Outcomes for February 2023

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: 2023-02-01 Search Period End: 2023-02-28 Earliest Case: 2023-02-01 Latest Case: 2023-02-28 Total Cases: 3208 Total Transfers: 72 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 23.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 45.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Florence Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 118 Housing crisis baseline max cases per day (UCL): 130 Housing crisis baseline min cases per day (LCL): 44 The number of filings this period is not statistically different from the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent eastern 514 16.0% northeast 514 16.0% western 514 16.0% central 464 14.5% southeast 400 12.5% metro_south 302 9.4% lawrence district 42 1.3% malden district 41 1.3% quincy district 41 1.3% lowell district 31 1.0% lynn district 28 0.9% brockton district 22 0.7% somerville district 22 0.7% fall river district 19 0.6% framingham district 17 0.5% chicopee district 16 0.5% chelsea district 13 0.4% bmc west roxbury 12 0.4% new bedford district 12 0.4% northern berkshire district 12 0.4% springfield district 12 0.4% cambridge district 11 0.3% dedham district 11 0.3% worcester district 11 0.3% attleboro district 10 0.3% pittsfield district 10 0.3% haverhill district 9 0.3% peabody district 9 0.3% waltham district 9 0.3% bmc roxbury 7 0.2% salem district 7 0.2% woburn district 6 0.2% barnstable district 5 0.2% concord district 5 0.2% fallmouth district 5 0.2% newton district 4 0.1% bmc east boston 3 0.1% holyoke district 3 0.1% newburyport district 3 0.1% orleans district 3 0.1% stoughton district 3 0.1% wrentham district 3 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% bmc dorchester 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% milford district 2 0.1% palmer district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2451 5 Natural Person 757 3203 Total 3208 3208 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 76.4% 0.2% Natural Person 23.6% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2431 20 2451 Optional 412 345 757 Total 2843 365 3208 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 75.8% 0.6% 76.4% Optional 12.8% 10.8% 23.6% Total 88.6% 11.4% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 3 2 5 Optional 157 3046 3203 Total 160 3048 3208 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 4.9% 95.0% 99.8% Total 5.0% 95.0% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 106 3.3% 1 2231 69.5% 2 709 22.1% 3 120 3.7% 4 28 0.9% 5 14 0.4% Total 3208 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 2328 72.6% Cause 481 15.0% No Fault 374 11.7% Foreclosure 24 0.7% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 1371 13 Gilbertville 173 2 Springfield 159 244 Stoughton 155 42 New Bedford 147 140 Nahant 146 5 Thorndike 144 1 Haverhill 134 82 Marlborough 132 51 Turners Falls 121 5 Fall River 117 104 Holyoke 117 47 East Sandwich 115 4 Harwich Port 115 2 Northampton 115 33 Dedham 109 27 Mattapan 109 40 Lawrence 107 82 Dorchester 102 94 Three Rivers 102 3 Southbridge 101 17 Brockton 98 92 Leeds 98 1 Chicopee 97 54 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Gardner 93 19 Hyannis 92 13 Lowell 91 97 Worcester 90 163 Fitchburg 89 36 Orange 89 7 Chelsea 88 31 South Easton 88 9 Buzzards Bay 87 3 Athol 86 10 Framingham 84 58 North Billerica 84 9 West Springfield 84 24 Roxbury 83 50 Lynn 81 74 South Dennis 81 3 North Adams 80 11 Norwood 80 23 Indian Orchard 79 8 Revere 77 40 Quincy 74 69 Pittsfield 73 33 Berlin 69 2 East Falmouth 69 4 Malden 68 41 Seekonk 65 9 Waltham 62 38 Cheshire 61 2 Douglas 59 5 Clarksburg 58 1 Greenfield 57 10 Newtonville 57 3 Rockland 57 10 Shirley 55 4 East Wareham 54 12 Sunderland 54 2 Wales 54 1 Beverly 53 21 Leominster 53 22 Baldwinville 52 1 Raynham 52 7 Canton 51 11 Clinton 51 7 Newton Center 51 2 Salem 50 21 Ware 50 5 Westborough 49 9 Plainville 48 4 South Deerfield 48 1 Taunton 48 27 Adams 47 4 Lincoln 47 3 North Dighton 47 2 Randolph 46 15 West Wareham 46 1 Everett 45 19 