074.340: 1 ##################################################### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 17 Range: 184.270 - 20039.480; Mean: 4167.478; Median: 2266.270; Stddev: 5850.664 Percentiles: 90th: 18488.200; 95th: 20039.480; 99th: 20039.480 184.270 - 294.948: 2 ##################### 294.948 - 754.155: 1 ########### 754.155 - 1205.275: 1 ########### 1205.275 - 1925.889: 4 ########################################## 1925.889 - 3076.988: 5 ##################################################### 3076.988 - 4915.740: 1 ########### 4915.740 - 7852.939: 1 ########### 7852.939 - 20039.480: 2 ##################### Defaulted: Count: 653 Range: 0.000 - 258670.080; Mean: 3230.960; Median: 1985.560; Stddev: 10660.190 Percentiles: 90th: 6049.510; 95th: 8486.010; 99th: 15887.150 0.000 - 315.108: 110 ################################# 315.108 - 665.027: 40 ############ 665.027 - 1402.295: 103 ############################## 1402.295 - 2955.692: 179 ##################################################### 2955.692 - 6228.641: 158 ############################################### 6228.641 - 13124.624: 49 ############### 13124.624 - 27654.209: 8 ## 27654.209 - 58267.511: 2 # 58267.511 - 258670.080: 1 | Mediated: Count: 603 Range: 0.000 - 41402.140; Mean: 3690.493; Median: 2567.660; Stddev: 4576.808 Percentiles: 90th: 7744.920; 95th: 10300.000; 99th: 20366.730 0.000 - 145.079: 5 ## 145.079 - 272.579: 44 ############### 272.579 - 511.361: 19 ####### 511.361 - 958.555: 51 ################## 958.555 - 1796.066: 105 ##################################### 1796.066 - 3364.564: 151 ##################################################### 3364.564 - 6302.063: 141 ################################################# 6302.063 - 11803.444: 63 ###################### 11803.444 - 22106.489: 18 ###### 22106.489 - 41402.140: 5 ## Heard: Count: 51 Range: 142.400 - 287571.230; Mean: 8839.643; Median: 2347.390; Stddev: 39955.981 Percentiles: 90th: 8544.910; 95th: 10836.010; 99th: 287571.230 142.400 - 305.739: 13 ########################################### 305.739 - 655.128: 2 ####### 655.128 - 1402.487: 2 ####### 1402.487 - 3001.122: 16 ##################################################### 3001.122 - 6420.671: 8 ########################### 6420.671 - 13735.239: 8 ########################### 13735.239 - 29381.423: 1 ### 29381.423 - 287571.230: 1 ### Other Outcome: Count: 3 Range: 559.570 - 19074.340; Mean: 6844.637; Median: 900.000; Stddev: 10592.601 Percentiles: 90th: 19074.340; 95th: 19074.340; 99th: 19074.340 559.570 - 796.653: 1 ##################################################### 796.653 - 1134.006: 1 ##################################################### 1134.006 - 19074.340: 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 1302 98.1% 47.3% 38.6% Issued 1106 83.3% 40.2% 32.8% Levied 259 19.5% 9.4% 7.7% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 20 7.7% 1.5% 0.7% 0.6% Foreclosure 17 6.6% 1.3% 0.6% 0.5% No Fault 31 12.0% 2.3% 1.1% 0.9% Non-payment 191 73.7% 14.4% 6.9% 5.7% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 259 100.0% 19.5% 9.4% 7.7% 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 4 1.5% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% Defaulted 131 50.6% 9.9% 4.8% 3.9% Mediated 108 41.7% 8.1% 3.9% 3.2% Heard 16 6.2% 1.2% 0.6% 0.5% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 259 100.0% 19.5% 9.4% 7.7% 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 17 71 23.9% No Fault 31 312 9.9% Non-payment 191 2075 9.2% Cause 20 300 6.7% Unknown/Other 0 614 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 131 664 19.7% Heard 16 127 12.6% Mediated 108 1418 7.6% Dismissed 4 530 0.8% Other 0 14 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 4 469 35 54 Non-payment 0 543 21 29 No Fault 2 221 25 25 Foreclosure 5 236 37 46 Unknown/Other 0 125 22 27 All Reasons 0 543 23 33 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 2 485 26 45 Defaulted 4 168 18 15 Mediated 0 543 21 27 Heard 0 469 55 64 Other 2 125 42 42 All Outcomes 0 543 23 33 All Cases: Count: 2753 Range: 0.000 - 543.000; Mean: 23.738; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 33.365 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 68.000; 99th: 158.000 0.000 - 2.503: 8 | 2.503 - 5.137: 21 # 5.137 - 9.750: 158 ##### 9.750 - 17.830: 1523 ##################################################### 17.830 - 31.985: 657 ####################### 31.985 - 56.779: 209 ####### 56.779 - 100.211: 98 ### 100.211 - 176.290: 59 ## 176.290 - 309.557: 10 | 309.557 - 543.000: 7 | By Reason Cause: Count: 295 Range: 4.000 - 469.000; Mean: 35.495; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 54.084 Percentiles: 90th: 78.000; 95th: 119.000; 99th: 407.000 4.000 - 6.876: 1 # 6.876 - 11.405: 57 ############################### 11.405 - 18.539: 97 ##################################################### 18.539 - 29.777: 64 ################################### 29.777 - 47.477: 22 ############ 47.477 - 75.357: 21 ########### 75.357 - 119.271: 19 ########## 119.271 - 188.440: 10 ##### 188.440 - 297.391: 1 # 297.391 - 469.000: 3 ## Non-payment: Count: 2045 Range: 0.000 - 543.000; Mean: 21.340; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 29.427 Percentiles: 90th: 34.000; 95th: 55.000; 99th: 136.000 0.000 - 4.046: 19 # 4.046 - 7.488: 15 # 7.488 - 13.278: 674 ##################################### 13.278 - 23.017: 959 ##################################################### 23.017 - 39.398: 227 ############# 39.398 - 66.953: 74 #### 66.953 - 113.302: 43 ## 113.302 - 191.266: 28 ## 191.266 - 543.000: 4 | No Fault: Count: 307 Range: 2.000 - 221.000; Mean: 25.397; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 25.141 Percentiles: 90th: 44.000; 95th: 64.000; 99th: 131.000 2.000 - 3.614: 2 # 3.614 - 9.912: 8 #### 9.912 - 15.781: 110 ##################################################### 15.781 - 24.807: 94 ############################################# 24.807 - 38.688: 58 ############################ 38.688 - 60.036: 16 ######## 60.036 - 92.866: 9 #### 92.866 - 143.354: 7 ### 143.354 - 221.000: 3 # Foreclosure: Count: 69 Range: 5.000 - 236.000; Mean: 37.884; Median: 21.000; Stddev: 46.426 Percentiles: 90th: 96.000; 95th: 179.000; 99th: 236.000 5.000 - 7.666: 1 ## 7.666 - 11.516: 1 ## 11.516 - 17.077: 21 ######################################### 17.077 - 25.109: 27 ##################################################### 25.109 - 36.709: 6 ############ 36.709 - 53.464: 2 #### 53.464 - 77.663: 2 #### 77.663 - 112.613: 4 ######## 112.613 - 163.092: 1 ## 163.092 - 236.000: 4 ######## Unknown/Other reason: Count: 37 Range: 0.000 - 125.000; Mean: 22.405; Median: 11.000; Stddev: 27.027 Percentiles: 90th: 64.000; 95th: 80.000; 99th: 125.000 0.000 - 2.027: 5 ######################## 2.027 - 5.932: 1 ##### 5.932 - 9.490: 8 ####################################### 9.490 - 14.875: 11 ##################################################### 14.875 - 35.355: 2 ########## 35.355 - 54.018: 4 ################### 54.018 - 82.260: 4 ################### 82.260 - 125.000: 1 ##### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 530 Range: 2.000 - 485.000; Mean: 26.870; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 45.947 Percentiles: 90th: 50.000; 95th: 78.000; 99th: 193.000 2.000 - 3.990: 7 ## 3.990 - 7.299: 20 ##### 7.299 - 12.803: 146 #################################### 12.803 - 21.958: 213 ##################################################### 21.958 - 37.184: 68 ################# 37.184 - 62.508: 38 ######### 62.508 - 104.629: 20 ##### 104.629 - 174.684: 11 ### 174.684 - 291.203: 3 # 291.203 - 485.000: 4 # Defaulted: Count: 664 Range: 4.000 - 168.000; Mean: 18.727; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 15.297 Percentiles: 90th: 29.000; 95th: 39.000; 99th: 91.000 4.000 - 6.110: 8 # 6.110 - 9.110: 59 ########## 9.110 - 13.376: 134 ######################## 13.376 - 19.443: 299 ##################################################### 19.443 - 28.069: 97 ################# 28.069 - 40.335: 34 ###### 40.335 - 57.778: 13 ## 57.778 - 82.580: 12 ## 82.580 - 117.849: 5 # 117.849 - 168.000: 3 # Mediated: Count: 1418 Range: 0.000 - 543.000; Mean: 21.851; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 27.627 Percentiles: 90th: 35.000; 95th: 56.000; 99th: 125.000 0.000 - 9.818: 49 #### 9.818 - 15.719: 696 ##################################################### 15.719 - 24.837: 389 ############################## 24.837 - 38.930: 171 ############# 38.930 - 60.709: 48 #### 60.709 - 94.367: 35 ### 94.367 - 146.383: 17 # 146.383 - 226.771: 9 # 226.771 - 543.000: 2 | Heard: Count: 127 Range: 0.000 - 469.000; Mean: 55.921; Median: 26.000; Stddev: 64.461 Percentiles: 90th: 144.000; 95th: 176.000; 99th: 236.000 0.000 - 2.453: 1 ## 2.453 - 4.960: 2 ### 4.960 - 9.288: 7 ############ 9.288 - 16.761: 25 ########################################### 16.761 - 29.659: 31 ##################################################### 29.659 - 51.926: 16 ########################### 51.926 - 90.365: 15 ########################## 90.365 - 156.719: 18 ############################### 156.719 - 271.265: 10 ################# 271.265 - 469.000: 1 ## Other Outcome: Count: 14 Range: 2.000 - 125.000; Mean: 42.071; Median: 35.000; Stddev: 42.402 Percentiles: 90th: 116.000; 95th: 125.000; 99th: 125.000 2.000 - 3.360: 4 ##################################################### 3.360 - 12.379: 2 ########################### 12.379 - 27.253: 1 ############# 27.253 - 58.665: 3 ######################################## 58.665 - 85.705: 2 ########################### 85.705 - 125.000: 2 ########################### -- 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/.