Outcomes for August 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: 2024-08-01 Search Period End: 2024-08-31 Earliest Case: 2024-08-01 Latest Case: 2024-08-30 Total Cases: 3272 Total Transfers: 64 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 24.3% Of those, percentage pro se: 47.5% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Ware Least stable with 10+ filings: Ware Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 109 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 606 18.5% northeast 577 17.6% central 514 15.7% western 433 13.2% southeast 342 10.5% metro_south 319 9.7% malden district 44 1.3% lawrence district 43 1.3% fall river district 41 1.3% lynn district 31 0.9% lowell district 23 0.7% pittsfield district 21 0.6% brockton district 20 0.6% quincy district 20 0.6% haverhill district 18 0.6% salem district 16 0.5% chelsea district 15 0.5% cambridge district 14 0.4% northern berkshire district 14 0.4% framingham district 13 0.4% bmc west roxbury 10 0.3% waltham district 10 0.3% bmc dorchester 9 0.3% attleboro district 8 0.2% bmc central 7 0.2% bmc east boston 7 0.2% somerville district 7 0.2% worcester district 7 0.2% peabody district 6 0.2% wrentham district 6 0.2% barnstable district 5 0.2% ayer district 4 0.1% concord district 4 0.1% fallmouth district 4 0.1% milford district 4 0.1% dedham district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% newburyport district 3 0.1% orleans district 3 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% southern berkshire district 2 0.1% stoughton district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% fitchburg district 1 0.0% marlborough district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% springfield district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% woburn district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2478 6 Natural Person 794 3266 Total 3272 3272 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 75.7% 0.2% Natural Person 24.3% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2463 15 2478 Optional 417 377 794 Total 2880 392 3272 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 75.3% 0.5% 75.7% Optional 12.7% 11.5% 24.3% Total 88.0% 12.0% 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 3 6 Optional 195 3071 3266 Total 198 3074 3272 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 6.0% 93.9% 99.8% Total 6.1% 93.9% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 88 2.7% 1 2311 70.6% 2 702 21.5% 3 126 3.9% 4 31 0.9% 5 8 0.2% 6 4 0.1% 8 1 0.0% 9 1 0.0% Total 3272 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 2331 71.2% Cause 522 16.0% No Fault 399 12.2% Foreclosure 19 0.6% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Ware 182 18 Gilbertville 173 2 Three Rivers 170 5 Plainfield 154 1 East Falmouth 138 8 Pittsfield 138 62 Southbridge 137 23 Salem 135 56 Housatonic 132 1 Fiskdale 129 4 Fall River 124 111 Lawrence 121 93 Mattapan 120 44 Springfield 116 178 Fitchburg 114 46 Lynn 107 97 Brockton 106 100 Lowell 106 113 Worcester 104 190 Randolph 102 33 Holyoke 100 40 Hyannis 99 14 Roxbury 97 58 Winchendon 97 10 Chestnut Hill 94 2 North Adams 94 13 Gardner 93 19 Roslindale 93 27 Dorchester 89 82 New Bedford 89 85 Everett 88 37 West Warren 88 1 Marlborough 85 33 Rockland 85 15 Framingham 83 57 Webster 83 14 Revere 81 42 Chicopee 79 44 Millers Falls 77 1 Norwood 76 22 Canton 74 16 Peabody 74 38 Wellfleet 72 2 Indian Orchard 69 7 Greenfield 68 12 Haverhill 68 42 Bedford 67 9 Bridgewater 67 18 Danvers 67 18 East Boston 66 27 Orange 63 5 Whitman 62 9 Cheshire 61 2 Wenham 61 3 Malden 60 36 Chelsea 59 21 Hyde Park 59 20 Adams 58 5 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Jamaica Plain 58 22 Milford 57 16 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Sagamore 54 2 Sunderland 54 2 Taunton 53 30 Tyngsborough 53 6 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Athol 51 6 Newton Center 51 2 Stockbridge 51 1 Methuen 50 24 Northborough 49 7 Westborough 49 9 Ashland 48 8 Cambridge 48 51 Dorchester Center 48 45 Hull 48 5 Turners Falls 48 2 West Townsend 47 1 Clinton 44 6 Great Barrington 42 3 Quincy 42 39 West Springfield 42 