Outcomes for November 2021

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: 2021-11-01 Search Period End: 2021-11-30 Earliest Case: 2021-11-01 Latest Case: 2021-11-30 Total Cases: 2202 Total Transfers: 51 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 35.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 46.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Southfield Least stable with 10+ filings: Southbridge Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 75 Housing crisis baseline max cases per day (UCL): 130 Housing crisis baseline min cases per day (LCL): 44 The number of filings this period is not statistically different from the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent northeast 418 19.0% central 394 17.9% western 338 15.3% southeast 307 13.9% eastern 230 10.4% metro_south 198 9.0% malden district 32 1.5% fall river district 30 1.4% quincy district 25 1.1% cambridge district 17 0.8% attleboro district 14 0.6% lynn district 14 0.6% pittsfield district 14 0.6% waltham district 13 0.6% lowell district 10 0.5% bmc west roxbury 9 0.4% woburn district 9 0.4% barnstable district 8 0.4% springfield district 8 0.4% fallmouth district 7 0.3% northern berkshire district 7 0.3% somerville district 7 0.3% dedham district 6 0.3% lawrence district 6 0.3% peabody district 6 0.3% bmc central 5 0.2% bmc east boston 5 0.2% wrentham district 5 0.2% chelsea district 4 0.2% eastern hampshire district 4 0.2% newburyport district 4 0.2% edgartown district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% salem district 3 0.1% stoughton district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% framingham district 2 0.1% leominster district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% orleans district 2 0.1% southern berkshire district 2 0.1% wareham district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.0% brockton district 1 0.0% brookline district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% concord district 1 0.0% hingham district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% plymouth district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1417 7 Natural Person 785 2195 Total 2202 2202 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 64.4% 0.3% Natural Person 35.6% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1396 21 1417 Optional 419 366 785 Total 1815 387 2202 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 63.4% 1.0% 64.4% Optional 19.0% 16.6% 35.6% Total 82.4% 17.6% 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 2 5 7 Optional 159 2036 2195 Total 161 2041 2202 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% Optional 7.2% 92.5% 99.7% Total 7.3% 92.7% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 98 4.5% 1 1440 65.4% 2 541 24.6% 3 82 3.7% 4 34 1.5% 5 4 0.2% 6 2 0.1% 11 1 0.0% Total 2202 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 1261 57.3% Cause 470 21.3% No Fault 429 19.5% Foreclosure 38 1.7% Unknown/Other 4 0.2% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Southfield 202 1 Florida 132 1 Housatonic 132 1 Southbridge 125 21 Shelburne Falls 113 2 Canton 106 23 Springfield 104 160 East Falmouth 103 6 Pocasset 103 3 Fall River 99 88 Indian Orchard 99 10 Buzzards Bay 87 3 Lawrence 87 67 Athol 86 10 Pittsfield 84 38 Holyoke 80 32 Seekonk 80 11 Everett 79 33 Gardner 79 16 Charlemont 78 1 South Easton 78 8 New Bedford 77 74 Fitchburg 76 31 Newtonville 76 4 Worcester 76 139 North Falmouth 74 2 Randolph 74 24 Marlborough 67 26 Lynn 66 60 Cheshire 61 2 Chicopee 59 33 Phillipston 59 1 Revere 59 31 Lowell 58 62 East Sandwich 57 2 Milford 57 16 Becket 56 1 Great Barrington 56 4 Hyannis 56 8 Russell 56 1 Framingham 55 38 Haverhill 54 33 Sunderland 54 2 Malden 53 32 Peabody 52 27 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Greenfield 51 9 North Adams 51 7 Spencer 51 6 Stockbridge 51 1 Ware 50 5 Waltham 49 30 Turners Falls 48 2 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Middleborough 47 11 Taunton 46 26 Avon 45 2 East Brookfield 45 1 Newbury 45 3 Quincy 45 42 West Dennis 45 1 West Springfield 45 13 Brockton 44 42 Dalton 44 3 Oak Bluffs 44 2 Mattapan 43 