Outcomes for October 2018

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: 2018-10-01 Search Period End: 2018-10-31 Earliest Case: 2018-10-01 Latest Case: 2018-10-31 Total Cases: 3923 Total Transfers: 105 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 34.4% Of those, percentage pro se: 57.4% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Savoy Least stable with 10+ filings: Indian Orchard Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 130 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 statistically significantly above the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent northeast 650 16.6% western 615 15.7% eastern 599 15.3% central 587 15.0% southeast 457 11.6% metro south 262 6.7% quincy district 99 2.5% somerville district 47 1.2% chelsea district 40 1.0% malden district 38 1.0% pittsfield district 37 0.9% cambridge district 34 0.9% springfield district 32 0.8% fall river district 29 0.7% lynn district 29 0.7% salem district 25 0.6% dedham district 23 0.6% brockton district 20 0.5% barnstable district 19 0.5% lowell district 17 0.4% wrentham district 17 0.4% northern berkshire district 15 0.4% bmc dorchester 14 0.4% lawrence district 14 0.4% framingham district 13 0.3% stoughton district 13 0.3% attleboro district 12 0.3% bmc east boston 12 0.3% haverhill district 11 0.3% orleans district 11 0.3% palmer district 8 0.2% peabody district 8 0.2% ayer district 7 0.2% waltham district 7 0.2% woburn district 7 0.2% chicopee district 6 0.2% fallmouth district 6 0.2% new bedford district 6 0.2% bmc south boston 5 0.1% concord district 5 0.1% edgartown district 5 0.1% hingham district 5 0.1% nantucket district 5 0.1% newton district 5 0.1% orange district 5 0.1% holyoke district 4 0.1% milford district 4 0.1% wareham district 4 0.1% westfield district 4 0.1% bmc roxbury 3 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% bmc west roxbury 2 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% taunton district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% westborough district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2574 9 Natural Person 1349 3914 Total 3923 3923 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 65.6% 0.2% Natural Person 34.4% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2499 75 2574 Optional 575 774 1349 Total 3074 849 3923 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 63.7% 1.9% 65.6% Optional 14.7% 19.7% 34.4% Total 78.4% 21.6% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2 7 9 Optional 255 3659 3914 Total 257 3666 3923 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 6.5% 93.3% 99.8% Total 6.6% 93.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 222 5.7% 1 2622 66.8% 2 868 22.1% 3 142 3.6% 4 43 1.1% 5 15 0.4% 6 6 0.2% 7 2 0.1% 8 2 0.1% 9 1 0.0% Total 3923 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 2321 59.2% Cause 1132 28.9% No Fault 342 8.7% Foreclosure 125 3.2% Unknown/Other 3 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Savoy 289 2 Indian Orchard 258 26 Warwick 256 2 Chestnut Hill 235 5 Springfield 197 303 Fall River 166 148 Athol 164 19 Wales 163 3 Ware 162 16 Ayer 161 12 New Bedford 160 153 Pittsfield 160 72 Holyoke 157 63 Chicopee 151 84 Brockton 148 139 Worcester 144 261 Sunderland 135 5 Housatonic 132 1 North Adams 131 18 Dorchester 128 118 Fitchburg 124 50 Lawrence 124 95 Turners Falls 121 5 Mattapan 120 44 Lowell 119 127 Roxbury 119 71 Lynn 117 106 Adams 106 9 Vineyard Haven 105 2 Newton Center 102 4 Randolph 102 33 New Braintree 100 1 Haverhill 98 60 Fiskdale 97 3 Salem 