12 Allston 41 12 Gloucester 41 12 North Attleborough 41 12 Tewksbury 41 12 Beverly 40 16 Eastham 40 2 Holland 40 1 Kingston 39 5 Leominster 39 16 Maynard 39 4 West Boylston 39 3 East Dennis 38 1 Hampden 38 2 Manchester 38 2 Barre 37 2 Ipswich 37 5 Brighton 36 16 Dedham 36 9 Plainville 36 3 Waltham 36 22 Charlestown 35 6 Foxborough 35 6 Plympton 35 1 South Boston 35 12 Franklin 34 11 Pocasset 34 1 Westfield 34 14 Woburn 34 13 Hardwick 33 1 Lee 33 2 Provincetown 33 1 Stoughton 33 9 Ashburnham 32 2 North Chelmsford 32 3 Dennis Port 31 1 East Taunton 31 2 Millville 31 1 Weymouth 31 17 Andover 30 10 Braintree 30 11 Dracut 30 9 Roxbury Crossing 30 18 Shrewsbury 30 11 Dalton 29 2 South Easton 29 3 Essex 28 1 Mashpee 28 4 North Billerica 28 3 Osterville 28 1 Sharon 28 5 South Dennis 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Westwood 27 4 Hudson 26 5 Plymouth 26 15 Fairhaven 25 4 Lynnfield 25 3 Middleborough 25 6 Somerville 25 19 Williamstown 25 2 Burlington 24 6 Edgartown 24 1 Palmer 24 3 South Weymouth 24 13 Charlton 23 3 Acton 22 5 Attleborough 22 10 Centerville 22 3 East Wareham 22 5 Grafton 22 4 Hingham 22 5 Millbury 22 3 Raynham 22 3 South Grafton 22 1 South Hadley 22 4 Wilmington 22 5 Agawam 21 6 Natick 21 7 North Andover 21 6 Norton 21 4 Oxford 21 3 Seekonk 21 3 Southwick 21 2 Watertown 21 7 Brewster 20 2 Hopkinton 20 3 Marblehead 20 4 Marion 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Paxton 20 1 South Dartmouth 20 7 Wakefield 20 5 Walpole 20 5 Wellesley Hills 20 6 Deerfield 19 1 Hadley 19 1 Lenox 19 1 Lunenburg 19 2 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Warren 19 1 West Roxbury 19 6 Abington 18 3 Amesbury 18 3 Bellingham 18 3 Wareham 18 4 Wrentham 18 2 Boston 17 108 Chelmsford 17 6 Mendon 17 1 Winthrop 17 3 Belmont 16 4 Pembroke 16 3 Sudbury 16 3 Groveland 15 1 Newbury 15 1 Hanover 14 2 Ludlow 14 3 Melrose 14 4 Rockport 14 1 Swampscott 14 2 Wellesley 14 4 Whitinsville 14 1 Ayer 13 1 Duxbury 13 2 Easthampton 12 2 Lexington 12 4 Medford 12 7 Rutland 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Brookline 11 7 Douglas 11 1 Littleton 11 1 Monson 11 1 Montague 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Saugus 11 3 Townsend 11 1 Amherst 10 4 Auburndale 10 1 Northampton 10 3 Southborough 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 Billerica 9 4 Cherry Valley 9 1 E. Boston 9 4 Lakeville 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Onset 9 2 Carver 8 1 Feeding Hills 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 South Yarmouth 8 1 Arlington 7 3 Bradford 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 East Weymouth 7 4 Marshfield 7 2 Milton 7 2 North Easton 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 Wayland 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Auburn 6 1 Belchertown 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 Longmeadow 6 1 Needham Heights 6 2 Northbridge 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Holden 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Mansfield 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Reading 4 1 Stoneham 4 1 Westford 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Needham 3 1 South Walpole 3 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 2 2 Newton Lower Falls 2 2 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 43 span 0 5 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 582 94 Plymouth 477 206 Hampden 451 321 Essex 404 445 Worcester 377 420 Bristol 340 280 Suffolk 290 573 Norfolk 280 239 Barnstable 253 49 Franklin 237 25 Middlesex 228 534 Hampshire 184 34 Nantucket 56 2 Dukes 48 2 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2898 88.6% Ongoing/Error 374 11.4% 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 1268 43.8% Dismissed 940 32.4% Defaulted 596 20.6% Heard 94 3.2% Other 0 0.0% Total 2898 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 94 91 214 28 0 Foreclosure 2 7 8 0 0 No Fault 100 68 196 16 0 Non-payment 744 430 850 50 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.2% 3.1% 7.4% 1.0% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 3.5% 2.3% 6.8% 0.6% 0.0% Non-payment 25.7% 14.8% 29.3% 1.7% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. Amounts in excess of 100% of cases disposed indicate a judgment was inferred from the docket history but no dollar amount was entered and the case was not yet disposed. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1486 51.3% 45.4% Judgment inferred 203 7.0% 6.2% No judgment 1209 41.7% 36.9% Total 2898 100.0% 51.6% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 225 7.8% 0 39,511 2,870 5,330 645,873 Foreclosure 9 0.3% 247 552 332 82 2,992 No fault 141 4.9% 0 40,000 4,728 6,184 666,725 Non-payment 1111 38.3% 0 90,561 7,304 7,702 8,115,503 Subtotal 1486 51.3% 0 90,561 6,346 7,434 9,431,094 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 117 4.0% 0 58,025 4,414 6,566 516,501 Defaulted 555 19.2% 0 66,004 6,931 7,579 3,846,769 Mediated 789 27.2% 0 90,561 6,208 7,397 4,898,804 Heard 25 0.9% 0 32,427 6,760 7,424 169,019 Subtotal 1486 51.3% 0 90,561 6,346 7,434 9,431,094 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 6 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 1647 97.5% 56.8% 50.3% unknown 36 2.1% 1.2% 1.1% Total 1689 100.0% 58.3% 51.6% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1486 Range: 0.000 - 90561.480; Mean: 6346.631; Median: 4161.040; Stddev: 7436.919 Percentiles: 90th: 14390.720; 95th: 18982.890; 99th: 36897.670 0.000 - 4.843: 1 | 4.843 - 144.679: 3 | 144.679 - 424.588: 199 #################### 424.588 - 1242.314: 93 ######### 1242.314 - 3631.226: 328 ################################ 3631.226 - 10610.204: 539 ##################################################### 10610.204 - 30998.628: 255 ######################### 30998.628 - 90561.480: 22 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 225 Range: 0.000 - 39511.170; Mean: 2870.547; Median: 303.070; Stddev: 5342.448 Percentiles: 90th: 8660.000; 95th: 13540.000; 99th: 20675.210 0.000 - 4.378: 1 # 4.378 - 280.113: 66 ##################################################### 280.113 - 754.876: 54 ########################################### 754.876 - 2031.453: 14 ########### 2031.453 - 5464.007: 23 ################## 5464.007 - 14693.702: 38 ############################### 14693.702 - 39511.170: 7 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 9 Range: 247.200 - 552.190; Mean: 332.497; Median: 315.890; Stddev: 87.038 Percentiles: 90th: 552.190; 95th: 552.190; 99th: 552.190 247.200 - 267.911: 1 ############# 267.911 - 290.351: 1 ############# 290.351 - 314.663: 2 ########################### 314.663 - 341.004: 4 ##################################################### 341.004 - 552.190: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 141 Range: 0.000 - 40000.000; Mean: 4728.549; Median: 2852.730; Stddev: 6206.561 Percentiles: 90th: 10901.830; 95th: 16000.000; 99th: 34971.270 0.000 - 156.500: 1 ## 156.500 - 290.394: 29 ################################################### 290.394 - 538.112: 13 ####################### 538.112 - 996.420: 1 ## 996.420 - 1844.341: 8 ############## 1844.341 - 3413.095: 12 ##################### 3413.095 - 6315.469: 30 ##################################################### 6315.469 - 11685.197: 24 ########################################## 11685.197 - 21619.813: 11 ################### 21619.813 - 40000.000: 3 ##### Non-payment: Count: 1111 Range: 0.000 - 90561.480; Mean: 7304.683; Median: 5135.000; Stddev: 7705.881 Percentiles: 90th: 15600.110; 95th: 19960.760; 99th: 36897.670 0.000 - 269.076: 12 ## 269.076 - 514.339: 33 ###### 514.339 - 982.331: 42 ######## 982.331 - 1875.320: 110 ##################### 1875.320 - 3579.253: 203 ####################################### 3579.253 - 6830.572: 256 ################################################# 6830.572 - 13034.496: 277 ##################################################### 13034.496 - 24872.362: 133 ######################### 24872.362 - 47460.493: 24 ##### 47460.493 - 90561.480: 6 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 117 Range: 0.000 - 58025.070; Mean: 4414.541; Median: 2907.730; Stddev: 6595.095 Percentiles: 90th: 10676.750; 95th: 14068.420; 99th: 23907.290 0.000 - 376.895: 14 ################################### 376.895 - 660.131: 7 ################## 