16 Whitinsville 43 3 Acton 41 9 Bridgewater 41 11 Foxborough 41 7 Marstons Mills 41 2 Roslindale 41 12 Woburn 41 16 Ayer 40 3 Lenox 39 2 Leominster 39 16 Nantucket 39 4 Attleborough 38 17 Orange 38 3 Salem 38 16 Westborough 38 7 Dorchester 36 34 Wellfleet 36 1 Douglas 35 3 Webster 35 6 West Barnstable 35 1 Belchertown 34 5 Berlin 34 1 Carver 34 4 Feeding Hills 34 4 Gloucester 34 10 South Yarmouth 34 4 Three Rivers 34 1 Mattapoisett 33 2 Methuen 33 16 Provincetown 33 1 Saugus 33 9 Weymouth 33 18 Ashburnham 32 2 Dennis Port 31 1 Amesbury 30 5 Mansfield 30 7 Nahant 29 1 Stoughton 29 8 Winchendon 29 3 Cambridge 28 30 Dedham 28 7 Northborough 28 4 Rockland 28 5 East Boston 27 11 Holbrook 27 3 Norwood 27 8 Sagamore 27 1 Sagamore Beach 27 1 South Dennis 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Westminster 27 2 Hyde Park 26 9 Upton 26 2 Boxford 25 2 North Grafton 25 2 Georgetown 24 2 Lancaster 24 2 North Attleborough 24 7 Salisbury 24 2 Adams 23 2 Kingston 23 3 Monson 23 2 West Newbury 23 1 Blackstone 22 2 Centerville 22 3 Clinton 22 3 Forestdale 22 1 Onset 22 5 Uxbridge 22 3 Wilmington 22 5 Dorchester Center 21 20 North Andover 21 6 Oxford 21 3 Roxbury 21 13 Beverly 20 8 East Freetown 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Whitman 20 3 Braintree 19 7 Hull 19 2 Manchester 19 1 Shrewsbury 19 7 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Cherry Valley 18 2 Danvers 18 5 Easthampton 18 3 Franklin 18 6 Hingham 18 4 Jamaica Plain 18 7 West Yarmouth 18 1 Agawam 17 5 Allston 17 5 Dudley 17 2 South Hadley 17 3 Winthrop 17 3 Arlington 16 7 Dracut 16 5 Granby 16 1 Harwich 16 2 Lee 16 1 Berkley 15 1 Brighton 15 7 East Taunton 15 1 Groveland 15 1 Hudson 15 3 North Easton 15 2 Somerville 15 12 Dighton 14 1 East Weymouth 14 8 Hanover 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 Medford 14 8 Plymouth 14 8 Raynham 14 2 Swampscott 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Wilbraham 14 2 East Wareham 13 3 Halifax 13 1 Hopkinton 13 2 Tewksbury 13 4 Wareham 13 3 Abington 12 2 Andover 12 4 Auburn 12 2 Fairhaven 12 2 Millis 12 1 Reading 12 3 Rutland 12 1 Walpole 12 3 Westfield 12 5 Chelmsford 11 4 Chelsea 11 4 Littleton 11 1 Marshfield 11 3 Melrose 11 3 Middleton 11 1 Pembroke 11 2 Somerset 11 2 South Weymouth 11 6 Sudbury 11 2 Marblehead 10 2 Norton 10 2 Southwick 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 Billerica 9 4 Falmouth 9 3 Lunenburg 9 1 Maynard 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Rochdale 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Dartmouth 8 3 Medfield 8 1 Palmer 8 1 Rehoboth 8 1 Weston 8 1 Bedford 7 1 Charlton 7 1 Dennis 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Ipswich 7 1 Northampton 7 2 Wayland 7 1 Bellingham 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Lexington 6 2 Swansea 6 1 Westport 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Amherst 5 2 Bourne 5 1 Charlestown 5 1 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Newburyport 5 1 Roxbury Crossing 5 3 Sharon 5 1 South Boston 5 2 Belmont 4 1 Boston 4 28 Burlington 4 1 E. Boston 4 2 Ludlow 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Wakefield 4 1 Westford 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Brookline 3 2 Needham 3 1 Watertown 3 1 West Roxbury 3 1 Newton 2 2 Newton Highlands 2 2 South Dartmouth 2 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 17 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 396 64 Hampden 382 272 Bristol 317 261 Worcester 293 327 Barnstable 279 54 Plymouth 270 117 Essex 260 286 Norfolk 213 182 Franklin 180 19 Middlesex 156 366 Hampshire 114 21 Nantucket 113 4 Suffolk 105 209 Dukes 73 3 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 1944 88.3% Ongoing/Error 258 11.7% 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 Dismissed 766 39.4% Mediated 607 31.2% Defaulted 505 26.0% Heard 65 3.3% Other 1 0.1% Total 1944 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 112 99 144 24 0 Foreclosure 7 9 18 1 0 No Fault 97 91 210 10 0 Non-payment 550 306 235 30 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 1 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.8% 