Outcomes for June 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: 2023-06-01 Search Period End: 2023-06-30 Earliest Case: 2023-06-01 Latest Case: 2023-06-30 Total Cases: 3014 Total Transfers: 49 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 25.0% Of those, percentage pro se: 45.2% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Holyoke Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 103 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 538 17.9% eastern 534 17.7% western 467 15.5% central 455 15.1% southeast 326 10.8% metro_south 322 10.7% fall river district 30 1.0% lynn district 27 0.9% malden district 27 0.9% quincy district 25 0.8% lowell district 19 0.6% pittsfield district 18 0.6% attleboro district 16 0.5% framingham district 14 0.5% somerville district 14 0.5% springfield district 14 0.5% waltham district 12 0.4% brockton district 11 0.4% northern berkshire district 11 0.4% bmc dorchester 10 0.3% haverhill district 9 0.3% bmc east boston 8 0.3% new bedford district 8 0.3% chelsea district 7 0.2% milford district 7 0.2% woburn district 7 0.2% cambridge district 6 0.2% hingham district 6 0.2% salem district 6 0.2% lawrence district 5 0.2% peabody district 5 0.2% newburyport district 4 0.1% ayer district 3 0.1% brookline district 3 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% orleans district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% barnstable district 2 0.1% bmc west roxbury 2 0.1% chicopee district 2 0.1% dedham district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% uxbridge district 2 0.1% wareham district 2 0.1% wrentham district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.0% bmc central 1 0.0% bmc south boston 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% concord district 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% fallmouth district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% leominster district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2260 3 Natural Person 754 3011 Total 3014 3014 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 75.0% 0.1% Natural Person 25.0% 99.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2227 33 2260 Optional 413 341 754 Total 2640 374 3014 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 73.9% 1.1% 75.0% Optional 13.7% 11.3% 25.0% Total 87.6% 12.4% 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 1 2 3 Optional 182 2829 3011 Total 183 2831 3014 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.1% 0.1% Optional 6.0% 93.9% 99.9% Total 6.1% 93.9% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 115 3.8% 1 2063 68.4% 2 689 22.9% 3 108 3.6% 4 28 0.9% 5 10 0.3% 7 1 0.0% Total 3014 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 2073 68.8% Cause 523 17.4% No Fault 381 12.6% Foreclosure 35 1.2% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 843 8 Holyoke 183 73 Fiskdale 161 5 Millers Falls 155 2 Plainfield 154 1 Indian Orchard 148 15 Springfield 130 199 Fall River 129 115 Randolph 124 40 Dorchester 119 110 Nahant 117 4 Southbridge 113 19 Fitchburg 104 42 North Adams 102 14 Marlborough 101 39 Worcester 99 180 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Chicopee 92 51 Lowell 92 98 Lynn 92 84 Gilbertville 86 1 Greenfield 85 15 North Billerica 84 9 Braintree 83 30 Framingham 83 57 Blandford 81 1 Ware 81 8 Brockton 79 75 Lawrence 79 61 New Bedford 78 75 Hull 77 8 Newton Center 77 3 Saugus 75 20 West Yarmouth 75 4 Raynham 74 10 Chelsea 73 26 Foxborough 71 12 Pittsfield 71 32 Adams 70 6 Haverhill 70 43 East Falmouth 69 