Outcomes for March 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: 2020-03-01 Search Period End: 2020-03-31 Earliest Case: 2020-03-02 Latest Case: 2020-03-31 Total Cases: 2179 Total Transfers: 48 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 27.4% Of those, percentage pro se: 54.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Southbridge Least stable with 100+ filings: Worcester Least stable county: Plymouth Cases per day: 72 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 423 19.4% northeast 377 17.3% central 323 14.8% southeast 255 11.7% western 232 10.6% metro_south 170 7.8% quincy district 50 2.3% chelsea district 30 1.4% malden district 30 1.4% lynn district 19 0.9% barnstable district 16 0.7% attleboro district 14 0.6% somerville district 14 0.6% fall river district 13 0.6% brockton district 11 0.5% wrentham district 11 0.5% cambridge district 9 0.4% fallmouth district 9 0.4% worcester district 9 0.4% bmc east boston 8 0.4% chicopee district 8 0.4% framingham district 8 0.4% new bedford district 8 0.4% pittsfield district 8 0.4% bmc south boston 7 0.3% bmc west roxbury 7 0.3% milford district 7 0.3% dedham district 6 0.3% lawrence district 6 0.3% lowell district 6 0.3% northern berkshire district 6 0.3% orleans district 6 0.3% palmer district 6 0.3% waltham district 6 0.3% eastern hampshire district 5 0.2% holyoke district 5 0.2% springfield district 5 0.2% woburn district 5 0.2% newburyport district 4 0.2% peabody district 4 0.2% bmc dorchester 3 0.1% bmc roxbury 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% haverhill district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% bmc brighton 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1582 4 Natural Person 597 2175 Total 2179 2179 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 72.6% 0.2% Natural Person 27.4% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1550 32 1582 Optional 271 326 597 Total 1821 358 2179 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 71.1% 1.5% 72.6% Optional 12.4% 15.0% 27.4% Total 83.6% 16.4% 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 0 4 4 Optional 154 2021 2175 Total 154 2025 2179 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 7.1% 92.7% 99.8% Total 7.1% 92.9% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 89 4.1% 1 1494 68.6% 2 450 20.7% 3 95 4.4% 4 31 1.4% 5 16 0.7% 7 1 0.0% 10 1 0.0% 15 1 0.0% 17 1 0.0% Total 2179 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 1358 62.3% Cause 597 27.4% No Fault 157 7.2% Foreclosure 65 3.0% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 210 2 Three Rivers 170 5 North Chatham 142 1 Southbridge 107 18 Turners Falls 97 4 Hyde Park 95 32 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Hyannis 92 13 West Wareham 92 2 New Bedford 91 87 West Warren 88 1 Buzzards Bay 87 3 East Falmouth 86 5 Charlestown 83 14 Abington 81 13 Greenfield 80 14 Dorchester 77 71 Randolph 77 25 Spencer 77 9 Ware 70 7 Lawrence 69 53 Lowell 69 74 Lynn 69 63 Worcester 69 125 Chelsea 68 24 Fall River 66 59 Fitchburg 66 27 Hardwick 66 2 Malden 65 39 Salem 65 27 Seekonk 65 9 Roxbury 63 38 Springfield 61 94 Brockton 59 56 Marlborough 59 23 Webster 59 10 Yarmouth Port 59 3 Hull 58 6 North Adams 58 8 South Easton 58 6 East Sandwich 57 2 Revere 57 30 Becket 56 1 Russell 56 1 West Yarmouth 56 3 West Brookfield 54 2 Bondsville 53 1 Holyoke 52 21 Mattapan 52 19 Framingham 51 35 Chicopee 50 28 Milford 50 14 Bridgewater 48 13 Holbrook 46 5 Pittsfield 46 21 Forestdale 45 2 Huntington 45 1 Dalton 44 3 Dorchester Center 44 41 Roslindale 44 13 Mashpee 42 6 Whitman 41 6 Boxborough 40 2 East Boston 39 16 Maynard 39 4 Everett 38 16 Middleborough 38 9 Orange 38 3 Warren 38 2 Haverhill 37 23 Stoughton 37 10 Wellfleet 36 1 Foxborough 35 6 Quincy 35 33 South Boston 35 12 West Springfield 35 10 Leominster 34 14 Taunton 34 19 Orleans 33 2 Ashby 32 1 Lanesborough 32 1 Amherst 31 12 Brighton 31 14 Dennis Port 31 1 North Attleborough 31 9 Allston 30 9 Braintree 30 11 Charlton 30 4 Cheshire 30 1 Dracut 30 9 Hatfield 30 1 Sheffield 30 1 Waltham 29 18 Winchendon 29 3 Jefferson 28 1 Osterville 28 1 Rockland 