Outcomes for January 2020

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: 2020-01-01 Search Period End: 2020-01-31 Earliest Case: 2020-01-02 Latest Case: 2020-01-31 Total Cases: 3064 Total Transfers: 76 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 25.9% Of those, percentage pro se: 58.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Chestnut Hill Least stable with 10+ filings: Indian Orchard Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 102 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 eastern 530 17.3% northeast 501 16.4% central 476 15.5% western 424 13.8% southeast 362 11.8% metro_south 278 9.1% chelsea district 45 1.5% quincy district 45 1.5% somerville district 40 1.3% pittsfield district 31 1.0% fall river district 26 0.8% malden district 25 0.8% lynn district 24 0.8% cambridge district 23 0.8% framingham district 22 0.7% springfield district 19 0.6% northern berkshire district 17 0.6% barnstable district 15 0.5% haverhill district 10 0.3% attleboro district 9 0.3% lowell district 8 0.3% woburn district 8 0.3% dedham district 7 0.2% peabody district 7 0.2% wrentham district 7 0.2% bmc east boston 6 0.2% bmc west roxbury 6 0.2% waltham district 6 0.2% bmc south boston 5 0.2% gloucester district 5 0.2% holyoke district 5 0.2% newton district 5 0.2% palmer district 5 0.2% plymouth district 5 0.2% salem district 5 0.2% eastern hampshire district 4 0.1% fallmouth district 4 0.1% bmc dorchester 3 0.1% brockton district 3 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% hingham district 3 0.1% lawrence district 3 0.1% orange district 3 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% wareham district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% bmc central 1 0.0% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% brookline district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% milford district 1 0.0% orleans district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% stoughton district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% westborough district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2269 23 Natural Person 795 3041 Total 3064 3064 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 74.1% 0.8% Natural Person 25.9% 99.2% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2225 44 2269 Optional 329 466 795 Total 2554 510 3064 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 72.6% 1.4% 74.1% Optional 10.7% 15.2% 25.9% 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 8 15 23 Optional 165 2876 3041 Total 173 2891 3064 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% Optional 5.4% 93.9% 99.2% Total 5.6% 94.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 153 5.0% 1 2052 67.0% 2 691 22.6% 3 126 4.1% 4 30 1.0% 5 9 0.3% 6 1 0.0% 8 1 0.0% 9 1 0.0% Total 3064 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 2024 66.1% Cause 754 24.6% No Fault 204 6.7% Foreclosure 79 2.6% Unknown/Other 3 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Chestnut Hill 423 9 Florence 210 2 Indian Orchard 158 16 Thorndike 144 1 Springfield 140 215 Fall River 139 124 West Wareham 138 3 North Adams 131 18 Mattapan 123 45 Pittsfield 120 54 Holyoke 117 47 Framingham 114 78 Dorchester 111 103 Hyannis 106 15 Baldwinville 105 2 Worcester 104 190 Gardner 103 21 Orange 102 8 Lowell 101 108 Brockton 99 93 Leeds 98 1 Dennis Port 94 3 East Taunton 93 6 New Bedford 90 86 Southbridge 89 15 Lawrence 86 66 Salem 84 35 Norwood 83 24 Adams 82 7 Chelsea 82 29 Fitchburg 81 33 Roxbury 80 48 Charlemont 