Allston 44 13 Dorchester Center 44 41 Littleton 44 4 Roslindale 44 13 Hanover 43 6 Westfield 43 18 Billerica 42 17 Peabody 42 22 Palmer 41 5 Cambridge 40 43 Milford 39 11 Woburn 39 15 Yarmouth Port 39 2 North Andover 38 11 North Attleborough 38 11 South Boston 38 13 Williamstown 38 3 Abington 37 6 Bridgewater 37 10 Dracut 37 11 Jamaica Plain 37 14 Millbury 37 5 West Yarmouth 37 2 Andover 36 12 Bellingham 36 6 Hudson 36 7 Natick 36 12 Salisbury 36 3 Wellfleet 36 1 Foxborough 35 6 Medford 35 20 Northborough 35 5 Plympton 35 1 Somerville 35 27 Tyngsborough 35 4 Mendon 34 2 Middleborough 34 8 Provincetown 33 1 Ashburnham 32 2 Attleborough 32 14 Burlington 32 8 Hyde Park 32 11 Northfield 32 1 East Taunton 31 2 Easthampton 31 5 Braintree 30 11 Cotuit 30 1 Saugus 30 8 Webster 29 5 Great Barrington 28 2 Jefferson 28 1 Ludlow 28 6 Whitinsville 28 2 Acton 27 6 Brimfield 27 1 Gloucester 27 8 Marshfield 27 7 Methuen 27 13 Dudley 26 3 Brookline 25 15 Northbridge 25 4 Shrewsbury 25 9 Amesbury 24 4 Belmont 24 6 Plymouth 24 14 Kingston 23 3 Roxbury Crossing 23 14 Avon 22 1 Bedford 22 3 Melrose 22 6 South Hadley 22 4 Uxbridge 22 3 Weymouth 22 12 Mansfield 21 5 Boxborough 20 1 East Freetown 20 1 East Weymouth 20 11 Hopkinton 20 3 Marstons Mills 20 1 Walpole 20 5 Westwood 20 3 Whitman 20 3 East Boston 19 8 Maynard 19 2 Warren 19 1 Winchendon 19 2 Barre 18 1 Danvers 18 5 Hingham 18 4 Watertown 18 6 Carver 17 2 Chelmsford 17 6 Pepperell 17 2 Tewksbury 17 5 Granby 16 1 Lee 16 1 Orleans 16 1 Topsfield 16 1 Charlton 15 2 Ipswich 15 2 Merrimac 15 1 Stow 15 1 Dalton 14 1 Mashpee 14 2 Amherst 13 5 Ayer 13 1 Cohasset 13 1 Needham 13 4 North Reading 13 2 Stoneham 13 3 Wareham 13 3 West Roxbury 13 4 East Templeton 12 1 Fairhaven 12 2 Franklin 12 4 Hamilton 12 1 Millis 12 1 Rutland 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Wakefield 12 3 Blackstone 11 1 Brighton 11 5 Charlestown 11 2 Newburyport 11 2 Sharon 11 2 Winthrop 11 2 Agawam 10 3 Auburndale 10 1 Boston 10 64 Brewster 10 1 Marblehead 10 2 North Chelmsford 10 1 Norton 10 2 Southborough 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Arlington 9 4 Hanson 9 1 Holbrook 9 1 Hull 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Feeding Hills 8 1 Lynnfield 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Reading 8 2 Spencer 8 1 Wilmington 8 2 Centerville 7 1 Holliston 7 1 North Easton 7 1 North Uxbridge 7 1 Oxford 7 1 Swampscott 7 1 Ashland 6 1 Auburn 6 1 Belchertown 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 Swansea 6 1 Grafton 5 1 South Weymouth 5 3 E. Boston 4 2 Newton Highlands 4 4 Sandwich 4 1 Westford 4 1 Yarmouth 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Lexington 3 1 Milton 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Newton 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 11 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 588 418 Plymouth 428 185 Bristol 412 339 Hampshire 369 68 Berkshire 359 58 Essex 348 383 Norfolk 332 283 Worcester 325 362 Franklin 246 26 Middlesex 243 568 Barnstable 238 46 Suffolk 233 461 Dukes 0 0 Nantucket 0 0 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 2833 88.3% Ongoing/Error 375 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 Mediated 1092 38.5% Dismissed 1002 35.4% Defaulted 635 22.4% Heard 104 3.7% Other 0 0.0% Total 2833 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 118 81 161 21 0 Foreclosure 5 10 6 1 0 No Fault 86 76 194 5 0 Non-payment 793 468 731 77 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.2% 2.9% 5.7% 0.7% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.4% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 3.0% 2.7% 6.8% 0.2% 0.0% Non-payment 28.0% 16.5% 25.8% 2.7% 0.0% 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 1345 47.5% 41.9% Judgment inferred 280 9.9% 8.7% No judgment 1208 42.6% 37.7% Total 2833 100.0% 50.7% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 168 5.9% 0 41,639 3,340 6,267 561,123 Foreclosure 11 0.4% 0 326 215 75 2,367 No fault 160 5.6% 0 35,718 4,561 6,056 729,871 Non-payment 1006 35.5% 0 155,686 7,947 9,516 7,995,203 Subtotal 1345 47.5% 0 155,686 6,905 8,967 9,288,565 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 120 4.2% 0 35,759 4,183 4,920 502,057 Defaulted 580 20.5% 0 155,686 7,147 9,984 4,145,553 Mediated 605 21.4% 0 94,420 7,138 8,491 4,318,509 Heard 40 1.4% 0 31,783 8,061 8,379 322,444 Subtotal 1345 47.5% 0 155,686 6,905 8,967 9,288,565 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 8 0.5% 0.3% 0.2% plaintiff 1418 87.3% 50.1% 44.2% unknown 199 12.2% 7.0% 6.2% Total 1625 100.0% 57.4% 50.