Outcomes For February 2024

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: 2024-02-01 Search Period End: 2024-02-29 Earliest Case: 2024-02-01 Latest Case: 2024-02-29 Total Cases: 3039 Total Transfers: 76 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 21.1% Of those, percentage pro se: 49.8% 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: 108 Housing crisis baseline max cases per day (UCL): 130 Housing crisis baseline min cases per day (LCL): 44 The number of filings this period is not statistically different from the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent eastern 597 19.6% northeast 514 16.9% western 434 14.3% central 381 12.5% southeast 369 12.1% metro_south 284 9.3% malden district 58 1.9% lynn district 44 1.4% lawrence district 32 1.1% springfield district 29 1.0% brockton district 23 0.8% quincy district 21 0.7% lowell district 20 0.7% fall river district 18 0.6% chelsea district 17 0.6% waltham district 17 0.6% pittsfield district 16 0.5% northern berkshire district 13 0.4% bmc east boston 12 0.4% somerville district 12 0.4% bmc roxbury 10 0.3% attleboro district 8 0.3% bmc dorchester 7 0.2% peabody district 7 0.2% westfield district 7 0.2% wrentham district 7 0.2% cambridge district 6 0.2% framingham district 5 0.2% haverhill district 5 0.2% bmc brighton 4 0.1% brookline district 4 0.1% chicopee district 4 0.1% orleans district 4 0.1% bmc west roxbury 3 0.1% greenfield district 3 0.1% hingham district 3 0.1% salem district 3 0.1% worcester district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% barnstable district 2 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% dedham district 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% holyoke district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% northampton district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% taunton district 2 0.1% woburn district 2 0.1% clinton district 1 0.0% concord district 1 0.0% fallmouth district 1 0.0% fitchburg district 1 0.0% gloucester district 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% milford district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% stoughton district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2398 11 Natural Person 641 3028 Total 3039 3039 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 78.9% 0.4% Natural Person 21.1% 99.6% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2376 22 2398 Optional 322 319 641 Total 2698 341 3039 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 78.2% 0.7% 78.9% Optional 10.6% 10.5% 21.1% Total 88.8% 11.2% 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 4 7 11 Optional 173 2855 3028 Total 177 2862 3039 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.4% Optional 5.7% 93.9% 99.6% Total 5.8% 94.2% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 67 2.2% 1 2122 69.8% 2 692 22.8% 3 117 3.8% 4 25 0.8% 5 10 0.3% 6 3 0.1% 7 2 0.1% 11 1 0.0% Total 3039 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 2254 74.2% Cause 452 14.9% No Fault 305 10.0% Foreclosure 25 0.8% Unknown/Other 3 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 1265 12 North Chatham 142 1 Springfield 133 204 Florida 132 1 Dorchester 131 121 Mattapan 128 47 Warwick 128 1 Dennis Port 126 4 Cheshire 123 4 Ashley Falls 120 1 Pittsfield 111 50 Kingston 110 14 Lynn 109 99 Fitchburg 104 42 North Adams 102 14 Fall River 100 89 Lawrence 95 73 Southbridge 95 16 Everett 93 39 Lowell 93 100 Brockton 91 86 Holyoke 90 36 Northampton 87 25 Norwood 87 25 Whitinsville 86 6 Rockland 85 15 North Billerica 84 9 Malden 82 49 South Dennis 81 3 Roxbury 80 48 Indian Orchard 79 8 Salem 77 32 Chelsea 76 27 Framingham 76 52 Braintree 75 27 Randolph 74 24 Mansfield 73 17 Turners Falls 73 3 Cherry Valley 72 8 Charlestown 71 12 Plympton 70 2 Woburn 70 27 Maynard 69 7 Middleborough 69 16 New Bedford 69 66 Revere 69 36 Worcester 69 126 Easthampton 68 11 Hull 68 7 East Boston 66 27 Gill 66 1 Tewksbury 65 19 Westborough 65 12 North Brookfield 64 3 North Andover 63 18 Stoughton 63 17 Plainville 60 5 Ware 60 6 Attleborough 59 26 Lenox 59 3 Adams 58 5 Seekonk 58 8 South Easton 58 6 Chicopee 57 32 