Outcomes for November 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: 2024-11-01 Search Period End: 2024-11-30 Earliest Case: 2024-11-01 Latest Case: 2024-11-29 Total Cases: 2960 Total Transfers: 67 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 22.8% Of those, percentage pro se: 43.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Humarock Least stable with 10+ filings: Framingham Least stable with 100+ filings: Framingham Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 102 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 647 21.9% central 469 15.8% northeast 427 14.4% western 425 14.4% southeast 316 10.7% metro_south 272 9.2% malden district 49 1.7% quincy district 29 1.0% lynn district 27 0.9% bmc west roxbury 21 0.7% fall river district 21 0.7% somerville district 19 0.6% waltham district 16 0.5% lawrence district 15 0.5% pittsfield district 15 0.5% springfield district 14 0.5% cambridge district 12 0.4% attleboro district 11 0.4% brockton district 11 0.4% chelsea district 11 0.4% dedham district 11 0.4% lowell district 11 0.4% northern berkshire district 8 0.3% haverhill district 7 0.2% woburn district 7 0.2% salem district 6 0.2% bmc east boston 5 0.2% framingham district 5 0.2% newton district 5 0.2% peabody district 5 0.2% westfield district 5 0.2% barnstable district 4 0.1% holyoke district 4 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% fallmouth district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% hingham district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% stoughton district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% worcester district 3 0.1% wrentham district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% bmc dorchester 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.0% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% bmc south boston 1 0.0% chicopee district 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2284 6 Natural Person 676 2954 Total 2960 2960 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 77.2% 0.2% Natural Person 22.8% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2270 14 2284 Optional 381 295 676 Total 2651 309 2960 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 76.7% 0.5% 77.2% Optional 12.9% 10.0% 22.8% Total 89.6% 10.4% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2 4 6 Optional 161 2793 2954 Total 163 2797 2960 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 5.4% 94.4% 99.8% Total 5.5% 94.5% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 73 2.5% 1 2022 68.3% 2 717 24.2% 3 103 3.5% 4 27 0.9% 5 15 0.5% 6 2 0.1% 7 1 0.0% Total 2960 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 2140 72.3% Cause 469 15.8% No Fault 333 11.2% Foreclosure 15 0.5% Unknown/Other 3 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Humarock 555 1 Charlemont 315 4 Chestnut Hill 282 6 Framingham 203 139 Indian Orchard 178 18 Roxbury 164 98 Ware 162 16 Springfield 130 199 Dorchester 117 108 Mattapan 112 41 Randolph 112 36 Adams 106 9 Florence 105 1 Vineyard Haven 105 2 Berlin 104 3 Norwood 104 30 Southbridge 95 16 Roslindale 93 27 Lowell 89 95 Haydenville 88 1 Marlborough 88 34 Fall River 87 78 Malden 87 52 Lawrence 86 66 Holyoke 80 32 Milford 78 22 Pittsfield 78 35 Newton Center 77 3 Hyannis 70 10 Lynn 70 64 New Bedford 70 67 Everett 69 29 Pocasset 69 2 Three Rivers 68 2 Chelsea 65 23 Canton 64 14 Worcester 64 116 West Springfield 63 18 Marion 61 3 Revere 61 32 Bridgewater 60 16 Plainville 60 5 Brockton 59 56 Hull 58 6 South Easton 58 6 Ashfield 57 1 Greenfield 57 10 Hadley 57 3 Hanover 57 8 Chicopee 56 31 Hyde Park 56 19 Leominster 56 23 Shelburne Falls 56 1 West Yarmouth 56 3 Ayer 53 4 Charlestown 53 9 Jamaica Plain 53 20 Feeding Hills 51 6 North Adams 51 7 Abington 50 8 Brewster 50 5 Fitchburg 49 20 Hinsdale 49 1 Newton Upper Falls 49 3 Westborough 49 9 Foxborough 47 8 South Boston 47 16 East Taunton 46 3 West Wareham 46 1 Beverly 45 18 Dorchester Center 45 42 Salem 45 19 Winthrop 45 8 Clinton 44 6 East Boston 44 18 Gardner 44 9 North Oxford 44 1 Quincy 44 41 Taunton 44 25 Rockport 43 3 Whitinsville 43 3 Southwick 42 4 Allston 41 12 Brighton 41 18 Marstons Mills 41 2 Westfield 41 17 Woburn 41 16 Rockland 40 7 Braintree 39 14 Peabody 39 20 South Hadley 39 7 