Outcomes for March 2022

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: 2022-03-01 Search Period End: 2022-03-31 Earliest Case: 2022-03-01 Latest Case: 2022-03-31 Total Cases: 2213 Total Transfers: 68 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 34.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 46.8% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Lenox Dale Least stable with 10+ filings: West Yarmouth Least stable with 100+ filings: Lowell Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 73 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 508 23.0% central 351 15.9% eastern 292 13.2% western 290 13.1% southeast 278 12.6% metro_south 180 8.1% lynn district 35 1.6% quincy district 26 1.2% pittsfield district 19 0.9% fall river district 14 0.6% malden district 14 0.6% bmc west roxbury 12 0.5% waltham district 12 0.5% northern berkshire district 11 0.5% barnstable district 10 0.5% brockton district 10 0.5% framingham district 10 0.5% attleboro district 9 0.4% haverhill district 9 0.4% lowell district 8 0.4% new bedford district 8 0.4% somerville district 7 0.3% springfield district 7 0.3% chelsea district 6 0.3% woburn district 6 0.3% cambridge district 5 0.2% salem district 5 0.2% bmc brighton 4 0.2% bmc east boston 4 0.2% dedham district 4 0.2% newburyport district 4 0.2% newton district 4 0.2% orleans district 4 0.2% wareham district 4 0.2% westfield district 4 0.2% concord district 3 0.1% hingham district 3 0.1% stoughton district 3 0.1% worcester district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% bmc south boston 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% lawrence district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% wrentham district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% brookline district 1 0.0% chicopee district 1 0.0% fallmouth district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% milford district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% peabody district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1448 7 Natural Person 765 2206 Total 2213 2213 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 65.4% 0.3% Natural Person 34.6% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1429 19 1448 Optional 407 358 765 Total 1836 377 2213 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 64.6% 0.9% 65.4% Optional 18.4% 16.2% 34.6% Total 83.0% 17.0% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1 6 7 Optional 191 2015 2206 Total 192 2021 2213 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.3% 0.3% Optional 8.6% 91.1% 99.7% Total 8.7% 91.3% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 121 5.5% 1 1475 66.7% 2 504 22.8% 3 77 3.5% 4 29 1.3% 5 6 0.3% 10 1 0.0% Total 2213 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 1240 56.0% Cause 468 21.1% No Fault 454 20.5% Foreclosure 51 2.3% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Lenox Dale 214 1 West Yarmouth 189 10 Cummaquid 182 1 East Otis 174 1 Vineyard Haven 158 3 Warwick 128 1 North Adams 124 17 Cummington 114 1 Sandisfield 109 1 Lynn 106 96 Florence 105 1 Lowell 97 104 South Chatham 97 1 Turners Falls 97 4 West Warren 88 1 Gilbertville 86 1 Worcester 84 153 Adams 82 7 Royalston 79 1 New Bedford 78 75 Webster 77 13 Fall River 74 66 Mattapan 74 27 Holyoke 72 29 Springfield 71 110 Dudley 70 8 Plympton 70 2 Greenfield 68 12 Haverhill 68 42 Three Rivers 68 2 Athol 60 7 Bridgewater 60 16 Framingham 60 41 Pittsfield 60 27 Brockton 59 56 Fitchburg 59 24 Southbridge 59 10 Ashfield 57 1 Lawrence 57 44 Palmer 57 7 Revere 57 30 Becket 56 1 Chicopee 56 31 Russell 56 1 Amesbury 55 9 Erving 55 1 Gardner 54 11 South Dennis 54 2 Wales 54 1 Baldwinville 52 1 East Falmouth 51 3 Roslindale 51 15 Brewster 50 5 Taunton 50 28 Hinsdale 49 1 Indian Orchard 49 5 Randolph 49 16 Chelsea 48 17 South Deerfield 48 1 South Easton 48 5 Winchendon 48 5 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Malden 47 28 Middleborough 47 11 West Townsend 47 1 Woburn 47 18 Bernardston 46 1 East Taunton 46 3 West Dennis 45 1 Attleborough 43 19 Roxbury 43 