94 39 West Yarmouth 94 5 Holbrook 92 10 Forestdale 90 4 Gardner 88 18 Framingham 87 60 Gilbertville 86 1 Whitinsville 86 6 Petersham 81 1 Stoughton 81 22 Hyde Park 80 27 Rockland 80 14 Gloucester 76 22 Marlborough 75 29 Chelsea 73 26 Edgartown 73 3 Revere 73 38 West Bridgewater 72 5 West Tisbury 72 2 Dorchester Center 70 65 Taunton 69 39 Hull 68 7 South Grafton 67 3 Winchendon 67 7 Middleton 66 6 Whately 66 1 Webster 65 11 Dennis Port 63 2 West Springfield 63 18 Somerville 62 47 Whitman 62 9 Braintree 61 22 Cotuit 60 2 Milford 60 17 Peabody 60 31 Colrain 59 1 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Nantucket 58 6 Roslindale 58 17 South Easton 58 6 Greenfield 57 10 Rockport 57 4 Bridgewater 56 15 Danvers 56 15 Everett 55 23 Shirley 55 4 Belchertown 54 8 South Dennis 54 2 Bondsville 53 1 Quincy 53 49 Sturbridge 53 5 Baldwinville 52 1 Dedham 52 13 Dudley 52 6 Malden 52 31 Woburn 52 20 Canton 51 11 Orange 51 4 Amesbury 49 8 Maynard 49 5 North Andover 49 14 North Truro 49 1 Beverly 48 19 Jamaica Plain 48 18 South Deerfield 48 1 Westfield 48 20 North Dighton 47 2 Southbridge 47 8 West Townsend 47 1 East Taunton 46 3 Groveland 46 3 East Brookfield 45 1 Newburyport 45 8 South Boston 44 15 Townsend 44 4 Attleborough 43 19 Mansfield 43 10 Hyannis 42 6 North Brookfield 42 2 Northborough 42 6 Marstons Mills 41 2 Palmer 41 5 Lunenburg 39 4 South Hadley 39 7 Cambridge 38 41 Millis 38 3 Norwood 38 11 Barre 37 2 North Falmouth 37 1 Plymouth 37 21 Leicester 36 4 Wakefield 36 9 Waltham 36 22 Methuen 35 17 Monson 35 3 Tyngsborough 35 4 Wilmington 35 8 Allston 34 10 East Falmouth 34 2 Leominster 34 14 Middleborough 34 8 Rowley 34 2 Tewksbury 34 10 Three Rivers 34 1 Andover 33 11 Dracut 33 10 Hardwick 33 1 Hopedale 33 2 Ludlow 33 7 Provincetown 33 1 Saugus 33 9 Abington 31 5 Fairhaven 31 5 Franklin 31 10 Bellingham 30 5 Brewster 30 3 Millbury 30 4 Bradford 29 4 Brighton 29 13 Clinton 29 4 Melrose 29 8 Nahant 29 1 Raynham 29 4 Weymouth 29 16 East Bridgewater 28 4 Jefferson 28 1 Lakeville 28 3 Marshfield 27 7 Rochdale 27 3 Carver 26 3 Norfolk 26 3 Norton 26 5 Roxbury Crossing 26 16 Milton 25 7 South Yarmouth 25 3 Spencer 25 3 Auburn 24 4 Easthampton 24 4 Georgetown 24 2 Harwich 24 3 Medford 24 14 North Attleborough 24 7 Salisbury 24 2 Charlestown 23 4 Foxborough 23 4 Assonet 22 2 Bedford 22 3 East Boston 22 9 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Somerset 22 4 West Roxbury 22 7 Westford 22 5 Winthrop 22 4 Hanover 21 3 Mashpee 21 3 Northampton 21 6 Southwick 21 2 Westborough 21 4 Wilbraham 21 3 Boxborough 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Walpole 20 5 Westwood 20 3 E. Boston 19 8 East Longmeadow 19 3 Hadley 19 1 Newtonville 19 1 Shrewsbury 19 7 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Acton 18 4 East Weymouth 18 10 Natick 18 6 South Barre 18 1 Swansea 18 3 Watertown 18 6 Boston 17 108 Needham 17 5 Sharon 17 3 Southampton 17 1 Burlington 16 4 Chatham 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Topsfield 16 1 Charlton 15 2 Ipswich 15 2 Kingston 15 2 Marblehead 15 3 Medway 15 2 Merrimac 15 1 Arlington 14 6 Dalton 14 1 Dennis 14 2 Dighton 14 1 Oxford 14 2 Seekonk 14 2 Cohasset 13 1 Hingham 13 3 North Reading 13 2 Wareham 13 3 Westminster 13 1 Ashland 12 2 Northbridge 12 2 Plainville 12 1 Rutland 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Blackstone 11 1 Douglas 11 1 Littleton 11 1 Sudbury 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Auburndale 10 1 Hudson 10 2 North Chelmsford 10 1 Southborough 10 1 Billerica 9 4 Cherry Valley 9 1 East Wareham 9 2 Stoneham 