Outcomes for December 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: 2019-12-01 Search Period End: 2019-12-31 Earliest Case: 2019-12-02 Latest Case: 2019-12-31 Total Cases: 3144 Total Transfers: 64 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 27.2% Of those, percentage pro se: 56.7% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Mill River Least stable with 10+ filings: Holyoke Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 104 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 514 16.3% eastern 505 16.1% western 489 15.6% central 453 14.4% southeast 378 12.0% metro_south 218 6.9% quincy district 75 2.4% malden district 45 1.4% lynn district 40 1.3% chelsea district 35 1.1% fall river district 26 0.8% pittsfield district 25 0.8% springfield district 25 0.8% cambridge district 23 0.7% somerville district 23 0.7% framingham district 20 0.6% northern berkshire district 19 0.6% bmc east boston 17 0.5% brockton district 14 0.4% fallmouth district 13 0.4% woburn district 12 0.4% attleboro district 11 0.3% barnstable district 11 0.3% waltham district 10 0.3% orleans district 9 0.3% salem district 9 0.3% lawrence district 8 0.3% newton district 8 0.3% holyoke district 7 0.2% bmc south boston 6 0.2% bmc west roxbury 6 0.2% haverhill district 6 0.2% lowell district 6 0.2% milford district 6 0.2% westfield district 6 0.2% bmc dorchester 5 0.2% chicopee district 5 0.2% new bedford district 5 0.2% wrentham district 5 0.2% newburyport district 4 0.1% stoughton district 4 0.1% wareham district 4 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% dedham district 3 0.1% edgartown district 3 0.1% peabody district 3 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% palmer district 2 0.1% worcester district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% hingham district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% westborough district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2290 13 Natural Person 854 3131 Total 3144 3144 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 72.8% 0.4% Natural Person 27.2% 99.6% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2253 37 2290 Optional 370 484 854 Total 2623 521 3144 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 71.7% 1.2% 72.8% Optional 11.8% 15.4% 27.2% Total 83.4% 16.6% 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 12 13 Optional 199 2932 3131 Total 200 2944 3144 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.4% 0.4% Optional 6.3% 93.3% 99.6% Total 6.4% 93.6% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 140 4.5% 1 2132 67.8% 2 706 22.5% 3 115 3.7% 4 24 0.8% 5 18 0.6% 6 4 0.1% 7 4 0.1% 8 1 0.0% Total 3144 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 1964 62.5% Cause 872 27.7% No Fault 250 8.0% Foreclosure 57 1.8% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Mill River 1851 2 Florence 632 6 Gilbertville 521 6 Wheelwright 305 1 Chestnut Hill 188 4 Shelburne Falls 170 3 Holyoke 160 64 Indian Orchard 158 16 Vineyard Haven 158 3 Turners Falls 146 6 Springfield 145 222 Thorndike 144 1 New Bedford 138 132 Fall River 128 114 East Falmouth 121 7 Southbridge 119 20 Chicopee 117 65 North Adams 116 16 Dorchester 113 104 Randolph 108 35 Brockton 107 101 Pittsfield 107 48 Bondsville 106 2 Baldwinville 105 2 Hyde Park 104 35 Lowell 103 110 Pocasset 103 3 Fitchburg 101 41 Worcester 101 184 Lawrence 98 75 Adams 94 8 South Boston 94 32 Sheffield 92 3 Lynn 90 82 Webster 89 15 