4 Whately 66 1 Tewksbury 65 19 Williamstown 64 5 Bridgewater 63 17 Stoughton 63 17 Malden 62 37 Salem 62 26 South Boston 62 21 Taunton 62 35 Norwood 59 17 Yarmouth Port 59 3 Ashfield 57 1 East Sandwich 57 2 Woburn 57 22 Peabody 56 29 Auburn 55 9 Erving 55 1 Whitman 55 8 Mattapan 54 20 Wales 54 1 Roxbury 53 32 Webster 53 9 Baldwinville 52 1 Bedford 52 7 East Boston 51 21 Rockland 51 9 Cambridge 49 52 Hyannis 49 7 Dorchester Center 48 45 Gloucester 48 14 South Deerfield 48 1 Charlestown 47 8 Merrimac 47 3 Leominster 46 19 North Attleborough 45 13 Sharon 45 8 Gardner 44 9 Brighton 43 19 North Brookfield 42 2 West Springfield 42 12 Attleborough 41 18 Palmer 41 5 Westwood 41 6 Ayer 40 3 Everett 38 16 Hadley 38 2 Millis 38 3 Winchendon 38 4 Abington 37 6 Canton 37 8 Lakeville 37 4 Quincy 37 35 Burlington 36 9 East Wareham 36 8 Revere 36 19 Wellfleet 36 1 Douglas 35 3 Mashpee 35 5 North Andover 35 10 Northborough 35 5 West Barnstable 35 1 Athol 34 4 Franklin 34 11 Rowley 34 2 Three Rivers 34 1 Westfield 34 14 Winthrop 34 6 Dracut 33 10 Hopedale 33 2 Littleton 33 3 Provincetown 33 1 Ashburnham 32 2 Hyde Park 32 11 Medford 32 18 Milford 32 9 Northfield 32 1 Westborough 32 6 Berkley 31 2 Dennis Port 31 1 East Taunton 31 2 Northbridge 31 5 Waltham 31 19 Cotuit 30 1 Millbury 30 4 Brookfield 29 1 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Jamaica Plain 29 11 Nantucket 29 3 North Hatfield 29 1 Princeton 29 1 Agawam 28 8 Great Barrington 28 2 Osterville 28 1 Whitinsville 28 2 Holbrook 27 3 Methuen 27 13 Needham 27 8 Sagamore Beach 27 1 Shirley 27 2 Somerville 27 21 Sunderland 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Weymouth 27 15 Chelmsford 26 9 Cohasset 26 2 Tyngsborough 26 3 West Boylston 26 2 West Roxbury 26 8 Beverly 25 10 Feeding Hills 25 3 Mansfield 25 6 Melrose 25 7 Orange 25 2 Spencer 25 3 Amesbury 24 4 Andover 24 8 Edgartown 24 1 Salisbury 24 2 Turners Falls 24 1 Walpole 24 6 Brookline 23 14 West Newbury 23 1 Avon 22 1 Forestdale 22 1 Oak Bluffs 22 1 South Grafton 22 1 Sutton 22 2 Belchertown 20 3 Bolton 20 1 East Freetown 20 1 East Weymouth 20 11 Eastham 20 1 Marion 20 1 Reading 20 5 Lenox 19 1 Maynard 19 2 Warren 19 1 Easthampton 18 3 Ludlow 18 4 Westford 18 4 Allston 17 5 Carver 17 2 Dudley 17 2 Lynnfield 17 2 Pepperell 17 2 South Hadley 17 3 Chatham 16 1 Grafton 16 3 Harwich 16 2 Lee 16 1 Wakefield 16 4 Ipswich 15 2 Marshfield 15 4 Watertown 15 5 Arlington 14 6 Billerica 14 6 Boston 14 91 Centerville 14 2 Clinton 14 2 Dalton 14 1 Dighton 14 1 Hanover 14 2 Northampton 14 4 Oxford 14 2 Wilbraham 14 2 Halifax 13 1 South Weymouth 13 7 Stoneham 13 3 Wilmington 13 3 Ashland 12 2 Belmont 12 3 Fairhaven 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Natick 12 4 Plainville 12 1 Plymouth 12 7 Swansea 12 2 Assonet 11 1 Blackstone 11 1 Danvers 11 3 Pembroke 11 2 Roxbury Crossing 11 7 South Dartmouth 11 4 Sudbury 11 2 Townsend 11 1 Marblehead 10 2 North Chelmsford 10 1 Norton 10 2 Southborough 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Wellesley Hills 10 3 Acton 9 2 E. Boston 9 4 Lexington 9 3 Lunenburg 9 1 South Easton 9 1 Wareham 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Groton 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Middleborough 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 South Yarmouth 8 1 West Harwich 8 1 Weston 8 1 Amherst 7 3 Charlton 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Kingston 7 1 Medway 7 1 Milton 7 2 North Easton 7 1 Seekonk 7 1 Duxbury 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 Hopkinton 6 1 