78 1 Chicopee 77 43 Hyde Park 74 25 Turners Falls 73 3 Athol 69 8 Haverhill 68 42 Randolph 68 22 Clinton 66 9 Danvers 64 17 Mansfield 64 15 Milford 64 18 Taunton 64 36 Bridgewater 63 17 Revere 63 33 Marlborough 62 24 Millville 62 2 Braintree 61 22 Lynn 61 56 Cotuit 60 2 Eastham 60 3 Middleborough 60 14 South Yarmouth 60 7 Ware 60 6 Foxborough 59 10 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Peabody 56 29 Russell 56 1 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Malden 55 33 Bondsville 53 1 Cohasset 53 4 Jamaica Plain 53 20 Webster 53 9 Methuen 52 25 Dorchester Center 51 47 Greenfield 51 9 Spencer 51 6 South Boston 50 17 Holbrook 46 5 Roxbury Crossing 46 28 Somerville 46 35 Boylston 45 2 Quincy 45 42 Rockland 45 8 Whitinsville 43 3 Feeding Hills 42 5 Great Barrington 42 3 Ludlow 42 9 Brighton 41 18 Medfield 41 5 Everett 40 17 Marion 40 2 Lunenburg 39 4 Nantucket 39 4 West Springfield 38 11 Winchendon 38 4 Beverly 37 15 Saugus 37 10 West Yarmouth 37 2 Burlington 36 9 Norton 36 7 Wakefield 36 9 Woburn 36 14 Charlestown 35 6 North Andover 35 10 Northborough 35 5 Weymouth 35 19 Three Rivers 34 1 Westwood 34 5 Stoughton 33 9 Canton 32 7 Fiskdale 32 1 Lanesborough 32 1 Medford 32 18 Roslindale 31 9 Amesbury 30 5 Sheffield 30 1 Brookfield 29 1 Dalton 29 2 East Boston 29 12 Nahant 29 1 Raynham 29 4 Uxbridge 29 4 East Sandwich 28 1 Jefferson 28 1 Osterville 28 1 Rockport 28 2 South Hadley 28 5 Brimfield 27 1 South Dennis 27 1 Tewksbury 27 8 West Brookfield 27 1 Whitman 27 4 Dudley 26 3 Waltham 26 16 West Boylston 26 2 Attleborough 25 11 Fairhaven 25 4 Franklin 25 8 Rutland 25 2 Williamstown 25 2 Bellingham 24 4 Easthampton 24 4 Palmer 24 3 Plainville 24 2 Salisbury 24 2 Westfield 24 10 Allston 23 7 Cambridge 23 25 Marshfield 23 6 Avon 22 1 Bedford 22 3 Billerica 22 9 Forestdale 22 1 Leominster 22 9 Arlington 21 9 North Brookfield 21 1 Seekonk 21 3 Carlisle 20 1 East Freetown 20 1 East Weymouth 20 11 Gloucester 20 6 Hopkinton 20 3 Southborough 20 2 Wenham 20 1 Hampden 19 1 Hull 19 2 Manchester 19 1 Maynard 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Plymouth 19 11 Rochester 19 1 Shrewsbury 19 7 Warren 19 1 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Abington 18 3 Wareham 18 4 Wrentham 18 2 East Falmouth 17 1 Mendon 17 1 Newburyport 17 3 Southampton 17 1 Wilmington 17 4 Winthrop 17 3 Ashburnham 16 1 Dracut 16 5 Hopedale 16 1 Lee 16 1 Sudbury 16 3 Wellesley Hills 16 5 Berkley 15 1 Boston 15 98 Groveland 15 1 Millbury 15 2 Agawam 14 4 East Bridgewater 14 2 Holliston 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 Northampton 14 4 Acton 13 3 Ayer 13 1 East Wareham 13 3 Halifax 13 1 Needham 13 4 Onset 13 3 Shirley 13 1 Stoneham 13 3 Upton 13 1 Andover 12 4 Auburn 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Millis 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 South Hamilton 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Watertown 12 4 Chelmsford 11 4 East Walpole 11 3 Grafton 11 2 Holden 11 2 Somerset 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Brewster 10 1 North Attleborough 10 3 Sturbridge 10 1 Westborough 10 2 Cherry Valley 9 1 Groton 9 1 Hanson 9 1 Lakeville 9 1 Lexington 9 3 Norwell 9 1 Rochdale 9 1 South Easton 9 1 Westford 9 2 Brookline 8 5 Lynnfield 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Walpole 8 2 Weston 8 1 Centerville 7 1 Charlton 7 1 Hanover 7 1 Kingston 7 1 Medway 7 1 Oxford 7 1 Ashland 6 1 Belchertown 6 1 Duxbury 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 North Reading 6 1 