Outcomes for 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: 2020-12-31 Earliest Case: 2020-01-02 Latest Case: 2020-12-31 Total Cases: 15331 Total Transfers: 277 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 30.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 52.1% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Florence Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 42 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 statistically significantly below the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent northeast 2698 17.6% central 2581 16.8% eastern 2252 14.7% southeast 2056 13.4% western 1943 12.7% metro_south 1350 8.8% quincy district 257 1.7% chelsea district 182 1.2% malden district 152 1.0% lynn district 135 0.9% fall river district 133 0.9% somerville district 129 0.8% pittsfield district 115 0.8% cambridge district 104 0.7% barnstable district 85 0.6% northern berkshire district 66 0.4% framingham district 59 0.4% attleboro district 57 0.4% waltham district 57 0.4% springfield district 55 0.4% lowell district 54 0.4% woburn district 53 0.3% bmc east boston 48 0.3% fallmouth district 47 0.3% haverhill district 46 0.3% orleans district 37 0.2% wrentham district 34 0.2% peabody district 32 0.2% dedham district 30 0.2% bmc west roxbury 29 0.2% bmc south boston 26 0.2% brockton district 23 0.2% newburyport district 23 0.2% lawrence district 22 0.1% stoughton district 21 0.1% palmer district 20 0.1% salem district 20 0.1% chicopee district 17 0.1% new bedford district 17 0.1% newton district 17 0.1% ayer district 15 0.1% concord district 15 0.1% holyoke district 15 0.1% eastern hampshire district 14 0.1% bmc dorchester 13 0.1% gloucester district 13 0.1% milford district 13 0.1% plymouth district 13 0.1% bmc roxbury 12 0.1% wareham district 12 0.1% westfield district 11 0.1% worcester district 11 0.1% orange district 9 0.1% taunton district 9 0.1% bmc brighton 8 0.1% hingham district 8 0.1% clinton district 7 0.0% greenfield district 7 0.0% nantucket district 7 0.0% southern berkshire district 7 0.0% brookline district 5 0.0% natick district 5 0.0% edgartown district 4 0.0% northampton district 4 0.0% bmc central 3 0.0% westborough district 3 0.0% bmc charlestown 2 0.0% fitchburg district 2 0.0% uxbridge district 2 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 10634 135 Natural Person 4697 15196 Total 15331 15331 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 69.4% 0.9% Natural Person 30.6% 99.1% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 10450 184 10634 Optional 2250 2447 4697 Total 12700 2631 15331 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 68.2% 1.2% 69.4% Optional 14.7% 16.0% 30.6% Total 82.8% 17.2% 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 37 98 135 Optional 1242 13954 15196 Total 1279 14052 15331 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.2% 0.6% 0.9% Optional 8.1% 91.0% 99.1% Total 8.3% 91.7% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 689 4.5% 1 10148 66.2% 2 3641 23.7% 3 616 4.0% 4 163 1.1% 5 53 0.3% 6 11 0.1% 7 4 0.0% 8 1 0.0% 9 2 0.0% 10 1 0.0% 15 1 0.0% 17 1 0.0% Total 15331 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 10073 65.7% Cause 4014 26.2% No Fault 942 6.1% Foreclosure 280 1.8% Unknown/Other 22 