Greenfield 57 10 Hadley 57 3 Palmer 57 7 Leominster 56 23 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Belchertown 54 8 Gardner 54 11 West Falmouth 54 1 Bridgewater 52 14 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Cambridge 51 54 Canton 51 11 Marlborough 51 20 Spencer 51 6 Stockbridge 51 1 Hyde Park 50 17 Taunton 50 28 Truro 49 1 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Webster 47 8 Jamaica Plain 45 17 Clinton 44 6 Fairhaven 44 7 North Oxford 44 1 Peabody 44 23 Quincy 44 41 North Chelmsford 43 4 West Springfield 42 12 Roslindale 41 12 Shirley 41 3 Roxbury Crossing 40 24 Gloucester 38 11 Haverhill 37 23 North Falmouth 37 1 Andover 36 12 Wellfleet 36 1 Wrentham 36 4 Hyannis 35 5 Marshfield 35 9 South Boston 35 12 Berlin 34 1 East Falmouth 34 2 North Attleborough 34 10 Pocasset 34 1 Westfield 34 14 Winthrop 34 6 Provincetown 33 1 Somerville 33 25 Granby 32 2 Franklin 31 10 Westford 31 7 Saugus 30 8 Brighton 29 13 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Dalton 29 2 East Weymouth 29 16 Foxborough 29 5 Swampscott 29 4 Essex 28 1 Great Barrington 28 2 Hanover 28 4 Jefferson 28 1 Osterville 28 1 Wilbraham 28 4 Sagamore 27 1 Sunderland 27 1 Whitman 27 4 Dudley 26 3 Medford 26 15 Waltham 26 16 West Roxbury 26 8 Dorchester Center 25 23 Feeding Hills 25 3 Lynnfield 25 3 Newton Center 25 1 Orange 25 2 Burlington 24 6 Dedham 24 6 Edgartown 24 1 Salisbury 24 2 Arlington 23 10 Chelmsford 23 8 Methuen 23 11 Plymouth 23 13 Avon 22 1 Bedford 22 3 Beverly 22 9 E. Boston 22 9 Ipswich 22 3 Melrose 22 6 Sharon 22 4 Auburndale 21 2 Allston 20 6 Boxborough 20 1 Brewster 20 2 Eastham 20 1 Wakefield 20 5 Acushnet 19 2 Hanson 19 2 Longmeadow 19 3 Newtonville 19 1 Shrewsbury 19 7 Warren 19 1 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Acton 18 4 Auburn 18 3 Holbrook 18 2 West Yarmouth 18 1 Weymouth 18 10 Athol 17 2 Milford 17 5 Southampton 17 1 Tyngsborough 17 2 Hopedale 16 1 Newton Highlands 16 14 Orleans 16 1 South Weymouth 16 9 Walpole 16 4 Berkley 15 1 Charlton 15 2 Danvers 15 4 Groveland 15 1 Hudson 15 3 Lincoln 15 1 Marblehead 15 3 Merrimac 15 1 Millbury 15 2 Natick 15 5 North Easton 15 2 Stow 15 1 Ludlow 14 3 Oxford 14 2 Rockport 14 1 West Bridgewater 14 1 West Newton 14 2 Winchester 14 3 Ayer 13 1 Cohasset 13 1 East Wareham 13 3 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Westminster 13 1 Amesbury 12 2 North Dartmouth 12 3 Watertown 12 4 Blackstone 11 1 Concord 11 2 Douglas 11 1 Holden 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Somerset 11 2 South Hadley 11 2 Agawam 10 3 Boston 10 62 Dracut 10 3 Norton 10 2 Southwick 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Wellesley 10 3 Billerica 9 4 Falmouth 9 3 Lakeville 9 1 Lunenburg 9 1 Nantucket 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Winchendon 9 1 Belmont 8 2 Brookline 8 5 Carver 8 1 Groton 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Reading 8 2 South Yarmouth 8 1 Wilmington 8 2 Centerville 7 1 Dennis 7 1 Medway 7 1 Northborough 7 1 Raynham 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Abington 6 1 Ashland 6 1 Bellingham 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Lexington 6 2 Northbridge 6 1 Swansea 6 1 Newburyport 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 South Dartmouth 5 2 Easton 4 1 Hingham 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 Amherst 2 1 Barnstable 2 1 Newton 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 45 span 0 4 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Berkshire 514 83 Hampden 465 331 Plymouth 458 198 Hampshire 385 71 Bristol 333 274 Essex 313 345 Norfolk 278 237 Worcester 277 309 Suffolk 266 527 Middlesex 237 555 Barnstable 196 38 Franklin 180 19 Dukes 48 2 Nantucket 28 1 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 2715 89.3% Ongoing/Error 324 10.7% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 1141 42.0% Dismissed 904 33.3% Defaulted 564 20.8% Heard 106 3.9% Other 0 0.0% Total 2715 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 92 93 170 26 0 Foreclosure 7 8 8 1 0 No Fault 76 48 161 7 0 Non-payment 729 415 802 71 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.4% 