Haverhill 87 53 Mattapan 87 32 West Springfield 81 23 Greenfield 80 14 Gardner 79 16 Malden 79 47 Framingham 76 52 West Newbury 70 3 Revere 69 36 Leominster 68 28 Everett 67 28 Allston 65 19 Peabody 64 33 Dennis Port 63 2 Hyannis 63 9 Salem 62 26 Canton 60 13 East Boston 59 24 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Rockland 57 10 Lakeville 56 6 Brimfield 55 2 Quincy 55 51 Whitman 55 8 South Dennis 54 2 Taunton 53 30 Buckland 52 1 Southwick 52 5 Athol 51 6 Marlborough 51 20 Newton Center 51 2 Rowley 51 3 Spencer 51 6 Hopedale 50 3 Ware 50 5 North Andover 49 14 Hull 48 5 Roxbury 48 29 Winchendon 48 5 Dorchester Center 47 44 Middleborough 47 11 West Townsend 47 1 Chelsea 45 16 East Brookfield 45 1 Winthrop 45 8 South Grafton 44 2 Westborough 43 8 Ashland 42 7 Feeding Hills 42 5 Mashpee 42 6 Charlestown 41 7 Palmer 41 5 Stoughton 40 11 Maynard 39 4 Roslindale 38 11 Warren 38 2 Bridgewater 37 10 North Falmouth 37 1 Raynham 37 5 Waltham 37 23 Swampscott 36 5 Beverly 35 14 East Weymouth 35 19 Plympton 35 1 West Barnstable 35 1 Attleborough 34 15 Brighton 34 15 Norwood 34 10 Southampton 34 2 Provincetown 33 1 Townsend 33 3 Jamaica Plain 32 12 Wareham 32 7 Northampton 31 9 Woburn 31 12 Brewster 30 3 Cotuit 30 1 Dracut 30 9 Plymouth 30 17 Lunenburg 29 3 Westfield 29 12 East Sandwich 28 1 Medford 28 16 Milford 28 8 Northborough 28 4 West Bridgewater 28 2 Belchertown 27 4 Cambridge 27 29 Sagamore 27 1 Westminster 27 2 Cohasset 26 2 Norton 26 5 Somerville 26 20 Mansfield 25 6 Orange 25 2 Waban 25 2 Agawam 24 7 Amesbury 24 4 Auburn 24 4 Gloucester 24 7 Medfield 24 3 Plainville 24 2 West Harwich 24 3 Weymouth 24 13 Charlton 23 3 Kingston 23 3 Acton 22 5 Avon 22 1 Blackstone 22 2 Concord 22 4 Franklin 22 7 Ipswich 22 3 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Sudbury 22 4 Amherst 21 8 Hanover 21 3 Methuen 21 10 North Brookfield 21 1 Seekonk 21 3 Bolton 20 1 Chelmsford 20 7 North Attleborough 20 6 Tewksbury 20 6 Wenham 20 1 South Easton 19 2 West Roxbury 19 6 Abington 18 3 Andover 18 6 Barre 18 1 Bellingham 18 3 Danvers 18 5 Easthampton 18 3 Ludlow 18 4 Melrose 18 5 South Barre 18 1 West Yarmouth 18 1 Mendon 17 1 South Hadley 17 3 South Yarmouth 17 2 Boston 16 100 Burlington 16 4 Chatham 16 1 Dedham 16 4 Granby 16 1 Orleans 16 1 Pembroke 16 3 Roxbury Crossing 16 10 Wakefield 16 4 Bourne 15 3 Marblehead 15 3 Millbury 15 2 Watertown 15 5 Bradford 14 2 Centerville 14 2 Clinton 14 2 Whitinsville 14 1 East Wareham 13 3 Hopkinton 13 2 Belmont 12 3 Georgetown 12 1 Hamilton 12 1 Millis 12 1 Natick 12 4 Salisbury 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Douglas 11 1 Foxborough 11 2 Grafton 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Monson 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Sharon 11 2 Auburndale 10 1 North Chelmsford 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Hingham 9 2 Lexington 9 3 Nantucket 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Braintree 8 3 Brookline 8 5 Carver 8 1 Dudley 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Lynnfield 8 1 Norfolk 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Pepperell 8 1 Tyngsborough 8 1 Bedford 7 1 Billerica 7 3 Milton 7 2 North Easton 7 1 Oxford 7 1 Saugus 7 2 South Weymouth 7 4 Uxbridge 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 Westport 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Dartmouth 5 2 Holden 5 1 Hudson 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Onset 4 1 