Outcomes for January 2025

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: 2025-01-01 Search Period End: 2025-01-31 Earliest Case: 2025-01-02 Latest Case: 2025-01-31 Total Cases: 2947 Total Transfers: 55 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 20.7% Of those, percentage pro se: 49.5% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Southbridge Least stable with 100+ filings: Dorchester Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 98 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 625 21.2% northeast 471 16.0% central 458 15.5% western 393 13.3% southeast 332 11.3% metro_south 274 9.3% lawrence district 44 1.5% malden district 31 1.1% lynn district 30 1.0% quincy district 25 0.8% chelsea district 15 0.5% pittsfield district 15 0.5% brockton district 14 0.5% cambridge district 14 0.5% fall river district 14 0.5% lowell district 12 0.4% northern berkshire district 12 0.4% somerville district 12 0.4% waltham district 12 0.4% attleboro district 11 0.4% haverhill district 10 0.3% bmc east boston 7 0.2% worcester district 7 0.2% bmc west roxbury 6 0.2% framingham district 6 0.2% holyoke district 6 0.2% peabody district 6 0.2% salem district 6 0.2% barnstable district 5 0.2% bmc dorchester 5 0.2% bmc roxbury 5 0.2% springfield district 5 0.2% woburn district 5 0.2% ayer district 4 0.1% dedham district 4 0.1% newton district 4 0.1% orleans district 4 0.1% palmer district 4 0.1% taunton district 4 0.1% wrentham district 4 0.1% bmc brighton 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% fallmouth district 2 0.1% fitchburg district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% gloucester district 1 0.0% new bedford district 1 0.0% newburyport district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% plymouth district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2337 6 Natural Person 610 2941 Total 2947 2947 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 79.3% 0.2% Natural Person 20.7% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2323 14 2337 Optional 308 302 610 Total 2631 316 2947 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 78.8% 0.5% 79.3% Optional 10.5% 10.2% 20.7% Total 89.3% 10.7% 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 169 2772 2941 Total 171 2776 2947 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 5.7% 94.1% 99.8% Total 5.8% 94.2% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 88 3.0% 1 1997 67.8% 2 707 24.0% 3 103 3.5% 4 31 1.1% 5 9 0.3% 6 3 0.1% 7 2 0.1% 8 4 0.1% 11 1 0.0% 13 1 0.0% 16 1 0.0% Total 2947 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 2181 74.0% Cause 409 13.9% No Fault 338 11.5% Foreclosure 17 0.6% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 421 4 Rowe 254 1 Monterey 208 2 Southbridge 185 31 Dorchester 144 133 North Chatham 142 1 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Heath 141 1 Berlin 139 4 Fall River 120 107 Norwood 118 34 Wendell 117 1 East Boston 116 47 Lawrence 116 89 Indian Orchard 109 11 Greenfield 108 19 Holyoke 107 43 Springfield 107 165 Worcester 100 182 Lowell 93 100 Roxbury 90 54 Buzzards Bay 87 3 Whitinsville 86 6 Pittsfield 84 38 Framingham 83 57 Blandford 81 1 Ware 81 8 Warren 77 4 Chelsea 76 27 Chicopee 72 40 North Adams 72 10 Everett 71 30 "Salem" 70 29 Hyannis 70 10 Athol 69 8 Gardner 69 14 Revere 69 36 Hyde Park 68 23 Mattapan 68 25 Randolph 68 22 Brockton 67 63 New Bedford 67 64 Provincetown 67 2 Fitchburg 66 27 New Marlborough 66 1 Jamaica Plain 64 24 Lynn 63 57 Westhampton 62 1 South Lancaster 61 1 Waltham 61 37 Westborough 60 11 Stoughton 59 16 Webster 59 10 Clarksburg 58 1 Malden 58 35 "Becket" 56 1 Bridgewater 56 15 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Attleborough 55 24 Marlborough 54 21 South Dennis 54 2 Wrentham 54 6 Vineyard Haven 52 1 West Springfield 52 15 Canton 51 11 Rockland 51 9 Hopedale 50 3 Haverhill 49 30 Beverly 48 19 Burlington 48 12 Adams 47 4 Mansfield 47 11 Middleborough 47 11 Milford 46 13 Monson 46 4 Avon 45 2 Allston 44 13 Clinton 44 6 South