28 5 Roxbury Crossing 28 17 Attleborough 27 12 Beverly 27 11 Leicester 27 3 South Dennis 27 1 Cohasset 26 2 Westfield 26 11 Woburn 26 10 Athol 25 3 Peabody 25 13 Edgartown 24 1 North Andover 24 7 Plainville 24 2 Salisbury 24 2 Tewksbury 24 7 Canton 23 5 Ludlow 23 5 West Newbury 23 1 Avon 22 1 Blackstone 22 2 Franklin 22 7 Holliston 22 3 Westford 22 5 Winthrop 22 4 East Bridgewater 21 3 Jamaica Plain 21 8 Mansfield 21 5 Northborough 21 3 Chelmsford 20 7 Marstons Mills 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Norwood 20 6 Duxbury 19 3 Gardner 19 4 Indian Orchard 19 2 Lenox 19 1 Lunenburg 19 2 Manchester 19 1 Amesbury 18 3 Ashland 18 3 East Weymouth 18 10 North Billerica 18 2 Weymouth 18 10 Dover 17 1 Rehoboth 17 2 South Hadley 17 3 South Yarmouth 17 2 Ashburnham 16 1 Cambridge 16 17 Mattapoisett 16 1 Medford 16 9 Methuen 16 8 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 North Dartmouth 16 4 Palmer 16 2 Pembroke 16 3 Somerset 16 3 Danvers 15 4 Ipswich 15 2 Kingston 15 2 Millbury 15 2 Natick 15 5 Great Barrington 14 1 Oxford 14 2 Shrewsbury 14 5 Wilbraham 14 2 Belchertown 13 2 Gloucester 13 4 Hopkinton 13 2 Needham 13 4 Stoneham 13 3 Upton 13 1 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Andover 12 4 Bellingham 12 2 Boston 12 78 Burlington 12 3 Rutland 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Williamstown 12 1 Holden 11 2 Melrose 11 3 Monson 11 1 Montague 11 1 Saugus 11 3 Agawam 10 3 Brewster 10 1 Brookline 10 6 Hudson 10 2 Marblehead 10 2 North Chelmsford 10 1 Somerville 10 8 Southborough 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Acton 9 2 Acushnet 9 1 Billerica 9 4 Cherry Valley 9 1 Falmouth 9 3 Nantucket 9 1 Watertown 9 3 West Roxbury 9 3 Wrentham 9 1 Belmont 8 2 Carver 8 1 Dudley 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Plymouth 8 5 Tyngsborough 8 1 Wakefield 8 2 Walpole 8 2 West Harwich 8 1 Wilmington 8 2 Bedford 7 1 Bradford 7 1 Centerville 7 1 Clinton 7 1 Dennis 7 1 E. Boston 7 3 Medway 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Raynham 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Swampscott 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 West Newton 7 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Easthampton 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Northbridge 6 1 Swansea 6 1 Westport 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Concord 5 1 Newburyport 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Sudbury 5 1 Westborough 5 1 Arlington 4 2 Dedham 4 1 Hingham 4 1 Reading 4 1 Lexington 3 1 Marshfield 3 1 Milton 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Northampton 3 1 Barnstable 2 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 South Dartmouth 2 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 23 span 0 4 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 Plymouth 310 134 Barnstable 295 57 Bristol 271 223 Hampden 263 187 Worcester 245 273 Berkshire 241 39 Suffolk 225 446 Essex 212 234 Franklin 208 22 Norfolk 191 163 Hampshire 162 30 Middlesex 146 342 Nantucket 28 1 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 1630 74.8% Ongoing/Error 549 25.2% 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 Dismissed 844 51.8% Mediated 449 27.5% Heard 181 11.1% Defaulted 132 8.1% Other 24 1.5% Total 1630 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 75 12 59 38 23 Foreclosure 16 12 18 5 0 No Fault 63 14 48 20 0 Non-payment 690 94 324 117 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.6% 0.7% 3.6% 2.3% 1.4% Foreclosure 1.0% 0.7% 1.1% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 3.9% 0.9% 2.9% 1.2% 0.0% Non-payment 42.3% 5.8% 19.9% 7.2% 0.1% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 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 370 22.7% 17.0% No judgment entered 1260 77.3% 57.8% Total 1630 100.0% 74.8% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 38 2.3% 0 33,872 4,791 7,440 182,072 Foreclosure 14 0.9% 0 28,571 5,734 10,649 80,289 No fault 39 2.4% 175 18,341 4,221 5,296 164,652 Non-payment 279 17.1% 140 46,808 8,376 8,248 2,337,065 All 370 22.7% 0 46,808 7,470 8,174 