Outcomes for October 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: 2024-10-01 Search Period End: 2024-10-31 Earliest Case: 2024-10-01 Latest Case: 2024-10-31 Total Cases: 3319 Total Transfers: 68 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 23.1% Of those, percentage pro se: 45.0% 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: 110 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 585 17.6% northeast 530 16.0% western 521 15.7% central 483 14.6% southeast 384 11.6% metro_south 321 9.7% quincy district 50 1.5% malden district 40 1.2% chelsea district 32 1.0% lynn district 32 1.0% fall river district 29 0.9% brockton district 27 0.8% lawrence district 25 0.8% pittsfield district 21 0.6% bmc west roxbury 18 0.5% woburn district 18 0.5% somerville district 17 0.5% haverhill district 16 0.5% lowell district 16 0.5% springfield district 16 0.5% attleboro district 10 0.3% cambridge district 10 0.3% waltham district 10 0.3% dedham district 8 0.2% plymouth district 8 0.2% bmc dorchester 7 0.2% barnstable district 6 0.2% bmc central 6 0.2% worcester district 6 0.2% bmc east boston 5 0.2% framingham district 5 0.2% northern berkshire district 5 0.2% holyoke district 4 0.1% edgartown district 3 0.1% fallmouth district 3 0.1% salem district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% chicopee district 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% fitchburg district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% palmer district 2 0.1% peabody district 2 0.1% wareham district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.0% bmc south boston 1 0.0% brookline district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% milford district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% orleans district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% stoughton district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% winchedon district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2553 5 Natural Person 766 3314 Total 3319 3319 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 76.9% 0.2% Natural Person 23.1% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2535 18 2553 Optional 421 345 766 Total 2956 363 3319 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 76.4% 0.5% 76.9% Optional 12.7% 10.4% 23.1% Total 89.1% 10.9% 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 0 5 5 Optional 197 3117 3314 Total 197 3122 3319 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 5.9% 93.9% 99.8% Total 5.9% 94.1% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 93 2.8% 1 2305 69.4% 2 747 22.5% 3 131 3.9% 4 35 1.1% 5 4 0.1% 6 2 0.1% 7 1 0.0% 10 1 0.0% Total 3319 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 2341 70.5% Cause 520 15.7% No Fault 434 13.1% Foreclosure 20 0.6% Unknown/Other 4 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 2848 27 Chestnut Hill 423 9 Buzzards Bay 174 6 Vineyard Haven 158 3 Pittsfield 154 69 Thorndike 144 1 Southbridge 143 24 Springfield 139 213 Chelsea 136 48 Brockton 135 127 Fall River 135 120 Holyoke 132 53 Housatonic 132 1 North Brookfield 128 6 Randolph 121 39 Ashley Falls 120 1 Revere 117 61 Ashfield 115 2 Fitchburg 114 46 Lowell 113 121 Worcester 112 204 Chicopee 103 57 North Adams 102 14 Leeds 98 1 New Bedford 95 91 Malden 90 54 Marlborough 90 35 Lynn 89 81 Roslindale 89 26 Roxbury 88 53 West Warren 88 1 Lawrence 87 67 Mattapan 87 32 Dorchester 86 80 Gilbertville 86 1 Everett 81 34 Ware 81 8 West Springfield 81 23 Eastham 80 4 Gardner 79 16 Brighton 77 34 Charlestown 77 13 Norwood 76 