Reading 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Walpole 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Marshfield 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Arlington 2 1 Barnstable 2 1 Newton 2 2 Newton Highlands 2 2 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 15 span 0 8 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 Hampden 613 436 Berkshire 477 77 Plymouth 460 199 Bristol 396 326 Worcester 351 391 Essex 324 357 Barnstable 300 58 Suffolk 273 540 Franklin 246 26 Norfolk 238 203 Hampshire 222 41 Middlesex 198 462 Dukes 97 4 Nantucket 28 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 2554 81.2% Ongoing/Error 590 18.8% 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 1301 50.9% Defaulted 640 25.1% Dismissed 473 18.5% Heard 112 4.4% Other 28 1.1% Total 2554 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 54 55 155 40 28 Foreclosure 7 14 24 7 0 No Fault 45 48 134 18 0 Non-payment 367 523 988 47 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 2.1% 2.2% 6.1% 1.6% 1.1% Foreclosure 0.3% 0.5% 0.9% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 1.8% 1.9% 5.2% 0.7% 0.0% Non-payment 14.4% 20.5% 38.7% 1.8% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 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 1355 53.1% 43.1% No judgment entered 1199 46.9% 38.1% Total 2554 100.0% 81.2% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 135 5.3% 112 37,258 2,078 3,854 280,537 Foreclosure 20 0.8% 178 6,169 507 1,299 10,145 No fault 97 3.8% 140 35,864 1,907 3,857 184,984 Non-payment 1103 43.2% 125 82,635 4,015 5,514 4,429,061 All 1355 53.1% 112 82,635 3,619 5,295 4,904,728 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 18 0.7% 253 10,926 2,316 2,535 41,688 Defaulted 629 24.6% 140 82,635 3,338 5,334 2,099,939 Mediated 658 25.8% 112 80,977 3,922 5,275 2,581,247 Heard 40 1.6% 140 35,864 3,655 6,054 146,234 Other 10 0.4% 783 8,808 3,561 2,509 35,617 All 1355 53.1% 112 82,635 3,619 5,295 4,904,728 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 1355 100.0% 53.1% 43.1% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1355 Range: 112.340 - 82635.680; Mean: 3619.726; Median: 2424.130; Stddev: 5297.643 Percentiles: 90th: 7407.740; 95th: 10077.010; 99th: 23719.260 112.340 - 218.110: 159 ######################### 218.110 - 422.586: 44 ####### 422.586 - 817.880: 88 ############## 817.880 - 1582.066: 179 ############################ 1582.066 - 3059.399: 340 ##################################################### 3059.399 - 5915.393: 337 ##################################################### 5915.393 - 11436.628: 158 ######################### 11436.628 - 22110.333: 34 ##### 22110.333 - 42744.844: 12 ## 42744.844 - 82635.680: 4 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 135 Range: 112.340 - 37258.290; Mean: 2078.055; Median: 344.480; Stddev: 3869.302 Percentiles: 90th: 5229.270; 95th: 6944.880; 99th: 10979.250 112.340 - 201.334: 50 ##################################################### 201.334 - 360.205: 18 ################### 360.205 - 643.820: 4 #### 643.820 - 1150.128: 8 ######## 1150.128 - 2053.986: 10 ########### 2053.986 - 3667.546: 20 ##################### 3667.546 - 6548.063: 16 ################# 6548.063 - 11690.340: 8 ######## 11690.340 - 37258.290: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 20 Range: 178.750 - 6169.150; Mean: 507.271; Median: 212.930; Stddev: 1332.847 Percentiles: 90th: 240.000; 95th: 272.050; 99th: 