Outcomes for April 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: 2022-04-01 Search Period End: 2022-04-30 Earliest Case: 2022-04-01 Latest Case: 2022-04-29 Total Cases: 2159 Total Transfers: 75 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 36.4% Of those, percentage pro se: 40.0% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Mount Washington Least stable with 10+ filings: North Adams Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 74 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 398 18.4% eastern 349 16.2% western 317 14.7% central 312 14.5% southeast 273 12.6% metro_south 188 8.7% quincy district 26 1.2% fall river district 24 1.1% lynn district 22 1.0% pittsfield district 20 0.9% malden district 17 0.8% peabody district 15 0.7% haverhill district 12 0.6% northern berkshire district 12 0.6% waltham district 12 0.6% brockton district 11 0.5% newburyport district 11 0.5% chelsea district 9 0.4% wrentham district 9 0.4% salem district 8 0.4% somerville district 8 0.4% attleboro district 6 0.3% bmc east boston 6 0.3% barnstable district 5 0.2% dedham district 5 0.2% lowell district 5 0.2% milford district 5 0.2% new bedford district 5 0.2% newton district 5 0.2% palmer district 5 0.2% woburn district 5 0.2% bmc west roxbury 4 0.2% fallmouth district 4 0.2% lawrence district 4 0.2% nantucket district 4 0.2% southern berkshire district 4 0.2% brookline district 3 0.1% cambridge district 3 0.1% framingham district 3 0.1% stoughton district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% westfield district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% orleans district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% uxbridge district 2 0.1% worcester district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% bmc south boston 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1374 5 Natural Person 785 2154 Total 2159 2159 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 63.6% 0.2% Natural Person 36.4% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1363 11 1374 Optional 471 314 785 Total 1834 325 2159 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 63.1% 0.5% 63.6% Optional 21.8% 14.5% 36.4% Total 84.9% 15.1% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0 5 5 Optional 184 1970 2154 Total 184 1975 2159 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 8.5% 91.2% 99.8% Total 8.5% 91.5% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 104 4.8% 1 1486 68.8% 2 462 21.4% 3 70 3.2% 4 30 1.4% 5 3 0.1% 6 4 0.2% Total 2159 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 1143 52.9% No Fault 492 22.8% Cause 491 22.7% Foreclosure 32 1.5% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Mount Washington 598 1 Florence 421 4 West Wareham 138 3 North Adams 116 16 Chilmark 115 1 Becket 112 2 Hinsdale 98 2 Pittsfield 98 44 New Bedford 94 90 Malden 89 53 Fall River 87 78 Lee 84 5 Springfield 82 126 Rockland 80 14 Webster 77 13 Chester 74 1 Gardner 74 15 North Falmouth 74 2 Amesbury 73 12 Marlborough 72 28 South Egremont 72 1 Norwood 69 20 Chelsea 68 24 Chicopee 68 38 Nantucket 68 7 Three Rivers 68 2 Provincetown 67 2 Brockton 65 61 Haverhill 65 40 Worcester 64 117 Dennis Port 63 2 Holyoke 62 25 Waltham 62 38 South Lancaster 61 1 Lawrence 60 46 Foxborough 59 10 Phillipston 59 1 Lynn 58 53 Warren 58 3 Roslindale 55 16 Mattapan 54 20 Sunderland 54 2 Wales 54 1 Braintree 53 19 Southbridge 53 9 Lowell 52 56 Revere 52 27 Williamstown 51 4 Swampscott 50 7 Fitchburg 49 20 Dorchester 48 45 South Deerfield 48 1 Turners Falls 48 2 Belchertown 47 7 Hyde Park 47 16 West Dennis 45 1 North Oxford 44 1 Peabody 44 23 North Chelmsford 43 4 Randolph 43 14 Framingham 42 29 Hyannis 42 6 North Brookfield 42 2 Taunton 41 23 Whitman 41 6 Everett 40 17 Marion 40 2 Ware 40 4 East Boston 39 16 Woburn 39 15 West Springfield 38 11 Beverly 37 15 Bridgewater 37 10 Jamaica Plain 37 14 North Billerica 37 4 Quincy 36 34 Salem 36 15 Salisbury 36 3 Seekonk 36 5 West Tisbury 36 1 Adams 35 3 Northborough 35 5 Athol 34 4 Cambridge 34 36 South Yarmouth 34 4 Stoughton 33 9 Townsend 33 3 Northfield 32 1 Brighton 31 14 Gloucester 