Outcomes for February 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: 2018-02-01 Search Period End: 2018-02-28 Earliest Case: 2018-02-01 Latest Case: 2018-02-28 Total Cases: 3136 Total Transfers: 107 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 32.1% Of those, percentage pro se: 56.7% 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: Berkshire Cases per day: 116 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 548 17.5% western 480 15.3% southeast 478 15.2% central 447 14.3% eastern 435 13.9% quincy district 124 4.0% chelsea district 70 2.2% malden district 45 1.4% pittsfield district 32 1.0% cambridge district 31 1.0% somerville district 30 1.0% stoughton district 26 0.8% lynn district 24 0.8% springfield district 24 0.8% barnstable district 19 0.6% lowell district 19 0.6% bmc west roxbury 18 0.6% dedham district 18 0.6% brockton district 16 0.5% northern berkshire district 16 0.5% waltham district 16 0.5% bmc dorchester 15 0.5% holyoke district 15 0.5% wrentham district 14 0.4% haverhill district 12 0.4% woburn district 12 0.4% attleboro district 11 0.4% fall river district 10 0.3% salem district 10 0.3% ayer district 9 0.3% fallmouth district 9 0.3% framingham district 9 0.3% bmc roxbury 8 0.3% new bedford district 7 0.2% taunton district 7 0.2% bmc east boston 6 0.2% lawrence district 6 0.2% newton district 6 0.2% newburyport district 5 0.2% orleans district 5 0.2% brookline district 4 0.1% westfield district 4 0.1% worcester district 4 0.1% chicopee district 3 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% bmc south boston 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% palmer district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% milford district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% peabody district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2128 9 Natural Person 1008 3127 Total 3136 3136 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 67.9% 0.3% Natural Person 32.1% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1922 206 2128 Optional 436 572 1008 Total 2358 778 3136 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 61.3% 6.6% 67.9% Optional 13.9% 18.2% 32.1% Total 75.2% 24.8% 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 6 9 Optional 171 2956 3127 Total 174 2962 3136 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% Optional 5.5% 94.3% 99.7% Total 5.5% 94.5% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 202 6.4% 1 2132 68.0% 2 653 20.8% 3 101 3.2% 4 31 1.0% 5 11 0.4% 6 5 0.2% 7 1 0.0% Total 3136 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 1856 59.2% Cause 990 31.6% No Fault 184 5.9% Foreclosure 106 3.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 1054 10 Turners Falls 243 10 Southfield 202 1 Chestnut Hill 188 4 Gilbertville 173 2 Southampton 172 10 Springfield 156 239 Holyoke 150 60 Savoy 144 1 North Adams 138 19 Hyannis 134 19 Fall River 126 112 Pittsfield 120 54 Indian Orchard 119 12 Gardner 118 24 Avon 114 5 Chelsea 113 40 Southbridge 113 19 New Bedford 111 106 Dorchester 110 102 Fitchburg 109 44 Lynn 108 98 Revere 108 56 Bondsville 106 2 Lowell 101 108 South Chatham 97 1 South Deerfield 97 2 Lawrence 96 74 Ayer 94 7 Worcester 94 171 Haverhill 93 57 Huntington 91 2 Brockton 90 85 Orange 89 7 Adams 82 7 Whitman 82 12 Ware 81 8 West Brookfield 81 3 Malden 79 47 Charlestown 77 13 Allston 71 21 Randolph 71 23 Chicopee 68 38 South Easton 68 7 Three Rivers 68 2 Everett 67 28 New Marlborough 66 1 Roslindale 65 19 Roxbury 65 39 Taunton 64 36 Beverly 63 25 