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Brookline 8 5 Lynnfield 8 1 Rehoboth 8 1 West Harwich 8 1 Centerville 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Swampscott 7 1 Duxbury 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Lexington 6 2 Longmeadow 6 1 Westport 6 1 Amherst 5 2 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Onset 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Agawam 3 1 Falmouth 3 1 Newton Highlands 3 3 South Weymouth 3 2 Chelmsford 2 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 23 span 0 18 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 765 544 Berkshire 638 103 Plymouth 595 257 Bristol 505 416 Worcester 450 501 Essex 443 488 Suffolk 313 618 Norfolk 308 263 Franklin 274 29 Barnstable 259 50 Hampshire 244 45 Middlesex 237 554 Dukes 195 8 Nantucket 170 6 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 3507 89.4% Ongoing/Error 416 10.6% 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 1753 50.0% Dismissed 790 22.5% Defaulted 770 22.0% Heard 184 5.2% Other 10 0.3% Total 3507 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 134 148 330 108 10 Foreclosure 30 36 48 11 0 No Fault 59 60 204 16 0 Non-payment 566 526 1170 49 0 Unknown/Other 1 0 1 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.8% 4.2% 9.4% 3.1% 0.3% Foreclosure 0.9% 1.0% 1.4% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 1.7% 1.7% 5.8% 0.5% 0.0% Non-payment 16.1% 15.0% 33.4% 1.4% 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 1771 50.5% 45.1% Judgment inferred 718 20.5% 18.3% No judgment 1018 29.0% 25.9% Total 3507 100.0% 63.4% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 370 10.6% 0 23,347 2,573 3,228 952,171 Foreclosure 57 1.6% 0 11,356 448 1,477 25,553 No fault 132 3.8% 0 36,522 1,984 3,561 261,999 Non-payment 1212 34.6% 0 415,497 3,682 12,288 4,462,596 Subtotal 1771 50.5% 0 415,497 3,219 10,350 5,702,320 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 95 2.7% 0 24,061 2,484 3,762 236,024 Defaulted 733 20.9% 0 26,244 2,884 3,019 2,114,032 Mediated 869 24.8% 0 415,497 3,486 14,313 3,029,654 Heard 64 1.8% 0 38,095 4,440 7,192 284,190 Other 10 0.3% 600 9,248 3,841 2,505 38,419 Subtotal 1771 50.5% 0 415,497 3,219 10,350 5,702,320 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 11 0.4% 0.3% 0.3% plaintiff 1880 75.5% 53.6% 47.9% unknown 598 24.0% 17.1% 15.2% Total 2489 100.0% 71.0% 63.4% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1771 Range: 0.000 - 415497.700; Mean: 3219.831; Median: 2150.040; Stddev: 10353.517 Percentiles: 90th: 6532.660; 95th: 8675.000; 99th: 16565.000 0.000 - 76.711: 4 | 76.711 - 200.704: 121 ########## 200.704 - 522.537: 158 ############# 522.537 - 1357.873: 270 ###################### 1357.873 - 3526.043: 652 ##################################################### 3526.043 - 9153.666: 438 #################################### 9153.666 - 23760.525: 73 ###### 23760.525 - 61673.565: 5 | 61673.565 - 415497.700: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 370 Range: 0.000 - 23347.000; Mean: 2573.435; Median: 1690.235; Stddev: 3232.414 Percentiles: 90th: 6357.080; 95th: 9089.760; 99th: 13801.290 0.000 - 81.401: 1 # 81.401 - 153.316: 1 # 153.316 - 287.996: 80 ################################################## 287.996 - 540.217: 15 ######### 540.217 - 1012.564: 15 ######### 1012.564 - 1897.152: 54 ################################## 1897.152 - 3553.762: 85 ##################################################### 3553.762 - 6656.180: 49 ############################### 6656.180 - 12466.230: 29 ################## 