3.4% 6.3% 1.0% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 2.8% 1.8% 5.9% 0.3% 0.0% Non-payment 26.9% 15.3% 29.5% 2.6% 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 1320 48.6% 43.4% Judgment inferred 161 5.9% 5.3% No judgment 1234 45.5% 40.6% Total 2715 100.0% 48.7% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 199 7.3% 0 26,542 2,713 4,547 540,074 Foreclosure 12 0.4% 0 1,500 473 383 5,684 No fault 128 4.7% 0 27,096 5,196 5,746 665,106 Non-payment 981 36.1% 0 136,862 7,972 8,465 7,820,611 Subtotal 1320 48.6% 0 136,862 6,842 7,983 9,031,478 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 82 3.0% 157 26,542 4,441 4,907 364,177 Defaulted 511 18.8% 0 136,862 7,339 9,641 3,750,251 Mediated 697 25.7% 0 40,792 6,777 6,495 4,723,665 Heard 30 1.1% 0 69,547 6,446 12,431 193,382 Subtotal 1320 48.6% 0 136,862 6,842 7,983 9,031,478 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 4 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1430 96.6% 52.7% 47.1% unknown 47 3.2% 1.7% 1.5% Total 1481 100.0% 54.5% 48.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1320 Range: 0.000 - 136862.690; Mean: 6842.029; Median: 4800.770; Stddev: 7986.322 Percentiles: 90th: 15355.290; 95th: 19781.000; 99th: 31031.750 0.000 - 295.345: 116 #################### 295.345 - 584.939: 65 ########### 584.939 - 1157.529: 67 ############ 1157.529 - 2289.665: 132 ####################### 2289.665 - 4528.142: 236 ######################################### 4528.142 - 8954.100: 308 ##################################################### 8954.100 - 17705.180: 273 ############################################### 17705.180 - 35007.970: 90 ############### 35007.970 - 69219.350: 4 # 69219.350 - 136862.690: 3 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 199 Range: 0.000 - 26542.030; Mean: 2713.944; Median: 308.010; Stddev: 4558.650 Percentiles: 90th: 9849.910; 95th: 13943.350; 99th: 20306.380 0.000 - 262.746: 35 ############################# 262.746 - 439.267: 64 ##################################################### 439.267 - 733.929: 5 #### 733.929 - 1225.802: 9 ####### 1225.802 - 2046.877: 14 ############ 2046.877 - 3417.481: 9 ####### 3417.481 - 5705.403: 12 ########## 5705.403 - 9524.588: 16 ############# 9524.588 - 15899.880: 14 ############ 15899.880 - 26542.030: 6 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 12 Range: 0.000 - 1500.000; Mean: 473.737; Median: 327.850; Stddev: 400.453 Percentiles: 90th: 942.250; 95th: 1500.000; 99th: 1500.000 0.000 - 291.955: 4 ##################################################### 291.955 - 350.272: 1 ############# 350.272 - 420.197: 3 ######################################## 420.197 - 725.126: 1 ############# 725.126 - 1042.990: 1 ############# 1042.990 - 1500.000: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 128 Range: 0.000 - 27096.530; Mean: 5196.146; Median: 3820.320; Stddev: 5768.912 Percentiles: 90th: 12459.120; 95th: 16787.410; 99th: 26774.920 0.000 - 328.487: 34 ##################################################### 328.487 - 536.807: 3 ##### 536.807 - 1431.854: 8 ############ 1431.854 - 2337.783: 6 ######### 2337.783 - 3816.490: 9 ############## 3816.490 - 6230.117: 21 ################################# 6230.117 - 10169.770: 21 ################################# 10169.770 - 16600.287: 15 ####################### 16600.287 - 27096.530: 7 ########### Non-payment: Count: 981 Range: 0.000 - 136862.690; Mean: 7972.081; Median: 5945.000; Stddev: 8470.066 Percentiles: 90th: 17050.000; 95th: 21749.480; 99th: 33977.820 0.000 - 295.345: 13 ### 295.345 - 584.939: 22 #### 584.939 - 1157.529: 52 ########### 1157.529 - 2289.665: 103 ##################### 2289.665 - 4528.142: 202 ######################################### 4528.142 - 8954.100: 262 ##################################################### 8954.100 - 17705.180: 233 ############################################### 17705.180 - 35007.970: 81 ################ 35007.970 - 69219.350: 4 # 69219.350 - 136862.690: 3 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 82 Range: 157.000 - 26542.030; Mean: 4441.189; Median: 2793.880; Stddev: 4937.932 Percentiles: 90th: 11264.580; 95th: 13928.090; 99th: 