Greenfield 63 11 Gloucester 62 18 Rockland 62 11 Sheffield 61 2 South Lancaster 61 1 West Springfield 59 17 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Hull 58 6 Dorchester Center 57 53 Mattapan 57 21 Whitinsville 57 4 Hyde Park 56 19 Shelburne Falls 56 1 West Yarmouth 56 3 Shirley 55 4 South Barre 55 3 Sunderland 54 2 Baldwinville 52 1 Hudson 52 10 Athol 51 6 Oxford 51 7 Quincy 50 47 Danvers 49 13 Edgartown 49 2 Framingham 49 34 Hinsdale 49 1 Lunenburg 49 5 Marlborough 49 19 Mashpee 49 7 North Truro 49 1 Salem 48 20 Marshfield 47 12 Middleborough 47 11 North Dighton 47 2 South Boston 47 16 Webster 47 8 Charlton 46 6 West Wareham 46 1 Bedford 45 6 Concord 45 8 Clinton 44 6 Leominster 44 18 Carver 43 5 South Yarmouth 43 5 Stoneham 41 9 Westminster 41 3 East Freetown 40 2 Methuen 40 19 Peabody 40 21 Stoughton 40 11 Milford 39 11 Mansfield 38 9 Barre 37 2 Canton 37 8 Amesbury 36 6 Plainville 36 3 Wellfleet 36 1 Somerville 35 27 East Falmouth 34 2 Jamaica Plain 34 13 Spencer 34 4 Woburn 34 13 North Reading 33 5 Provincetown 33 1 Cambridge 32 34 Fiskdale 32 1 Berkley 31 2 Dennis Port 31 1 Easthampton 31 5 Millville 31 1 North Andover 31 9 North Attleborough 31 9 Norton 31 6 Westfield 31 13 Weymouth 31 17 Bridgewater 30 8 Cheshire 30 1 Billerica 29 12 Plymouth 28 16 Winthrop 28 5 Brighton 27 12 Holbrook 27 3 South Dennis 27 1 Dudley 26 3 Abington 25 4 Feeding Hills 25 3 Northbridge 25 4 Swansea 25 4 Watertown 25 8 Williamstown 25 2 Auburn 24 4 Palmer 24 3 Salisbury 24 2 Tewksbury 24 7 Dracut 23 7 Foxborough 23 4 West Newbury 23 1 Blackstone 22 2 Braintree 22 8 Centerville 22 3 East Boston 22 9 East Wareham 22 5 Oak Bluffs 22 1 South Grafton 22 1 Townsend 22 2 Westford 22 5 Roxbury Crossing 21 13 Belchertown 20 3 Bolton 20 1 Chelmsford 20 7 East Weymouth 20 11 Eastham 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Hadley 19 1 Hampden 19 1 Hanson 19 2 Maynard 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Rochester 19 1 Winchendon 19 2 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Attleborough 18 8 Bellingham 18 3 Cherry Valley 18 2 Ludlow 18 4 Saugus 18 5 Waltham 18 11 Wareham 18 4 Mendon 17 1 Newburyport 17 3 Northampton 17 5 Norwood 17 5 Rowley 17 1 South Hadley 17 3 Weston 17 2 Granby 16 1 Harwich 16 2 Hopedale 16 1 Lee 16 1 Medford 16 9 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 North Weymouth 16 9 Shrewsbury 16 6 Somerset 16 3 Topsfield 16 1 West Roxbury 16 5 East Taunton 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Kingston 15 2 Marblehead 15 3 Millbury 15 2 Newbury 15 1 Dalton 14 1 Dighton 14 1 Great Barrington 14 1 Melrose 14 4 Raynham 14 2 Seekonk 14 2 Swampscott 14 2 Uxbridge 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Duxbury 13 2 Halifax 13 1 Needham Heights 13 4 Westwood 13 2 Andover 12 4 Boxford 12 1 Burlington 12 3 Dedham 12 3 Franklin 12 4 Georgetown 12 1 Lancaster 12 1 Millis 12 1 Rutland 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Wakefield 12 3 Assonet 11 1 Boston 11 71 Brookline 11 7 Littleton 11 1 Milton 11 3 Monson 11 1 Sharon 11 2 Sudbury 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Agawam 10 3 Amherst 10 4 Auburndale 10 1 North Chelmsford 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Westborough 10 2 Acton 9 2 Acushnet 9 1 Arlington 9 4 Lakeville 9 1 Leicester 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Rochdale 9 1 Wrentham 9 1 Belmont 8 2 Lynnfield 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Reading 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 Tyngsborough 8 1 Bradford 