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 1793 17 Chestnut Hill 800 17 Gilbertville 781 9 Three Rivers 748 22 Fall River 739 657 New Bedford 639 608 Springfield 608 932 Worcester 571 1034 Southbridge 520 87 North Adams 517 71 Rowe 508 2 Lawrence 506 387 Hyannis 503 71 Indian Orchard 496 50 Fitchburg 493 199 Lowell 487 519 Framingham 480 328 Dorchester 456 420 Holyoke 448 179 Pittsfield 442 198 Brockton 440 413 Gardner 435 88 Orange 433 34 Thorndike 433 3 East Falmouth 415 24 Randolph 414 133 Chelsea 412 145 Hyde Park 403 135 Marlborough 394 152 Lynn 385 348 Haverhill 384 234 Salem 382 158 Mattapan 381 139 Buzzards Bay 378 13 West Wareham 368 8 Webster 363 61 Athol 362 42 Roxbury 360 215 West Yarmouth 360 19 Adams 341 29 Turners Falls 341 14 Norwood 339 97 Chicopee 336 186 Revere 334 173 Dennis Port 316 10 Stoughton 315 85 Ware 314 31 Abington 306 49 Greenfield 297 52 Malden 297 177 Whitman 289 42 Peabody 286 147 North Chatham 284 2 Russell 281 5 West Springfield 281 80 Braintree 279 100 Bridgewater 278 74 Mashpee 271 38 Baldwinville 263 5 Middleborough 263 61 Everett 261 109 Mansfield 258 60 Holbrook 250 27 Rockland 240 42 Beverly 235 93 Westborough 235 43 Quincy 231 214 Spencer 231 27 East Sandwich 230 8 Leominster 230 94 Taunton 230 129 Dorchester Center 228 210 Milford 228 64 Shelburne Falls 227 4 Seekonk 225 31 Bondsville 213 4 Shirley 208 15 Methuen 205 97 Salisbury 205 17 Hull 204 21 North Andover 204 58 Provincetown 203 6 Attleborough 201 88 Whitinsville 201 14 Lunenburg 198 20 Foxborough 195 33 Danvers 192 51 West Brookfield 189 7 West Dennis 183 4 South Yarmouth 180 21 Allston 178 52 Jamaica Plain 178 67 Canton 171 37 Feeding Hills 171 20 Winchendon 165 17 Winthrop 165 29 Belchertown 163 24 East Boston 162 66 South Dennis 162 6 Charlestown 161 27 Eastham 161 8 Woburn 160 61 Cohasset 159 12 North Billerica 159 17 Rockport 158 11 Somerville 158 120 Vineyard Haven 158 3 Yarmouth Port 158 8 Charlemont 157 2 Saugus 157 42 Westwood 157 23 Raynham 156 21 Weymouth 156 84 Warren 155 8 Oxford 153 21 West Stockbridge 153 2 Tewksbury 151 44 Dracut 149 44 South Hadley 148 26 Amesbury 147 24 South Boston 145 49 Savoy 144 1 Easthampton 143 23 Jefferson 142 5 East Taunton 140 9 Wakefield 140 35 Clinton 139 19 Brighton 138 61 South Easton 137 14 Forestdale 136 6 Cambridge 135 142 Gloucester 135 39 Sunderland 135 5 Northborough 134 19 Roslindale 134 39 Dalton 133 9 Medford 133 75 Waltham 133 81 Housatonic 132 1 Andover 129 43 Newton Center 128 5 Norton 126 24 Millville 125 4 Swampscott 123 17 Burlington 122 30 Plainville 121 10 Bedford 120 16 Hopkinton 120 18 Plymouth 120 68 Ludlow 118 25 Maynard 118 12 North Attleborough 118 34 Wendell 117 1 Bellingham 116 19 Franklin 116 37 Westfield 116 48 Roxbury Crossing 115 69 Avon 114 5 Boylston 114 5 Newburyport 114 20 Millbury 113 15 Osterville 113 4 Great Barrington 112 8 Ashland 108 18 Marshfield 107 27 Stoneham 107 23 Chelmsford 106 36 Buckland 105 2 Monterey 104 1 Uxbridge 104 14 West Boylston 104 8 Westford 104 23 North Grafton 103 8 Millis 101 8 Boxborough 100 5 Hardwick 100 3 Townsend 100 9 Edgartown 98 4 Leeds 98 1 Nantucket 98 10 Ashby 97 3 Watertown 97 31 East Wareham 96 21 Hadley 95 5 Kingston 95 12 Charlton 92 12 Cheshire 92 3 Acton 91 20 Cotuit 91 3 Huntington 91 2 Medfield 91 11 Dover 89 5 Shrewsbury 89 32 Brookfield 