Boston 44 15 Dorchester Center 43 40 Quincy 43 40 Great Barrington 42 3 Braintree 41 15 Roslindale 41 12 Taunton 41 23 Whitman 41 6 Belchertown 40 6 Leominster 39 16 Northampton 38 11 Abington 37 6 Saugus 37 10 "Salisbury" 36 3 Acton 36 8 Hanover 36 5 East Falmouth 34 2 Feeding Hills 34 4 Woburn 34 13 Orleans 33 2 Weymouth 33 18 East Wareham 32 7 Cambridge 31 33 Dennis Port 31 1 Ashland 30 5 Medford 30 17 Brookfield 29 1 Charlestown 29 5 Chelmsford 29 10 Hatfield 29 1 Peabody 29 15 Raynham 29 4 South Easton 29 3 East Sandwich 28 1 South Hadley 28 5 Watertown 28 9 Billerica 27 11 Brimfield 27 1 Holbrook 27 3 North Attleborough 27 8 Shirley 27 2 Wareham 27 6 Ayer 26 2 Hopkinton 26 4 Hudson 26 5 Tyngsborough 26 3 South Yarmouth 25 3 Spencer 25 3 Sterling 25 2 Palmer 24 3 Plainville 24 2 South Attleboro 24 2 Dracut 23 7 Foxborough 23 4 Ludlow 23 5 Montague 23 2 Blackstone 22 2 Boylston 22 1 Brighton 22 10 South Grafton 22 1 Uxbridge 22 3 Westford 22 5 Plymouth 21 12 Roxbury Crossing 21 13 Seekonk 21 3 Sturbridge 21 2 Westfield 21 9 Belmont 20 5 Boxborough 20 1 Brewster 20 2 Gloucester 20 6 North Reading 20 3 Manchester 19 1 Newtonville 19 1 Somerville 19 15 West Roxbury 19 6 Winchendon 19 2 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Auburn 18 3 Bellingham 18 3 East Weymouth 18 10 Melrose 18 5 West Yarmouth 18 1 Winchester 18 4 "Lynn" 17 16 Dudley 17 2 E. Boston 17 7 Lynnfield 17 2 Rowley 17 1 "Methuen" 16 8 Ashburnham 16 1 Granby 16 1 Lee 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Scituate 16 3 Shrewsbury 16 6 Boston 15 97 Charlton 15 2 Danvers 15 4 East Taunton 15 1 Kingston 15 2 Merrimac 15 1 Millbury 15 2 "Mashpee" 14 2 Bradford 14 2 Dalton 14 1 Northborough 14 2 Oxford 14 2 Swampscott 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 "Duxbury" 13 2 "Quincy" 13 12 Needham 13 4 South Weymouth 13 7 Stoneham 13 3 Andover 12 4 Dedham 12 3 Fairhaven 12 2 Millis 12 1 Orange 12 1 Swansea 12 2 Templeton 12 1 Westport 12 2 Williamstown 12 1 "Cambridge" 11 12 Douglas 11 1 Marshfield 11 3 Milton 11 3 Newburyport 11 2 Pembroke 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Auburndale 10 1 Norton 10 2 Southwick 10 1 "Hull" 9 1 Acushnet 9 1 Arlington 9 4 Franklin 9 3 Hingham 9 2 Lunenburg 9 1 Maynard 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Groton 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Reading 8 2 Wakefield 8 2 Wilmington 8 2 "North Andover" 7 2 Agawam 7 2 Centerville 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Wayland 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Amesbury 6 1 Easthampton 6 1 Natick 6 2 Tewksbury 6 2 "Sharon" 5 1 Bourne 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Sudbury 5 1 Winthrop 5 1 Methuen 4 2 North Dartmouth 4 1 Salem 4 2 Sandwich 4 1 Walpole 4 1 Falmouth 3 1 Lexington 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 "South Dartmouth" 2 1 Amherst 2 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Brookline 1 1 Newton 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 50 span 0 2 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Hampden 427 304 Berkshire 390 63 Plymouth 368 159 Worcester 338 377 Bristol 320 264 Suffolk 297 588 Essex 280 308 Norfolk 268 229 Franklin 246 26 Middlesex 213 499 Hampshire 211 39 Barnstable 196 38 Dukes 24 1 Nantucket 0 0 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2623 89.0% Ongoing/Error 324 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 1145 43.7% Dismissed 895 34.1% Defaulted 524 20.0% Heard 58 2.2% Other 1 0.0% Total 2623 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 84 68 175 10 0 Foreclosure 2 5 8 1 0 No Fault 73 64 164 9 0 Non-payment 736 387 798 38 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.2% 2.6% 6.7% 0.4% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 2.8% 2.4% 6.3% 0.3% 0.0% Non-payment 28.1% 14.8% 30.4% 1.4% 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 1331 50.7% 45.2% Judgment inferred 142 5.4% 4.8% No judgment 1150 43.8% 39.0% Total 2623 100.0% 