7 1 Medway 7 1 Northborough 7 1 West Newton 7 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Needham 6 2 Dartmouth 5 2 Grafton 5 1 Scituate 5 1 South Weymouth 5 3 E. Boston 4 2 North Dartmouth 4 1 Wilmington 4 1 Falmouth 3 1 Natick 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Newton 2 2 Newton Highlands 2 2 South Dartmouth 2 1 (not given) 0 17 span 0 2 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Berkshire 570 92 Hampden 562 400 Plymouth 442 191 Bristol 389 320 Essex 354 390 Worcester 352 392 Franklin 312 33 Hampshire 282 52 Barnstable 269 52 Suffolk 267 529 Norfolk 228 195 Middlesex 200 468 Dukes 73 3 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 2708 86.4% Ongoing/Error 428 13.6% 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 1282 47.3% Dismissed 654 24.2% Defaulted 634 23.4% Heard 132 4.9% Other 6 0.2% Total 2708 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 139 108 232 90 6 Foreclosure 15 47 40 3 0 No Fault 30 31 112 10 0 Non-payment 470 448 898 29 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.1% 4.0% 8.6% 3.3% 0.2% Foreclosure 0.6% 1.7% 1.5% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 1.1% 1.1% 4.1% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 17.4% 16.5% 33.2% 1.1% 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 1364 50.4% 43.5% Judgment inferred 536 19.8% 17.1% No judgment 808 29.8% 25.8% Total 2708 100.0% 60.6% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 290 10.7% 0 38,595 2,539 3,628 736,375 Foreclosure 55 2.0% 0 2,644 281 423 15,456 No fault 96 3.5% 0 25,504 2,110 4,010 202,643 Non-payment 923 34.1% 0 22,985 3,180 2,856 2,935,432 Subtotal 1364 50.4% 0 38,595 2,851 3,140 3,889,908 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 68 2.5% 177 8,772 1,781 1,854 121,117 Defaulted 615 22.7% 0 38,595 2,826 3,301 1,738,079 Mediated 626 23.1% 0 21,289 2,943 2,963 1,842,682 Heard 49 1.8% 0 24,161 3,485 4,241 170,789 Other 6 0.2% 1,222 6,562 2,873 2,107 17,239 Subtotal 1364 50.4% 0 38,595 2,851 3,140 3,889,908 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 1434 75.5% 53.0% 45.7% unknown 459 24.2% 16.9% 14.6% Total 1900 100.0% 70.2% 60.6% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1364 Range: 0.000 - 38595.610; Mean: 2851.839; Median: 2066.855; Stddev: 3141.180 Percentiles: 90th: 6180.770; 95th: 8123.200; 99th: 15056.510 0.000 - 32.014: 1 | 32.014 - 157.651: 4 # 157.651 - 346.788: 200 ############################ 346.788 - 761.407: 103 ############## 761.407 - 1670.320: 238 ################################# 1670.320 - 3662.801: 382 ##################################################### 3662.801 - 8030.642: 319 ############################################ 8030.642 - 17605.650: 66 ######### 17605.650 - 38595.610: 7 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 290 Range: 0.000 - 38595.610; Mean: 2539.226; Median: 1239.775; Stddev: 3634.571 Percentiles: 90th: 6094.000; 95th: 8090.830; 99th: 17563.330 0.000 - 246.145: 52 ##################################################### 246.145 - 432.197: 16 ################ 432.197 - 758.308: 19 ################### 758.308 - 1329.917: 30 ############################### 1329.917 - 2331.836: 35 #################################### 2331.836 - 4088.000: 43 ############################################ 4088.000 - 7166.210: 45 ############################################## 7166.210 - 12561.705: 17 ################# 12561.705 - 22018.941: 2 ## 22018.941 - 38595.610: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 55 Range: 0.000 - 2644.770; Mean: 