26542.030 157.000 - 262.746: 7 #################### 262.746 - 439.267: 8 ###################### 439.267 - 733.929: 2 ###### 733.929 - 1225.802: 6 ################# 1225.802 - 2046.877: 6 ################# 2046.877 - 3417.481: 19 ##################################################### 3417.481 - 5705.403: 14 ####################################### 5705.403 - 9524.588: 8 ###################### 9524.588 - 15899.880: 8 ###################### 15899.880 - 26542.030: 4 ########### Defaulted: Count: 511 Range: 0.000 - 136862.690; Mean: 7339.045; Median: 5392.330; Stddev: 9650.571 Percentiles: 90th: 16118.660; 95th: 21209.390; 99th: 33659.500 0.000 - 347.917: 76 ############################## 347.917 - 676.479: 18 ####### 676.479 - 1314.437: 20 ######## 1314.437 - 2553.137: 42 ################# 2553.137 - 4958.275: 78 ############################### 4958.275 - 9628.244: 134 ##################################################### 9628.244 - 18695.753: 101 ######################################## 18695.753 - 36301.807: 32 ############# 36301.807 - 70486.844: 2 # 70486.844 - 136862.690: 2 # Mediated: Count: 697 Range: 0.000 - 40792.780; Mean: 6777.139; Median: 4801.540; Stddev: 6500.626 Percentiles: 90th: 15552.370; 95th: 19781.000; 99th: 30550.000 0.000 - 261.560: 21 ######## 261.560 - 458.953: 45 ################# 458.953 - 804.747: 18 ####### 804.747 - 1410.509: 51 ################### 1410.509 - 2471.685: 66 ######################## 2471.685 - 4330.655: 113 ########################################## 4330.655 - 7587.202: 130 ################################################ 7587.202 - 13292.027: 143 ##################################################### 13292.027 - 23285.752: 76 ############################ 23285.752 - 40792.780: 20 ####### Heard: Count: 30 Range: 0.000 - 69547.690; Mean: 6446.097; Median: 3854.570; Stddev: 12644.020 Percentiles: 90th: 10974.150; 95th: 14198.830; 99th: 69547.690 0.000 - 362.798: 3 ####################### 362.798 - 1168.080: 1 ######## 1168.080 - 2094.734: 1 ######## 2094.734 - 3755.888: 4 ############################## 3755.888 - 6733.734: 5 ###################################### 6733.734 - 12071.927: 7 ##################################################### 12071.927 - 21641.364: 2 ############### 21641.364 - 69547.690: 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 1182 79.8% 43.5% 38.9% Issued 908 61.3% 33.4% 29.9% Levied 193 13.0% 7.1% 6.4% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 29 15.0% 2.0% 1.1% 1.0% Foreclosure 13 6.7% 0.9% 0.5% 0.4% No Fault 28 14.5% 1.9% 1.0% 0.9% Non-payment 123 63.7% 8.3% 4.5% 4.0% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 193 100.0% 13.0% 7.1% 6.4% 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 10 5.2% 0.7% 0.4% 0.3% Defaulted 90 46.6% 6.1% 3.3% 3.0% Mediated 93 48.2% 6.3% 3.4% 3.1% Heard 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 193 100.0% 13.0% 7.1% 6.4% 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 13 25 52.0% No Fault 28 305 9.2% Cause 29 452 6.4% Non-payment 123 2254 5.5% 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 90 564 16.0% Mediated 93 1141 8.2% Dismissed 10 904 1.1% Heard 0 106 0.0% Other 0 0 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 1 559 95 105 Non-payment 0 658 86 97 No Fault 11 511 80 76 Foreclosure 31 356 80 85 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 658 86 96 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 612 78 98 Defaulted 25 518 76 72 Mediated 11 658 96 105 Heard 3 532 102 94 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 658 86 96 All Cases: Count: 2715 Range: 0.000 - 658.000; Mean: 86.807; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 96.807 Percentiles: 90th: 189.000; 95th: 308.000; 99th: 511.000 0.000 - 2.571: 4 | 2.571 - 5.377: 12 # 5.377 - 10.386: 22 # 10.386 - 19.332: 81 #### 19.332 - 35.304: 400 ################## 35.304 - 63.825: 1182 ##################################################### 63.825 - 114.752: 515 ####################### 114.752 - 205.688: 261 ############ 205.688 - 368.062: 140 ###### 368.062 - 658.000: 97 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 381 Range: 1.000 - 559.000; Mean: 