88 3 Centerville 88 12 Fairhaven 88 14 North Oxford 88 2 West Warren 88 1 Dudley 87 10 East Weymouth 87 47 Billerica 86 35 Hanover 86 12 Needham 86 25 Worthington 86 1 Marblehead 85 17 Hopedale 84 5 Lakeville 84 9 Ashburnham 82 5 Marstons Mills 82 4 Palmer 82 10 Wareham 82 18 Marion 81 4 Monson 81 7 Holland 80 2 Pepperell 78 9 West Chatham 78 1 Blackstone 77 7 Williamstown 77 6 Newtonville 76 4 North Chelmsford 76 7 Amherst 74 28 Wellfleet 72 2 West Newbury 70 3 Boston 69 428 Carver 69 8 Pocasset 69 2 Southampton 69 4 Auburn 67 11 Ayer 67 5 Orleans 67 4 Richmond 67 1 Mattapoisett 66 4 Melrose 66 18 Upton 66 5 Fiskdale 64 2 Lanesborough 64 2 Granville 63 1 Rutland 62 5 Sandwich 62 13 Walpole 62 15 Sheffield 61 2 Tyngsborough 61 7 Dedham 60 15 Ipswich 60 8 Agawam 59 17 Colrain 59 1 North Dartmouth 59 14 Manchester 58 3 Nahant 58 2 Ashfield 57 1 East Longmeadow 57 9 Harwich 57 7 Harwich Port 57 1 Hudson 57 11 Northbridge 57 9 Westport 57 9 Becket 56 1 Shutesbury 56 1 Brimfield 55 2 Erving 55 1 Leicester 54 6 Wales 54 1 Wrentham 54 6 North Reading 53 8 Sturbridge 53 5 Wilmington 53 12 Oakham 52 1 Brookline 51 30 Holliston 51 7 Rehoboth 51 6 Sterling 51 4 Brewster 50 5 East Bridgewater 50 7 Pembroke 50 9 Sudbury 50 9 Hanscom Afb 48 1 Hanson 48 5 Sherborn 48 2 South Weymouth 48 26 West Townsend 47 1 Arlington 46 20 E. Boston 46 19 North Easton 46 6 Hingham 45 10 Northampton 45 13 West Roxbury 45 14 Falmouth 44 14 South Grafton 44 2 West Newton 44 6 Lynnfield 43 5 Natick 42 14 Wenham 41 2 Bolton 40 2 East Freetown 40 2 Holden 40 7 Southborough 40 4 Williamsburg 40 1 Duxbury 39 6 Lexington 38 12 Squantum 38 1 Lancaster 37 3 North Falmouth 37 1 Swansea 37 6 Douglas 35 3 Montague 35 3 Mendon 34 2 Scituate 33 6 Somerset 33 6 Belmont 32 8 Granby 32 2 Newton Upper Falls 32 2 Northfield 32 1 Reading 32 8 Dunstable 31 1 Merrimac 31 2 Groveland 30 2 Hatfield 30 1 Stow 30 2 Acushnet 29 3 Princeton 29 1 West Bridgewater 28 2 Wilbraham 28 4 Cherry Valley 27 3 Sagamore Beach 27 1 Halifax 26 2 Wellesley Hills 26 8 Boxford 25 2 Milton 25 7 South Hamilton 25 2 Georgetown 24 2 Templeton 24 2 East Walpole 23 6 North Dighton 23 1 Assonet 22 2 Concord 22 4 Grafton 22 4 Littleton 22 2 Middleton 22 2 North Brookfield 21 1 Carlisle 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Hampden 19 1 Lenox 19 1 Norwell 19 2 Rochester 19 1 Onset 18 4 Rochdale 18 2 Groton 17 2 Rowley 17 1 Sharon 17 3 Lee 16 1 Topsfield 16 1 West Harwich 16 2 Berkley 15 1 Harvard 15 1 Lincoln 15 1 Medway 15 2 Newbury 15 1 Wayland 15 2 Bradford 14 2 Dighton 14 1 North Uxbridge 14 2 South Dartmouth 14 5 Wellesley 14 4 Winchester 14 3 Needham Heights 13 4 Sutton 11 1 Auburndale 10 1 Bourne 10 2 Southwick 10 1 Barnstable 8 4 Dartmouth 8 3 Weston 8 1 Dennis 7 1 Newton 7 6 Longmeadow 6 1 North Weymouth 5 3 Easton 4 1 Newton Highlands 4 4 Newton Lower Falls 2 2 (not given) 0 137 span 0 21 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 2264 1610 Plymouth 2193 947 Bristol 2133 1755 Berkshire 2088 337 Worcester 1892 2106 Barnstable 1694 327 Essex 1676 1843 Norfolk 1366 1165 Suffolk 1193 2357 Franklin 1175 124 Middlesex 1031 2406 Hampshire 971 179 Nantucket 284 10 Dukes 170 7 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 13696 89.3% Ongoing/Error 1635 10.7% 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 