5.1% 7.4% 1.2% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.4% 0.5% 0.9% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 5.0% 4.7% 10.8% 0.5% 0.0% Non-payment 28.3% 15.7% 12.1% 1.5% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 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 797 41.0% 36.2% Judgment inferred 190 9.8% 8.6% No judgment 957 49.2% 43.5% Total 1944 100.0% 44.8% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 163 8.4% 0 73,167 2,470 7,207 402,677 Foreclosure 15 0.8% 161 126,644 10,681 31,902 160,228 No fault 165 8.5% 0 28,603 3,618 4,571 597,060 Non-payment 453 23.3% 0 58,853 7,007 7,155 3,174,223 Unknown/Other 1 0.1% 4,861 4,861 4,861 0 4,861 Subtotal 797 41.0% 0 126,644 5,444 8,222 4,339,051 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 99 5.1% 161 44,342 4,194 5,314 415,277 Defaulted 455 23.4% 0 58,853 5,786 7,235 2,633,001 Mediated 224 11.5% 0 126,644 5,403 10,754 1,210,329 Heard 18 0.9% 0 26,056 4,198 7,885 75,580 Other 1 0.1% 4,861 4,861 4,861 0 4,861 Subtotal 797 41.0% 0 126,644 5,444 8,222 4,339,051 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 5 0.5% 0.3% 0.2% plaintiff 878 89.0% 45.2% 39.9% unknown 104 10.5% 5.3% 4.7% Total 987 100.0% 50.8% 44.8% Judgments All Cases: Count: 797 Range: 0.000 - 126644.050; Mean: 5444.231; Median: 3420.290; Stddev: 8227.562 Percentiles: 90th: 12720.970; 95th: 17099.310; 99th: 33085.310 0.000 - 27.755: 1 | 27.755 - 184.553: 13 ### 184.553 - 470.350: 160 ################################# 470.350 - 1196.340: 40 ######## 1196.340 - 3040.526: 131 ########################### 3040.526 - 7725.195: 254 ##################################################### 7725.195 - 19625.365: 141 ############################# 19625.365 - 49854.611: 28 ###### 49854.611 - 126644.050: 4 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 163 Range: 0.000 - 73167.930; Mean: 2470.415; Median: 229.590; Stddev: 7229.532 Percentiles: 90th: 6479.610; 95th: 9597.500; 99th: 44342.840 0.000 - 262.469: 89 ##################################################### 262.469 - 491.312: 4 ## 491.312 - 918.923: 8 ##### 918.923 - 1717.946: 3 ## 1717.946 - 3210.981: 13 ######## 3210.981 - 6000.830: 11 ####### 6000.830 - 11213.875: 14 ######## 11213.875 - 20954.845: 4 ## 20954.845 - 73167.930: 2 # Foreclosure: Count: 15 Range: 161.540 - 126644.050; Mean: 10681.880; Median: 232.250; Stddev: 33021.804 Percentiles: 90th: 30631.620; 95th: 126644.050; 99th: 126644.050 161.540 - 315.317: 13 ##################################################### 315.317 - 33438.720: 1 #### 33438.720 - 126644.050: 1 #### No Fault: Count: 165 Range: 0.000 - 28603.530; Mean: 3618.550; Median: 2467.770; Stddev: 4585.423 Percentiles: 90th: 10166.420; 95th: 11583.000; 99th: 25827.470 0.000 - 23.780: 1 # 23.780 - 258.945: 46 ##################################################### 258.945 - 568.037: 6 ####### 568.037 - 1244.660: 8 ######### 1244.660 - 2725.831: 20 ####################### 2725.831 - 5968.214: 44 ################################################### 5968.214 - 13066.003: 28 ################################ 13066.003 - 28603.530: 5 ###### Non-payment: Count: 453 Range: 0.000 - 58853.240; Mean: 7007.115; Median: 4910.000; Stddev: 7163.096 Percentiles: 90th: 14748.480; 95th: 21086.220; 99th: 33085.310 0.000 - 324.975: 15 ####### 324.975 - 579.653: 4 ## 579.653 - 1033.306: 14 ####### 1033.306 - 1841.391: 28 ############# 1841.391 - 3280.817: 89 ########################################### 3280.817 - 5844.842: 110 ##################################################### 5844.842 - 10412.093: 103 ################################################## 10412.093 - 18547.655: 61 ############################# 18547.655 - 33039.384: 21 ########## 33039.384 - 58853.240: 5 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 99 Range: 161.540 - 44342.840; Mean: 4194.724; Median: 3154.730; Stddev: 5341.484 Percentiles: 90th: 8480.000; 95th: 10860.460; 99th: 44342.840 161.540 - 283.805: 18 ######################################### 283.805 - 498.039: 2 ##### 498.039 - 873.424: 5 ############ 873.424 - 1531.179: 4 ######### 1531.179 - 2683.706: 16 ##################################### 