Longmeadow 6 1 North Reading 6 1 Holden 5 1 Hudson 5 1 Shrewsbury 5 2 Dedham 4 1 Hingham 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Onset 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Newton 3 3 Roslindale 3 1 E. Weymouth 1 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 (not given) 0 15 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 548 390 Berkshire 384 62 Plymouth 377 163 Bristol 357 294 Worcester 334 372 Norfolk 313 267 Essex 312 344 Franklin 246 26 Suffolk 235 465 Barnstable 233 45 Middlesex 227 530 Hampshire 195 36 Nantucket 85 3 Dukes 48 2 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 2678 88.9% Ongoing/Error 336 11.1% 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 1147 42.8% Dismissed 830 31.0% Defaulted 607 22.7% Heard 90 3.4% Other 4 0.1% Total 2678 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 115 90 172 29 1 Foreclosure 9 13 11 0 0 No Fault 85 83 191 15 0 Non-payment 621 421 773 45 3 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.3% 3.4% 6.4% 1.1% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.3% 0.5% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 3.2% 3.1% 7.1% 0.6% 0.0% Non-payment 23.2% 15.7% 28.9% 1.7% 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 1355 50.6% 45.0% Judgment inferred 277 10.3% 9.2% No judgment 1046 39.1% 34.7% Total 2678 100.0% 54.1% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 201 7.5% 0 18,791 2,559 4,127 514,395 Foreclosure 16 0.6% 0 16,598 1,581 4,059 25,300 No fault 157 5.9% 0 99,806 5,831 9,699 915,493 Non-payment 980 36.6% 0 55,883 7,888 7,182 7,730,500 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0 Subtotal 1355 50.6% 0 99,806 6,779 7,411 9,185,689 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 117 4.4% 0 99,806 5,297 9,446 619,806 Defaulted 539 20.1% 0 55,883 7,015 7,498 3,781,340 Mediated 658 24.6% 0 53,467 6,848 6,832 4,506,202 Heard 38 1.4% 0 34,912 7,202 8,233 273,710 Other 3 0.1% 257 3,155 1,543 1,205 4,629 Subtotal 1355 50.6% 0 99,806 6,779 7,411 9,185,689 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 7 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% plaintiff 1451 88.9% 54.2% 48.1% unknown 174 10.7% 6.5% 5.8% Total 1632 100.0% 60.9% 54.1% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1355 Range: 0.000 - 99806.450; Mean: 6779.107; Median: 4859.500; Stddev: 7414.025 Percentiles: 90th: 15522.410; 95th: 20088.040; 99th: 34892.540 0.000 - 221.293: 39 ###### 221.293 - 437.145: 128 #################### 437.145 - 862.597: 35 ##### 862.597 - 1701.176: 100 ############### 1701.176 - 3354.039: 185 ############################# 3354.039 - 6611.880: 296 ############################################## 6611.880 - 13033.180: 342 ##################################################### 13033.180 - 25689.750: 160 ######################### 25689.750 - 50636.222: 29 #### 50636.222 - 99806.450: 3 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 201 Range: 0.000 - 18791.560; Mean: 2559.183; Median: 290.540; Stddev: 4137.733 Percentiles: 90th: 7894.770; 95th: 12830.290; 99th: 18499.270 0.000 - 187.108: 2 # 187.108 - 312.749: 82 ##################################################### 312.749 - 522.309: 6 #### 522.309 - 871.838: 2 # 871.838 - 1454.824: 9 ###### 1454.824 - 2427.200: 21 ############## 2427.200 - 4049.044: 14 ######### 4049.044 - 6754.153: 16 ########## 6754.153 - 11266.059: 14 ######### 11266.059 - 18791.560: 12 ######## Foreclosure: Count: 16 Range: 0.000 - 16598.740; Mean: 1581.283; Median: 266.400; Stddev: 4192.714 Percentiles: 90th: 