22 Braintree 75 27 Chester 74 1 Haverhill 72 44 Wellfleet 72 2 Middleborough 69 16 Salem 67 28 Winchendon 67 7 Holbrook 64 7 Granville 63 1 Kingston 63 8 Orange 63 5 Otis 62 1 Westhampton 62 1 Cheshire 61 2 South Lancaster 61 1 Indian Orchard 59 6 Hadley 57 3 Harwich Port 57 1 Palmer 57 7 Taunton 57 32 Whitinsville 57 4 Woburn 57 22 Hyannis 56 8 Hyde Park 56 19 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Erving 55 1 Framingham 54 37 Baldwinville 52 1 Athol 51 6 Northbridge 50 8 Quincy 50 47 Lunenburg 49 5 Maynard 49 5 Plainville 48 4 Salisbury 48 4 Stoughton 48 13 Turners Falls 48 2 Webster 47 8 Gloucester 45 13 Rockland 45 8 Sharon 45 8 West Dennis 45 1 Medford 44 25 Tyngsborough 44 5 Rehoboth 43 5 Westborough 43 8 Bridgewater 41 11 Canton 41 9 Wareham 41 9 Hopkinton 40 6 Marion 40 2 Andover 39 13 Cohasset 39 3 South Hadley 39 7 Northampton 38 11 Bedford 37 5 Bradford 37 5 Lakeville 37 4 Raynham 37 5 Dedham 36 9 Dorchester Center 36 34 Norton 36 7 Seekonk 36 5 West Tisbury 36 1 Adams 35 3 Berlin 34 1 East Falmouth 34 2 South Yarmouth 34 4 Three Rivers 34 1 Whitman 34 5 Winthrop 34 6 Blackstone 33 3 Littleton 33 3 Peabody 33 17 Provincetown 33 1 Saugus 33 9 Attleborough 32 14 Fiskdale 32 1 Fairhaven 31 5 Marshfield 31 8 Methuen 31 15 Millville 31 1 North Andover 31 9 Ipswich 30 4 Stow 30 2 Foxborough 29 5 Jamaica Plain 29 11 Leominster 29 12 Melrose 29 8 Oxford 29 4 Princeton 29 1 South Easton 29 3 Burlington 28 7 East Sandwich 28 1 Great Barrington 28 2 Greenfield 28 5 Jefferson 28 1 Plymouth 28 16 Brimfield 27 1 Cambridge 27 29 Dracut 27 8 East Wareham 27 6 North Attleborough 27 8 Shirley 27 2 South Dennis 27 1 Ayer 26 2 Wellesley Hills 26 8 West Roxbury 26 8 Abington 25 4 Newton Center 25 1 Roxbury Crossing 25 15 Rutland 25 2 Somerville 25 19 Sterling 25 2 Watertown 25 8 Williamstown 25 2 Edgartown 24 1 Wakefield 24 6 Allston 23 7 South Boston 23 8 Waltham 23 14 Avon 22 1 Boylston 22 1 Clinton 22 3 East Weymouth 22 12 Millbury 22 3 Weymouth 22 12 Mansfield 21 5 Mashpee 21 3 Milford 21 6 Natick 21 7 Southwick 21 2 Swampscott 21 3 Belchertown 20 3 Belmont 20 5 Brewster 20 2 East Freetown 20 1 Hudson 20 4 Marstons Mills 20 1 Tewksbury 20 6 Wenham 20 1 Deerfield 19 1 East Boston 19 8 East Longmeadow 19 3 Hanson 19 2 Lexington 19 6 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Acton 18 4 Amherst 18 7 Ashland 18 3 Ludlow 18 4 North Billerica 18 2 Stoneham 18 4 West Yarmouth 18 1 Westford 18 4 Beverly 17 7 Boston 17 110 Carver 17 2 Chelmsford 17 6 Westfield 17 7 Granby 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Shrewsbury 16 6 Walpole 16 4 Berkley 15 1 Danvers 15 4 East Taunton 15 1 Medway 15 2 Merrimac 15 1 Arlington 14 6 Dalton 14 1 Northborough 14 2 Sandwich 14 3 Winchester 14 3 Halifax 13 1 Needham 13 4 North Reading 13 2 West Boylston 13 1 Wilmington 13 3 Amesbury 12 2 Billerica 12 5 East Templeton 12 1 Longmeadow 12 2 Millis 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Westport 12 2 Concord 11 2 Douglas 11 1 Holden 11 2 Middleton 11 1 Milton 11 3 Monson 11 1 South Weymouth 11 6 Agawam 10 3 Marblehead 10 2 Needham Heights 10 3 North Chelmsford 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 E. Boston 9 4 Franklin 9 3 Hingham 9 2 Hull 9 1 Rochdale 9 1 Groton 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Norfolk 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Reading 8 2 Spencer 8 1 Centerville 7 1 Charlton 7 1 Hanover 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Auburn 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Brookline 5 3 Grafton 