5220 38.1% Dismissed 4384 32.0% Defaulted 2164 15.8% Heard 1128 8.2% Other 800 5.8% Total 13696 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 393 208 1240 313 683 Foreclosure 52 64 106 27 2 No Fault 245 137 394 114 8 Non-payment 3694 1755 3477 671 104 Unknown/Other 0 0 3 3 3 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 2.9% 1.5% 9.1% 2.3% 5.0% Foreclosure 0.4% 0.5% 0.8% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 1.8% 1.0% 2.9% 0.8% 0.1% Non-payment 27.0% 12.8% 25.4% 4.9% 0.8% 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. Amounts in excess of 100% of cases disposed indicate a judgment was inferred from the docket history but no dollar amount was entered and the case was not yet disposed. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 5896 43.0% 38.5% Judgment inferred 1906 13.9% 12.4% No judgment 5894 43.0% 38.4% Total 13696 100.0% 50.9% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 1558 11.4% 0 64,127 5,168 7,524 8,052,832 Foreclosure 105 0.8% 0 160,530 5,167 17,784 542,587 No fault 310 2.3% 0 41,933 4,291 6,440 1,330,366 Non-payment 3916 28.6% 0 120,639 6,752 8,255 26,442,219 Unknown/Other 7 0.1% 0 28,294 7,577 11,800 53,043 Subtotal 5896 43.0% 0 160,530 6,177 8,300 36,421,049 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 118 0.9% 161 72,289 5,714 8,781 674,283 Defaulted 2138 15.6% 0 120,639 5,847 8,082 12,502,752 Mediated 2432 17.8% 0 109,442 5,540 7,274 13,474,431 Heard 461 3.4% 0 160,530 8,891 12,134 4,098,799 Other 747 5.5% 0 63,642 7,591 8,562 5,670,783 Subtotal 5896 43.0% 0 160,530 6,177 8,300 36,421,049 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 21 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% plaintiff 6352 81.4% 46.4% 41.4% unknown 1429 18.3% 10.4% 9.3% Total 7802 100.0% 57.0% 50.9% Judgments All Cases: Count: 5896 Range: 0.000 - 160530.560; Mean: 6177.247; Median: 3539.580; Stddev: 8301.518 Percentiles: 90th: 15011.350; 95th: 21343.710; 99th: 36854.060 0.000 - 85.097: 6 | 85.097 - 197.786: 299 ########## 197.786 - 457.968: 498 ################# 457.968 - 1058.692: 400 ############## 1058.692 - 2445.676: 1023 ################################### 2445.676 - 5648.021: 1541 ##################################################### 5648.021 - 13041.775: 1312 ############################################# 13041.775 - 30112.887: 633 ###################### 30112.887 - 69527.622: 105 #### 69527.622 - 160530.560: 7 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 1558 Range: 0.000 - 64127.850; Mean: 5168.699; Median: 2732.315; Stddev: 7527.242 Percentiles: 90th: 13185.360; 95th: 20045.280; 99th: 38832.490 0.000 - 88.332: 2 | 88.332 - 184.501: 52 ######## 184.501 - 384.199: 282 ########################################## 384.199 - 798.878: 55 ######## 798.878 - 1659.971: 160 ######################## 1659.971 - 3448.056: 255 ###################################### 3448.056 - 7161.070: 357 ##################################################### 7161.070 - 14871.256: 211 ############################### 14871.256 - 30881.692: 104 ############### 30881.692 - 64127.850: 22 ### Foreclosure: Count: 105 Range: 0.000 - 160530.560; Mean: 5167.500; Median: 215.070; Stddev: 17869.327 Percentiles: 90th: 24809.220; 95th: 28833.070; 99th: 39758.370 0.000 - 293.212: 81 ##################################################### 293.212 - 591.599: 2 # 591.599 - 2403.146: 3 ## 2403.146 - 9752.504: 3 ## 9752.504 - 19644.388: 1 # 19644.388 - 39568.499: 10 ####### 39568.499 - 79699.397: 1 # 79699.397 - 160530.560: 1 # No Fault: Count: 310 Range: 0.000 - 41933.700; Mean: 4291.506; Median: 1801.990; Stddev: 6450.945 Percentiles: 90th: 11714.540; 95th: 17561.280; 99th: 32320.530 0.000 - 201.560: 73 ##################################################### 201.560 - 365.344: 40 ############################# 365.344 - 661.559: 6 #### 661.559 - 1197.285: 16 ############ 1197.285 - 2166.184: 32 ####################### 2166.184 - 3918.506: 36 ########################## 3918.506 - 7087.705: 43 ############################### 7087.705 - 12819.425: 36 ########################## 12819.425 - 23185.649: 17 ############ 23185.649 - 41933.700: 8 ###### Non-payment: Count: 3916 Range: 0.000 - 120639.030; Mean: 6752.354; Median: 4052.085; Stddev: 8256.598 Percentiles: 90th: 15898.640; 95th: 21833.000; 99th: 36493.680 0.000 - 82.672: 4 | 82.672 - 186.747: 44 ## 186.747 - 420.272: 195 ########## 420.272 - 944.262: 231 ############ 944.262 - 2120.006: 631 ################################ 2120.006 - 4758.177: 1060 ##################################################### 4758.177 - 10677.782: 1000 ################################################## 10677.782 - 23960.369: 580 ############################# 23960.369 - 53764.233: 153 ######## 53764.233 - 120639.030: 12 # Unknown/Other reason: Count: 7 Range: 0.000 - 28294.390; Mean: 7577.699; Median: 250.000; Stddev: 12746.302 Percentiles: 90th: 28294.390; 95th: 28294.390; 99th: 28294.390 0.000 - 387.139: 3 ##################################################### 387.139 - 28294.390: 2 ################################### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 118 Range: 161.540 - 72289.570; Mean: 5714.267; Median: 3087.600; Stddev: 8818.587 Percentiles: 90th: 12376.010; 95th: 17186.390; 99th: 46648.400 161.540 - 298.070: 15 ###################################### 298.070 - 549.281: 4 ########## 549.281 - 1011.504: 5 ############# 1011.504 - 1861.983: 19 ################################################ 1861.983 - 3426.843: 21 ##################################################### 3426.843 - 6306.149: 19 ################################################ 6306.149 - 11604.002: 20 ################################################## 11604.002 - 21351.925: 12 ############################## 21351.925 - 39287.867: 1 ### 39287.867 - 72289.570: 2 ##### Defaulted: Count: 2138 Range: 0.000 - 120639.030; Mean: 5847.873; Median: 3206.745; Stddev: 8084.843 Percentiles: 90th: 14312.130; 95th: 21120.310; 99th: 35364.770 0.000 - 120.558: 2 | 120.558 - 260.669: 286 ############################### 260.669 - 562.274: 84 ######### 562.274 - 1211.515: 198 ###################### 1211.515 - 2609.085: 356 ####################################### 2609.085 - 5617.521: 487 ##################################################### 5617.521 - 12093.540: 448 ################################################# 12093.540 - 26033.948: 215 ####################### 26033.948 - 56042.348: 56 ###### 56042.348 - 120639.030: 5 # Mediated: Count: 2432 Range: 0.000 - 109442.510; Mean: 5540.473; Median: 3297.975; Stddev: 7276.038 Percentiles: 90th: 13244.190; 95th: 19567.800; 99th: 