Middleborough 38 9 Newtonville 38 2 Orange 38 3 Barre 37 2 Fairhaven 37 6 Haverhill 37 23 Stoughton 37 10 Watertown 37 12 Cambridge 36 38 Norton 36 7 Wellfleet 36 1 Webster 35 6 East Falmouth 34 2 Gloucester 34 10 Mansfield 34 8 Needham 34 10 North Attleborough 34 10 Somerville 34 26 Hardwick 33 1 Lee 33 2 Attleborough 32 14 Burlington 32 8 Granby 32 2 Lanesborough 32 1 Palmer 32 4 Dennis Port 31 1 Hingham 31 7 Waltham 31 19 Bellingham 30 5 Groveland 30 2 Saugus 30 8 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Hanson 29 3 Hatfield 29 1 Lunenburg 29 3 Nahant 29 1 Raynham 29 4 West Hatfield 29 1 Agawam 28 8 East Sandwich 28 1 Essex 28 1 Franklin 28 9 Ludlow 28 6 North Billerica 28 3 Osterville 28 1 Sudbury 28 5 Wakefield 28 7 East Wareham 27 6 Leicester 27 3 Sagamore Beach 27 1 South Dennis 27 1 South Weymouth 27 15 Cohasset 26 2 Athol 25 3 Methuen 25 12 South Yarmouth 25 3 Turners Falls 24 1 Charlton 23 3 Douglas 23 2 Dracut 23 7 Medford 23 13 Avon 22 1 Forestdale 22 1 Littleton 22 2 Millbury 22 3 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Sharon 22 4 Weymouth 22 12 Natick 21 7 Dedham 20 5 Hopkinton 20 3 North Reading 20 3 East Harwich 19 1 Lenox 19 1 Maynard 19 2 West Roxbury 19 6 Acton 18 4 Ashland 18 3 Auburn 18 3 Lakeville 18 2 Swansea 18 3 Westford 18 4 Wrentham 18 2 Spencer 17 2 Tewksbury 17 5 Tyngsborough 17 2 Wilmington 17 4 Ashburnham 16 1 Boston 16 101 Hopedale 16 1 Reading 16 4 Roxbury Crossing 16 10 Shrewsbury 16 6 Amherst 15 6 Andover 15 5 Bedford 15 2 Harvard 15 1 Plymouth 15 9 Wayland 15 2 Arlington 14 6 Billerica 14 6 Centerville 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 Melrose 14 4 Oxford 14 2 Swampscott 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Belmont 12 3 East Longmeadow 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Lexington 12 4 Millis 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 Salisbury 12 1 South Attleboro 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Waban 12 1 Walpole 12 3 Williamstown 12 1 Brookline 11 7 Danvers 11 3 Holden 11 2 Middleton 11 1 Monson 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Townsend 11 1 Bourne 10 2 North Andover 10 3 Northampton 10 3 Southborough 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Cherry Valley 9 1 East Weymouth 9 5 Holbrook 9 1 Nantucket 9 1 Winchendon 9 1 Winchester 9 2 Carver 8 1 Dudley 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Medfield 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Pepperell 8 1 Rehoboth 8 1 West Harwich 8 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Ipswich 7 1 Kingston 7 1 Marshfield 7 2 Medway 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Northborough 7 1 Seekonk 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Amesbury 6 1 Belchertown 6 1 Duxbury 6 1 Longmeadow 6 1 Westport 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Whitman 6 1 Concord 5 1 Hudson 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Barnstable 4 2 Easton 4 1 Onset 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Stoneham 4 1 Falmouth 3 1 Milton 3 1 North Weymouth 3 2 Wellesley 3 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 Chelmsford 2 1 E. Boston 2 1 Newton 1 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 (not given) 0 27 span 0 3 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Hampden 492 350 Plymouth 359 155 Berkshire 353 57 Suffolk 308 609 Norfolk 298 254 Bristol 291 240 Middlesex 256 599 Worcester 255 284 Barnstable 248 48 Essex 243 268 Hampshire 228 42 Franklin 189 20 Dukes 73 3 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 2634 89.0% Ongoing/Error 326 11.0% 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 1190 45.2% Dismissed 816 31.0% Defaulted 541 20.5% Heard 85 3.2% Other 2 0.1% Total 2634 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 85 88 213 21 0 Foreclosure 3 5 5 1 0 No Fault 67 66 166 13 0 Non-payment 661 381 806 50 2 Unknown/Other 0 1 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.2% 3.3% 8.1% 0.8% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.2% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 2.5% 2.5% 6.3% 0.5% 0.0% Non-payment 25.1% 14.5% 30.6% 1.9% 0.1% 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 1388 52.7% 46.9% Judgment inferred 