5 1 Newburyport 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Somerset 5 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Onset 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Newton 3 3 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 29 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 594 96 Plymouth 548 237 Hampden 544 387 Bristol 375 309 Hampshire 374 69 Worcester 364 406 Norfolk 315 269 Essex 302 332 Suffolk 292 577 Middlesex 231 540 Barnstable 227 44 Franklin 161 17 Dukes 121 5 Nantucket 56 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 2974 89.6% Ongoing/Error 345 10.4% 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 1362 45.8% Dismissed 905 30.4% Defaulted 608 20.4% Heard 96 3.2% Other 3 0.1% Total 2974 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 92 73 221 22 1 Foreclosure 4 5 10 1 0 No Fault 78 95 235 15 0 Non-payment 729 434 896 58 2 Unknown/Other 2 1 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.1% 2.5% 7.4% 0.7% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 2.6% 3.2% 7.9% 0.5% 0.0% Non-payment 24.5% 14.6% 30.1% 2.0% 0.1% Unknown/Other 0.1% 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 1495 50.3% 45.0% Judgment inferred 233 7.8% 7.0% No judgment 1246 41.9% 37.5% Total 2974 100.0% 52.1% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 191 6.4% 0 90,625 3,147 7,851 601,257 Foreclosure 11 0.4% 265 11,071 1,402 3,073 15,432 No fault 191 6.4% 0 44,504 4,802 6,599 917,213 Non-payment 1102 37.1% 0 50,052 7,257 6,652 7,997,542 Subtotal 1495 50.3% 0 90,625 6,375 6,966 9,531,446 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 101 3.4% 205 21,300 4,412 4,658 445,631 Defaulted 549 18.5% 0 50,052 6,494 6,745 3,565,538 Mediated 809 27.2% 0 90,625 6,453 7,183 5,220,823 Heard 34 1.1% 0 46,675 8,555 9,450 290,894 Other 2 0.1% 231 8,326 4,278 4,047 8,557 Subtotal 1495 50.3% 0 90,625 6,375 6,966 9,531,446 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 5 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 1659 96.0% 55.8% 50.0% unknown 64 3.7% 2.2% 1.9% Total 1728 100.0% 58.1% 52.1% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1495 Range: 0.000 - 90625.000; Mean: 6375.549; Median: 4400.000; Stddev: 6968.785 Percentiles: 90th: 14086.140; 95th: 18875.610; 99th: 32590.890 0.000 - 18.774: 1 | 18.774 - 49.454: 1 | 49.454 - 127.732: 1 | 127.732 - 327.460: 141 ################ 327.460 - 837.064: 74 ######## 837.064 - 2137.318: 197 ###################### 2137.318 - 5454.914: 400 ############################################ 5454.914 - 13919.749: 480 ##################################################### 13919.749 - 35517.752: 144 ################ 35517.752 - 90625.000: 13 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 191 Range: 0.000 - 90625.000; Mean: 3147.948; Median: 465.310; Stddev: 7872.160 Percentiles: 90th: 7697.070; 95th: 12812.540; 99th: 24181.410 0.000 - 115.981: 1 # 115.981 - 243.980: 11 ######### 243.980 - 512.034: 66 ##################################################### 512.034 - 1073.389: 17 ############## 1073.389 - 2248.971: 18 ############## 2248.971 - 4710.857: 24 ################### 4710.857 - 9866.503: 22 ################## 9866.503 - 20663.383: 7 ###### 20663.383 - 43274.055: 5 #### 43274.055 - 90625.000: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 11 Range: 265.850 - 11071.170; Mean: 1402.957; Median: 334.750; Stddev: 3223.950 Percentiles: 90th: 1424.330; 95th: 11071.170; 99th: 11071.170 265.850 - 386.315: 8 ##################################################### 386.315 - 561.160: 1 ####### 