31437.290 0.000 - 81.861: 3 | 81.861 - 183.125: 33 ### 183.125 - 408.140: 252 ##################### 408.140 - 908.141: 133 ########### 908.141 - 2019.185: 376 ############################### 2019.185 - 4488.014: 651 ##################################################### 4488.014 - 9973.950: 531 ########################################### 9973.950 - 22164.140: 305 ######################### 22164.140 - 49251.723: 85 ####### 49251.723 - 109442.510: 6 | Heard: Count: 461 Range: 0.000 - 160530.560; Mean: 8891.105; Median: 5552.230; Stddev: 12147.204 Percentiles: 90th: 20810.840; 95th: 27220.430; 99th: 56007.130 0.000 - 284.006: 76 ###################################### 284.006 - 575.086: 4 ## 575.086 - 1163.452: 11 ###### 1163.452 - 2352.725: 40 #################### 2352.725 - 4756.620: 78 ####################################### 4756.620 - 9615.652: 86 ########################################### 9615.652 - 19437.289: 106 ##################################################### 19437.289 - 39289.917: 44 ###################### 39289.917 - 79418.344: 8 #### 79418.344 - 160530.560: 1 # Other Outcome: Count: 747 Range: 0.000 - 63642.310; Mean: 7591.410; Median: 4820.120; Stddev: 8568.088 Percentiles: 90th: 17850.700; 95th: 23386.560; 99th: 41405.920 0.000 - 258.820: 41 ############## 258.820 - 477.769: 15 ##### 477.769 - 881.225: 23 ######## 881.225 - 1624.671: 65 ###################### 1624.671 - 2994.615: 106 #################################### 2994.615 - 5519.003: 156 ##################################################### 5519.003 - 10170.679: 150 ################################################### 10170.679 - 18742.299: 116 ####################################### 18742.299 - 34537.176: 52 ################## 34537.176 - 63642.310: 16 ##### 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. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 5112 65.5% 37.3% 33.3% Issued 4029 51.6% 29.4% 26.3% Levied 844 10.8% 6.2% 5.5% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 108 12.8% 1.4% 0.8% 0.7% Foreclosure 48 5.7% 0.6% 0.4% 0.3% No Fault 75 8.9% 1.0% 0.5% 0.5% Non-payment 613 72.6% 7.9% 4.5% 4.0% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 844 100.0% 10.8% 6.2% 5.5% 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 29 3.4% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% Defaulted 417 49.4% 5.3% 3.0% 2.7% Mediated 293 34.7% 3.8% 2.1% 1.9% Heard 85 10.1% 1.1% 0.6% 0.6% Other 20 2.4% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% All Outcomes 844 100.0% 10.8% 6.2% 5.5% 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 48 280 17.1% No Fault 75 942 8.0% Non-payment 613 10073 6.1% Cause 108 4014 2.7% Unknown/Other 0 22 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 417 2164 19.3% Heard 85 1128 7.5% Mediated 293 5220 5.6% Other 20 800 2.5% Dismissed 29 4384 0.7% 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 0 583 93 117 Non-payment 0 580 75 91 No Fault 0 555 72 93 Foreclosure 0 563 67 102 Unknown/Other 0 426 81 134 All Reasons 0 583 78 97 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 560 88 99 Defaulted 0 534 63 72 Mediated 0 583 64 91 Heard 0 563 113 115 Other 0 580 118 127 All Outcomes 0 583 78 97 All Cases: Count: 13696 Range: 0.000 - 583.000; Mean: 78.912; Median: 35.000; Stddev: 97.818 Percentiles: 90th: 