31 9 Cheshire 30 1 Millbury 30 4 Sheffield 30 1 Charlestown 29 5 Clinton 29 4 Hull 29 3 Princeton 29 1 Essex 28 1 Great Barrington 28 2 Ludlow 28 6 Norwell 28 3 Whitinsville 28 2 Attleborough 27 12 Brimfield 27 1 Dorchester Center 27 25 Methuen 27 13 West Brookfield 27 1 Ayer 26 2 Carver 26 3 Dudley 26 3 Halifax 26 2 Leominster 26 11 Saugus 26 7 Tyngsborough 26 3 Roxbury 25 15 Rutland 25 2 Spencer 25 3 Westport 25 4 Andover 24 8 Edgartown 24 1 Natick 24 8 Wakefield 24 6 Allston 23 7 North Dighton 23 1 Forestdale 22 1 Greenfield 22 4 Littleton 22 2 Oak Bluffs 22 1 South Hadley 22 4 Winthrop 22 4 Mashpee 21 3 North Andover 21 6 Northampton 21 6 Eastham 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Paxton 20 1 South Boston 20 7 Hadley 19 1 Indian Orchard 19 2 Lenox 19 1 Newtonville 19 1 Winchendon 19 2 Abington 18 3 Auburn 18 3 Cherry Valley 18 2 Danvers 18 5 Easthampton 18 3 Holbrook 18 2 Somerville 18 14 Swansea 18 3 West Yarmouth 18 1 East Falmouth 17 1 Feeding Hills 17 2 Lynnfield 17 2 North Attleborough 17 5 Sharon 17 3 Southampton 17 1 Westfield 17 7 Grafton 16 3 Medford 16 9 Walpole 16 4 West Roxbury 16 5 Weymouth 16 9 Bedford 15 2 Charlton 15 2 East Taunton 15 1 Hudson 15 3 Merrimac 15 1 Hanover 14 2 Milford 14 4 Plymouth 14 8 South Weymouth 14 8 Uxbridge 14 2 West Newton 14 2 Acton 13 3 Canton 13 3 Hingham 13 3 Tewksbury 13 4 Wareham 13 3 Ashland 12 2 Bellingham 12 2 Dedham 12 3 Franklin 12 4 Middleborough 12 3 Orange 12 1 Plainville 12 1 Watertown 12 4 Arlington 11 5 Chelmsford 11 4 Douglas 11 1 Marshfield 11 3 Milton 11 3 Monson 11 1 Pembroke 11 2 Somerset 11 2 Sudbury 11 2 Amherst 10 4 Auburndale 10 1 Marblehead 10 2 Needham 10 3 Norton 10 2 Sturbridge 10 1 Westborough 10 2 E. Boston 9 4 East Weymouth 9 5 Lakeville 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Lexington 9 3 South Easton 9 1 Westford 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Burlington 8 2 Medfield 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Palmer 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Reading 8 2 Roxbury Crossing 8 5 Shrewsbury 8 3 Agawam 7 2 Billerica 7 3 Ipswich 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Raynham 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Northbridge 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Boston 5 34 Brookline 5 3 Concord 5 1 Belmont 4 1 East Wareham 4 1 Mansfield 4 1 Onset 4 1 Dracut 3 1 Melrose 3 1 Barnstable 2 1 Newton 2 2 South Dartmouth 2 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 (not given) 0 26 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 514 83 Hampden 320 228 Plymouth 317 137 Bristol 284 234 Essex 244 269 Worcester 224 250 Nantucket 199 7 Norfolk 190 162 Hampshire 184 34 Middlesex 164 383 Suffolk 153 303 Barnstable 129 25 Franklin 104 11 Dukes 97 4 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 1826 84.6% Ongoing/Error 333 15.4% 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 645 35.3% Dismissed 585 32.0% Defaulted 488 26.7% Heard 108 5.9% Other 0 0.0% Total 1826 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 88 114 135 39 0 Foreclosure 5 9 15 1 0 No Fault 124 74 243 21 0 Non-payment 368 291 252 46 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.8% 6.2% 7.4% 2.1% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.3% 0.5% 0.8% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 6.8% 4.1% 13.3% 1.2% 0.0% Non-payment 20.2% 15.9% 13.8% 2.5% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. 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 550 30.1% 25.5% Judgment inferred 125 6.8% 5.8% No judgment 1151 63.0% 53.3% Total 1826 100.0% 31.3% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 116 6.4% 0 55,000 2,865 6,817 332,427 Foreclosure 9 0.5% 221 275 239 15 2,157 No fault 119 6.5% 0 35,335 3,858 5,294 459,182 Non-payment 305 16.7% 0 41,094 8,407 7,705 2,564,136 Unknown/Other 1 0.1% 64,000 64,000 64,000 0 64,000 Subtotal 550 30.1% 0 64,000 6,221 7,853 3,421,902 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 50 2.7% 50 20,183 4,888 5,381 244,434 Defaulted 239 13.1% 0 41,094 7,158 8,065 1,710,836 Mediated 232 12.7% 