26 Salem 43 18 Watertown 43 14 Hyannis 42 6 Spencer 42 5 Waltham 42 26 Braintree 41 15 Quincy 41 38 Saugus 41 11 Tewksbury 41 12 Ayer 40 3 Peabody 40 21 Ware 40 4 Williamsburg 40 1 Dorchester 39 36 Yarmouth Port 39 2 Gloucester 38 11 Methuen 38 18 Auburn 37 6 Barre 37 2 Holbrook 37 4 Marlborough 36 14 Salisbury 36 3 Berlin 34 1 Pocasset 34 1 Rockland 34 6 Sharon 34 6 Provincetown 33 1 Hyde Park 32 11 Milford 32 9 Westborough 32 6 Dennis Port 31 1 Kingston 31 4 West Springfield 31 9 Cotuit 30 1 Dracut 30 9 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Dalton 29 2 Lunenburg 29 3 Maynard 29 3 Oxford 29 4 Stoughton 29 8 Swampscott 29 4 Burlington 28 7 Lakeville 28 3 North Andover 28 8 Winthrop 28 5 Norwood 27 8 Sunderland 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Weymouth 27 15 Whitman 27 4 Carver 26 3 Everett 26 11 Medford 26 15 Tyngsborough 26 3 Lynnfield 25 3 Newton Center 25 1 Jamaica Plain 24 9 North Attleborough 24 7 Cambridge 23 25 Chelmsford 23 8 Ludlow 23 5 Acton 22 5 Avon 22 1 Beverly 22 9 Billerica 22 9 Blackstone 22 2 Clinton 22 3 Danvers 22 6 Forestdale 22 1 Middleton 22 2 Newburyport 22 4 Oak Bluffs 22 1 South Hadley 22 4 Townsend 22 2 Auburndale 21 2 Hanover 21 3 North Chelmsford 21 2 Southwick 21 2 Dorchester Center 20 19 East Freetown 20 1 North Reading 20 3 South Boston 20 7 East Boston 19 8 Hadley 19 1 Hampden 19 1 Lexington 19 6 Manchester 19 1 Marshfield 19 5 Sandwich 19 4 Easthampton 18 3 Franklin 18 6 Melrose 18 5 South Barre 18 1 Feeding Hills 17 2 Foxborough 17 3 Leominster 17 7 Pepperell 17 2 South Yarmouth 17 2 Southampton 17 1 Chatham 16 1 Granby 16 1 North Dartmouth 16 4 Scituate 16 3 Amherst 15 6 Lincoln 15 1 Norton 15 3 Agawam 14 4 Centerville 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Uxbridge 14 2 Whitinsville 14 1 Allston 13 4 Upton 13 1 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Westminster 13 1 Abington 12 2 Bellingham 12 2 Dedham 12 3 Lancaster 12 1 Millis 12 1 Orange 12 1 Swansea 12 2 Westfield 12 5 Williamstown 12 1 Brighton 11 5 Charlestown 11 2 Douglas 11 1 Grafton 11 2 Monson 11 1 Somerville 11 9 Hudson 10 2 Plymouth 10 6 Sturbridge 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 Andover 9 3 Canton 9 2 East Weymouth 9 5 Hingham 9 2 Leicester 9 1 Nantucket 9 1 Natick 9 3 Onset 9 2 South Weymouth 9 5 West Roxbury 9 3 Westford 9 2 Winchester 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Brookline 8 5 Harwich 8 1 Mansfield 8 2 Shrewsbury 8 3 Wilmington 8 2 Charlton 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Medway 7 1 Millbury 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Boston 6 43 East Longmeadow 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Concord 5 1 Holden 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 South Dartmouth 5 2 Belmont 4 1 E. Boston 4 2 Reading 4 1 Stoneham 4 1 Wakefield 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Falmouth 3 1 Milton 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Newton 3 3 Northampton 3 1 Roxbury Crossing 3 2 Wellesley Hills 3 1 Arlington 2 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 22 span 0 3 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 365 59 Plymouth 310 134 Hampden 305 217 Essex 286 315 Worcester 272 303 Bristol 268 221 Barnstable 264 51 Franklin 218 23 Norfolk 178 152 Middlesex 177 413 Suffolk 137 271 Hampshire 130 24 Dukes 97 4 Nantucket 28 1 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 1865 84.3% Ongoing/Error 348 15.7% 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 693 37.2% Mediated 622 33.4% Defaulted 443 23.8% Heard 105 5.6% Other 2 0.1% Total 1865 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 96 92 153 23 0 Foreclosure 9 13 17 3 0 No Fault 103 65 228 17 0 Non-payment 485 273 224 62 2 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.1% 4.9% 8.2% 1.2% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.5% 0.7% 0.9% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 5.5% 3.5% 12.2% 0.9% 0.0% Non-payment 26.0% 14.6% 12.0% 3.3% 0.1% 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 460 