561.160 - 1717.897: 1 ####### 1717.897 - 11071.170: 1 ####### No Fault: Count: 191 Range: 0.000 - 44504.050; Mean: 4802.164; Median: 2908.670; Stddev: 6616.545 Percentiles: 90th: 12391.410; 95th: 16981.230; 99th: 34123.930 0.000 - 287.518: 33 ##################################################### 287.518 - 504.023: 21 ################################## 504.023 - 882.992: 2 ### 882.992 - 1546.339: 11 ################## 1546.339 - 2707.462: 13 ##################### 2707.462 - 4739.892: 27 ########################################### 4739.892 - 8297.458: 32 ################################################### 8297.458 - 14524.620: 25 ######################################## 14524.620 - 25424.646: 8 ############# 25424.646 - 44504.050: 4 ###### Non-payment: Count: 1102 Range: 0.000 - 50052.200; Mean: 7257.298; Median: 5427.625; Stddev: 6655.318 Percentiles: 90th: 14876.490; 95th: 19568.430; 99th: 32590.890 0.000 - 17.634: 1 | 17.634 - 43.805: 1 | 43.805 - 258.032: 7 # 258.032 - 621.826: 48 ####### 621.826 - 1496.545: 84 ############ 1496.545 - 3599.749: 234 ################################## 3599.749 - 8656.766: 370 ##################################################### 8656.766 - 20816.033: 304 ############################################ 20816.033 - 50052.200: 44 ###### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 101 Range: 205.000 - 21300.910; Mean: 4412.196; Median: 2636.540; Stddev: 4681.422 Percentiles: 90th: 9675.090; 95th: 14073.390; 99th: 20491.540 205.000 - 326.584: 11 ################################## 326.584 - 519.928: 5 ################ 519.928 - 827.386: 7 ###################### 827.386 - 1316.309: 9 ############################ 1316.309 - 2093.802: 12 ##################################### 2093.802 - 3330.179: 11 ################################## 3330.179 - 5296.283: 17 ##################################################### 5296.283 - 8422.805: 11 ################################## 8422.805 - 13394.638: 12 ##################################### 13394.638 - 21300.910: 6 ################### Defaulted: Count: 549 Range: 0.000 - 50052.200; Mean: 6494.606; Median: 4738.660; Stddev: 6751.611 Percentiles: 90th: 14272.200; 95th: 19072.730; 99th: 34123.930 0.000 - 89.239: 1 | 89.239 - 181.091: 1 | 181.091 - 366.435: 66 ######################## 366.435 - 740.436: 18 ####### 740.436 - 1495.121: 37 ############## 1495.121 - 3017.977: 59 ###################### 3017.977 - 6090.901: 132 ################################################# 6090.901 - 12291.659: 143 ##################################################### 12291.659 - 24803.978: 69 ########################## 24803.978 - 50052.200: 10 #### Mediated: Count: 809 Range: 0.000 - 90625.000; Mean: 6453.429; Median: 4390.650; Stddev: 7187.448 Percentiles: 90th: 14178.900; 95th: 18914.400; 99th: 31508.570 0.000 - 18.774: 1 | 18.774 - 127.732: 1 | 127.732 - 327.460: 63 ############# 327.460 - 837.064: 37 ######## 837.064 - 2137.318: 112 ####################### 2137.318 - 5454.914: 224 ############################################## 5454.914 - 13919.749: 256 ##################################################### 13919.749 - 35517.752: 80 ################# 35517.752 - 90625.000: 7 # Heard: Count: 34 Range: 0.000 - 46675.850; Mean: 8555.721; Median: 5736.210; Stddev: 9592.985 Percentiles: 90th: 16716.220; 95th: 27152.220; 99th: 46675.850 0.000 - 376.453: 3 #################### 376.453 - 643.665: 1 ####### 643.665 - 1100.045: 2 ############# 1100.045 - 3210.788: 1 ####### 3210.788 - 5484.520: 8 ##################################################### 5484.520 - 9367.903: 6 ######################################## 9367.903 - 16000.463: 7 ############################################## 16000.463 - 27328.432: 3 #################### 27328.432 - 46675.850: 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 1365 79.0% 45.9% 41.1% Issued 1028 59.5% 34.6% 31.0% Levied 228 13.2% 7.7% 6.