95.866; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 105.759 Percentiles: 90th: 228.000; 95th: 356.000; 99th: 548.000 1.000 - 2.514: 1 | 2.514 - 5.173: 4 # 5.173 - 9.844: 4 # 9.844 - 18.050: 8 ## 18.050 - 32.466: 21 ####### 32.466 - 57.793: 170 ##################################################### 57.793 - 102.286: 77 ######################## 102.286 - 180.450: 52 ################ 180.450 - 317.766: 22 ####### 317.766 - 559.000: 22 ####### Non-payment: Count: 2017 Range: 0.000 - 658.000; Mean: 86.081; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 97.769 Percentiles: 90th: 190.000; 95th: 311.000; 99th: 511.000 0.000 - 2.571: 3 | 2.571 - 5.377: 8 | 5.377 - 10.386: 18 # 10.386 - 19.332: 69 #### 19.332 - 35.304: 313 ################### 35.304 - 63.825: 866 ##################################################### 63.825 - 114.752: 377 ####################### 114.752 - 205.688: 184 ########### 205.688 - 368.062: 103 ###### 368.062 - 658.000: 75 ##### No Fault: Count: 292 Range: 11.000 - 511.000; Mean: 80.158; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 76.107 Percentiles: 90th: 166.000; 95th: 203.000; 99th: 501.000 11.000 - 16.466: 2 # 16.466 - 24.421: 2 # 24.421 - 36.001: 46 ########################## 36.001 - 52.854: 95 ##################################################### 52.854 - 77.384: 64 #################################### 77.384 - 113.087: 34 ################### 113.087 - 165.052: 19 ########### 165.052 - 240.686: 18 ########## 240.686 - 350.772: 5 ### 350.772 - 511.000: 7 #### Foreclosure: Count: 24 Range: 31.000 - 356.000; Mean: 80.292; Median: 45.500; Stddev: 85.852 Percentiles: 90th: 176.000; 95th: 316.000; 99th: 356.000 31.000 - 39.729: 9 ##################################################### 39.729 - 50.839: 5 ############################# 50.839 - 64.979: 2 ############ 64.979 - 82.976: 2 ############ 82.976 - 105.883: 2 ############ 105.883 - 135.038: 1 ###### 135.038 - 219.376: 1 ###### 219.376 - 356.000: 2 ############ By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 904 Range: 0.000 - 612.000; Mean: 78.963; Median: 42.000; Stddev: 98.248 Percentiles: 90th: 178.000; 95th: 318.000; 99th: 507.000 0.000 - 2.545: 4 # 2.545 - 5.285: 11 ## 5.285 - 10.142: 22 ### 10.142 - 18.752: 66 ########## 18.752 - 34.014: 176 ############################ 34.014 - 61.071: 336 ##################################################### 61.071 - 109.035: 127 #################### 109.035 - 194.063: 79 ############ 194.063 - 344.794: 42 ####### 344.794 - 612.000: 40 ###### Defaulted: Count: 564 Range: 25.000 - 518.000; Mean: 76.479; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 72.397 Percentiles: 90th: 154.000; 95th: 211.000; 99th: 510.000 25.000 - 34.075: 23 ##### 34.075 - 46.316: 232 ##################################################### 46.316 - 62.831: 105 ######################## 62.831 - 85.109: 78 ################## 85.109 - 115.164: 57 ############# 115.164 - 155.707: 13 ### 155.707 - 210.402: 26 ###### 210.402 - 284.186: 16 #### 284.186 - 383.723: 5 # 383.723 - 518.000: 9 ## Mediated: Count: 1141 Range: 11.000 - 658.000; Mean: 96.643; Median: 52.000; Stddev: 105.028 Percentiles: 90th: 206.000; 95th: 354.000; 99th: 548.000 11.000 - 16.912: 6 # 16.912 - 25.738: 11 # 25.738 - 38.911: 217 ############################# 38.911 - 58.575: 401 ##################################################### 58.575 - 87.927: 179 ######################## 87.927 - 131.741: 105 ############## 131.741 - 197.141: 100 ############# 197.141 - 294.764: 43 ###### 294.764 - 440.484: 50 ####### 440.484 - 658.000: 29 #### Heard: Count: 106 Range: 3.000 - 532.000; Mean: 102.783; Median: 75.500; Stddev: 94.565 Percentiles: 90th: 238.000; 95th: 298.000; 99th: 519.000 3.000 - 5.524: 1 ## 5.524 - 16.356: 1 ## 16.356 - 27.309: 4 ####### 27.309 - 45.174: 21 ###################################### 45.174 - 74.311: 26 ################################################ 74.311 - 121.836: 29 ##################################################### 121.836 - 199.352: 11 #################### 199.352 - 325.784: 9 ################ 325.784 - 532.000: 4 ####### -- 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/.