2683.706 - 4703.182: 23 ##################################################### 4703.182 - 8241.736: 21 ################################################ 8241.736 - 14442.043: 7 ################ 14442.043 - 25306.311: 2 ##### 25306.311 - 44342.840: 1 ## Defaulted: Count: 455 Range: 0.000 - 58853.240; Mean: 5786.817; Median: 3712.570; Stddev: 7243.717 Percentiles: 90th: 14171.240; 95th: 17669.890; 99th: 33085.310 0.000 - 25.634: 1 | 25.634 - 146.444: 1 | 146.444 - 345.912: 98 ######################################### 345.912 - 815.229: 12 ##### 815.229 - 1919.460: 30 ############# 1919.460 - 4517.542: 109 ############################################# 4517.542 - 10630.425: 127 ##################################################### 10630.425 - 25013.085: 60 ######################### 25013.085 - 58853.240: 12 ##### Mediated: Count: 224 Range: 0.000 - 126644.050; Mean: 5403.257; Median: 3235.580; Stddev: 10778.989 Percentiles: 90th: 11583.000; 95th: 16100.000; 99th: 27163.600 0.000 - 268.429: 48 ############################################# 268.429 - 532.763: 2 ## 532.763 - 1056.435: 8 ####### 1056.435 - 2093.878: 24 ###################### 2093.878 - 4149.148: 34 ################################ 4149.148 - 8220.830: 57 ##################################################### 8220.830 - 16287.212: 27 ######################### 16287.212 - 32267.469: 9 ######## 32267.469 - 126644.050: 2 ## Heard: Count: 18 Range: 0.000 - 26056.500; Mean: 4198.939; Median: 204.395; Stddev: 8113.628 Percentiles: 90th: 25330.200; 95th: 26056.500; 99th: 26056.500 0.000 - 319.933: 4 ##################################################### 319.933 - 3690.968: 1 ############# 3690.968 - 6016.646: 3 ######################################## 6016.646 - 9807.336: 1 ############# 9807.336 - 26056.500: 2 ########################### 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 801 81.2% 41.2% 36.4% Issued 653 66.2% 33.6% 29.7% Levied 151 15.3% 7.8% 6.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 28 18.5% 2.8% 1.4% 1.3% Foreclosure 3 2.0% 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% No Fault 36 23.8% 3.6% 1.9% 1.6% Non-payment 84 55.6% 8.5% 4.3% 3.8% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 151 100.0% 15.3% 7.8% 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 19 12.6% 1.9% 1.0% 0.9% Defaulted 82 54.3% 8.3% 4.2% 3.7% Mediated 49 32.5% 5.0% 2.5% 2.2% Heard 1 0.7% 0.1% 0.1% 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 151 100.0% 15.3% 7.8% 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 No Fault 36 429 8.4% Foreclosure 3 38 7.9% Non-payment 84 1261 6.7% Cause 28 470 6.0% Unknown/Other 0 4 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 82 505 16.2% Mediated 49 607 8.1% Dismissed 19 766 2.5% Heard 1 65 1.5% Other 0 1 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 1 681 109 105 Non-payment 1 602 91 77 No Fault 1 665 93 87 Foreclosure 17 567 127 123 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 1 681 96 86 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 550 90 72 Defaulted 17 553 82 70 Mediated 3 681 110 103 Heard 1 602 137 142 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 1 681 96 86 All Cases: Count: 1944 Range: 1.000 - 681.000; Mean: 96.070; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 86.861 Percentiles: 90th: 176.000; 95th: 245.000; 99th: 506.000 1.000 - 2.583: 4 | 2.583 - 5.421: 7 # 5.421 - 10.504: 22 ## 10.504 - 19.613: 94 ####### 19.613 - 35.932: 207 ################ 35.932 - 65.173: 431 ################################ 65.173 - 117.565: 704 ##################################################### 117.565 - 211.439: 331 ######################### 211.439 - 379.635: 98 ####### 379.635 - 681.000: 46 ### By Reason Cause: Count: 379 Range: 1.000 - 681.000; Mean: 109.462; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 105.311 Percentiles: 90th: 239.000; 95th: 353.000; 99th: 528.000 1.000 - 2.583: 2 # 2.583 - 5.421: 1 | 5.421 - 10.504: 5 ## 10.504 - 19.613: 22 ########## 19.613 - 35.932: 39 ################## 35.932 - 65.173: 84 ###################################### 65.173 - 117.565: 116 ##################################################### 