Westport 6 1 Amherst 5 2 Bourne 5 1 Concord 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Sharon 5 1 Dedham 4 1 Hingham 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Melrose 3 1 Natick 3 1 South Weymouth 3 2 West Roxbury 3 1 Dartmouth 2 1 E. Boston 2 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 Newton Lower Falls 2 2 South Dartmouth 2 1 (not given) 0 27 span 0 6 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 551 89 Hampden 520 370 Plymouth 428 185 Bristol 373 307 Worcester 349 389 Essex 304 335 Suffolk 278 550 Norfolk 276 236 Barnstable 248 48 Franklin 208 22 Middlesex 201 470 Hampshire 141 26 Nantucket 113 4 Dukes 0 0 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 2527 82.5% Ongoing/Error 537 17.5% 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 1269 50.2% Defaulted 592 23.4% Dismissed 529 20.9% Heard 119 4.7% Other 18 0.7% Total 2527 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 40 43 151 26 17 Foreclosure 14 20 34 6 0 No Fault 38 36 104 19 0 Non-payment 437 493 980 67 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 1.6% 1.7% 6.0% 1.0% 0.7% Foreclosure 0.6% 0.8% 1.3% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 1.5% 1.4% 4.1% 0.8% 0.0% Non-payment 17.3% 19.5% 38.8% 2.7% 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 1286 50.9% 42.0% No judgment entered 1241 49.1% 40.5% Total 2527 100.0% 82.5% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 110 4.4% 0 51,226 2,231 5,726 245,448 Foreclosure 31 1.2% 0 160,530 6,775 28,896 210,039 No fault 68 2.7% 170 33,475 3,962 6,761 269,428 Non-payment 1077 42.6% 0 41,596 4,066 4,648 4,379,999 All 1286 50.9% 0 160,530 3,969 6,626 5,104,917 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 24 0.9% 201 6,312 2,376 1,752 57,033 Defaulted 583 23.1% 55 41,596 3,285 4,317 1,915,546 Mediated 623 24.7% 0 51,226 4,286 5,261 2,670,187 Heard 47 1.9% 175 160,530 9,091 23,778 427,318 Other 9 0.4% 0 10,436 3,870 2,842 34,831 All 1286 50.9% 0 160,530 3,969 6,626 5,104,917 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 1286 100.0% 50.9% 42.0% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1286 Range: 0.000 - 160530.560; Mean: 3969.609; Median: 2444.540; Stddev: 6628.648 Percentiles: 90th: 8533.000; 95th: 12000.000; 99th: 27937.650 0.000 - 124.081: 4 # 124.081 - 276.055: 157 ####################### 276.055 - 612.678: 67 ########## 612.678 - 1358.299: 182 ########################### 1358.299 - 3009.850: 330 ################################################# 3009.850 - 6668.041: 357 ##################################################### 6668.041 - 14770.943: 141 ##################### 14770.943 - 32718.895: 36 ##### 32718.895 - 72473.656: 7 # 72473.656 - 160530.560: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 110 Range: 0.000 - 51226.360; Mean: 2231.354; Median: 595.615; Stddev: 5753.044 Percentiles: 90th: 4217.920; 95th: 10436.040; 99th: 20157.150 0.000 - 253.242: 47 ##################################################### 253.242 - 457.433: 6 ####### 457.433 - 825.616: 6 ####### 825.616 - 1489.501: 14 ################ 1489.501 - 2686.575: 16 ################## 2686.575 - 4845.060: 12 ############## 4845.060 - 8737.102: 2 ## 8737.102 - 15754.979: 3 ### 15754.979 - 28409.161: 2 ## 28409.161 - 51226.360: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 31 Range: 0.000 - 160530.560; Mean: 6775.475; Median: 214.380; Stddev: 29374.560 Percentiles: 90th: 280.910; 95th: 38893.470; 99th: 160530.560 0.000 - 302.261: 27 ##################################################### 