2,764,079 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 6 0.4% 3,523 17,186 7,021 4,609 42,131 Defaulted 130 8.0% 0 42,408 5,834 7,718 758,502 Mediated 176 10.8% 141 46,808 8,102 8,304 1,426,070 Heard 53 3.3% 180 27,876 9,307 7,893 493,276 Other 5 0.3% 0 33,872 8,819 12,672 44,098 All 370 22.7% 0 46,808 7,470 8,174 2,764,079 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 370 100.0% 22.7% 17.0% Judgments All Cases: Count: 370 Range: 0.000 - 46808.070; Mean: 7470.485; Median: 4402.175; Stddev: 8185.469 Percentiles: 90th: 18762.520; 95th: 24816.500; 99th: 37258.170 0.000 - 250.959: 53 ########################################### 250.959 - 449.237: 7 ###### 449.237 - 803.549: 5 #### 803.549 - 1436.684: 26 ##################### 1436.684 - 2568.062: 43 ################################### 2568.062 - 4589.771: 50 ######################################### 4589.771 - 8202.454: 58 ############################################### 8202.454 - 14658.118: 65 ##################################################### 14658.118 - 26194.031: 46 ###################################### 26194.031 - 46808.070: 15 ############ Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 38 Range: 0.000 - 33872.140; Mean: 4791.370; Median: 1544.005; Stddev: 7540.869 Percentiles: 90th: 15905.010; 95th: 20479.360; 99th: 33872.140 0.000 - 252.619: 14 ##################################################### 252.619 - 435.886: 2 ######## 435.886 - 1295.403: 2 ######## 1295.403 - 2232.191: 3 ########### 2232.191 - 3845.908: 4 ############### 3845.908 - 6625.706: 4 ############### 6625.706 - 11414.203: 2 ######## 11414.203 - 19662.895: 3 ########### 19662.895 - 33872.140: 3 ########### Foreclosure: Count: 14 Range: 0.000 - 28571.400; Mean: 5734.999; Median: 218.660; Stddev: 11051.152 Percentiles: 90th: 24816.500; 95th: 28571.400; 99th: 28571.400 0.000 - 246.571: 9 ##################################################### 246.571 - 418.603: 1 ###### 418.603 - 28571.400: 3 ################## No Fault: Count: 39 Range: 175.630 - 18341.350; Mean: 4221.854; Median: 227.620; Stddev: 5365.968 Percentiles: 90th: 12693.940; 95th: 15357.370; 99th: 18341.350 175.630 - 279.998: 20 ##################################################### 279.998 - 1798.947: 1 ### 1798.947 - 2862.510: 2 ##### 2862.510 - 4554.519: 1 ### 4554.519 - 7246.311: 4 ########### 7246.311 - 11528.645: 6 ################ 11528.645 - 18341.350: 5 ############# Non-payment: Count: 279 Range: 140.000 - 46808.070; Mean: 8376.577; Median: 5625.000; Stddev: 8263.276 Percentiles: 90th: 21011.830; 95th: 25904.000; 99th: 41175.530 140.000 - 250.959: 10 ########## 250.959 - 449.237: 4 #### 449.237 - 803.549: 5 ##### 803.549 - 1436.684: 23 ####################### 1436.684 - 2568.062: 36 ################################### 2568.062 - 4589.771: 45 ############################################ 4589.771 - 8202.454: 51 ################################################## 8202.454 - 14658.118: 54 ##################################################### 14658.118 - 26194.031: 38 ##################################### 26194.031 - 46808.070: 13 ############# Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 6 Range: 3523.010 - 17186.390; Mean: 7021.857; Median: 5508.855; Stddev: 5049.389 Percentiles: 90th: 17186.390; 95th: 17186.390; 99th: 17186.390 3523.010 - 4128.091: 1 ########################### 4128.091 - 4837.065: 1 ########################### 4837.065 - 5667.772: 2 ##################################################### 5667.772 - 6641.113: 1 ########################### 6641.113 - 17186.390: 1 ########################### Defaulted: Count: 130 Range: 0.000 - 42408.230; Mean: 5834.633; Median: 2786.440; Stddev: 7748.788 Percentiles: 90th: 16230.980; 95th: 21120.310; 99th: 41175.530 0.000 - 248.484: 28 ##################################################### 248.484 - 440.436: 4 ######## 440.436 - 780.073: 2 #### 780.073 - 1381.024: 13 ######################### 1381.024 - 2444.343: 12 ####################### 2444.343 - 4325.771: 23 ############################################ 4325.771 - 7654.755: 12 ####################### 7654.755 - 13545.033: 17 ################################ 