226.000; 95th: 288.000; 99th: 457.000 0.000 - 2.528: 119 ## 2.528 - 5.225: 211 ### 5.225 - 9.981: 405 ###### 9.981 - 18.372: 3738 ##################################################### 18.372 - 33.176: 2101 ############################## 33.176 - 59.292: 1547 ###################### 59.292 - 105.365: 2075 ############################# 105.365 - 186.645: 1601 ####################### 186.645 - 330.035: 1286 ################## 330.035 - 583.000: 468 ####### By Reason Cause: Count: 2837 Range: 0.000 - 583.000; Mean: 93.055; Median: 40.000; Stddev: 117.792 Percentiles: 90th: 275.000; 95th: 370.000; 99th: 506.000 0.000 - 2.528: 38 ### 2.528 - 5.225: 37 ### 5.225 - 9.981: 115 ########## 9.981 - 18.372: 600 ##################################################### 18.372 - 33.176: 513 ############################################# 33.176 - 59.292: 353 ############################### 59.292 - 105.365: 363 ################################ 105.365 - 186.645: 300 ########################### 186.645 - 330.035: 309 ########################### 330.035 - 583.000: 178 ################ Non-payment: Count: 9701 Range: 0.000 - 580.000; Mean: 75.648; Median: 35.000; Stddev: 91.036 Percentiles: 90th: 210.000; 95th: 268.000; 99th: 421.000 0.000 - 2.527: 61 # 2.527 - 5.218: 147 ### 5.218 - 9.964: 260 ##### 9.964 - 18.333: 2822 ##################################################### 18.333 - 33.088: 1386 ########################## 33.088 - 59.106: 1062 #################### 59.106 - 104.982: 1502 ############################ 104.982 - 185.873: 1237 ####################### 185.873 - 328.505: 873 ################ 328.505 - 580.000: 260 ##### No Fault: Count: 898 Range: 0.000 - 555.000; Mean: 72.724; Median: 32.000; Stddev: 93.325 Percentiles: 90th: 217.000; 95th: 283.000; 99th: 429.000 0.000 - 2.511: 17 #### 2.511 - 5.164: 22 ###### 5.164 - 9.820: 25 ###### 9.820 - 17.995: 206 ##################################################### 17.995 - 32.347: 166 ########################################### 32.347 - 57.541: 98 ######################### 57.541 - 101.769: 150 ####################################### 101.769 - 179.412: 87 ###################### 179.412 - 315.716: 82 ##################### 315.716 - 555.000: 27 ####### Foreclosure: Count: 251 Range: 0.000 - 563.000; Mean: 67.227; Median: 21.000; Stddev: 102.080 Percentiles: 90th: 225.000; 95th: 322.000; 99th: 493.000 0.000 - 2.516: 3 ## 2.516 - 5.181: 5 ### 5.181 - 9.867: 5 ### 9.867 - 18.104: 93 ##################################################### 18.104 - 32.586: 41 ####################### 32.586 - 58.045: 31 ################## 58.045 - 102.802: 25 ############## 102.802 - 181.486: 13 ####### 181.486 - 319.815: 18 ########## 319.815 - 563.000: 13 ####### Unknown/Other reason: Count: 9 Range: 0.000 - 426.000; Mean: 81.000; Median: 30.000; Stddev: 134.215 Percentiles: 90th: 426.000; 95th: 426.000; 99th: 426.000 0.000 - 22.466: 2 ##################################################### 22.466 - 31.393: 2 ##################################################### 31.393 - 43.714: 1 ########################### 43.714 - 60.722: 1 ########################### 60.722 - 161.343: 1 ########################### 161.343 - 426.000: 1 ########################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 4384 Range: 0.000 - 560.000; Mean: 