302.261 - 9884.703: 1 ## 9884.703 - 39835.758: 1 ## 39835.758 - 160530.560: 1 ## No Fault: Count: 68 Range: 170.000 - 33475.050; Mean: 3962.191; Median: 1272.990; Stddev: 6812.122 Percentiles: 90th: 10070.000; 95th: 23498.300; 99th: 33475.050 170.000 - 288.848: 18 ##################################################### 288.848 - 490.297: 4 ############ 490.297 - 831.756: 5 ############### 831.756 - 1410.534: 8 ######################## 1410.534 - 2391.573: 6 ################## 2391.573 - 4054.449: 10 ############################# 4054.449 - 6873.051: 8 ######################## 6873.051 - 11650.627: 3 ######### 11650.627 - 19748.695: 2 ###### 19748.695 - 33475.050: 4 ############ Non-payment: Count: 1077 Range: 0.000 - 41596.390; Mean: 4066.852; Median: 2747.100; Stddev: 4650.644 Percentiles: 90th: 8619.710; 95th: 11957.750; 99th: 26064.240 0.000 - 108.280: 3 # 108.280 - 210.479: 47 ######### 210.479 - 408.253: 40 ######## 408.253 - 790.985: 66 ############ 790.985 - 1531.646: 152 ############################# 1531.646 - 2964.970: 266 ################################################## 2964.970 - 5738.732: 281 ##################################################### 5738.732 - 11106.503: 161 ############################## 11106.503 - 21494.188: 43 ######## 21494.188 - 41596.390: 16 ### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 24 Range: 201.380 - 6312.730; Mean: 2376.381; Median: 1779.460; Stddev: 1790.463 Percentiles: 90th: 5060.930; 95th: 5670.010; 99th: 6312.730 201.380 - 284.482: 3 ########################### 284.482 - 567.072: 1 ######### 567.072 - 800.337: 1 ######### 800.337 - 1129.386: 1 ######### 1129.386 - 1593.552: 6 ##################################################### 1593.552 - 2248.316: 1 ######### 2248.316 - 3171.943: 5 ############################################ 3171.943 - 4474.836: 1 ######### 4474.836 - 6312.730: 5 ############################################ Defaulted: Count: 583 Range: 55.470 - 41596.390; Mean: 3285.672; Median: 2064.800; Stddev: 4320.789 Percentiles: 90th: 6880.980; 95th: 9254.320; 99th: 25527.110 55.470 - 108.280: 2 # 108.280 - 210.479: 56 ####################### 210.479 - 408.253: 50 #################### 408.253 - 790.985: 38 ############### 790.985 - 1531.646: 91 ##################################### 1531.646 - 2964.970: 126 ################################################### 2964.970 - 5738.732: 130 ##################################################### 5738.732 - 11106.503: 70 ############################# 11106.503 - 21494.188: 13 ##### 21494.188 - 41596.390: 7 ### Mediated: Count: 623 Range: 0.000 - 51226.360; Mean: 4286.015; Median: 2724.920; Stddev: 5265.506 Percentiles: 90th: 9449.780; 95th: 13506.500; 99th: 27086.870 0.000 - 136.392: 2 # 136.392 - 264.271: 60 ##################### 264.271 - 511.172: 13 #### 511.172 - 987.877: 49 ################# 987.877 - 1908.277: 93 ################################ 1908.277 - 3685.341: 155 ##################################################### 3685.341 - 7116.413: 149 ################################################### 7116.413 - 13740.963: 70 ######################## 13740.963 - 26531.329: 22 ######## 26531.329 - 51226.360: 7 ## Heard: Count: 47 Range: 175.000 - 160530.560; Mean: 9091.876; Median: 3018.800; Stddev: 24035.793 Percentiles: 90th: 18242.550; 95th: 33064.160; 99th: 160530.560 175.000 - 346.950: 10 ################################################ 346.950 - 1358.963: 2 ########## 1358.963 - 2687.635: 10 ################################################ 2687.635 - 5314.407: 