13545.033 - 23967.246: 14 ########################### 23967.246 - 42408.230: 4 ######## Mediated: Count: 176 Range: 141.250 - 46808.070; Mean: 8102.675; Median: 5476.165; Stddev: 8328.276 Percentiles: 90th: 21042.310; 95th: 26460.430; 99th: 37258.170 141.250 - 252.969: 18 ######################## 252.969 - 452.427: 2 ### 452.427 - 808.535: 3 #### 808.535 - 1444.318: 12 ################ 1444.318 - 2579.424: 23 ############################### 2579.424 - 4606.007: 23 ############################### 4606.007 - 8224.204: 28 ###################################### 8224.204 - 14684.017: 39 ##################################################### 14684.017 - 26217.162: 19 ########################## 26217.162 - 46808.070: 9 ############ Heard: Count: 53 Range: 180.000 - 27876.780; Mean: 9307.110; Median: 6748.670; Stddev: 7968.962 Percentiles: 90th: 21011.830; 95th: 27166.740; 99th: 27876.780 180.000 - 298.527: 8 ################################### 298.527 - 1356.408: 1 #### 1356.408 - 2245.303: 2 ######### 2245.303 - 3716.289: 5 ###################### 3716.289 - 6150.546: 7 ############################### 6150.546 - 10178.871: 9 ######################################## 10178.871 - 16845.133: 9 ######################################## 16845.133 - 27876.780: 12 ##################################################### Other Outcome: Count: 5 Range: 0.000 - 33872.140; Mean: 8819.708; Median: 2166.220; Stddev: 14168.732 Percentiles: 90th: 33872.140; 95th: 33872.140; 99th: 33872.140 0.000 - 2773.399: 2 ##################################################### 2773.399 - 6387.484: 1 ########################### 6387.484 - 33872.140: 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 338 91.4% 20.7% 15.5% Issued 243 65.7% 14.9% 11.2% Levied 70 18.9% 4.3% 3.2% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 4 5.7% 1.1% 0.2% 0.2% Foreclosure 7 10.0% 1.9% 0.4% 0.3% No Fault 10 14.3% 2.7% 0.6% 0.5% Non-payment 49 70.0% 13.2% 3.0% 2.2% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 70 100.0% 18.9% 4.3% 3.2% 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 1.4% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0% Defaulted 29 41.4% 7.8% 1.8% 1.3% Mediated 29 41.4% 7.8% 1.8% 1.3% Heard 11 15.7% 3.0% 0.7% 0.5% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 70 100.0% 18.9% 4.3% 3.2% 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 7 65 10.8% No Fault 10 157 6.4% Non-payment 49 1358 3.6% Cause 4 597 0.7% Unknown/Other 0 2 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 29 132 22.0% Mediated 29 449 6.5% Heard 11 181 6.1% Dismissed 1 844 0.1% Other 0 24 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 0 534 113 139 Non-payment 0 560 90 124 No Fault 0 555 78 125 Foreclosure 0 563 80 136 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 563 91 126 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 560 82 117 Defaulted 0 429 63 110 Mediated 0 555 115 137 Heard 0 563 94 140 Other 2 475 122 153 All Outcomes 0 563 91 126 All Cases: Count: 1630 Range: 0.000 - 563.000; Mean: 91.977; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 126.989 Percentiles: 90th: 269.000; 95th: 330.000; 99th: 501.000 0.000 - 2.516: 44 #### 2.516 - 5.181: 121 ############ 5.181 - 9.867: 163 ################ 9.867 - 18.104: 546 ##################################################### 18.104 - 32.586: 110 ########### 32.586 - 58.045: 48 ##### 58.045 - 102.802: 32 ### 102.802 - 181.486: 34 ### 181.486 - 319.815: 370 #################################### 319.815 - 563.000: 87 ######## By Reason Cause: Count: 207 Range: 0.000 - 534.000; Mean: 113.908; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 139.468 Percentiles: 90th: 314.000; 95th: 376.000; 99th: 475.000 0.000 - 2.498: 8 ######## 2.498 - 5.116: 16 ################ 5.116 - 9.696: 24 ######################## 9.696 - 17.705: 54 ##################################################### 17.705 - 31.711: 13 ############# 31.711 - 56.204: 3 ### 56.204 - 99.036: 3 ### 99.036 - 173.940: 7 ####### 173.940 - 304.930: 48 ############################################### 304.930 - 534.000: 24 ######################## Non-payment: Count: 