50.0% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 186 7.1% 0 23,484 2,470 4,195 459,549 Foreclosure 12 0.5% 0 558 256 163 3,082 No fault 134 5.1% 0 47,532 5,468 6,851 732,760 Non-payment 999 38.1% 0 91,556 7,512 7,611 7,505,450 Subtotal 1331 50.7% 0 91,556 6,537 7,359 8,700,842 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 108 4.1% 0 21,936 3,684 3,980 397,873 Defaulted 475 18.1% 0 56,001 6,715 6,845 3,189,754 Mediated 729 27.8% 0 91,556 6,816 7,962 4,969,016 Heard 19 0.7% 0 21,048 7,589 6,972 144,197 Subtotal 1331 50.7% 0 91,556 6,537 7,359 8,700,842 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 1 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% plaintiff 1448 98.3% 55.2% 49.1% unknown 24 1.6% 0.9% 0.8% Total 1473 100.0% 56.2% 50.0% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1331 Range: 0.000 - 91556.240; Mean: 6537.072; Median: 4501.460; Stddev: 7362.307 Percentiles: 90th: 15016.560; 95th: 20125.600; 99th: 32450.830 0.000 - 113.040: 2 | 113.040 - 238.770: 27 #### 238.770 - 503.117: 156 ######################## 503.117 - 1058.910: 65 ########## 1058.910 - 2227.467: 143 ###################### 2227.467 - 4684.366: 260 ######################################## 4684.366 - 9850.011: 345 ##################################################### 9850.011 - 20710.812: 242 ##################################### 20710.812 - 43545.714: 54 ######## 43545.714 - 91556.240: 7 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 186 Range: 0.000 - 23484.510; Mean: 2470.696; Median: 308.995; Stddev: 4207.191 Percentiles: 90th: 8471.960; 95th: 11532.040; 99th: 21935.990 0.000 - 98.533: 1 # 98.533 - 181.648: 7 ##### 181.648 - 334.169: 79 ##################################################### 334.169 - 614.052: 14 ######### 614.052 - 1127.651: 5 ### 1127.651 - 2070.132: 8 ##### 2070.132 - 3799.633: 22 ############### 3799.633 - 6973.353: 18 ############ 6973.353 - 12797.291: 13 ######### 12797.291 - 23484.510: 7 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 12 Range: 0.000 - 558.140; Mean: 256.883; Median: 296.540; Stddev: 171.187 Percentiles: 90th: 354.140; 95th: 558.140; 99th: 558.140 0.000 - 294.813: 1 ############# 294.813 - 316.497: 4 ##################################################### 316.497 - 339.771: 1 ############# 339.771 - 364.751: 2 ########################### 364.751 - 558.140: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 134 Range: 0.000 - 47532.640; Mean: 5468.359; Median: 3691.115; Stddev: 6877.499 Percentiles: 90th: 10977.000; 95th: 21000.000; 99th: 28592.250 0.000 - 319.261: 29 ################################################ 319.261 - 557.190: 4 ####### 557.190 - 971.880: 5 ######## 971.880 - 1694.652: 6 ########## 1694.652 - 2954.386: 11 ################## 2954.386 - 5150.000: 19 ############################### 5150.000 - 8976.780: 32 ##################################################### 8976.780 - 15646.549: 14 ####################### 15646.549 - 27271.421: 7 ############ 27271.421 - 47532.640: 2 ### Non-payment: Count: 999 Range: 0.000 - 91556.240; Mean: 7512.963; Median: 5475.910; Stddev: 7614.958 Percentiles: 90th: 16416.170; 95th: 20790.570; 99th: 36922.440 0.000 - 220.649: 3 # 220.649 - 431.848: 38 ######## 431.848 - 844.288: 37 ######## 844.288 - 1649.724: 79 ################ 1649.724 - 3222.623: 160 ################################# 3222.623 - 6294.264: 232 ################################################ 6294.264 - 12292.729: 256 ##################################################### 12292.729 - 24006.853: 153 ################################ 24006.853 - 46882.822: 26 ##### 46882.822 - 91556.240: 5 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 108 Range: 0.000 - 21936.210; Mean: 3684.018; Median: 2496.465; Stddev: 3998.867 Percentiles: 90th: 8042.250; 95th: 9808.730; 99th: 20773.630 0.000 - 271.788: 9 ###################### 271.788 - 443.151: 5 ############ 443.151 - 722.165: 4 ########## 722.165 - 1176.453: 9 ###################### 1176.453 - 1916.123: 14 ################################## 1916.123 - 3120.449: 22 ##################################################### 3120.449 - 5081.326: 16 ####################################### 5081.326 - 8274.016: 19 ############################################## 8274.016 - 13472.335: 5 ############ 13472.335 - 21936.210: 4 ########## Defaulted: Count: 475 Range: 0.000 - 56001.950; Mean: 6715.272; Median: 4971.490; Stddev: 6852.937 Percentiles: 90th: 14843.440; 95th: 20125.600; 99th: 27758.180 0.000 - 212.976: 5 ### 212.976 - 396.205: 61 ############################### 396.205 - 736.335: 15 ######## 736.335 - 1367.719: 21 ########### 1367.719 - 2539.760: 53 ########################### 2539.760 - 4715.426: 65 ################################# 4715.426 - 8754.128: 105 ##################################################### 8754.128 - 16251.193: 105 ##################################################### 16251.193 - 30168.037: 36 ################## 30168.037 - 56001.950: 3 ## Mediated: Count: 729 Range: 0.000 - 91556.240; Mean: 6816.209; Median: 4662.540; Stddev: 7968.309 Percentiles: 90th: 15689.640; 95th: 20707.770; 99th: 37765.400 0.000 - 113.040: 2 # 113.040 - 238.770: 13 #### 238.770 - 503.117: 83 ####################### 503.117 - 1058.910: 35 ########## 1058.910 - 2227.467: 69 ################### 2227.467 - 4684.366: 145 ######################################## 4684.366 - 9850.011: 190 ##################################################### 9850.011 - 20710.812: 135 ###################################### 20710.812 - 43545.714: 31 ######### 43545.714 - 91556.240: 5 # Heard: Count: 19 Range: 0.000 - 21048.880; Mean: 7589.364; Median: 4578.230; Stddev: 7163.747 Percentiles: 90th: 20790.570; 95th: 21048.880; 99th: 21048.880 0.000 - 1217.131: 1 ########### 1217.131 - 1670.861: 1 ########### 1670.861 - 2293.597: 1 ########### 2293.597 - 3148.290: 1 ########### 3148.290 - 4321.339: 3 ################################ 4321.339 - 5931.325: 3 ################################ 5931.325 - 11173.736: 2 ##################### 11173.736 - 21048.880: 5 ##################################################### 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 1136 77.1% 43.3% 38.5% Issued 870 59.1% 33.2% 29.5% Levied 230 15.6% 8.8% 7.8% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 36 15.7% 2.4% 1.4% 1.2% Foreclosure 9 3.9% 0.6% 0.3% 0.3% No Fault 20 8.7% 1.4% 0.8% 0.7% Non-payment 165 71.7% 11.2% 6.3% 5.6% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 230 100.0% 15.6% 8.8% 7.8% 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 17 7.4% 1.2% 0.6% 0.6% Defaulted 105 45.7% 7.1% 4.0% 3.6% Mediated 104 45.2% 7.1% 4.0% 3.5% Heard 4 1.7% 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 230 100.0% 15.6% 8.8% 7.8% 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 9 17 52.9% Cause 36 409 8.8% Non-payment 165 2181 7.6% No Fault 20 338 5.9% Unknown/Other 0 2 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 105 524 20.0% Mediated 104 1145 9.1% Heard 4 58 6.9% Dismissed 17 895 1.9% Other 0 1 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 3 609 100 116 Non-payment 0 557 72 78 No Fault 7 553 73 72 Foreclosure 34 321 104 76 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 609 76 84 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 552 68 83 Defaulted 2 562 67 63 Mediated 2 609 87 92 Heard 4 270 78 52 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 609 76 84 All Cases: Count: 2623 Range: 0.000 - 609.000; Mean: 76.669; Median: 51.000; Stddev: 84.045 Percentiles: 90th: 150.000; 95th: 249.000; 99th: 480.000 0.000 - 2.544: 4 | 2.544 - 5.279: 16 # 5.279 - 10.126: 39 ## 10.126 - 18.713: 52 ## 18.713 - 33.928: 265 ########### 33.928 - 60.888: 1301 ##################################################### 60.888 - 108.658: 552 ###################### 108.658 - 193.299: 207 ######## 193.299 - 343.271: 106 #### 343.271 - 609.000: 80 ### By Reason Cause: Count: 337 Range: 3.000 - 609.000; Mean: 100.567; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 116.983 Percentiles: 90th: 237.000; 95th: 422.000; 99th: 538.000 3.000 - 5.613: 3 # 5.613 - 