5217.070; 95th: 16598.740; 99th: 16598.740 0.000 - 332.093: 12 ##################################################### 332.093 - 513.258: 1 #### 513.258 - 6963.199: 1 #### 6963.199 - 16598.740: 1 #### No Fault: Count: 157 Range: 0.000 - 99806.450; Mean: 5831.168; Median: 3832.110; Stddev: 9730.983 Percentiles: 90th: 11967.450; 95th: 16577.980; 99th: 40816.780 0.000 - 319.394: 30 ############################################# 319.394 - 605.370: 7 ########### 605.370 - 1146.601: 2 ### 1146.601 - 2170.921: 11 ################# 2170.921 - 4109.523: 29 ############################################ 4109.523 - 7778.475: 35 ##################################################### 7778.475 - 14722.242: 27 ######################################### 14722.242 - 27863.845: 5 ######## 27863.845 - 52735.317: 3 ##### 52735.317 - 99806.450: 1 ## Non-payment: Count: 980 Range: 0.000 - 55883.380; Mean: 7888.266; Median: 6071.930; Stddev: 7186.573 Percentiles: 90th: 16855.560; 95th: 21511.780; 99th: 35062.640 0.000 - 323.116: 19 #### 323.116 - 573.394: 21 ##### 573.394 - 1016.935: 29 ###### 1016.935 - 1802.973: 79 ################# 1802.973 - 3195.982: 115 ######################### 3195.982 - 5664.657: 204 ############################################# 5664.657 - 10039.615: 240 ##################################################### 10039.615 - 17792.867: 178 ####################################### 17792.867 - 31533.096: 74 ################ 31533.096 - 55883.380: 15 ### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 117 Range: 0.000 - 99806.450; Mean: 5297.488; Median: 4508.210; Stddev: 9486.885 Percentiles: 90th: 9894.700; 95th: 12268.770; 99th: 13832.220 0.000 - 374.372: 11 ############## 374.372 - 697.028: 8 ########## 697.028 - 1297.028: 5 ###### 1297.028 - 2412.767: 19 ######################## 2412.767 - 4487.556: 14 ################## 4487.556 - 8345.759: 42 ##################################################### 8345.759 - 15520.338: 16 #################### 15520.338 - 99806.450: 1 # Defaulted: Count: 539 Range: 0.000 - 55883.380; Mean: 7015.475; Median: 5046.780; Stddev: 7505.951 Percentiles: 90th: 16577.980; 95th: 22014.310; 99th: 37754.460 0.000 - 208.767: 11 ##### 208.767 - 389.161: 78 ################################# 389.161 - 724.687: 11 ##### 724.687 - 1348.757: 29 ############ 1348.757 - 2509.506: 47 #################### 2509.506 - 4668.465: 77 ################################# 4668.465 - 8684.062: 125 ##################################################### 8684.062 - 16152.951: 99 ########################################## 16152.951 - 30044.857: 47 #################### 30044.857 - 55883.380: 9 #### Mediated: Count: 658 Range: 0.000 - 53467.410; Mean: 6848.332; Median: 4956.660; Stddev: 6837.579 Percentiles: 90th: 15825.490; 95th: 20036.040; 99th: 32258.050 0.000 - 300.008: 52 #################### 300.008 - 534.210: 10 #### 534.210 - 950.637: 11 #### 950.637 - 1691.068: 47 ################## 1691.068 - 3007.599: 89 ################################### 3007.599 - 5348.472: 117 ############################################## 5348.472 - 9510.685: 135 ##################################################### 9510.685 - 16911.355: 119 ############################################### 16911.355 - 30070.194: 44 ################# 30070.194 - 53467.410: 8 ### Heard: Count: 38 Range: 0.000 - 34912.360; Mean: 7202.909; Median: 5061.690; Stddev: 8343.596 Percentiles: 90th: 17692.550; 95th: 29408.770; 99th: 34912.360 0.000 - 359.972: 2 ############### 359.972 - 598.910: 1 ######## 598.910 - 1655.962: 4 ############################## 