0 55,000 5,491 7,290 1,273,971 Heard 29 1.6% 0 64,000 6,643 11,990 192,659 Subtotal 550 30.1% 0 64,000 6,221 7,853 3,421,902 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 9 1.3% 0.5% 0.4% plaintiff 596 88.3% 32.6% 27.6% unknown 70 10.4% 3.8% 3.2% Total 675 100.0% 37.0% 31.3% Judgments All Cases: Count: 550 Range: 0.000 - 64000.000; Mean: 6221.642; Median: 3468.845; Stddev: 7861.082 Percentiles: 90th: 15992.640; 95th: 21408.350; 99th: 35335.850 0.000 - 103.426: 1 | 103.426 - 212.068: 51 ######################### 212.068 - 433.737: 61 ############################## 433.737 - 886.023: 17 ######## 886.023 - 1808.854: 39 ################### 1808.854 - 3691.769: 78 ###################################### 3691.769 - 7533.611: 109 ##################################################### 7533.611 - 15372.384: 99 ################################################ 15372.384 - 31366.370: 54 ########################## 31366.370 - 64000.000: 8 #### Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 116 Range: 0.000 - 55000.000; Mean: 2865.752; Median: 223.180; Stddev: 6847.245 Percentiles: 90th: 9242.520; 95th: 12103.290; 99th: 25848.560 0.000 - 101.855: 1 ## 101.855 - 205.707: 21 #################################### 205.707 - 414.414: 31 ##################################################### 414.414 - 833.850: 2 ### 833.850 - 1676.782: 4 ####### 1676.782 - 3370.805: 9 ############### 3370.805 - 6775.251: 5 ######### 6775.251 - 13617.100: 13 ###################### 13617.100 - 27367.031: 4 ####### 27367.031 - 55000.000: 1 ## Foreclosure: Count: 9 Range: 221.640 - 275.590; Mean: 239.683; Median: 233.140; Stddev: 16.416 Percentiles: 90th: 275.590; 95th: 275.590; 99th: 275.590 221.640 - 226.524: 1 ################## 226.524 - 231.514: 1 ################## 231.514 - 236.615: 3 ##################################################### 236.615 - 241.827: 1 ################## 241.827 - 247.153: 1 ################## 247.153 - 258.159: 1 ################## 258.159 - 275.590: 1 ################## No Fault: Count: 119 Range: 0.000 - 35335.850; Mean: 3858.676; Median: 2073.180; Stddev: 5316.754 Percentiles: 90th: 9010.000; 95th: 14180.370; 99th: 24599.370 0.000 - 243.974: 34 ##################################################### 243.974 - 424.619: 3 ##### 424.619 - 738.472: 4 ###### 738.472 - 1283.762: 1 ## 1283.762 - 2231.150: 12 ################### 2231.150 - 3877.148: 17 ########################### 3877.148 - 6736.910: 18 ############################ 6736.910 - 11705.474: 17 ########################### 11705.474 - 20337.877: 5 ######## 20337.877 - 35335.850: 2 ### Non-payment: Count: 305 Range: 0.000 - 41094.880; Mean: 8407.004; Median: 5884.000; Stddev: 7718.553 Percentiles: 90th: 18889.250; 95th: 24311.420; 99th: 34052.080 0.000 - 314.789: 13 ############ 314.789 - 541.414: 4 #### 541.414 - 930.674: 8 ######## 930.674 - 1599.286: 17 ################ 1599.286 - 2747.723: 34 ################################ 2747.723 - 4720.331: 52 ################################################# 4720.331 - 8108.571: 56 ##################################################### 8108.571 - 13928.366: 54 ################################################### 13928.366 - 23924.709: 48 ############################################# 23924.709 - 41094.880: 17 ################ Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 50 Range: 50.180 - 20183.500; Mean: 4888.698; Median: 2687.735; Stddev: 5436.464 Percentiles: 90th: 14319.470; 95th: 17332.020; 99th: 20183.500 50.180 - 92.045: 1 ##### 92.045 - 168.155: 2 ########### 168.155 - 306.522: 7 ##################################### 306.522 - 558.072: 1 ##### 558.072 - 1015.387: 3 ################ 1015.387 - 1846.783: 5 ########################### 1846.783 - 3358.253: 10 ##################################################### 3358.253 - 6106.092: 6 ################################ 6106.092 - 11101.639: 7 ##################################### 11101.639 - 20183.500: 8 ########################################## Defaulted: Count: 239 Range: 0.000 - 41094.880; Mean: 7158.313; Median: 4960.290; Stddev: 8082.901 Percentiles: 90th: 18817.490; 95th: 25476.440; 99th: 38092.760 