9.932: 1 | 9.932 - 17.073: 9 #### 17.073 - 28.879: 5 ## 28.879 - 48.396: 100 ######################################## 48.396 - 80.662: 132 ##################################################### 80.662 - 134.005: 27 ########### 134.005 - 222.191: 23 ######### 222.191 - 367.980: 17 ####### 367.980 - 609.000: 20 ######## Non-payment: Count: 1960 Range: 0.000 - 557.000; Mean: 72.763; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 78.163 Percentiles: 90th: 133.000; 95th: 213.000; 99th: 462.000 0.000 - 2.512: 4 | 2.512 - 5.168: 13 # 5.168 - 9.832: 29 ## 9.832 - 18.023: 46 ### 18.023 - 32.407: 179 ########## 32.407 - 57.667: 943 ##################################################### 57.667 - 102.027: 464 ########################## 102.027 - 179.931: 147 ######## 179.931 - 316.741: 78 #### 316.741 - 557.000: 56 ### No Fault: Count: 310 Range: 7.000 - 553.000; Mean: 73.935; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 72.626 Percentiles: 90th: 159.000; 95th: 225.000; 99th: 400.000 7.000 - 11.222: 2 # 11.222 - 17.671: 4 ## 17.671 - 27.524: 15 ####### 27.524 - 42.577: 93 ############################################## 42.577 - 65.573: 108 ##################################################### 65.573 - 100.705: 37 ################## 100.705 - 154.376: 19 ######### 154.376 - 236.370: 18 ######### 236.370 - 361.633: 9 #### 361.633 - 553.000: 5 ## Foreclosure: Count: 16 Range: 34.000 - 321.000; Mean: 104.750; Median: 73.000; Stddev: 76.149 Percentiles: 90th: 181.000; 95th: 321.000; 99th: 321.000 34.000 - 42.697: 2 ################################### 42.697 - 53.554: 3 ##################################################### 53.554 - 67.109: 2 ################################### 67.109 - 84.032: 2 ################################### 84.032 - 131.538: 2 ################################### 131.538 - 164.470: 3 ##################################################### 164.470 - 205.585: 1 ################## 205.585 - 321.000: 1 ################## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 895 Range: 0.000 - 552.000; Mean: 68.370; Median: 43.000; Stddev: 83.547 Percentiles: 90th: 134.000; 95th: 238.000; 99th: 479.000 0.000 - 2.509: 2 | 2.509 - 5.157: 12 ## 5.157 - 9.803: 24 ### 9.803 - 17.954: 49 ####### 17.954 - 32.257: 143 ################### 32.257 - 57.351: 398 ##################################################### 57.351 - 101.380: 147 #################### 101.380 - 178.633: 52 ####### 178.633 - 314.178: 39 ##### 314.178 - 552.000: 28 #### Defaulted: Count: 524 Range: 2.000 - 562.000; Mean: 67.920; Median: 52.000; Stddev: 63.998 Percentiles: 90th: 111.000; 95th: 168.000; 99th: 435.000 2.000 - 4.064: 2 | 4.064 - 23.349: 1 | 23.349 - 40.097: 130 ######################### 40.097 - 68.367: 272 ##################################################### 68.367 - 116.083: 70 ############## 116.083 - 196.620: 31 ###### 196.620 - 332.557: 9 ## 332.557 - 562.000: 9 ## Mediated: Count: 1145 Range: 2.000 - 609.000; Mean: 87.043; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 92.338 Percentiles: 90th: 177.000; 95th: 303.000; 99th: 503.000 2.000 - 4.104: 3 | 4.104 - 7.685: 4 | 7.685 - 13.777: 3 | 13.777 - 24.142: 11 # 24.142 - 41.778: 330 ######################################## 41.778 - 71.786: 434 ##################################################### 71.786 - 122.842: 168 ##################### 122.842 - 209.711: 99 ############ 209.711 - 357.516: 52 ###### 357.516 - 609.000: 41 ##### Heard: Count: 58 Range: 4.000 - 270.000; Mean: 78.966; Median: 70.000; Stddev: 52.796 Percentiles: 90th: 157.000; 95th: 170.000; 99th: 270.000 4.000 - 6.454: 1 #### 6.454 - 10.111: 2 ######## 10.111 - 23.693: 3 ########### 23.693 - 35.810: 6 ####################### 35.810 - 53.874: 9 ################################## 53.874 - 80.803: 14 ##################################################### 80.803 - 120.947: 14 ##################################################### 120.947 - 180.790: 7 ########################### 180.790 - 270.000: 2 ######## -- 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/.