6169.150 178.750 - 254.995: 18 ##################################################### 254.995 - 363.581: 1 ### 363.581 - 6169.150: 1 ### No Fault: Count: 97 Range: 140.000 - 35864.980; Mean: 1907.052; Median: 826.550; Stddev: 3877.359 Percentiles: 90th: 4079.440; 95th: 5152.910; 99th: 35864.980 140.000 - 244.338: 40 ##################################################### 244.338 - 425.886: 2 ### 425.886 - 741.777: 6 ######## 741.777 - 1291.423: 6 ######## 1291.423 - 2247.800: 13 ################# 2247.800 - 3911.887: 20 ########################### 3911.887 - 6807.377: 7 ######### 6807.377 - 11845.498: 2 ### 11845.498 - 35864.980: 1 # Non-payment: Count: 1103 Range: 125.110 - 82635.680; Mean: 4015.468; Median: 2747.260; Stddev: 5517.253 Percentiles: 90th: 7866.180; 95th: 10885.050; 99th: 23719.260 125.110 - 240.208: 51 ######### 240.208 - 460.354: 28 ##### 460.354 - 881.422: 80 ############## 881.422 - 1686.792: 173 ############################## 1686.792 - 3227.206: 307 ##################################################### 3227.206 - 6173.525: 282 ################################################# 6173.525 - 11808.890: 136 ####################### 11808.890 - 22587.542: 32 ###### 22587.542 - 43203.654: 11 ## 43203.654 - 82635.680: 3 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 18 Range: 253.080 - 10926.480; Mean: 2316.054; Median: 1374.055; Stddev: 2609.200 Percentiles: 90th: 5610.460; 95th: 10926.480; 99th: 10926.480 253.080 - 369.105: 2 ########################### 369.105 - 784.300: 3 ######################################## 784.300 - 1142.906: 2 ########################### 1142.906 - 1665.270: 4 ##################################################### 1665.270 - 2426.170: 2 ########################### 2426.170 - 3534.535: 2 ########################### 3534.535 - 5149.034: 1 ############# 5149.034 - 7500.793: 1 ############# 7500.793 - 10926.480: 1 ############# Defaulted: Count: 629 Range: 140.000 - 82635.680; Mean: 3338.537; Median: 2140.450; Stddev: 5339.178 Percentiles: 90th: 6895.330; 95th: 8757.350; 99th: 23719.260 140.000 - 265.695: 101 ################################### 265.695 - 503.440: 33 ########### 503.440 - 953.125: 38 ############# 953.125 - 1803.682: 99 ################################## 1803.682 - 3412.469: 153 ##################################################### 3412.469 - 6455.414: 133 ############################################## 6455.414 - 12210.998: 53 ################## 12210.998 - 23097.411: 11 #### 23097.411 - 43688.541: 6 ## 43688.541 - 82635.680: 2 # Mediated: Count: 658 Range: 112.340 - 80977.880; Mean: 3922.868; Median: 2762.865; Stddev: 5279.419 Percentiles: 90th: 7872.000; 95th: 11028.590; 99th: 22750.150 112.340 - 217.666: 58 ################# 217.666 - 420.872: 17 ##### 420.872 - 812.916: 38 ########### 812.916 - 1569.286: 79 ######################## 1569.286 - 3028.546: 170 ################################################### 3028.546 - 5843.890: 177 ##################################################### 5843.890 - 11275.523: 89 ########################### 11275.523 - 21754.750: 23 ####### 21754.750 - 41972.280: 6 ## 41972.280 - 80977.880: 1 | Heard: Count: 40 Range: 140.000 - 35864.980; Mean: 3655.862; Median: 2044.600; Stddev: 6131.189 Percentiles: 90th: 6246.640; 95th: 8959.180; 99th: 35864.980 140.000 - 244.338: 10 ##################################################### 244.338 - 741.777: 2 ########### 741.777 - 1291.423: 4 ##################### 1291.423 - 2247.800: 