0.000 - 252.300: 43 ########################################### 252.300 - 444.870: 2 ## 444.870 - 783.842: 4 #### 783.842 - 1380.516: 9 ######### 1380.516 - 2430.809: 16 ################ 2430.809 - 4279.587: 24 ######################## 4279.587 - 7533.892: 53 ##################################################### 7533.892 - 13262.275: 39 ####################################### 13262.275 - 23345.648: 25 ######################### 23345.648 - 41094.880: 15 ############### Mediated: Count: 232 Range: 0.000 - 55000.000; Mean: 5491.258; Median: 2847.760; Stddev: 7306.612 Percentiles: 90th: 14714.460; 95th: 19783.850; 99th: 31628.390 0.000 - 291.149: 48 ##################################################### 291.149 - 521.825: 7 ######## 521.825 - 934.639: 9 ########## 934.639 - 1673.404: 15 ################# 1673.404 - 2995.483: 24 ########################### 2995.483 - 5361.455: 37 ######################################### 5361.455 - 9595.555: 30 ################################# 9595.555 - 17172.828: 28 ############################### 17172.828 - 30732.983: 15 ################# 30732.983 - 55000.000: 3 ### Heard: Count: 29 Range: 0.000 - 64000.000; Mean: 6643.432; Median: 3111.720; Stddev: 12202.266 Percentiles: 90th: 14657.950; 95th: 15401.030; 99th: 64000.000 0.000 - 366.691: 4 ################################### 366.691 - 2051.977: 1 ######### 2051.977 - 3641.094: 2 ################## 3641.094 - 6460.275: 6 ##################################################### 6460.275 - 11461.659: 3 ########################### 11461.659 - 20334.390: 4 ################################### 20334.390 - 64000.000: 1 ######### Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. 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 594 88.0% 32.5% 27.5% Issued 487 72.1% 26.7% 22.6% Levied 125 18.5% 6.8% 5.8% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 23 18.4% 3.4% 1.3% 1.1% Foreclosure 6 4.8% 0.9% 0.3% 0.3% No Fault 30 24.0% 4.4% 1.6% 1.4% Non-payment 66 52.8% 9.8% 3.6% 3.1% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 125 100.0% 18.5% 6.8% 5.8% 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 12 9.6% 1.8% 0.7% 0.6% Defaulted 53 42.4% 7.9% 2.9% 2.5% Mediated 58 46.4% 8.6% 3.2% 2.7% Heard 2 1.6% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 125 100.0% 18.5% 6.8% 5.8% 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 6 32 18.8% No Fault 30 492 6.1% Non-payment 66 1143 5.8% Cause 23 491 4.7% Unknown/Other 0 1 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 53 488 10.9% Mediated 58 645 9.0% Dismissed 12 585 2.1% Heard 2 108 1.9% Other 0 0 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 2 563 94 98 Non-payment 0 534 84 75 No Fault 2 577 95 102 Foreclosure 0 579 140 175 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 579 90 90 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 534 83 85 Defaulted 18 563 80 67 Mediated 0 579 105 105 Heard 2 430 82 97 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 579 90 90 All Cases: Count: 1826 Range: 0.000 - 579.000; Mean: 90.382; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 90.413 Percentiles: 90th: 188.000; 95th: 288.000; 99th: 504.000 0.000 - 2.526: 12 # 2.526 - 5.216: 13 # 5.216 - 9.958: 14 # 9.958 - 18.319: 51 ##### 18.319 - 33.059: 261 ########################## 33.059 - 59.044: 533 ##################################################### 59.044 - 104.854: 508 ################################################### 104.854 - 185.616: 245 ######################## 185.616 - 327.994: 120 ############ 327.994 - 579.000: 67 ####### By Reason Cause: Count: 376 Range: 2.000 - 563.000; Mean: 94.654; Median: 59.000; Stddev: 98.501 Percentiles: 90th: 196.000; 95th: 321.000; 99th: 533.000 2.000 - 4.065: 8 #### 4.065 - 13.433: 1 | 13.433 - 23.366: 19 ######### 23.366 - 40.134: 71 ################################## 40.134 - 68.441: 112 ##################################################### 68.441 - 116.228: 82 ####################################### 116.228 - 196.901: 46 ###################### 196.901 - 333.090: 20 ######### 333.090 - 563.000: 17 ######## Non-payment: Count: 957 Range: 0.000 - 