11 ##################################################### 5314.407 - 10507.514: 6 ############################# 10507.514 - 20774.242: 4 ################### 20774.242 - 41071.475: 3 ############## 41071.475 - 160530.560: 1 ##### Other Outcome: Count: 9 Range: 0.000 - 10436.040; Mean: 3870.218; Median: 3607.720; Stddev: 3014.890 Percentiles: 90th: 10436.040; 95th: 10436.040; 99th: 10436.040 0.000 - 1756.834: 1 ########################### 1756.834 - 2610.493: 1 ########################### 2610.493 - 3182.057: 1 ########################### 3182.057 - 3878.716: 1 ########################### 3878.716 - 4727.849: 2 ##################################################### 4727.849 - 7024.324: 1 ########################### 7024.324 - 10436.040: 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 1029 80.0% 40.7% 33.6% Issued 831 64.6% 32.9% 27.1% Levied 212 16.5% 8.4% 6.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 24 11.3% 1.9% 0.9% 0.8% Foreclosure 16 7.5% 1.2% 0.6% 0.5% No Fault 12 5.7% 0.9% 0.5% 0.4% Non-payment 160 75.5% 12.4% 6.3% 5.2% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 212 100.0% 16.5% 8.4% 6.9% 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 6 2.8% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% Defaulted 107 50.5% 8.3% 4.2% 3.5% Mediated 93 43.9% 7.2% 3.7% 3.0% Heard 6 2.8% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 212 100.0% 16.5% 8.4% 6.9% 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 16 79 20.3% Non-payment 160 2024 7.9% No Fault 12 204 5.9% Cause 24 754 3.2% Unknown/Other 0 3 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 107 592 18.1% Mediated 93 1269 7.3% Heard 6 119 5.0% Dismissed 6 529 1.1% Other 0 18 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 4 560 42 83 Non-payment 0 515 24 48 No Fault 0 468 35 61 Foreclosure 8 77 25 18 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 560 27 54 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 510 32 59 Defaulted 1 468 20 34 Mediated 0 560 24 49 Heard 2 446 58 92 Other 8 444 111 151 All Outcomes 0 560 27 54 All Cases: Count: 2527 Range: 0.000 - 560.000; Mean: 27.700; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 54.024 Percentiles: 90th: 36.000; 95th: 58.000; 99th: 352.000 0.000 - 2.514: 4 | 2.514 - 5.175: 18 # 5.175 - 9.850: 85 ### 9.850 - 18.064: 1512 ##################################################### 18.064 - 32.496: 600 ##################### 32.496 - 57.856: 178 ###### 57.856 - 102.415: 54 ## 102.415 - 180.709: 12 | 180.709 - 318.278: 21 # 318.278 - 560.000: 40 # By Reason Cause: Count: 277 Range: 4.000 - 560.000; Mean: 42.823; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 83.519 Percentiles: 90th: 58.000; 95th: 295.000; 99th: 444.000 4.000 - 7.016: 8 #### 7.016 - 11.852: 40 ################### 11.852 - 19.605: 112 ##################################################### 19.605 - 32.034: 53 ######################### 32.034 - 51.962: 31 ############### 51.962 - 83.911: 14 ####### 83.911 - 135.133: 2 # 135.133 - 217.255: 1 | 217.255 - 348.916: 7 ### 348.916 - 560.000: 9 #### Non-payment: Count: 1978 Range: 0.000 - 515.000; Mean: 24.870; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 48.184 Percentiles: 90th: 32.000; 95th: 47.000; 99th: 336.000 0.000 - 2.485: 3 | 2.485 - 5.072: 14 # 5.072 - 9.581: 70 ### 9.581 - 17.436: 1107 ##################################################### 17.436 - 31.125: 582 ############################ 31.125 - 54.976: 116 ###### 54.976 - 96.536: 38 ## 96.536 - 168.952: 8 | 168.952 - 295.134: 8 | 