188 7.1% 6.4% No judgment 1058 40.2% 35.7% Total 2634 100.0% 53.2% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 204 7.7% 0 49,368 2,315 5,535 472,337 Foreclosure 6 0.2% 282 340 311 20 1,869 No fault 154 5.8% 0 43,610 4,844 5,699 746,016 Non-payment 1023 38.8% 0 68,149 8,054 7,245 8,239,695 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0 Subtotal 1388 52.7% 0 68,149 6,815 7,180 9,459,918 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 99 3.8% 0 19,659 4,328 3,923 428,545 Defaulted 494 18.8% 0 44,324 6,773 7,004 3,345,947 Mediated 755 28.7% 0 68,149 7,148 7,528 5,397,049 Heard 38 1.4% 0 34,111 7,480 7,697 284,277 Other 2 0.1% 1,841 2,257 2,049 208 4,098 Subtotal 1388 52.7% 0 68,149 6,815 7,180 9,459,918 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 4 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% plaintiff 1537 97.5% 58.4% 51.9% unknown 35 2.2% 1.3% 1.2% Total 1576 100.0% 59.8% 53.2% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1388 Range: 0.000 - 68149.530; Mean: 6815.503; Median: 4958.415; Stddev: 7183.055 Percentiles: 90th: 15646.700; 95th: 20213.370; 99th: 34057.330 0.000 - 117.191: 3 | 117.191 - 238.523: 24 #### 238.523 - 484.415: 167 ########################## 484.415 - 982.735: 48 ####### 982.735 - 1992.625: 116 ################## 1992.625 - 4039.253: 225 ################################### 4039.253 - 8186.922: 343 ##################################################### 8186.922 - 16592.534: 315 ################################################# 16592.534 - 33627.234: 105 ################ 33627.234 - 68149.530: 15 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 204 Range: 0.000 - 49368.640; Mean: 2315.381; Median: 302.810; Stddev: 5549.545 Percentiles: 90th: 6062.240; 95th: 11936.110; 99th: 28275.550 0.000 - 197.383: 4 ## 197.383 - 365.203: 112 ##################################################### 365.203 - 674.988: 7 ### 674.988 - 1246.833: 6 ### 1246.833 - 2302.422: 15 ####### 2302.422 - 4250.977: 17 ######## 4250.977 - 7847.888: 9 #### 7847.888 - 14487.566: 12 ###### 14487.566 - 26744.005: 3 # 26744.005 - 49368.640: 3 # Foreclosure: Count: 6 Range: 282.000 - 340.630; Mean: 311.502; Median: 308.460; Stddev: 22.919 Percentiles: 90th: 340.630; 95th: 340.630; 99th: 340.630 282.000 - 287.379: 1 ########################### 287.379 - 298.445: 2 ##################################################### 298.445 - 321.868: 1 ########################### 321.868 - 334.258: 1 ########################### 334.258 - 340.630: 1 ########################### No Fault: Count: 154 Range: 0.000 - 43610.620; Mean: 4844.264; Median: 3870.105; Stddev: 5718.255 Percentiles: 90th: 11296.260; 95th: 13131.800; 99th: 28006.840 0.000 - 240.414: 8 ########### 240.414 - 429.054: 37 #################################################### 429.054 - 765.096: 3 #### 765.096 - 2430.100: 9 ############# 2430.100 - 4329.746: 18 ######################### 4329.746 - 7713.763: 38 ##################################################### 7713.763 - 13742.029: 27 ###################################### 13742.029 - 24480.743: 5 ####### 24480.743 - 43610.620: 2 ### Non-payment: Count: 1023 Range: 0.000 - 68149.530; Mean: 8054.443; Median: 6169.470; Stddev: 7249.342 Percentiles: 90th: 17388.740; 95th: 21624.200; 99th: 34111.200 0.000 - 117.191: 2 | 117.191 - 238.523: 2 | 238.523 - 484.415: 16 ### 484.415 - 982.735: 44 ######## 982.735 - 1992.625: 95 ################# 1992.625 - 4039.253: 186 ################################## 4039.253 - 8186.922: 289 ##################################################### 8186.922 - 16592.534: 276 ################################################### 16592.534 - 33627.234: 97 ################## 33627.234 - 68149.530: 13 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 99 Range: 0.000 - 19659.460; Mean: 4328.737; Median: 3349.060; Stddev: 3943.067 Percentiles: 90th: 9941.090; 95th: 13694.540; 99th: 19659.460 0.000 - 318.638: 14 ######################################### 318.638 - 504.161: 2 ###### 504.161 - 797.362: 1 ### 797.362 - 1260.742: 5 ############### 1260.742 - 1993.073: 10 ############################# 1993.073 - 3150.459: 15 ############################################ 3150.459 - 4979.605: 18 ##################################################### 4979.605 - 7870.412: 16 ############################################### 7870.412 - 12439.080: 11 ################################ 12439.080 - 19659.460: 6 ################## Defaulted: Count: 494 Range: 0.000 - 44324.050; Mean: 6773.172; Median: 5088.285; Stddev: 7011.538 Percentiles: 90th: 14692.220; 95th: 20524.510; 99th: 34057.330 0.000 - 353.413: 75 ######################################## 353.413 - 605.074: 10 ##### 605.074 - 1035.432: 12 ###### 1035.432 - 1771.378: 30 ################ 1771.378 - 3029.902: 53 ############################ 3029.902 - 5182.073: 63 ################################# 5182.073 - 8862.451: 100 ##################################################### 8862.451 - 15156.176: 95 ################################################## 15156.176 - 25918.926: 34 ################## 25918.926 - 44324.050: 13 ####### Mediated: Count: 755 Range: 0.000 - 68149.530; Mean: 7148.411; Median: 5107.910; Stddev: 7533.547 Percentiles: 90th: 16421.540; 95th: 20504.150; 99th: 34570.670 0.000 - 117.191: 3 # 117.191 - 238.523: 16 ##### 238.523 - 484.415: 72 #################### 484.415 - 982.735: 29 ######## 982.735 - 1992.625: 67 ################### 1992.625 - 4039.253: 119 ################################## 4039.253 - 8186.922: 187 ##################################################### 8186.922 - 16592.534: 175 ################################################## 16592.534 - 33627.234: 67 ################### 33627.234 - 68149.530: 8 ## Heard: Count: 38 Range: 0.000 - 34111.200; Mean: 7480.998; Median: 5756.095; Stddev: 7801.201 Percentiles: 90th: 18632.640; 95th: 23582.070; 99th: 34111.200 0.000 - 418.779: 5 ############################# 418.779 - 1817.237: 2 ############ 1817.237 - 2962.878: 2 ############ 2962.878 - 4830.369: 2 ############ 4830.369 - 7874.536: 6 ################################### 7874.536 - 12836.781: 9 ##################################################### 12836.781 - 20925.657: 5 ############################# 20925.657 - 34111.200: 2 ############ Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 1242 78.8% 47.2% 42.0% Issued 927 58.8% 35.2% 31.3% Levied 223 14.1% 8.5% 7.5% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 37 16.6% 2.3% 1.4% 1.2% Foreclosure 4 1.8% 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% No Fault 22 9.9% 1.4% 0.8% 0.7% Non-payment 160 71.7% 10.2% 6.1% 5.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 223 100.0% 14.1% 8.5% 7.5% Read as X% of cases filed are levied for nonpayment, for example. Levied by outcome: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Dismissed 21 9.4% 1.3% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 112 50.2% 7.1% 4.3% 3.8% Mediated 88 39.5% 5.6% 3.3% 3.0% Heard 2 0.9% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 223 100.0% 14.1% 8.5% 7.5% Read as X% of cases filed are levied following default, for example. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case is about X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Foreclosure 4 15 26.7% Cause 37 469 7.9% Non-payment 160 2140 7.5% No Fault 22 333 6.6% 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 112 541 20.7% Mediated 88 1190 7.4% Dismissed 21 816 2.6% Heard 2 85 2.4% Other 0 2 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 6 533 90 87 Non-payment 2 564 86 87 No Fault 7 514 89 84 Foreclosure 11 217 72 52 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 2 564 87 87 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 3 558 80 91 Defaulted 12 500 70 52 Mediated 2 550 96 91 Heard 7 564 119 112 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 2 564 87 87 All Cases: Count: 2634 Range: 2.000 - 564.000; Mean: 87.303; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 87.078 Percentiles: 90th: 188.000; 95th: 269.000; 99th: 492.000 2.000 - 4.065: 8 | 4.065 - 7.553: 17 # 7.553 - 13.441: 34 ## 13.441 - 23.383: 75 #### 23.383 - 40.170: 426 ##################### 40.170 - 68.515: 1085 ##################################################### 68.515 - 116.374: 511 ######################### 116.374 - 197.181: 232 ########### 197.181 - 333.623: 164 ######## 333.623 - 564.000: 82 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 407 Range: 6.000 - 533.000; Mean: 90.133; Median: 61.000; Stddev: 87.756 Percentiles: 90th: 193.000; 