117.565 - 211.439: 61 ############################ 211.439 - 379.635: 36 ################ 379.635 - 681.000: 13 ###### Non-payment: Count: 1121 Range: 1.000 - 602.000; Mean: 91.653; Median: 76.000; Stddev: 77.412 Percentiles: 90th: 169.000; 95th: 217.000; 99th: 456.000 1.000 - 2.540: 1 | 2.540 - 5.265: 5 # 5.265 - 10.087: 15 ## 10.087 - 18.622: 50 ####### 18.622 - 33.728: 108 ############### 33.728 - 60.461: 244 ################################# 60.461 - 107.776: 390 ##################################################### 107.776 - 191.513: 228 ############################### 191.513 - 339.713: 58 ######## 339.713 - 602.000: 22 ### No Fault: Count: 408 Range: 1.000 - 665.000; Mean: 93.240; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 87.384 Percentiles: 90th: 157.000; 95th: 229.000; 99th: 539.000 1.000 - 2.575: 1 | 2.575 - 5.390: 1 | 5.390 - 10.423: 2 # 10.423 - 19.418: 11 ### 19.418 - 35.497: 52 ############## 35.497 - 64.237: 67 ################## 64.237 - 115.611: 195 ##################################################### 115.611 - 207.442: 53 ############## 207.442 - 371.589: 15 #### 371.589 - 665.000: 11 ### Foreclosure: Count: 35 Range: 17.000 - 567.000; Mean: 127.200; Median: 91.000; Stddev: 123.360 Percentiles: 90th: 239.000; 95th: 426.000; 99th: 567.000 17.000 - 24.420: 3 ################ 24.420 - 34.899: 2 ########### 34.899 - 49.699: 5 ########################### 49.699 - 70.598: 2 ########### 70.598 - 100.114: 10 ##################################################### 100.114 - 141.797: 1 ##### 141.797 - 200.663: 5 ########################### 200.663 - 283.796: 4 ##################### 283.796 - 567.000: 3 ################ By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 766 Range: 1.000 - 550.000; Mean: 90.329; Median: 76.000; Stddev: 72.206 Percentiles: 90th: 169.000; 95th: 212.000; 99th: 402.000 1.000 - 2.508: 2 | 2.508 - 5.153: 5 # 5.153 - 9.791: 14 ### 9.791 - 17.927: 48 ########## 17.927 - 32.196: 71 ############## 32.196 - 57.224: 118 ######################## 57.224 - 101.121: 266 ##################################################### 101.121 - 178.113: 178 ################################### 178.113 - 313.152: 50 ########## 313.152 - 550.000: 14 ### Defaulted: Count: 505 Range: 17.000 - 553.000; Mean: 82.848; Median: 74.000; Stddev: 70.313 Percentiles: 90th: 141.000; 95th: 205.000; 99th: 411.000 17.000 - 24.357: 45 ############# 24.357 - 34.721: 35 ########## 34.721 - 49.320: 73 ##################### 49.320 - 69.887: 66 ################### 69.887 - 98.860: 184 ##################################################### 98.860 - 139.674: 50 ############## 139.674 - 197.170: 26 ####### 197.170 - 278.166: 14 #### 278.166 - 392.266: 4 # 392.266 - 553.000: 8 ## Mediated: Count: 607 Range: 3.000 - 681.000; Mean: 110.025; Median: 78.000; Stddev: 103.905 Percentiles: 90th: 219.000; 95th: 342.000; 99th: 548.000 3.000 - 5.687: 2 # 5.687 - 10.179: 1 | 10.179 - 17.689: 16 #### 17.689 - 30.243: 56 ############### 30.243 - 51.230: 91 ######################### 51.230 - 86.316: 192 ##################################################### 86.316 - 144.971: 133 ##################################### 144.971 - 243.028: 66 ################## 243.028 - 406.955: 31 ######### 406.955 - 681.000: 19 ##### Heard: Count: 65 Range: 1.000 - 602.000; Mean: 137.046; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 142.111 Percentiles: 90th: 373.000; 95th: 441.000; 99th: 602.000 1.000 - 2.540: 2 ####### 2.540 - 18.622: 3 ########### 18.622 - 33.728: 4 ############## 33.728 - 60.461: 15 ##################################################### 60.461 - 107.776: 15 ##################################################### 107.776 - 191.513: 12 ########################################## 191.513 - 339.713: 7 ######################### 339.713 - 602.000: 7 ######################### -- 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. 2023-01: We now report dispositions on the basis of the last disposition found in a docket. Previously we were using a prioritized keyword match, which produced inaccurate results for complex cases. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.