295.134 - 515.000: 30 # No Fault: Count: 197 Range: 0.000 - 468.000; Mean: 35.883; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 61.460 Percentiles: 90th: 51.000; 95th: 125.000; 99th: 349.000 0.000 - 2.452: 1 # 2.452 - 9.282: 4 ### 9.282 - 16.745: 67 ############################################## 16.745 - 29.627: 77 ##################################################### 29.627 - 51.859: 28 ################### 51.859 - 90.228: 8 ###### 90.228 - 156.451: 4 ### 156.451 - 468.000: 7 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 74 Range: 8.000 - 77.000; Mean: 25.027; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 18.043 Percentiles: 90th: 63.000; 95th: 66.000; 99th: 77.000 8.000 - 10.169: 5 ############ 10.169 - 12.862: 4 ######### 12.862 - 16.203: 23 ##################################################### 16.203 - 20.349: 15 ################################### 20.349 - 25.495: 10 ####################### 25.495 - 39.807: 5 ############ 39.807 - 49.644: 2 ##### 49.644 - 61.851: 2 ##### 61.851 - 77.000: 8 ################## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 529 Range: 0.000 - 510.000; Mean: 32.552; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 59.301 Percentiles: 90th: 57.000; 95th: 88.000; 99th: 343.000 0.000 - 2.482: 2 | 2.482 - 5.060: 10 ## 5.060 - 9.550: 25 ###### 9.550 - 17.365: 236 ##################################################### 17.365 - 30.969: 153 ################################## 30.969 - 54.650: 47 ########### 54.650 - 95.873: 31 ####### 95.873 - 167.633: 6 # 167.633 - 292.550: 8 ## 292.550 - 510.000: 10 ## Defaulted: Count: 592 Range: 1.000 - 468.000; Mean: 20.510; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 34.634 Percentiles: 90th: 25.000; 95th: 34.000; 99th: 132.000 1.000 - 2.452: 1 | 2.452 - 4.957: 3 | 4.957 - 9.282: 3 | 9.282 - 16.745: 331 ##################################################### 16.745 - 29.627: 213 ################################## 29.627 - 51.859: 29 ##### 51.859 - 90.228: 5 # 90.228 - 156.451: 2 | 156.451 - 468.000: 5 # Mediated: Count: 1269 Range: 0.000 - 560.000; Mean: 24.944; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 49.577 Percentiles: 90th: 32.000; 95th: 43.000; 99th: 364.000 0.000 - 8.446: 9 # 8.446 - 13.870: 376 ################################# 13.870 - 22.410: 603 ##################################################### 22.410 - 35.853: 185 ################ 35.853 - 57.017: 59 ##### 57.017 - 90.335: 11 # 90.335 - 142.787: 1 | 142.787 - 355.354: 10 # 355.354 - 560.000: 13 # Heard: Count: 119 Range: 2.000 - 446.000; Mean: 58.647; Median: 21.000; Stddev: 92.487 Percentiles: 90th: 184.000; 95th: 311.000; 99th: 360.000 2.000 - 3.948: 1 # 3.948 - 7.161: 7 ######### 7.161 - 12.461: 10 ############ 12.461 - 21.202: 43 ##################################################### 21.202 - 35.620: 22 ########################### 35.620 - 59.399: 10 ############ 59.399 - 98.621: 10 ############ 98.621 - 163.312: 4 ##### 163.312 - 270.012: 1 # 270.012 - 446.000: 11 ############## Other Outcome: Count: 18 Range: 8.000 - 444.000; Mean: 111.278; Median: 39.000; Stddev: 151.121 Percentiles: 90th: 393.000; 95th: 444.000; 99th: 444.000 8.000 - 12.294: 2 ##################### 12.294 - 18.637: 3 ################################ 18.637 - 41.844: 5 ##################################################### 41.844 - 62.285: 3 ################################ 62.285 - 92.479: 1 ########### 92.479 - 444.000: 4 ########################################## -- 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/.