24.7% 20.8% Judgment inferred 137 7.3% 6.2% No judgment 1268 68.0% 57.3% Total 1865 100.0% 27.0% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 103 5.5% 0 40,617 2,305 5,440 237,494 Foreclosure 7 0.4% 140 56,896 8,335 19,825 58,347 No fault 99 5.3% 0 49,014 4,311 6,910 426,861 Non-payment 251 13.5% 0 139,211 9,468 13,877 2,376,480 Subtotal 460 24.7% 0 139,211 6,737 11,736 3,099,183 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 49 2.6% 5 21,981 2,968 4,365 145,470 Defaulted 189 10.1% 0 101,249 7,540 12,482 1,425,145 Mediated 197 10.6% 0 139,211 7,136 12,448 1,405,815 Heard 23 1.2% 0 31,640 5,208 8,047 119,804 Other 2 0.1% 1,181 1,766 1,474 292 2,948 Subtotal 460 24.7% 0 139,211 6,737 11,736 3,099,183 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 3 0.5% 0.2% 0.1% plaintiff 514 86.1% 27.6% 23.2% unknown 80 13.4% 4.3% 3.6% Total 597 100.0% 32.0% 27.0% Judgments All Cases: Count: 460 Range: 0.000 - 139211.670; Mean: 6737.356; Median: 3510.165; Stddev: 11749.063 Percentiles: 90th: 15587.900; 95th: 23404.170; 99th: 53488.830 0.000 - 17.228: 1 | 17.228 - 357.966: 99 ###################################### 357.966 - 968.374: 13 ##### 968.374 - 2616.754: 58 ###################### 2616.754 - 7068.135: 138 ##################################################### 7068.135 - 19088.905: 96 ##################################### 19088.905 - 51550.495: 29 ########### 51550.495 - 139211.670: 5 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 103 Range: 0.000 - 40617.880; Mean: 2305.769; Median: 231.400; Stddev: 5466.894 Percentiles: 90th: 6500.000; 95th: 11390.000; 99th: 22031.430 0.000 - 15.116: 1 ## 15.116 - 218.318: 29 ##################################################### 218.318 - 522.620: 22 ######################################## 522.620 - 1249.139: 2 #### 1249.139 - 2983.700: 17 ############################### 2983.700 - 7124.956: 8 ############### 7124.956 - 17012.181: 7 ############# 17012.181 - 40617.880: 3 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 7 Range: 140.000 - 56896.590; Mean: 8335.399; Median: 228.600; Stddev: 21413.566 Percentiles: 90th: 56896.590; 95th: 56896.590; 99th: 56896.590 140.000 - 255.925: 4 ##################################################### 255.925 - 467.160: 2 ########################### 467.160 - 56896.590: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 99 Range: 0.000 - 49014.490; Mean: 4311.730; Median: 2193.860; Stddev: 6945.744 Percentiles: 90th: 10285.670; 95th: 16272.590; 99th: 49014.490 0.000 - 294.624: 36 ##################################################### 294.624 - 919.413: 1 # 919.413 - 1623.069: 5 ####### 1623.069 - 2864.668: 9 ############# 2864.668 - 5055.470: 19 ############################ 5055.470 - 8921.137: 13 ################### 8921.137 - 15742.105: 8 ############ 15742.105 - 27777.697: 3 #### 27777.697 - 49014.490: 2 ### Non-payment: Count: 251 Range: 0.000 - 139211.670; Mean: 9468.050; Median: 5468.450; Stddev: 13905.139 Percentiles: 90th: 20262.720; 95th: 28545.000; 99th: 69405.190 0.000 - 350.051: 8 ###### 350.051 - 681.451: 6 ##### 681.451 - 1325.699: 7 ###### 1325.699 - 2578.130: 28 ###################### 2578.130 - 5012.883: 60 ################################################ 5012.883 - 9746.093: 66 ##################################################### 9746.093 - 18947.552: 45 #################################### 18947.552 - 36835.380: 19 ############### 36835.380 - 71609.689: 6 ##### 71609.689 - 139211.670: 2 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 49 Range: 5.750 - 21981.170; Mean: 2968.783; Median: 1635.110; Stddev: 4410.241 Percentiles: 90th: 7613.580; 95th: 13809.980; 99th: 21981.170 5.750 - 14.156: 1 ### 14.156 - 170.558: 2 ###### 170.558 - 384.201: 18 ##################################################### 384.201 - 863.896: 2 ###### 863.896 - 1940.961: 3 ######### 1940.961 - 4359.308: 13 ###################################### 4359.308 - 9789.252: 7 ##################### 9789.252 - 21981.170: 3 ######### Defaulted: Count: 189 Range: 0.000 - 101249.370; Mean: 7540.453; Median: 3854.630; Stddev: 12516.084 Percentiles: 