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1345 Range: 0.000 - 155686.920; Mean: 6905.996; Median: 4260.000; Stddev: 8971.260 Percentiles: 90th: 16032.250; 95th: 21972.150; 99th: 33299.310 0.000 - 283.134: 160 ############################# 283.134 - 571.567: 26 ##### 571.567 - 1152.798: 57 ########## 1152.798 - 2324.056: 152 ############################ 2324.056 - 4684.296: 288 ##################################################### 4684.296 - 9440.491: 284 #################################################### 9440.491 - 19024.855: 243 ############################################# 19024.855 - 38338.616: 91 ################# 38338.616 - 77258.401: 5 # 77258.401 - 155686.920: 3 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 168 Range: 0.000 - 41639.690; Mean: 3340.021; Median: 262.775; Stddev: 6286.181 Percentiles: 90th: 10500.000; 95th: 14202.380; 99th: 33299.310 0.000 - 314.927: 71 ##################################################### 314.927 - 542.418: 2 # 542.418 - 933.721: 3 ## 933.721 - 1606.793: 12 ######### 1606.793 - 2764.528: 16 ############ 2764.528 - 4755.922: 9 ####### 4755.922 - 8181.274: 17 ############# 8181.274 - 14073.144: 12 ######### 14073.144 - 24207.615: 5 #### 24207.615 - 41639.690: 4 ### Foreclosure: Count: 11 Range: 0.000 - 326.300; Mean: 215.217; Median: 232.530; Stddev: 78.886 Percentiles: 90th: 252.860; 95th: 326.300; 99th: 326.300 0.000 - 210.043: 2 ########################### 210.043 - 220.588: 1 ############# 220.588 - 231.660: 1 ############# 231.660 - 243.285: 4 ##################################################### 243.285 - 255.490: 1 ############# 255.490 - 326.300: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 160 Range: 0.000 - 35718.910; Mean: 4561.694; Median: 2700.440; Stddev: 6075.350 Percentiles: 90th: 11100.000; 95th: 15951.920; 99th: 28690.390 0.000 - 244.238: 42 ##################################################### 244.238 - 425.538: 8 ########## 425.538 - 740.868: 3 #### 740.868 - 2243.216: 14 ################## 2243.216 - 3902.317: 23 ############################# 3902.317 - 6787.956: 22 ############################ 6787.956 - 11806.885: 25 ################################ 11806.885 - 20536.200: 9 ########### 20536.200 - 35718.910: 5 ###### Non-payment: Count: 1006 Range: 0.000 - 155686.920; Mean: 7947.518; Median: 5126.650; Stddev: 9520.994 Percentiles: 90th: 17520.590; 95th: 23092.550; 99th: 33428.060 0.000 - 359.886: 39 ######## 359.886 - 707.166: 22 ##### 707.166 - 1388.633: 62 ############# 1388.633 - 2725.875: 135 ############################# 2725.875 - 5349.941: 248 ##################################################### 5349.941 - 10499.140: 227 ################################################# 10499.140 - 20603.403: 196 ########################################## 20603.403 - 40430.979: 61 ############# 40430.979 - 79338.591: 5 # 79338.591 - 155686.920: 2 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 120 Range: 0.000 - 35759.430; Mean: 4183.813; Median: 2908.850; Stddev: 4940.721 Percentiles: 90th: 8840.000; 95th: 11024.200; 99th: 23670.640 0.000 - 317.128: 14 ################################ 317.128 - 536.611: 6 ############## 536.611 - 907.522: 8 ################## 907.522 - 1534.331: 7 ################ 1534.331 - 2593.591: 22 ################################################### 2593.591 - 4383.657: 22 ################################################### 4383.657 - 7408.730: 23 ##################################################### 7408.730 - 12520.870: 11 ######################### 12520.870 - 21159.989: 4 ######### 21159.989 - 35759.430: 