88.195; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 99.322 Percentiles: 90th: 236.000; 95th: 281.000; 99th: 456.000 0.000 - 2.514: 56 ### 2.514 - 5.175: 125 ####### 5.175 - 9.850: 192 ########### 9.850 - 18.064: 915 ##################################################### 18.064 - 32.496: 524 ############################## 32.496 - 57.856: 478 ############################ 57.856 - 102.415: 680 ####################################### 102.415 - 180.709: 616 #################################### 180.709 - 318.278: 582 ################################## 318.278 - 560.000: 150 ######### Defaulted: Count: 2164 Range: 0.000 - 534.000; Mean: 63.036; Median: 21.000; Stddev: 72.814 Percentiles: 90th: 154.000; 95th: 206.000; 99th: 331.000 0.000 - 2.498: 10 # 2.498 - 5.116: 15 # 5.116 - 9.696: 12 # 9.696 - 17.705: 785 ##################################################### 17.705 - 31.711: 365 ######################### 31.711 - 56.204: 99 ####### 56.204 - 99.036: 378 ########################## 99.036 - 173.940: 332 ###################### 173.940 - 304.930: 128 ######### 304.930 - 534.000: 30 ## Mediated: Count: 5220 Range: 0.000 - 583.000; Mean: 64.048; Median: 25.000; Stddev: 91.322 Percentiles: 90th: 172.000; 95th: 274.000; 99th: 448.000 0.000 - 2.528: 29 # 2.528 - 5.225: 41 # 5.225 - 9.981: 126 #### 9.981 - 18.372: 1738 ##################################################### 18.372 - 33.176: 993 ############################## 33.176 - 59.292: 731 ###################### 59.292 - 105.365: 690 ##################### 105.365 - 186.645: 319 ########## 186.645 - 330.035: 347 ########### 330.035 - 583.000: 156 ##### Heard: Count: 1128 Range: 0.000 - 563.000; Mean: 113.707; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 115.921 Percentiles: 90th: 294.000; 95th: 372.000; 99th: 478.000 0.000 - 2.516: 19 ##### 2.516 - 5.181: 26 ###### 5.181 - 9.867: 44 ########### 9.867 - 18.104: 150 #################################### 18.104 - 32.586: 103 ######################### 32.586 - 58.045: 105 ######################### 58.045 - 102.802: 220 ##################################################### 102.802 - 181.486: 207 ################################################## 181.486 - 319.815: 152 ##################################### 319.815 - 563.000: 88 ##################### Other Outcome: Count: 800 Range: 0.000 - 580.000; Mean: 118.905; Median: 68.000; Stddev: 127.272 Percentiles: 90th: 304.000; 95th: 392.000; 99th: 529.000 0.000 - 2.527: 5 ## 2.527 - 5.218: 4 # 5.218 - 9.964: 31 ########### 9.964 - 18.333: 83 ############################ 18.333 - 33.088: 155 ##################################################### 33.088 - 59.106: 98 ################################## 59.106 - 104.982: 106 #################################### 104.982 - 185.873: 130 ############################################ 185.873 - 328.505: 113 ####################################### 328.505 - 580.000: 70 ######################## -- 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. Methodology changes: 2022-03: Where docket history shows judgment and/or execution, but case has not been disposed, infer judgment and/or execution. 2022-05: Correct counting error in 'By prevailing party' section where agreement for judgment renders prevailing party unknown. Rows now sum to total. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.