90th: 17862.690; 95th: 27158.270; 99th: 69405.190 0.000 - 316.868: 44 ##################################################### 316.868 - 602.079: 2 ## 602.079 - 1143.200: 2 ## 1143.200 - 2169.850: 17 #################### 2169.850 - 4117.675: 26 ############################### 4117.675 - 7813.215: 33 ######################################## 7813.215 - 14824.631: 32 ####################################### 14824.631 - 28127.139: 14 ################# 28127.139 - 53365.511: 5 ###### 53365.511 - 101249.370: 4 ##### Mediated: Count: 197 Range: 0.000 - 139211.670; Mean: 7136.118; Median: 4018.430; Stddev: 12480.295 Percentiles: 90th: 15984.150; 95th: 23404.170; 99th: 49014.490 0.000 - 279.973: 29 ################################ 279.973 - 558.901: 2 ## 558.901 - 1114.725: 6 ####### 1114.725 - 2222.325: 22 ######################## 2222.325 - 4429.461: 39 ########################################### 4429.461 - 8827.662: 48 ##################################################### 8827.662 - 17592.039: 28 ############################### 17592.039 - 35056.975: 12 ############# 35056.975 - 69859.678: 4 #### 69859.678 - 139211.670: 1 # Heard: Count: 23 Range: 0.000 - 31640.460; Mean: 5208.889; Median: 1604.760; Stddev: 8227.920 Percentiles: 90th: 10479.500; 95th: 25958.600; 99th: 31640.460 0.000 - 350.581: 4 ##################################################### 350.581 - 578.646: 2 ########################### 578.646 - 2596.603: 1 ############# 2596.603 - 4281.620: 2 ########################### 4281.620 - 7059.676: 3 ######################################## 7059.676 - 11639.805: 4 ##################################################### 11639.805 - 31640.460: 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 530 88.8% 28.4% 23.9% Issued 409 68.5% 21.9% 18.5% Levied 115 19.3% 6.2% 5.2% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 34 29.6% 5.7% 1.8% 1.5% Foreclosure 8 7.0% 1.3% 0.4% 0.4% No Fault 31 27.0% 5.2% 1.7% 1.4% Non-payment 42 36.5% 7.0% 2.3% 1.9% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 115 100.0% 19.3% 6.2% 5.2% 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 21 18.3% 3.5% 1.1% 0.9% Defaulted 35 30.4% 5.9% 1.9% 1.6% Mediated 59 51.3% 9.9% 3.2% 2.7% Heard 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 115 100.0% 19.3% 6.2% 5.2% 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 8 51 15.7% Cause 34 468 7.3% No Fault 31 454 6.8% Non-payment 42 1240 3.4% Unknown/Other 0 0 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 Mediated 59 622 9.5% Defaulted 35 443 7.9% Dismissed 21 693 3.0% Heard 0 105 0.0% Other 0 2 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 2 602 94 94 Non-payment 2 575 79 71 No Fault 0 566 91 92 Foreclosure 2 566 124 131 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 602 86 83 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 564 74 68 Defaulted 11 566 83 76 Mediated 14 602 100 99 Heard 3 375 83 78 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 602 86 83 All Cases: Count: 1865 Range: 0.000 - 602.000; Mean: 86.014; Median: 61.000; Stddev: 83.177 Percentiles: 90th: 169.000; 95th: 259.000; 99th: 468.000 0.000 - 4.098: 18 ## 4.098 - 7.665: 13 # 7.665 - 13.726: 31 ### 13.726 - 24.026: 116 ############# 24.026 - 41.532: 380 ######################################### 41.532 - 71.283: 491 ##################################################### 71.283 - 121.845: 470 ################################################### 121.845 - 207.775: 212 ####################### 207.775 - 353.812: 91 ########## 353.812 - 602.000: 42 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 364 Range: 2.000 - 602.000; Mean: 94.181; Median: 59.500; Stddev: 94.688 Percentiles: 90th: 212.000; 95th: 277.000; 99th: 526.000 2.000 - 4.098: 2 # 4.098 - 7.665: 2 # 7.665 - 13.726: 3 # 13.726 - 24.026: 15 ###### 24.026 - 41.532: 64 ########################### 41.532 - 71.283: 126 ##################################################### 71.283 - 121.845: 75 ################################ 121.845 - 207.775: 40 ################# 207.775 - 353.812: 23 ########## 353.812 - 602.000: 14 ###### Non-payment: Count: 1046 Range: 2.000 - 575.000; Mean: 79.517; Median: 60.500; Stddev: 71.005 Percentiles: 90th: 148.000; 95th: 213.000; 99th: 367.000 2.000 - 4.075: 12 ## 4.075 - 7.586: 11 ## 7.586 - 13.525: 25 ##### 13.525 - 23.572: 79 ############### 23.572 - 40.569: 194 #################################### 40.569 - 69.324: 249 ############################################## 69.324 - 117.969: 285 ##################################################### 117.969 - 200.262: 131 ######################## 200.262 - 339.481: 48 ######### 339.481 - 575.000: 12 ## No Fault: Count: 413 Range: 0.000 - 566.000; Mean: 91.324; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 92.495 Percentiles: 90th: 178.000; 95th: 295.000; 99th: 513.000 0.000 - 4.067: 2 # 4.067 - 13.456: 3 ## 13.456 - 23.418: 12 ###### 23.418 - 40.243: 106 ##################################################### 40.243 - 68.662: 97 ################################################# 68.662 - 116.664: 103 #################################################### 116.664 - 197.742: 52 ########################## 197.742 - 334.689: 22 ########### 334.689 - 566.000: 15 ######## Foreclosure: Count: 42 Range: 2.000 - 566.000; Mean: 124.810; Median: 73.000; Stddev: 131.103 Percentiles: 90th: 346.000; 95th: 394.000; 99th: 566.000 2.000 - 4.067: 2 ########## 4.067 - 40.243: 8 ####################################### 40.243 - 68.662: 10 ################################################ 68.662 - 116.664: 11 ##################################################### 116.664 - 197.742: 2 ########## 197.742 - 334.689: 3 ############## 334.689 - 566.000: 6 ############################# By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 693 Range: 0.000 - 564.000; Mean: 74.853; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 68.943 Percentiles: 90th: 144.000; 95th: 204.000; 99th: 367.000 0.000 - 4.065: 17 ##### 4.065 - 7.553: 12 #### 7.553 - 13.441: 27 ######## 13.441 - 23.383: 47 ############## 23.383 - 40.170: 143 ########################################### 40.170 - 68.515: 146 ############################################ 68.515 - 116.374: 176 ##################################################### 116.374 - 197.181: 87 ########################## 197.181 - 333.623: 25 ######## 333.623 - 564.000: 12 #### Defaulted: Count: 443 Range: 11.000 - 566.000; Mean: 83.084; Median: 67.000; Stddev: 76.069 Percentiles: 90th: 137.000; 95th: 206.000; 99th: 462.000 11.000 - 16.645: 3 ## 16.645 - 24.945: 22 ########### 24.945 - 37.151: 64 ################################# 37.151 - 55.097: 96 ################################################# 55.097 - 81.486: 92 ############################################### 81.486 - 120.289: 104 ##################################################### 120.289 - 177.346: 33 ################# 177.346 - 261.242: 10 ##### 261.242 - 384.605: 12 ###### 384.605 - 566.000: 7 #### Mediated: Count: 622 Range: 14.000 - 602.000; Mean: 100.738; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 99.725 Percentiles: 90th: 214.000; 95th: 295.000; 99th: 526.000 14.000 - 20.703: 20 ######## 20.703 - 30.400: 58 ######################## 30.400 - 44.432: 114 ################################################ 44.432 - 64.733: 126 ##################################################### 64.733 - 94.105: 100 ########################################## 94.105 - 136.603: 79 ################################# 136.603 - 198.090: 52 ###################### 198.090 - 287.053: 38 ################ 287.053 - 415.768: 19 ######## 415.768 - 602.000: 16 ####### Heard: Count: 105 Range: 3.000 - 375.000; Mean: 83.676; Median: 51.000; Stddev: 78.316 Percentiles: 90th: 203.000; 95th: 280.000; 99th: 302.000 3.000 - 5.300: 1 # 5.300 - 8.924: 3 #### 8.924 - 14.631: 2 ### 14.631 - 23.621: 6 ######### 23.621 - 37.781: 13 ################### 37.781 - 60.085: 36 ##################################################### 60.085 - 95.216: 14 ##################### 95.216 - 150.552: 17 ######################### 150.552 - 237.712: 4 ###### 237.712 - 375.000: 9 ############# -- 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/.