5 ########################### 2247.800 - 3911.887: 7 ##################################### 3911.887 - 6807.377: 8 ########################################## 6807.377 - 11845.498: 2 ########### 11845.498 - 20611.769: 1 ##### 20611.769 - 35864.980: 1 ##### Other Outcome: Count: 10 Range: 783.280 - 8808.590; Mean: 3561.771; Median: 2812.380; Stddev: 2645.657 Percentiles: 90th: 6518.660; 95th: 8808.590; 99th: 8808.590 783.280 - 997.894: 1 ########################### 997.894 - 1271.237: 1 ########################### 1271.237 - 1619.379: 1 ########################### 1619.379 - 2062.787: 1 ########################### 2062.787 - 2627.533: 1 ########################### 2627.533 - 3346.818: 1 ########################### 3346.818 - 5429.737: 2 ##################################################### 5429.737 - 6915.832: 1 ########################### 6915.832 - 8808.590: 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 1078 79.6% 42.2% 34.3% Issued 891 65.8% 34.9% 28.3% Levied 188 13.9% 7.4% 6.0% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 26 13.8% 1.9% 1.0% 0.8% Foreclosure 12 6.4% 0.9% 0.5% 0.4% No Fault 11 5.9% 0.8% 0.4% 0.3% Non-payment 139 73.9% 10.3% 5.4% 4.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 188 100.0% 13.9% 7.4% 6.0% 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 0.5% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% Defaulted 95 50.5% 7.0% 3.7% 3.0% Mediated 87 46.3% 6.4% 3.4% 2.8% Heard 5 2.7% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 188 100.0% 13.9% 7.4% 6.0% 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 57 21.1% Non-payment 139 1964 7.1% No Fault 11 250 4.4% Cause 26 872 3.0% Unknown/Other 0 1 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 95 640 14.8% Mediated 87 1301 6.7% Heard 5 112 4.5% Dismissed 1 473 0.2% Other 0 28 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 0 559 37 73 Non-payment 0 538 22 39 No Fault 0 512 29 52 Foreclosure 1 561 36 76 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 561 25 47 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 538 34 73 Defaulted 4 350 18 20 Mediated 0 512 22 33 Heard 0 561 56 107 Other 3 364 39 76 All Outcomes 0 561 25 47 All Cases: Count: 2554 Range: 0.000 - 561.000; Mean: 25.088; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 47.997 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 59.000; 99th: 360.000 0.000 - 2.515: 4 | 2.515 - 5.177: 13 | 5.177 - 9.855: 94 ### 9.855 - 18.077: 1610 ##################################################### 18.077 - 32.526: 488 ################ 32.526 - 57.919: 201 ####### 57.919 - 102.544: 91 ### 102.544 - 180.968: 12 | 180.968 - 318.791: 3 | 318.791 - 561.000: 30 # By Reason Cause: Count: 332 Range: 0.000 - 559.000; Mean: 37.678; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 73.510 Percentiles: 90th: 65.000; 95th: 95.000; 99th: 421.000 0.000 - 2.514: 1 | 2.514 - 5.173: 6 ## 5.173 - 9.844: 11 ### 9.844 - 18.050: 172 ##################################################### 18.050 - 32.466: 65 #################### 32.466 - 57.793: 37 ########### 57.793 - 102.286: 26 ######## 102.286 - 180.450: 1 | 180.450 - 317.766: 2 # 317.766 - 559.000: 10 ### Non-payment: Count: 1925 Range: 0.000 - 538.000; Mean: 22.078; Median: 14.000; Stddev: 39.721 Percentiles: 90th: 33.000; 95th: 48.000; 99th: 137.000 0.000 - 2.500: 2 | 2.500 - 5.126: 6 | 5.126 - 9.720: 77 ### 9.720 - 17.761: 1226 ##################################################### 17.761 - 31.833: 391 ################# 31.833 - 56.460: 141 ###### 56.460 - 99.559: 53 ## 99.559 - 174.986: 7 | 174.986 - 306.987: 1 | 306.987 - 538.000: 16 # No Fault: Count: 245 Range: 0.000 - 512.000; Mean: 29.282; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 52.634 Percentiles: 90th: 43.000; 95th: 72.000; 99th: 374.000 0.000 - 6.945: 2 # 6.945 - 11.624: 56 ###################################### 11.624 - 19.059: 79 ##################################################### 19.059 - 30.873: 56 ###################################### 30.873 - 49.646: 30 #################### 49.646 - 79.475: 11 ####### 79.475 - 126.871: 3 ## 126.871 - 202.183: 2 # 202.183 - 512.000: 4 ### Foreclosure: Count: 52 Range: 1.000 - 561.000; Mean: 36.365; Median: 22.000; Stddev: 76.727 Percentiles: 90th: 50.000; 95th: 86.000; 99th: 561.000 1.000 - 2.515: 1 ### 2.515 - 9.855: 2 ###### 9.855 - 18.077: 18 ##################################################### 18.077 - 32.526: 18 ##################################################### 32.526 - 57.919: 9 ########################### 57.919 - 102.544: 2 ###### 102.544 - 180.968: 1 ### 180.968 - 561.000: 1 ### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 473 Range: 0.000 - 538.000; Mean: 34.480; Median: 14.000; Stddev: 73.321 Percentiles: 90th: 59.000; 95th: 99.000; 99th: 445.000 0.000 - 2.500: 1 | 2.500 - 5.126: 4 # 5.126 - 9.720: 37 ####### 9.720 - 17.761: 262 ##################################################### 17.761 - 31.833: 79 ################ 31.833 - 56.460: 36 ####### 56.460 - 99.559: 31 ###### 99.559 - 174.986: 6 # 174.986 - 306.987: 1 | 306.987 - 538.000: 15 ### Defaulted: Count: 640 Range: 4.000 - 350.000; Mean: 18.116; Median: 14.000; Stddev: 20.967 Percentiles: 90th: 28.000; 95th: 36.000; 99th: 65.000 4.000 - 6.649: 1 | 6.649 - 10.701: 55 ######## 10.701 - 16.901: 381 ##################################################### 16.901 - 26.385: 133 ################### 26.385 - 40.893: 45 ###### 40.893 - 63.087: 18 ### 63.087 - 97.041: 4 # 97.041 - 148.982: 1 | 148.982 - 350.000: 2 | Mediated: Count: 1301 Range: 0.000 - 512.000; Mean: 22.127; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 33.157 Percentiles: 90th: 35.000; 95th: 50.000; 99th: 88.000 0.000 - 2.483: 1 | 2.483 - 5.065: 3 | 5.065 - 9.562: 32 ## 9.562 - 17.394: 765 ##################################################### 17.394 - 31.031: 320 ###################### 31.031 - 54.781: 119 ######## 54.781 - 96.138: 45 ### 96.138 - 168.161: 3 | 168.161 - 512.000: 7 | Heard: Count: 112 Range: 0.000 - 561.000; Mean: 56.071; Median: 23.500; Stddev: 107.282 Percentiles: 90th: 88.000; 95th: 375.000; 99th: 559.000 0.000 - 2.515: 2 #### 2.515 - 5.177: 4 ####### 5.177 - 9.855: 10 ################## 9.855 - 18.077: 30 ##################################################### 18.077 - 32.526: 27 ################################################ 32.526 - 57.919: 15 ########################### 57.919 - 102.544: 15 ########################### 102.544 - 180.968: 1 ## 180.968 - 561.000: 7 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 28 Range: 3.000 - 364.000; Mean: 39.464; Median: 14.000; Stddev: 76.670 Percentiles: 90th: 66.000; 95th: 233.000; 99th: 364.000 3.000 - 5.282: 1 ### 5.282 - 14.493: 16 ##################################################### 14.493 - 23.331: 2 ####### 23.331 - 37.210: 4 ############# 37.210 - 59.007: 2 ####### 59.007 - 93.237: 1 ### 93.237 - 364.000: 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/.