534.000; Mean: 84.247; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 75.063 Percentiles: 90th: 170.000; 95th: 254.000; 99th: 365.000 0.000 - 2.498: 4 # 2.498 - 5.116: 5 # 5.116 - 9.696: 12 ## 9.696 - 17.705: 21 #### 17.705 - 31.711: 134 ####################### 31.711 - 56.204: 233 ####################################### 56.204 - 99.036: 314 ##################################################### 99.036 - 173.940: 143 ######################## 173.940 - 304.930: 65 ########### 304.930 - 534.000: 25 #### No Fault: Count: 462 Range: 2.000 - 577.000; Mean: 95.799; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 102.083 Percentiles: 90th: 212.000; 95th: 336.000; 99th: 525.000 2.000 - 4.077: 8 #### 4.077 - 13.540: 2 # 13.540 - 23.606: 21 ######### 23.606 - 40.641: 111 ################################################# 40.641 - 69.470: 109 ################################################ 69.470 - 118.258: 120 ##################################################### 118.258 - 200.821: 40 ################## 200.821 - 340.544: 31 ############## 340.544 - 577.000: 20 ######### Foreclosure: Count: 30 Range: 0.000 - 579.000; Mean: 140.933; Median: 59.500; Stddev: 175.726 Percentiles: 90th: 397.000; 95th: 577.000; 99th: 579.000 0.000 - 20.618: 1 ########### 20.618 - 30.157: 5 ##################################################### 30.157 - 43.905: 5 ##################################################### 43.905 - 63.718: 5 ##################################################### 63.718 - 92.274: 3 ################################ 92.274 - 133.429: 1 ########### 133.429 - 192.743: 1 ########### 192.743 - 278.229: 3 ################################ 278.229 - 401.434: 2 ##################### 401.434 - 579.000: 3 ################################ By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 585 Range: 1.000 - 534.000; Mean: 83.265; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 85.926 Percentiles: 90th: 161.000; 95th: 268.000; 99th: 497.000 1.000 - 2.498: 5 ## 2.498 - 5.116: 5 ## 5.116 - 9.696: 13 #### 9.696 - 17.705: 22 ####### 17.705 - 31.711: 91 ############################# 31.711 - 56.204: 144 ############################################## 56.204 - 99.036: 165 ##################################################### 99.036 - 173.940: 90 ############################# 173.940 - 304.930: 26 ######## 304.930 - 534.000: 24 ######## Defaulted: Count: 488 Range: 18.000 - 563.000; Mean: 80.922; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 67.353 Percentiles: 90th: 143.000; 95th: 196.000; 99th: 397.000 18.000 - 25.669: 29 ############# 25.669 - 36.433: 57 ########################### 36.433 - 51.543: 97 ############################################# 51.543 - 72.750: 101 ############################################### 72.750 - 102.518: 114 ##################################################### 102.518 - 144.301: 42 #################### 144.301 - 202.949: 25 ############ 202.949 - 285.269: 13 ###### 285.269 - 400.815: 6 ### 400.815 - 563.000: 4 ## Mediated: Count: 645 Range: 0.000 - 579.000; Mean: 105.389; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 105.457 Percentiles: 90th: 249.000; 95th: 323.000; 99th: 547.000 0.000 - 5.580: 1 | 5.580 - 16.802: 6 ## 16.802 - 28.282: 61 #################### 28.282 - 47.166: 136 ############################################ 47.166 - 78.228: 163 ##################################################### 78.228 - 129.322: 131 ########################################### 129.322 - 213.365: 65 ##################### 213.365 - 351.607: 55 ################## 351.607 - 579.000: 25 ######## Heard: Count: 108 Range: 2.000 - 430.000; Mean: 82.056; Median: 42.000; Stddev: 97.117 Percentiles: 90th: 246.000; 95th: 337.000; 99th: 417.000 2.000 - 3.930: 13 ################### 3.930 - 7.102: 1 # 7.102 - 12.315: 1 # 12.315 - 20.881: 4 ###### 20.881 - 34.958: 12 ################## 34.958 - 58.093: 36 ##################################################### 58.093 - 96.111: 16 ######################## 96.111 - 158.590: 8 ############ 158.590 - 261.266: 7 ########## 261.266 - 430.000: 10 ############### -- 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/.