1226 Range: 0.000 - 560.000; Mean: 90.361; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 124.257 Percentiles: 90th: 265.000; 95th: 309.000; 99th: 501.000 0.000 - 2.514: 27 ### 2.514 - 5.175: 83 ########## 5.175 - 9.850: 118 ############### 9.850 - 18.064: 427 ##################################################### 18.064 - 32.496: 79 ########## 32.496 - 57.856: 38 ##### 57.856 - 102.415: 28 ### 102.415 - 180.709: 25 ### 180.709 - 318.278: 283 ################################### 318.278 - 560.000: 57 ####### No Fault: Count: 145 Range: 0.000 - 555.000; Mean: 78.834; Median: 12.000; Stddev: 125.854 Percentiles: 90th: 277.000; 95th: 331.000; 99th: 514.000 0.000 - 2.511: 6 ####### 2.511 - 5.164: 18 ##################### 5.164 - 9.820: 18 ##################### 9.820 - 17.995: 46 ##################################################### 17.995 - 32.347: 12 ############## 32.347 - 57.541: 4 ##### 57.541 - 101.769: 1 # 101.769 - 315.716: 27 ############################### 315.716 - 555.000: 8 ######### Foreclosure: Count: 51 Range: 0.000 - 563.000; Mean: 80.686; Median: 14.000; Stddev: 136.254 Percentiles: 90th: 269.000; 95th: 371.000; 99th: 563.000 0.000 - 2.516: 3 ######### 2.516 - 5.181: 4 ############ 5.181 - 9.867: 3 ######### 9.867 - 18.104: 17 ##################################################### 18.104 - 32.586: 7 ###################### 32.586 - 58.045: 3 ######### 58.045 - 181.486: 2 ###### 181.486 - 319.815: 6 ################### 319.815 - 563.000: 4 ############ By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 844 Range: 0.000 - 560.000; Mean: 82.555; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 117.916 Percentiles: 90th: 250.000; 95th: 294.000; 99th: 493.000 0.000 - 2.514: 20 #### 2.514 - 5.175: 67 ############# 5.175 - 9.850: 111 ###################### 9.850 - 18.064: 268 ##################################################### 18.064 - 32.496: 49 ########## 32.496 - 57.856: 27 ##### 57.856 - 102.415: 32 ###### 102.415 - 180.709: 25 ##### 180.709 - 318.278: 179 ################################### 318.278 - 560.000: 28 ###### Defaulted: Count: 132 Range: 0.000 - 429.000; Mean: 63.735; Median: 14.000; Stddev: 110.201 Percentiles: 90th: 270.000; 95th: 291.000; 99th: 380.000 0.000 - 2.422: 4 ### 2.422 - 4.855: 8 ####### 4.855 - 9.018: 7 ###### 9.018 - 16.140: 63 ##################################################### 16.140 - 28.326: 13 ########### 28.326 - 49.176: 5 #### 49.176 - 145.886: 1 # 145.886 - 250.319: 2 ## 250.319 - 429.000: 22 ################### Mediated: Count: 449 Range: 0.000 - 555.000; Mean: 115.499; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 137.027 Percentiles: 90th: 285.000; 95th: 356.000; 99th: 510.000 0.000 - 2.511: 9 ### 2.511 - 5.164: 31 ############ 5.164 - 9.820: 25 ######### 9.820 - 17.995: 141 ##################################################### 17.995 - 32.347: 36 ############## 32.347 - 57.541: 12 ##### 57.541 - 179.412: 4 ## 179.412 - 315.716: 134 ################################################## 315.716 - 555.000: 36 ############## Heard: Count: 181 Range: 0.000 - 563.000; Mean: 94.077; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 140.481 Percentiles: 90th: 309.000; 95th: 378.000; 99th: 534.000 0.000 - 2.516: 10 ######### 2.516 - 5.181: 13 ########### 5.181 - 9.867: 16 ############## 9.867 - 18.104: 60 ##################################################### 18.104 - 32.586: 17 ############### 32.586 - 58.045: 6 ##### 58.045 - 181.486: 1 # 181.486 - 319.815: 32 ############################ 319.815 - 563.000: 17 ############### Other Outcome: Count: 24 Range: 2.000 - 475.000; Mean: 122.792; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 153.406 Percentiles: 90th: 386.000; 95th: 408.000; 99th: 475.000 2.000 - 3.979: 1 ######## 3.979 - 7.265: 3 ####################### 7.265 - 12.717: 7 ##################################################### 12.717 - 21.768: 2 ############### 21.768 - 36.789: 1 ######## 36.789 - 171.787: 3 ####################### 171.787 - 285.786: 2 ############### 285.786 - 475.000: 5 ###################################### -- 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/.