281.031; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 427.466 Percentiles: 90th: 219.310; 95th: 437.940; 99th: 2644.770 0.000 - 246.143: 48 ##################################################### 246.143 - 417.552: 1 # 417.552 - 543.690: 1 # 543.690 - 2644.770: 2 ## No Fault: Count: 96 Range: 0.000 - 25504.240; Mean: 2110.869; Median: 931.220; Stddev: 4031.166 Percentiles: 90th: 4395.510; 95th: 5722.560; 99th: 25504.240 0.000 - 281.072: 35 ##################################################### 281.072 - 464.289: 5 ######## 464.289 - 766.514: 3 ##### 766.514 - 1265.046: 10 ############### 1265.046 - 2087.396: 9 ############## 2087.396 - 3443.896: 11 ################# 3443.896 - 5681.500: 14 ##################### 5681.500 - 9372.521: 2 ### 9372.521 - 25504.240: 3 ##### Non-payment: Count: 923 Range: 0.000 - 22985.000; Mean: 3180.317; Median: 2524.000; Stddev: 2858.415 Percentiles: 90th: 6475.000; 95th: 8421.880; 99th: 14638.660 0.000 - 30.346: 1 | 30.346 - 134.805: 1 | 134.805 - 281.670: 48 ######## 281.670 - 587.361: 47 ######## 587.361 - 1223.639: 127 ###################### 1223.639 - 2548.012: 235 ######################################## 2548.012 - 5304.615: 310 ##################################################### 5304.615 - 11042.318: 126 ###################### 11042.318 - 22985.000: 21 #### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 68 Range: 177.000 - 8772.480; Mean: 1781.144; Median: 1209.910; Stddev: 1868.279 Percentiles: 90th: 4419.230; 95th: 5945.110; 99th: 8772.480 177.000 - 261.842: 14 ##################################################### 261.842 - 387.124: 4 ############### 387.124 - 572.120: 5 ################### 572.120 - 845.293: 5 ################### 845.293 - 1248.672: 7 ########################### 1248.672 - 1844.318: 9 ################################## 1844.318 - 2723.873: 10 ###################################### 2723.873 - 4022.662: 7 ########################### 4022.662 - 5940.508: 3 ########### 5940.508 - 8772.480: 4 ############### Defaulted: Count: 615 Range: 0.000 - 38595.610; Mean: 2826.146; Median: 2049.700; Stddev: 3304.261 Percentiles: 90th: 6060.000; 95th: 7855.470; 99th: 15056.510 0.000 - 246.145: 99 ####################################### 246.145 - 432.197: 28 ########### 432.197 - 758.308: 36 ############## 758.308 - 1329.917: 69 ########################### 1329.917 - 2331.836: 103 ######################################### 2331.836 - 4088.000: 133 ##################################################### 4088.000 - 7166.210: 106 ########################################## 7166.210 - 12561.705: 26 ########## 12561.705 - 22018.941: 7 ### 22018.941 - 38595.610: 3 # Mediated: Count: 626 Range: 0.000 - 21289.660; Mean: 2943.582; Median: 2210.135; Stddev: 2966.335 Percentiles: 90th: 6378.070; 95th: 8421.880; 99th: 14638.660 0.000 - 30.107: 1 | 30.107 - 131.719: 1 | 131.719 - 273.139: 66 ################### 273.139 - 565.248: 19 ##### 565.248 - 1168.616: 84 ######################## 1168.616 - 2414.905: 132 ###################################### 2414.905 - 4989.181: 185 ##################################################### 4989.181 - 10306.485: 90 ########################## 10306.485 - 21289.660: 19 ##### Heard: Count: 49 Range: 0.000 - 24161.110; Mean: 3485.494; Median: 2355.490; Stddev: 4285.888 Percentiles: 90th: 8299.420; 95th: 10327.600; 99th: 24161.110 0.000 - 234.836: 4 ##################### 234.836 - 393.459: 2 ########### 393.459 - 658.772: 1 ##### 658.772 - 1102.533: 2 ########### 1102.533 - 1844.767: 2 ########### 1844.767 - 3086.227: 7 ##################################### 3086.227 - 5162.690: 10 ##################################################### 5162.690 - 8635.777: 7 ##################################### 8635.777 - 14444.856: 3 ################ 14444.856 - 24161.110: 1 ##### Other Outcome: Count: 6 Range: 1222.200 - 6562.200; Mean: 2873.247; Median: 1606.365; Stddev: 2309.171 Percentiles: 90th: 6562.200; 95th: 6562.200; 99th: 6562.200 1222.200 - 1445.969: 2 ##################################################### 1445.969 - 1710.674: 1 ########################### 1710.674 - 2023.804: 1 ########################### 2023.804 - 5547.222: 1 ########################### 5547.222 - 6562.200: 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 1343 70.7% 49.6% 42.8% Issued 1214 63.9% 44.8% 38.7% Levied 291 15.3% 10.7% 9.3% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 25 8.6% 1.3% 0.9% 0.8% Foreclosure 32 11.0% 1.7% 1.2% 1.0% No Fault 21 7.2% 1.1% 0.8% 0.7% Non-payment 213 73.2% 11.2% 7.9% 6.8% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 291 100.0% 15.3% 10.7% 9.3% 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 9.6% 1.5% 1.0% 0.9% Defaulted 119 40.9% 6.3% 4.4% 3.8% Mediated 142 48.8% 7.5% 5.2% 4.5% Heard 2 0.7% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 291 100.0% 15.3% 10.7% 9.3% 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 32 106 30.2% Non-payment 213 1856 11.5% No Fault 21 184 11.4% Cause 25 990 2.5% Unknown/Other 0 0 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across reasons. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case ends with X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Defaulted 119 634 18.8% Mediated 142 1282 11.1% Dismissed 28 654 4.3% Heard 2 132 1.5% Other 0 6 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 2561 91 250 Non-payment 0 2230 32 100 No Fault 9 524 38 73 Foreclosure 9 469 47 81 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2561 45 146 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 3 2230 51 157 Defaulted 7 2561 38 132 Mediated 0 2191 38 119 Heard 1 2157 122 290 Other 9 654 126 259 All Outcomes 0 2561 45 146 All Cases: Count: 2708 Range: 0.000 - 2561.000; Mean: 45.712; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 146.423 Percentiles: 90th: 60.000; 95th: 157.000; 99th: 518.000 0.000 - 3.091: 9 | 3.091 - 7.366: 35 # 7.366 - 16.112: 1414 ##################################################### 16.112 - 33.999: 739 ############################ 33.999 - 70.582: 258 ########## 70.582 - 145.406: 101 #### 145.406 - 298.443: 53 ## 298.443 - 611.448: 70 ### 611.448 - 1251.634: 9 | 1251.634 - 2561.000: 10 | By Reason Cause: Count: 575 Range: 0.000 - 2561.000; Mean: 91.237; Median: 23.000; Stddev: 250.883 Percentiles: 90th: 192.000; 95th: 414.000; 99th: 1599.000 0.000 - 3.091: 5 # 3.091 - 7.366: 9 ## 7.366 - 16.112: 191 ##################################################### 16.112 - 33.999: 161 ############################################# 33.999 - 70.582: 84 ####################### 70.582 - 145.406: 51 ############## 145.406 - 298.443: 30 ######## 298.443 - 611.448: 29 ######## 611.448 - 1251.634: 5 # 1251.634 - 2561.000: 8 ## Non-payment: Count: 1845 Range: 0.000 - 2230.000; Mean: 32.121; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 100.709 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 70.000; 99th: 448.000 0.000 - 3.034: 4 | 3.034 - 7.138: 26 # 7.138 - 15.416: 975 ##################################################### 15.416 - 32.114: 599 ################################# 32.114 - 65.798: 136 ####### 