2 ##### Defaulted: Count: 580 Range: 0.000 - 155686.920; Mean: 7147.506; Median: 4480.330; Stddev: 9993.320 Percentiles: 90th: 15969.370; 95th: 22632.120; 99th: 31982.680 0.000 - 284.058: 89 ####################################### 284.058 - 573.223: 5 ## 573.223 - 1155.718: 19 ######## 1155.718 - 2329.098: 58 ########################## 2329.098 - 4692.762: 120 ##################################################### 4692.762 - 9454.136: 117 #################################################### 9454.136 - 19045.474: 113 ################################################## 19045.474 - 38366.311: 43 ################### 38366.311 - 77286.300: 1 | 77286.300 - 155686.920: 2 # Mediated: Count: 605 Range: 0.000 - 94420.640; Mean: 7138.033; Median: 4445.830; Stddev: 8498.572 Percentiles: 90th: 16652.670; 95th: 22082.000; 99th: 35718.910 0.000 - 269.274: 53 ###################### 269.274 - 517.071: 12 ##### 517.071 - 992.059: 20 ######## 992.059 - 1902.532: 57 ####################### 1902.532 - 3647.760: 104 ########################################## 3647.760 - 6993.080: 130 ##################################################### 6993.080 - 13405.512: 110 ############################################# 13405.512 - 25697.102: 84 ################################## 25697.102 - 49258.080: 15 ###### 49258.080 - 94420.640: 3 # Heard: Count: 40 Range: 0.000 - 31783.170; Mean: 8061.101; Median: 7404.710; Stddev: 8486.701 Percentiles: 90th: 20442.510; 95th: 27998.150; 99th: 31783.170 0.000 - 344.186: 4 ################## 344.186 - 942.046: 1 #### 942.046 - 1557.736: 1 #### 1557.736 - 2575.394: 3 ############# 2575.394 - 4257.454: 3 ############# 4257.454 - 7037.688: 2 ######### 7037.688 - 11633.064: 12 ##################################################### 11633.064 - 19228.640: 4 ################## 19228.640 - 31783.170: 5 ###################### 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 1288 79.3% 45.5% 40.1% Issued 1009 62.1% 35.6% 31.5% Levied 223 13.7% 7.9% 7.0% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 33 14.8% 2.0% 1.2% 1.0% Foreclosure 9 4.0% 0.6% 0.3% 0.3% No Fault 27 12.1% 1.7% 1.0% 0.8% Non-payment 154 69.1% 9.5% 5.4% 4.8% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 223 100.0% 13.7% 7.9% 7.0% 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 9.4% 1.3% 0.7% 0.7% Defaulted 113 50.7% 7.0% 4.0% 3.5% Mediated 87 39.0% 5.4% 3.1% 2.7% Heard 2 0.9% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 223 100.0% 13.7% 7.9% 7.0% 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 9 24 37.5% No Fault 27 374 7.2% Cause 33 481 6.9% Non-payment 154 2328 6.6% 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 113 635 17.8% Mediated 87 1092 8.0% Dismissed 21 1002 2.1% Heard 2 104 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 11 561 90 97 Non-payment 2 561 91 93 No Fault 0 599 88 90 Foreclosure 10 483 109 106 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 599 91 93 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 2 561 74 80 Defaulted 16 556 87 88 Mediated 0 599 106 103 Heard 13 483 108 108 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 599 91 93 All Cases: Count: 2833 Range: 0.000 - 599.000; Mean: 91.058; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 93.922 Percentiles: 90th: 196.000; 95th: 320.000; 99th: 474.000 0.000 - 4.096: 12 # 4.096 - 7.656: 11 # 7.656 - 13.704: 20 # 13.704 - 23.977: 175 ######## 23.977 - 41.426: 406 ################### 41.426 - 71.067: 1135 ##################################################### 71.067 - 121.417: 570 ########################### 121.417 - 206.943: 238 ########### 206.943 - 352.222: 156 ####### 352.222 - 599.000: 109 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 381 Range: 11.000 - 561.000; Mean: 90.378; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 97.629 Percentiles: 90th: 202.000; 95th: 310.000; 99th: 539.000 11.000 - 16.629: 6 ### 16.629 - 24.900: 39 ##################### 24.900 - 37.049: 40 ###################### 37.049 - 54.899: 97 ##################################################### 54.899 - 81.122: 81 ############################################ 81.122 - 119.646: 50 ########################### 119.646 - 176.243: 24 ############# 176.243 - 259.391: 18 ########## 259.391 - 381.543: 13 ####### 381.543 - 561.000: 13 ####### Non-payment: Count: 2069 Range: 2.000 - 561.000; Mean: 91.497; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 93.773 Percentiles: 90th: 196.000; 95th: 325.000; 99th: 474.000 2.000 - 4.063: 12 # 4.063 - 7.544: 10 # 7.544 - 13.418: 16 # 13.418 - 23.331: 123 ######## 23.331 - 40.061: 284 ################### 40.061 - 68.293: 779 ##################################################### 68.293 - 115.937: 439 ############################## 115.937 - 196.339: 201 ############## 196.339 - 332.023: 111 ######## 332.023 - 561.000: 94 ###### No Fault: Count: 361 Range: 0.000 - 599.000; Mean: 88.111; Median: 59.000; Stddev: 90.138 Percentiles: 90th: 165.000; 95th: 275.000; 99th: 472.000 0.000 - 8.509: 1 | 8.509 - 14.071: 2 # 14.071 - 22.886: 12 ##### 22.886 - 36.857: 27 ########## 36.857 - 59.000: 141 ##################################################### 59.000 - 94.094: 90 ################################## 94.094 - 149.713: 43 ################ 149.713 - 237.864: 20 ######## 237.864 - 377.574: 13 ##### 377.574 - 599.000: 11 #### Foreclosure: Count: 22 Range: 10.000 - 483.000; Mean: 109.818; Median: 70.500; Stddev: 106.655 Percentiles: 90th: 226.000; 95th: 269.000; 99th: 483.000 10.000 - 15.060: 1 ######### 15.060 - 48.977: 4 ################################### 48.977 - 71.966: 6 ##################################################### 71.966 - 105.528: 5 ############################################ 105.528 - 154.528: 2 ################## 154.528 - 226.067: 2 ################## 226.067 - 330.513: 1 ######### 330.513 - 483.000: 1 ######### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 1002 Range: 2.000 - 561.000; Mean: 74.184; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 80.302 Percentiles: 90th: 147.000; 95th: 227.000; 99th: 456.000 2.000 - 4.063: 11 ## 4.063 - 7.544: 11 ## 7.544 - 13.418: 18 ### 13.418 - 23.331: 92 ############## 23.331 - 40.061: 208 ################################ 40.061 - 68.293: 349 ##################################################### 68.293 - 115.937: 175 ########################### 115.937 - 196.339: 70 ########### 196.339 - 332.023: 39 ###### 332.023 - 561.000: 29 #### Defaulted: Count: 635 Range: 16.000 - 556.000; Mean: 87.980; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 88.873 Percentiles: 90th: 171.000; 95th: 286.000; 99th: 474.000 16.000 - 23.098: 21 ####### 23.098 - 33.161: 33 ########## 33.161 - 47.425: 168 ##################################################### 47.425 - 67.645: 157 ################################################## 67.645 - 96.309: 125 ####################################### 96.309 - 136.941: 47 ############### 136.941 - 194.539: 27 ######### 194.539 - 276.188: 23 ####### 276.188 - 391.929: 14 #### 391.929 - 556.000: 20 ###### Mediated: Count: 1092 Range: 0.000 - 599.000; Mean: 106.690; Median: 68.000; Stddev: 103.661 Percentiles: 90th: 247.000; 95th: 352.000; 99th: 499.000 0.000 - 5.602: 1 | 5.602 - 16.984: 8 # 16.984 - 28.682: 66 ########## 28.682 - 47.990: 231 #################################### 47.990 - 79.856: 342 ##################################################### 79.856 - 132.452: 214 ################################# 132.452 - 219.259: 101 ################ 219.259 - 362.532: 77 ############ 362.532 - 599.000: 51 ######## Heard: Count: 104 Range: 13.000 - 483.000; Mean: 108.279; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 108.247 Percentiles: 90th: 255.000; 95th: 384.000; 99th: 464.000 13.000 - 18.953: 5 ######### 18.953 - 27.436: 4 ######## 27.436 - 39.527: 11 ##################### 39.527 - 56.758: 16 ############################## 56.758 - 81.316: 28 ##################################################### 81.316 - 116.316: 9 ################# 116.316 - 166.198: 17 ################################ 166.198 - 237.288: 3 ###### 237.288 - 338.605: 4 ######## 338.605 - 483.000: 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/.