660.131 - 1155.657: 11 ############################ 1155.657 - 2022.585: 16 ######################################## 2022.585 - 3539.287: 21 ##################################################### 3539.287 - 6192.775: 20 ################################################## 6192.775 - 10835.083: 16 ######################################## 10835.083 - 18956.858: 7 ################## 18956.858 - 33166.002: 2 ##### 33166.002 - 58025.070: 1 ### Defaulted: Count: 555 Range: 0.000 - 66004.050; Mean: 6931.115; Median: 4774.870; Stddev: 7586.114 Percentiles: 90th: 16087.160; 95th: 20152.110; 99th: 36897.670 0.000 - 355.664: 84 ####################################### 355.664 - 636.064: 8 #### 636.064 - 1136.909: 11 ##### 1136.909 - 2031.505: 35 ################ 2031.505 - 3629.412: 81 ##################################### 3629.412 - 6483.554: 102 ############################################### 6483.554 - 11581.555: 115 ##################################################### 11581.555 - 20687.483: 80 ##################################### 20687.483 - 36952.273: 20 ######### 36952.273 - 66004.050: 5 ## Mediated: Count: 789 Range: 0.000 - 90561.480; Mean: 6208.878; Median: 4185.510; Stddev: 7402.553 Percentiles: 90th: 13741.620; 95th: 18337.730; 99th: 37308.520 0.000 - 4.843: 1 | 4.843 - 144.679: 3 # 144.679 - 424.588: 94 ################# 424.588 - 1242.314: 56 ########## 1242.314 - 3631.226: 177 ################################ 3631.226 - 10610.204: 295 ##################################################### 10610.204 - 30998.628: 127 ####################### 30998.628 - 90561.480: 11 ## Heard: Count: 25 Range: 0.000 - 32427.320; Mean: 6760.764; Median: 4970.730; Stddev: 7577.582 Percentiles: 90th: 17792.510; 95th: 18475.220; 99th: 32427.320 0.000 - 421.736: 2 ##################### 421.736 - 1795.197: 1 ########### 1795.197 - 4711.061: 4 ########################################## 4711.061 - 7631.016: 4 ########################################## 7631.016 - 12360.400: 5 ##################################################### 12360.400 - 20020.474: 3 ################################ 20020.474 - 32427.320: 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 1313 77.7% 45.3% 40.1% Issued 1002 59.3% 34.6% 30.6% Levied 242 14.3% 8.4% 7.4% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 29 12.0% 1.7% 1.0% 0.9% Foreclosure 5 2.1% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% No Fault 31 12.8% 1.8% 1.1% 0.9% Non-payment 177 73.1% 10.5% 6.1% 5.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 242 100.0% 14.3% 8.4% 7.4% 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 29 12.0% 1.7% 1.0% 0.9% Defaulted 109 45.0% 6.5% 3.8% 3.3% Mediated 101 41.7% 6.0% 3.5% 3.1% Heard 3 1.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 242 100.0% 14.3% 8.4% 7.4% 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 5 19 26.3% No Fault 31 399 7.8% Non-payment 177 2331 7.6% Cause 29 522 5.6% Unknown/Other 0 1 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across reasons. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case ends with X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Defaulted 109 596 18.3% Mediated 101 1268 8.0% Heard 3 94 3.2% Dismissed 29 940 3.1% 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 4 572 88 91 Non-payment 0 592 78 85 No Fault 4 617 91 100 Foreclosure 5 372 102 106 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 617 81 88 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 562 74 87 Defaulted 25 542 73 67 Mediated 3 617 88 94 Heard 8 596 108 116 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 617 81 88 All Cases: Count: 2898 Range: 0.000 - 617.000; Mean: 81.491; Median: 48.000; Stddev: 88.798 Percentiles: 90th: 180.000; 95th: 267.000; 99th: 492.000 0.000 - 4.111: 24 # 4.111 - 7.708: 11 # 7.708 - 13.835: 51 ### 13.835 - 24.274: 87 ##### 24.274 - 42.058: 973 ##################################################### 42.058 - 72.357: 940 ################################################### 72.357 - 123.976: 334 ################## 123.976 - 211.919: 251 ############## 211.919 - 361.745: 151 ######## 361.745 - 617.000: 75 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 