1655.962 - 2752.758: 3 ####################### 2752.758 - 4575.557: 3 ####################### 4575.557 - 7604.926: 6 ############################################# 7604.926 - 12639.530: 7 ##################################################### 12639.530 - 21006.698: 4 ############################## 21006.698 - 34912.360: 3 ####################### Other Outcome: Count: 3 Range: 257.000 - 3155.900; Mean: 1543.187; Median: 1216.660; Stddev: 1476.777 Percentiles: 90th: 3155.900; 95th: 3155.900; 99th: 3155.900 257.000 - 330.424: 1 ##################################################### 330.424 - 1488.253: 1 ##################################################### 1488.253 - 3155.900: 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 1318 80.8% 49.2% 43.7% Issued 1013 62.1% 37.8% 33.6% Levied 246 15.1% 9.2% 8.2% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 31 12.6% 1.9% 1.2% 1.0% Foreclosure 14 5.7% 0.9% 0.5% 0.5% No Fault 43 17.5% 2.6% 1.6% 1.4% Non-payment 158 64.2% 9.7% 5.9% 5.2% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 246 100.0% 15.1% 9.2% 8.2% 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 34 13.8% 2.1% 1.3% 1.1% Defaulted 103 41.9% 6.3% 3.8% 3.4% Mediated 105 42.7% 6.4% 3.9% 3.5% Heard 4 1.6% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 246 100.0% 15.1% 9.2% 8.2% 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 14 35 40.0% No Fault 43 381 11.3% Non-payment 158 2073 7.6% Cause 31 523 5.9% Unknown/Other 0 2 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 103 607 17.0% Mediated 105 1147 9.2% Heard 4 90 4.4% Dismissed 34 830 4.1% Other 0 4 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 7 553 96 104 Non-payment 0 595 90 92 No Fault 0 515 101 99 Foreclosure 8 332 79 76 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 595 93 95 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 553 87 101 Defaulted 0 595 84 78 Mediated 5 564 99 96 Heard 4 505 122 117 Other 18 168 74 65 All Outcomes 0 595 93 95 All Cases: Count: 2678 Range: 0.000 - 595.000; Mean: 93.065; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 95.494 Percentiles: 90th: 224.000; 95th: 302.000; 99th: 480.000 0.000 - 2.536: 5 | 2.536 - 5.250: 6 | 5.250 - 10.048: 26 # 10.048 - 18.531: 70 ### 18.531 - 33.525: 189 ######## 33.525 - 60.032: 1251 ##################################################### 60.032 - 106.890: 502 ##################### 106.890 - 189.723: 272 ############ 189.723 - 336.151: 245 ########## 336.151 - 595.000: 110 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 407 Range: 7.000 - 553.000; Mean: 96.958; Median: 55.000; Stddev: 104.709 Percentiles: 90th: 237.000; 95th: 345.000; 99th: 494.000 7.000 - 11.222: 6 ## 11.222 - 17.671: 9 ### 17.671 - 27.524: 20 ######## 27.524 - 42.577: 70 ########################## 42.577 - 65.573: 141 ##################################################### 65.573 - 100.705: 68 ########################## 100.705 - 154.376: 28 ########### 154.376 - 236.370: 24 ######### 236.370 - 361.633: 22 ######## 361.633 - 553.000: 19 ####### Non-payment: Count: 1863 Range: 0.000 - 595.000; Mean: 90.769; Median: 52.000; Stddev: 92.714 Percentiles: 90th: 217.000; 95th: 290.000; 99th: 459.000 0.000 - 2.536: 5 | 2.536 - 5.250: 6 | 5.250 - 10.048: 19 # 10.048 - 18.531: 56 ### 18.531 - 33.525: 130 ######## 33.525 - 60.032: 887 ##################################################### 60.032 - 106.890: 323 ################### 106.890 - 189.723: 200 ############ 189.723 - 336.151: 168 ########## 336.151 - 595.000: 68 #### No Fault: Count: 374 Range: 0.000 - 