12466.230 - 23347.000: 7 #### Foreclosure: Count: 57 Range: 0.000 - 11356.970; Mean: 448.313; Median: 211.950; Stddev: 1491.033 Percentiles: 90th: 301.180; 95th: 1000.000; 99th: 11356.970 0.000 - 260.192: 39 ##################################################### 260.192 - 396.190: 11 ############### 396.190 - 1395.727: 1 # 1395.727 - 2122.974: 1 # 2122.974 - 11356.970: 1 # No Fault: Count: 132 Range: 0.000 - 36522.630; Mean: 1984.842; Median: 1220.565; Stddev: 3575.187 Percentiles: 90th: 4955.310; 95th: 5458.420; 99th: 10320.000 0.000 - 245.726: 45 ##################################################### 245.726 - 428.898: 1 # 428.898 - 748.060: 5 ###### 748.060 - 1304.171: 13 ############### 1304.171 - 2273.147: 27 ################################ 2273.147 - 3961.504: 19 ###################### 3961.504 - 6903.317: 14 ################ 6903.317 - 12029.171: 3 #### 12029.171 - 36522.630: 1 # Non-payment: Count: 1212 Range: 0.000 - 415497.700; Mean: 3682.011; Median: 2548.785; Stddev: 12293.837 Percentiles: 90th: 6977.450; 95th: 8852.960; 99th: 18157.140 0.000 - 76.711: 3 | 76.711 - 200.704: 25 ### 200.704 - 522.537: 62 ####### 522.537 - 1357.873: 217 ######################## 1357.873 - 3526.043: 489 ##################################################### 3526.043 - 9153.666: 351 ###################################### 9153.666 - 23760.525: 53 ###### 23760.525 - 61673.565: 4 | 61673.565 - 415497.700: 1 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 95 Range: 0.000 - 24061.960; Mean: 2484.467; Median: 1378.650; Stddev: 3782.463 Percentiles: 90th: 4261.170; 95th: 9429.870; 99th: 24061.960 0.000 - 57.447: 1 ## 57.447 - 221.731: 12 ############################# 221.731 - 433.801: 5 ############ 433.801 - 847.790: 12 ############################# 847.790 - 1655.953: 22 ##################################################### 1655.953 - 3233.595: 19 ############################################## 3233.595 - 6313.364: 15 #################################### 6313.364 - 12325.487: 5 ############ 12325.487 - 24061.960: 2 ##### Defaulted: Count: 733 Range: 0.000 - 26244.530; Mean: 2884.082; Median: 2100.130; Stddev: 3021.586 Percentiles: 90th: 6575.000; 95th: 8752.500; 99th: 13087.750 0.000 - 97.974: 1 | 97.974 - 182.993: 37 ########### 182.993 - 341.045: 89 ########################## 341.045 - 634.865: 32 ######### 634.865 - 1181.080: 65 ################### 1181.080 - 2196.498: 148 ########################################### 2196.498 - 4084.170: 183 ##################################################### 4084.170 - 7593.372: 115 ################################# 7593.372 - 14117.014: 48 ############## 14117.014 - 26244.530: 7 ## Mediated: Count: 869 Range: 0.000 - 415497.700; Mean: 3486.369; Median: 2202.090; Stddev: 14321.812 Percentiles: 90th: 6426.940; 95th: 8333.000; 99th: 15550.130 0.000 - 108.892: 3 | 108.892 - 273.458: 74 ############ 273.458 - 684.469: 47 ####### 684.469 - 1710.983: 181 ############################# 1710.983 - 4274.739: 334 ##################################################### 4274.739 - 10677.810: 177 ############################ 10677.810 - 26669.710: 21 ### 26669.710 - 66610.049: 1 | 66610.049 - 415497.700: 1 | Heard: Count: 64 Range: 0.000 - 38095.240; Mean: 4440.471; Median: 2351.340; Stddev: 7249.245 Percentiles: 90th: 9659.940; 95th: 19638.840; 99th: 38095.240 0.000 - 311.868: 8 ################################### 311.868 - 532.440: 2 ######### 532.440 - 908.515: 1 #### 908.515 - 1549.724: 5 ###################### 1549.724 - 2642.986: 10 ############################################ 2642.986 - 4506.998: 12 ##################################################### 4506.998 - 7685.140: 6 ########################### 7685.140 - 13103.876: 7 ############################### 13103.876 - 22342.824: 2 ######### 22342.824 - 38095.240: 2 ######### Other Outcome: Count: 10 Range: 600.000 - 9248.000; Mean: 3841.925; Median: 3372.795; Stddev: 2641.164 Percentiles: 90th: 7316.790; 95th: 9248.000; 99th: 9248.000 600.000 - 788.944: 1 ################## 788.944 - 1037.290: 1 ################## 1037.290 - 3097.894: 2 ################################### 3097.894 - 4072.134: 3 ##################################################### 4072.134 - 5352.659: 1 ################## 5352.659 - 9248.000: 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 1739 69.9% 49.6% 44.3% Issued 1509 60.6% 43.0% 38.5% Levied 334 13.4% 9.5% 8.5% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 34 10.2% 1.4% 1.0% 0.9% Foreclosure 21 6.3% 0.8% 0.6% 0.5% No Fault 33 9.9% 1.3% 0.9% 0.8% Non-payment 246 73.7% 9.9% 7.0% 6.3% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 334 100.0% 13.4% 9.5% 8.5% 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 28 8.4% 1.1% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 117 35.0% 4.7% 3.3% 3.0% Mediated 181 54.2% 7.3% 5.2% 4.6% Heard 8 2.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 334 100.0% 13.4% 9.5% 8.5% 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 21 125 16.8% Non-payment 246 2321 10.6% No Fault 33 342 9.6% Cause 34 1132 3.0% Unknown/Other 0 3 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 117 770 15.2% Mediated 181 1753 10.3% Heard 8 184 4.3% Dismissed 28 790 3.5% Other 0 10 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 0 2291 92 239 Non-payment 0 2156 36 131 No Fault 3 2205 47 196 Foreclosure 1 1779 80 196 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2291 50 170 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 2128 55 177 Defaulted 4 2291 44 184 Mediated 0 2026 40 118 Heard 0 2205 150 359 Other 16 252 106 101 All Outcomes 0 2291 50 170 All Cases: Count: 3507 Range: 0.000 - 2291.000; Mean: 50.651; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 170.422 Percentiles: 90th: 73.000; 95th: 164.000; 99th: 745.000 0.000 - 3.045: 15 | 3.045 - 7.182: 59 ## 7.182 - 15.550: 1612 ##################################################### 15.550 - 32.474: 1126 ##################################### 32.474 - 66.705: 315 ########## 66.705 - 135.943: 167 ##### 135.943 - 275.987: 96 ### 275.987 - 559.245: 72 ## 559.245 - 1132.173: 16 # 1132.173 - 2291.000: 25 # By Reason Cause: Count: 730 Range: 0.000 - 2291.000; Mean: 92.368; Median: 22.000; Stddev: 239.923 Percentiles: 90th: 192.000; 95th: 391.000; 99th: 1674.000 0.000 - 3.045: 9 ## 3.045 - 7.182: 16 #### 7.182 - 15.550: 217 ################################################## 15.550 - 32.474: 228 ##################################################### 32.474 - 66.705: 95 ###################### 66.705 - 135.943: 64 ############### 135.943 - 275.987: 40 ######### 275.987 - 559.245: 38 ######### 559.245 - 1132.173: 9 ## 1132.173 - 2291.000: 11 ### Non-payment: Count: 2311 Range: 0.000 - 2156.000; Mean: 36.308; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 131.798 Percentiles: 90th: 46.000; 95th: 91.000; 99th: 392.000 0.000 - 3.021: 4 | 3.021 - 7.083: 39 ## 7.083 - 15.251: 1217 ##################################################### 15.251 - 31.671: 702 ############################### 31.671 - 64.681: 193 ######## 64.681 - 131.045: 70 ### 131.045 - 264.463: 38 ## 264.463 - 532.686: 31 # 532.686 - 1071.922: 6 | 