427 Range: 4.000 - 572.000; Mean: 88.745; Median: 51.000; Stddev: 91.182 Percentiles: 90th: 210.000; 95th: 290.000; 99th: 503.000 4.000 - 7.033: 2 # 7.033 - 11.906: 5 # 11.906 - 19.736: 3 # 19.736 - 32.315: 21 ###### 32.315 - 52.526: 193 ##################################################### 52.526 - 84.996: 85 ####################### 84.996 - 137.165: 46 ############# 137.165 - 220.982: 36 ########## 220.982 - 355.645: 23 ###### 355.645 - 572.000: 13 #### Non-payment: Count: 2074 Range: 0.000 - 592.000; Mean: 78.071; Median: 46.000; Stddev: 85.579 Percentiles: 90th: 169.000; 95th: 255.000; 99th: 486.000 0.000 - 4.090: 21 ## 4.090 - 7.636: 9 # 7.636 - 13.652: 42 ### 13.652 - 23.860: 63 ##### 23.860 - 41.178: 638 ############################################## 41.178 - 70.562: 732 ##################################################### 70.562 - 120.416: 242 ################## 120.416 - 205.000: 175 ############# 205.000 - 348.511: 97 ####### 348.511 - 592.000: 54 #### No Fault: Count: 380 Range: 4.000 - 617.000; Mean: 91.079; Median: 51.000; Stddev: 100.754 Percentiles: 90th: 220.000; 95th: 294.000; 99th: 542.000 4.000 - 7.094: 2 # 7.094 - 12.103: 3 # 12.103 - 20.212: 6 ## 20.212 - 33.338: 36 ############ 33.338 - 54.588: 156 ##################################################### 54.588 - 88.987: 86 ############################# 88.987 - 144.674: 31 ########### 144.674 - 234.822: 26 ######### 234.822 - 380.757: 23 ######## 380.757 - 617.000: 11 #### Foreclosure: Count: 17 Range: 5.000 - 372.000; Mean: 102.294; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 106.865 Percentiles: 90th: 364.000; 95th: 372.000; 99th: 372.000 5.000 - 8.068: 1 ########### 8.068 - 30.302: 1 ########### 30.302 - 46.308: 3 ################################ 46.308 - 70.497: 5 ##################################################### 70.497 - 107.054: 2 ##################### 107.054 - 162.304: 3 ################################ 162.304 - 372.000: 2 ##################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 940 Range: 0.000 - 562.000; Mean: 74.520; Median: 42.000; Stddev: 87.869 Percentiles: 90th: 170.000; 95th: 247.000; 99th: 482.000 0.000 - 4.064: 20 #### 4.064 - 7.547: 10 ## 7.547 - 13.426: 46 ######## 13.426 - 23.349: 66 ############ 23.349 - 40.097: 292 ##################################################### 40.097 - 68.367: 250 ############################################# 68.367 - 116.083: 93 ################# 116.083 - 196.620: 88 ################ 196.620 - 332.557: 44 ######## 332.557 - 562.000: 30 ##### Defaulted: Count: 596 Range: 25.000 - 542.000; Mean: 73.336; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 67.576 Percentiles: 90th: 141.000; 95th: 212.000; 99th: 399.000 25.000 - 34.234: 31 ###### 34.234 - 46.746: 255 ##################################################### 46.746 - 63.703: 129 ########################### 63.703 - 86.681: 75 ################ 86.681 - 117.819: 29 ###### 117.819 - 160.016: 28 ###### 160.016 - 217.199: 23 ##### 217.199 - 294.689: 10 ## 294.689 - 399.698: 11 ## 399.698 - 542.000: 5 # Mediated: Count: 1268 Range: 3.000 - 617.000; Mean: 88.491; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 94.829 Percentiles: 90th: 205.000; 95th: 283.000; 99th: 513.000 3.000 - 5.621: 4 | 5.621 - 9.961: 3 | 9.961 - 17.144: 4 | 17.144 - 29.035: 26 ## 29.035 - 48.719: 559 ##################################################### 48.719 - 81.303: 337 ################################ 81.303 - 135.242: 129 ############ 135.242 - 224.529: 99 ######### 224.529 - 372.332: 74 ####### 372.332 - 617.000: 33 ### Heard: Count: 94 Range: 8.000 - 596.000; Mean: 108.489; Median: 66.500; Stddev: 116.708 Percentiles: 90th: 260.000; 95th: 380.000; 99th: 596.000 8.000 - 12.690: 1 ## 12.690 - 19.825: 3 ###### 19.825 - 30.678: 1 ## 30.678 - 47.188: 21 ########################################### 47.188 - 72.301: 26 ##################################################### 72.301 - 110.502: 16 ################################# 110.502 - 168.611: 10 #################### 168.611 - 257.005: 6 ############ 257.005 - 391.465: 6 ############ 391.465 - 596.000: 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/.