515.000; Mean: 101.618; Median: 59.000; Stddev: 99.778 Percentiles: 90th: 261.000; 95th: 337.000; 99th: 491.000 0.000 - 11.135: 1 | 11.135 - 17.408: 3 # 17.408 - 26.923: 8 ### 26.923 - 41.356: 48 ################# 41.356 - 63.250: 146 ##################################################### 63.250 - 96.460: 56 #################### 96.460 - 146.837: 41 ############### 146.837 - 223.253: 26 ######### 223.253 - 339.168: 26 ######### 339.168 - 515.000: 18 ####### Foreclosure: Count: 33 Range: 8.000 - 332.000; Mean: 79.333; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 76.919 Percentiles: 90th: 204.000; 95th: 277.000; 99th: 332.000 8.000 - 11.914: 1 ##### 11.914 - 17.530: 1 ##### 17.530 - 25.589: 2 ########## 25.589 - 37.153: 3 ############## 37.153 - 53.745: 11 ##################################################### 53.745 - 77.553: 6 ############################# 77.553 - 111.716: 4 ################### 111.716 - 231.073: 3 ############## 231.073 - 332.000: 2 ########## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 830 Range: 0.000 - 553.000; Mean: 87.452; Median: 46.000; Stddev: 101.139 Percentiles: 90th: 228.000; 95th: 310.000; 99th: 494.000 0.000 - 2.510: 5 # 2.510 - 5.159: 2 | 5.159 - 9.809: 24 #### 9.809 - 17.968: 47 ######## 17.968 - 32.287: 117 ################### 32.287 - 57.414: 324 ##################################################### 57.414 - 101.510: 119 ################### 101.510 - 178.893: 75 ############ 178.893 - 314.691: 76 ############ 314.691 - 553.000: 40 ####### Defaulted: Count: 607 Range: 0.000 - 595.000; Mean: 84.468; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 78.970 Percentiles: 90th: 171.000; 95th: 268.000; 99th: 442.000 0.000 - 5.597: 1 | 5.597 - 28.603: 10 ## 28.603 - 47.826: 190 ########################################## 47.826 - 79.533: 241 ##################################################### 79.533 - 131.828: 85 ################### 131.828 - 218.083: 35 ######## 218.083 - 360.350: 30 ####### 360.350 - 595.000: 14 ### Mediated: Count: 1147 Range: 5.000 - 564.000; Mean: 99.412; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 96.662 Percentiles: 90th: 227.000; 95th: 312.000; 99th: 483.000 5.000 - 8.452: 1 | 8.452 - 13.891: 6 # 13.891 - 22.460: 16 ## 22.460 - 35.958: 64 ####### 35.958 - 57.224: 509 ##################################################### 57.224 - 90.725: 186 ################### 90.725 - 143.504: 146 ############### 143.504 - 226.651: 103 ########### 226.651 - 357.640: 71 ####### 357.640 - 564.000: 45 ##### Heard: Count: 90 Range: 4.000 - 505.000; Mean: 122.789; Median: 75.500; Stddev: 117.757 Percentiles: 90th: 319.000; 95th: 393.000; 99th: 505.000 4.000 - 6.934: 2 ##### 6.934 - 18.977: 2 ##### 18.977 - 30.699: 8 ################### 30.699 - 49.299: 15 #################################### 49.299 - 78.814: 22 ##################################################### 78.814 - 125.647: 12 ############################# 125.647 - 199.962: 11 ########################### 199.962 - 317.884: 8 ################### 317.884 - 505.000: 10 ######################## Other Outcome: Count: 4 Range: 18.000 - 168.000; Mean: 74.000; Median: 55.000; Stddev: 65.054 Percentiles: 90th: 168.000; 95th: 168.000; 99th: 168.000 18.000 - 22.641: 1 ##################################################### 22.641 - 55.666: 1 ##################################################### 55.666 - 69.507: 1 ##################################################### 69.507 - 168.000: 1 ##################################################### -- 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/.