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 30 13.2% 1.7% 1.0% 0.9% Foreclosure 5 2.2% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% No Fault 48 21.1% 2.8% 1.6% 1.4% Non-payment 145 63.6% 8.4% 4.9% 4.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 228 100.0% 13.2% 7.7% 6.9% 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 22 9.6% 1.3% 0.7% 0.7% Defaulted 88 38.6% 5.1% 3.0% 2.7% Mediated 116 50.9% 6.7% 3.9% 3.5% Heard 2 0.9% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 228 100.0% 13.2% 7.7% 6.9% 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 20 25.0% No Fault 48 434 11.1% Non-payment 145 2341 6.2% Cause 30 520 5.8% Unknown/Other 0 4 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 88 608 14.5% Mediated 116 1362 8.5% Dismissed 22 905 2.4% Heard 2 96 2.1% Other 0 3 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 9 580 102 111 Non-payment 0 568 85 88 No Fault 7 547 83 73 Foreclosure 16 552 114 129 Unknown/Other 6 64 28 31 All Reasons 0 580 87 90 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 547 77 87 Defaulted 10 547 74 59 Mediated 2 580 99 100 Heard 20 578 108 93 Other 148 555 295 225 All Outcomes 0 580 87 90 All Cases: Count: 2974 Range: 0.000 - 580.000; Mean: 87.989; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 90.535 Percentiles: 90th: 180.000; 95th: 281.000; 99th: 512.000 0.000 - 4.080: 10 | 4.080 - 7.601: 21 # 7.601 - 13.563: 39 ## 13.563 - 23.657: 82 #### 23.657 - 40.749: 516 ###################### 40.749 - 69.689: 1235 ##################################################### 69.689 - 118.690: 509 ###################### 118.690 - 201.659: 310 ############# 201.659 - 342.139: 146 ###### 342.139 - 580.000: 104 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 409 Range: 9.000 - 580.000; Mean: 102.680; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 111.554 Percentiles: 90th: 233.000; 95th: 399.000; 99th: 537.000 9.000 - 14.011: 5 ## 14.011 - 21.534: 8 #### 21.534 - 32.826: 27 ############ 32.826 - 49.777: 119 ##################################################### 49.777 - 75.223: 94 ########################################## 75.223 - 113.421: 56 ######################### 113.421 - 170.760: 42 ################### 170.760 - 256.834: 22 ########## 256.834 - 386.042: 13 ###### 386.042 - 580.000: 23 ########## Non-payment: Count: 2119 Range: 0.000 - 568.000; Mean: 85.966; Median: 52.000; Stddev: 88.380 Percentiles: 90th: 177.000; 95th: 274.000; 99th: 486.000 0.000 - 4.069: 10 # 4.069 - 7.565: 18 # 7.565 - 13.472: 33 ## 13.472 - 23.452: 56 ### 23.452 - 40.316: 346 #################### 40.316 - 68.810: 897 ##################################################### 68.810 - 116.955: 371 ###################### 116.955 - 198.303: 210 ############ 198.303 - 335.754: 106 ###### 335.754 - 568.000: 70 #### No Fault: Count: 423 Range: 7.000 - 547.000; Mean: 83.080; Median: 55.000; Stddev: 73.760 Percentiles: 90th: 168.000; 95th: 245.000; 99th: 401.000 7.000 - 11.208: 4 ## 11.208 - 17.631: 4 ## 17.631 - 27.431: 6 ## 27.431 - 42.388: 109 ########################################### 42.388 - 65.212: 134 ##################################################### 65.212 - 100.043: 71 ############################ 100.043 - 153.196: 42 ################# 153.196 - 234.311: 29 ########### 234.311 - 358.097: 18 ####### 358.097 - 547.000: 6 ## Foreclosure: Count: 20 Range: 16.000 - 552.000; Mean: 114.600; Median: 66.500; Stddev: 129.308 Percentiles: 90th: 247.000; 95th: 306.000; 99th: 552.000 16.000 - 23.081: 2 ##################### 23.081 - 33.112: 1 ########### 33.112 - 47.321: 5 ##################################################### 47.321 - 67.448: 2 ##################### 67.448 - 95.959: 4 ########################################## 95.959 - 136.346: 1 ########### 136.346 - 193.555: 2 ##################### 193.555 - 274.594: 1 ########### 274.594 - 389.389: 1 ########### 389.389 - 552.000: 1 ########### Unknown/Other reason: Count: 3 Range: 6.000 - 64.000; Mean: 28.333; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 31.214 Percentiles: 90th: 64.000; 95th: 64.000; 99th: 64.000 6.000 - 7.747: 1 ##################################################### 7.747 - 16.070: 1 ##################################################### 16.070 - 64.000: 1 ##################################################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 905 Range: 0.000 - 547.000; Mean: 77.515; Median: 46.000; Stddev: 87.992 Percentiles: 90th: 177.000; 95th: 271.000; 99th: 462.000 0.000 - 4.050: 9 ## 4.050 - 7.501: 20 ### 7.501 - 13.309: 32 ##### 13.309 - 23.087: 66 ########### 23.087 - 39.546: 185 ############################### 39.546 - 67.252: 315 ##################################################### 67.252 - 113.890: 129 ###################### 113.890 - 192.397: 66 ########### 192.397 - 324.548: 50 ######## 324.548 - 547.000: 31 ##### Defaulted: Count: 608 Range: 10.000 - 547.000; Mean: 74.697; Median: 52.000; Stddev: 59.616 Percentiles: 90th: 132.000; 95th: 178.000; 99th: 342.000 10.000 - 15.260: 2 | 15.260 - 23.036: 1 | 23.036 - 34.531: 17 ### 34.531 - 51.523: 283 ##################################################### 51.523 - 76.640: 127 ######################## 76.640 - 113.769: 93 ################# 113.769 - 168.654: 50 ######### 168.654 - 249.786: 19 #### 249.786 - 369.716: 11 ## 369.716 - 547.000: 5 # Mediated: Count: 1362 Range: 2.000 - 580.000; Mean: 99.012; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 100.502 Percentiles: 90th: 202.000; 95th: 316.000; 99th: 536.000 2.000 - 4.080: 1 | 4.080 - 7.601: 1 | 7.601 - 13.563: 6 # 13.563 - 23.657: 13 # 23.657 - 40.749: 214 ################### 40.749 - 69.689: 584 ##################################################### 69.689 - 118.690: 232 ##################### 118.690 - 201.659: 173 ################ 201.659 - 342.139: 72 ####### 342.139 - 580.000: 66 ###### Heard: Count: 96 Range: 20.000 - 578.000; Mean: 108.031; Median: 74.500; Stddev: 93.105 Percentiles: 90th: 224.000; 95th: 289.000; 99th: 578.000 20.000 - 28.259: 3 ####### 28.259 - 39.767: 10 ###################### 39.767 - 55.801: 13 ############################# 55.801 - 78.141: 24 ##################################################### 78.141 - 109.268: 15 ################################# 109.268 - 152.637: 10 ###################### 152.637 - 213.063: 11 ######################## 213.063 - 297.254: 6 ############# 297.254 - 414.559: 2 #### 414.559 - 578.000: 2 #### Other Outcome: Count: 3 Range: 148.000 - 555.000; Mean: 295.000; Median: 182.000; Stddev: 225.807 Percentiles: 90th: 555.000; 95th: 555.000; 99th: 555.000 148.000 - 168.971: 1 ##################################################### 168.971 - 192.894: 1 ##################################################### 192.894 - 555.000: 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/.