95th: 266.000; 99th: 479.000 6.000 - 9.798: 8 ### 9.798 - 15.657: 3 # 15.657 - 24.694: 9 #### 24.694 - 38.635: 55 ####################### 38.635 - 60.139: 125 ##################################################### 60.139 - 93.311: 100 ########################################## 93.311 - 144.482: 49 ##################### 144.482 - 223.415: 24 ########## 223.415 - 345.176: 20 ######## 345.176 - 533.000: 14 ###### Non-payment: Count: 1900 Range: 2.000 - 564.000; Mean: 86.381; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 87.664 Percentiles: 90th: 184.000; 95th: 270.000; 99th: 496.000 2.000 - 4.065: 8 # 4.065 - 7.553: 13 # 7.553 - 13.441: 23 ## 13.441 - 23.383: 58 #### 23.383 - 40.170: 298 #################### 40.170 - 68.515: 797 ##################################################### 68.515 - 116.374: 375 ######################### 116.374 - 197.181: 159 ########### 197.181 - 333.623: 108 ####### 333.623 - 564.000: 61 #### No Fault: Count: 312 Range: 7.000 - 514.000; Mean: 89.798; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 84.077 Percentiles: 90th: 217.000; 95th: 266.000; 99th: 421.000 7.000 - 11.133: 4 ## 11.133 - 17.401: 5 ## 17.401 - 26.906: 3 # 26.906 - 41.323: 63 ############################### 41.323 - 63.187: 108 ##################################################### 63.187 - 96.346: 50 ######################### 96.346 - 146.636: 24 ############ 146.636 - 222.905: 26 ############# 222.905 - 338.575: 22 ########### 338.575 - 514.000: 7 ### Foreclosure: Count: 14 Range: 11.000 - 217.000; Mean: 72.714; Median: 55.500; Stddev: 52.432 Percentiles: 90th: 116.000; 95th: 217.000; 99th: 217.000 11.000 - 15.036: 1 ################## 15.036 - 37.273: 2 ################################### 37.273 - 50.147: 3 ##################################################### 50.147 - 67.351: 3 ##################################################### 67.351 - 90.343: 1 ################## 90.343 - 121.068: 3 ##################################################### 121.068 - 217.000: 1 ################## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 816 Range: 3.000 - 558.000; Mean: 80.979; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 91.675 Percentiles: 90th: 195.000; 95th: 267.000; 99th: 499.000 3.000 - 5.555: 10 ## 5.555 - 9.743: 26 ##### 9.743 - 16.606: 37 ####### 16.606 - 27.854: 50 ########## 27.854 - 46.286: 265 ##################################################### 46.286 - 76.495: 210 ########################################## 76.495 - 126.001: 86 ################# 126.001 - 207.133: 63 ############# 207.133 - 340.096: 46 ######### 340.096 - 558.000: 23 ##### Defaulted: Count: 541 Range: 12.000 - 500.000; Mean: 70.054; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 52.224 Percentiles: 90th: 107.000; 95th: 165.000; 99th: 302.000 12.000 - 17.730: 1 | 17.730 - 37.879: 41 ########## 37.879 - 55.015: 210 ##################################################### 55.015 - 79.703: 189 ################################################ 79.703 - 115.273: 55 ############## 115.273 - 166.521: 18 ##### 166.521 - 240.356: 16 #### 240.356 - 346.735: 7 ## 346.735 - 500.000: 4 # Mediated: Count: 1190 Range: 2.000 - 550.000; Mean: 96.799; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 91.614 Percentiles: 90th: 214.000; 95th: 304.000; 99th: 492.000 2.000 - 4.053: 1 | 4.053 - 7.510: 1 | 7.510 - 13.333: 2 | 13.333 - 23.140: 10 # 23.140 - 39.657: 162 ################## 39.657 - 67.476: 471 ##################################################### 67.476 - 114.330: 278 ############################### 114.330 - 193.243: 130 ############### 193.243 - 326.151: 84 ######### 326.151 - 550.000: 51 ###### Heard: Count: 85 Range: 7.000 - 564.000; Mean: 119.941; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 112.175 Percentiles: 90th: 239.000; 95th: 305.000; 99th: 564.000 7.000 - 11.246: 2 ##### 11.246 - 27.693: 2 ##### 27.693 - 42.921: 13 ################################# 42.921 - 66.231: 21 ##################################################### 66.231 - 101.912: 15 ###################################### 101.912 - 156.529: 11 ############################ 156.529 - 240.133: 13 ################################# 240.133 - 368.107: 4 ########## 368.107 - 564.000: 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/.