65.798 - 133.745: 43 ## 133.745 - 270.806: 13 # 270.806 - 547.284: 35 ## 547.284 - 1104.994: 3 | 1104.994 - 2230.000: 3 | No Fault: Count: 183 Range: 9.000 - 524.000; Mean: 38.563; Median: 19.000; Stddev: 73.403 Percentiles: 90th: 59.000; 95th: 122.000; 99th: 524.000 9.000 - 13.860: 34 ######################## 13.860 - 21.082: 74 ##################################################### 21.082 - 31.813: 31 ###################### 31.813 - 47.760: 22 ################ 47.760 - 71.457: 8 ###### 71.457 - 106.670: 4 ### 106.670 - 158.997: 2 # 158.997 - 236.754: 3 ## 236.754 - 352.300: 1 # 352.300 - 524.000: 4 ### Foreclosure: Count: 105 Range: 9.000 - 469.000; Mean: 47.676; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 81.057 Percentiles: 90th: 125.000; 95th: 230.000; 99th: 386.000 9.000 - 13.696: 20 ###################### 13.696 - 20.598: 48 ##################################################### 20.598 - 30.742: 10 ########### 30.742 - 45.649: 5 ###### 45.649 - 67.557: 6 ####### 67.557 - 99.753: 2 ## 99.753 - 147.070: 5 ###### 147.070 - 216.610: 2 ## 216.610 - 318.807: 4 #### 318.807 - 469.000: 3 ### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 654 Range: 3.000 - 2230.000; Mean: 51.402; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 157.497 Percentiles: 90th: 73.000; 95th: 233.000; 99th: 588.000 3.000 - 6.528: 18 #### 6.528 - 13.169: 221 ################################################# 13.169 - 25.668: 241 ##################################################### 25.668 - 49.192: 87 ################### 49.192 - 93.467: 33 ####### 93.467 - 176.797: 17 #### 176.797 - 333.632: 10 ## 333.632 - 628.813: 21 ##### 628.813 - 1184.375: 3 # 1184.375 - 2230.000: 3 # Defaulted: Count: 634 Range: 7.000 - 2561.000; Mean: 38.044; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 132.745 Percentiles: 90th: 44.000; 95th: 86.000; 99th: 440.000 7.000 - 13.244: 164 ########################## 13.244 - 24.362: 340 ##################################################### 24.362 - 44.158: 67 ########## 44.158 - 79.405: 26 #### 79.405 - 142.164: 14 ## 142.164 - 253.908: 6 # 253.908 - 452.871: 14 ## 452.871 - 807.130: 1 | 807.130 - 2561.000: 2 | Mediated: Count: 1282 Range: 0.000 - 2191.000; Mean: 38.274; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 119.757 Percentiles: 90th: 51.000; 95th: 112.000; 99th: 447.000 0.000 - 3.027: 1 | 3.027 - 7.109: 10 # 7.109 - 15.330: 635 ##################################################### 15.330 - 31.882: 394 ################################# 31.882 - 65.212: 129 ########### 65.212 - 132.326: 47 #### 132.326 - 267.471: 25 ## 267.471 - 539.603: 23 ## 539.603 - 1087.578: 3 | 1087.578 - 2191.000: 5 | Heard: Count: 132 Range: 1.000 - 2157.000; Mean: 122.909; Median: 25.000; Stddev: 290.074 Percentiles: 90th: 389.000; 95th: 455.000; 99th: 2102.000 1.000 - 3.021: 5 ####### 3.021 - 7.084: 4 ###### 7.084 - 15.253: 29 ########################################### 15.253 - 31.677: 36 ##################################################### 31.677 - 64.696: 17 ######################### 64.696 - 131.082: 15 ###################### 131.082 - 264.549: 8 ############ 264.549 - 532.884: 14 ##################### 532.884 - 1072.370: 2 ### 1072.370 - 2157.000: 2 ### Other Outcome: Count: 6 Range: 9.000 - 654.000; Mean: 126.667; Median: 13.500; Stddev: 259.073 Percentiles: 90th: 654.000; 95th: 654.000; 99th: 654.000 9.000 - 14.192: 4 ##################################################### 14.192 - 79.932: 1 ############# 79.932 - 654.000: 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/.