1071.922 - 2156.000: 10 | No Fault: Count: 339 Range: 3.000 - 2205.000; Mean: 47.876; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 196.704 Percentiles: 90th: 67.000; 95th: 130.000; 99th: 276.000 3.000 - 6.520: 3 # 6.520 - 13.137: 66 #################### 13.137 - 25.578: 176 ##################################################### 25.578 - 48.966: 51 ############### 48.966 - 92.936: 21 ###### 92.936 - 175.599: 13 #### 175.599 - 331.003: 6 ## 331.003 - 2205.000: 3 # Foreclosure: Count: 125 Range: 1.000 - 1779.000; Mean: 80.344; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 196.679 Percentiles: 90th: 163.000; 95th: 406.000; 99th: 763.000 1.000 - 2.944: 1 # 2.944 - 14.341: 28 ############################ 14.341 - 29.254: 53 ##################################################### 29.254 - 58.666: 16 ################ 58.666 - 116.670: 11 ########### 116.670 - 231.061: 5 ##### 231.061 - 456.659: 6 ###### 456.659 - 901.570: 4 #### 901.570 - 1779.000: 1 # By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 790 Range: 1.000 - 2128.000; Mean: 55.657; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 177.794 Percentiles: 90th: 92.000; 95th: 204.000; 99th: 801.000 1.000 - 3.016: 8 # 3.016 - 7.062: 32 ##### 7.062 - 15.187: 368 ##################################################### 15.187 - 31.500: 210 ############################## 31.500 - 64.253: 74 ########### 64.253 - 130.014: 37 ##### 130.014 - 262.046: 27 #### 262.046 - 527.137: 20 ### 527.137 - 1059.379: 8 # 1059.379 - 2128.000: 6 # Defaulted: Count: 770 Range: 4.000 - 2291.000; Mean: 44.757; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 184.866 Percentiles: 90th: 43.000; 95th: 126.000; 99th: 479.000 4.000 - 8.228: 17 ## 8.228 - 16.030: 428 ##################################################### 16.030 - 30.430: 217 ########################### 30.430 - 57.005: 50 ###### 57.005 - 106.051: 15 ## 106.051 - 196.568: 19 ## 196.568 - 363.621: 6 # 363.621 - 671.923: 12 # 671.923 - 2291.000: 6 # Mediated: Count: 1753 Range: 0.000 - 2026.000; Mean: 40.176; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 118.938 Percentiles: 90th: 60.000; 95th: 121.000; 99th: 448.000 0.000 - 2.996: 1 | 2.996 - 6.984: 3 | 6.984 - 14.951: 699 ##################################################### 14.951 - 30.868: 676 ################################################### 30.868 - 62.671: 199 ############### 62.671 - 126.211: 93 ####### 126.211 - 253.160: 40 ### 253.160 - 506.796: 27 ## 506.796 - 1013.545: 8 # 1013.545 - 2026.000: 6 | Heard: Count: 184 Range: 0.000 - 2205.000; Mean: 150.598; Median: 24.500; Stddev: 359.263 Percentiles: 90th: 371.000; 95th: 763.000; 99th: 1862.000 0.000 - 3.030: 6 ####### 3.030 - 7.120: 6 ####### 7.120 - 15.361: 46 ##################################################### 15.361 - 31.966: 45 #################################################### 31.966 - 65.423: 18 ##################### 65.423 - 132.837: 20 ####################### 132.837 - 268.670: 11 ############# 268.670 - 542.363: 19 ###################### 542.363 - 1093.833: 3 ### 1093.833 - 2205.000: 7 ######## Other Outcome: Count: 10 Range: 16.000 - 252.000; Mean: 106.200; Median: 44.000; Stddev: 101.739 Percentiles: 90th: 242.000; 95th: 252.000; 99th: 252.000 16.000 - 21.270: 2 ################################### 21.270 - 28.173: 2 ################################### 28.173 - 49.063: 2 ################################### 49.063 - 192.132: 1 ################## 192.132 - 252.000: 3 ##################################################### -- 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/.