Outcomes for December 2017

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: 2017-12-01 Search Period End: 2017-12-31 Earliest Case: 2017-12-01 Latest Case: 2017-12-29 Total Cases: 3120 Total Transfers: 93 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 32.4% Of those, percentage pro se: 60.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: West Warren Least stable with 10+ filings: North Adams Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 104 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 central 547 17.5% eastern 467 15.0% southeast 464 14.9% northeast 457 14.6% western 444 14.2% quincy district 94 3.0% chelsea district 63 2.0% malden district 59 1.9% cambridge district 37 1.2% dedham district 32 1.0% springfield district 31 1.0% lynn district 27 0.9% fall river district 26 0.8% stoughton district 26 0.8% barnstable district 25 0.8% woburn district 22 0.7% bmc dorchester 19 0.6% lowell district 19 0.6% wrentham district 18 0.6% northern berkshire district 16 0.5% somerville district 16 0.5% chicopee district 15 0.5% salem district 14 0.4% orleans district 13 0.4% attleboro district 12 0.4% framingham district 12 0.4% pittsfield district 11 0.4% fallmouth district 10 0.3% haverhill district 10 0.3% waltham district 10 0.3% lawrence district 8 0.3% taunton district 7 0.2% wareham district 7 0.2% bmc east boston 6 0.2% bmc west roxbury 6 0.2% brockton district 6 0.2% holyoke district 6 0.2% newton district 6 0.2% milford district 5 0.2% new bedford district 5 0.2% westfield district 5 0.2% brookline district 4 0.1% peabody district 4 0.1% clinton district 3 0.1% eastern hampshire district 3 0.1% worcester district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% northampton district 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% gloucester district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% plymouth district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2110 5 Natural Person 1010 3115 Total 3120 3120 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 67.6% 0.2% Natural Person 32.4% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1922 188 2110 Optional 398 612 1010 Total 2320 800 3120 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 61.6% 6.0% 67.6% Optional 12.8% 19.6% 32.4% Total 74.4% 25.6% 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 3 5 Optional 156 2959 3115 Total 158 2962 3120 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 5.0% 94.8% 99.8% Total 5.1% 94.9% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 216 6.9% 1 2094 67.1% 2 648 20.8% 3 111 3.6% 4 33 1.1% 5 8 0.3% 6 7 0.2% 7 2 0.1% 8 1 0.0% Total 3120 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 1705 54.6% Cause 1036 33.2% No Fault 249 8.0% Foreclosure 129 4.1% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count West Warren 353 4 Washington 185 1 Gilbertville 173 2 North Adams 160 22 Springfield 152 233 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Fall River 129 115 Hyannis 127 18 New Bedford 127 121 Chelsea 125 44 Worcester 122 221 Fitchburg 121 49 Charlestown 119 20 West Yarmouth 113 6 Russell 112 2 Dorchester 107 99 Chicopee 104 58 East Falmouth 103 6 Oxford 102 14 Webster 101 17 Revere 100 52 Dennis Port 94 3 Abington 93 15 Hyde Park 92 31 Lawrence 92 71 Salem 91 38 Indian Orchard 89 9 Lowell 88 94 East Sandwich 86 3 Lynn 86 78 Whitinsville 86 6 Pittsfield 84 38 Marlborough 83 32 Adams 82 7 Holyoke 82 33 Ware 81 8 West Brookfield 81 3 Randolph 80 26 Framingham 79 54 Royalston 79 1 Haverhill 77 47 Orange 76 6 Gardner 74 15 Greenfield 74 13 Brewster 71 7 Mattapan 71 26 Monument Beach 71 2 Carver 69 8 Roxbury 68 41 Malden 67 40 Richmond 67 1 Clinton 66 9 Brockton 65 61 Granville 63 1 Millis 63 5 Gloucester 62 18 Rockland 62 11 Cheshire 61 2 Leominster 61 25 Marion 61 3 Athol 60 7 Canton 60 13 Middleborough 60 14 Peabody 60 31 Salisbury 60 5 Everett 59 25 Feeding Hills 59 7 Phillipston 59 1 Southbridge 59 10 Palmer 57 7 Bridgewater 56 15 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Erving 55 1 Norwood 55 16 Taunton 55 31 Sunderland 54 2 Foxborough 53 9 Baldwinville 52 1 West Springfield 52 15 Newton Center 51 2 Spencer 51 6 Westfield 51 21 Winthrop 51 9 Dorchester Center 50 46 Northbridge 50 8 Hull 48 5 Turners Falls 48 2 Allston 47 14 Avon 45 2 Forestdale 45 2 Huntington 45 1 West Dennis 45 1 Roslindale 44 13 Milford 42 12 North Brookfield 42 2 Hudson 41 8 Saugus 41 11 Methuen 40 19 Stoughton 40 11 East Boston 39 16 South Easton 39 4 Attleborough 38 17 Cambridge 38 40 Hadley 38 2 North Easton 38 5 Winchendon 38 4 Beverly 37 15 Easthampton 37 6 South Barre 37 2 Amesbury 36 6 Leicester 36 4 North Andover 35 10 Berlin 34 1 Lynnfield 34 4 Pocasset 34 1 Rehoboth 34 4 Whitman 34 5 Braintree 33 12 North Reading 33 5 Sutton 33 3 Dedham 32 8 Lanesborough 32 1 Northampton 31 9 Quincy 31 29 Woburn 31 12 Cotuit 30 1 Mansfield 30 7 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Princeton 29 1 South Boston 29 10 Jefferson 28 1 West Bridgewater 28 2 Belchertown 27 4 Cherry Valley 27 3 Shirley 27 2 Halifax 26 2 Pepperell 26 3 Rutland 25 2 Swansea 25 4 Ashland 24 4 Burlington 24 6 Plainville 24 2 Kingston 23 3 Monson 23 2 Stoneham 23 5 Bedford 22 3 Centerville 22 3 Danvers 22 6 Hubbardston 22 1 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Raynham 22 3 South Grafton 22 1 Townsend 22 2 Wilmington 22 5 Arlington 21 9 Auburndale 21 2 Jamaica Plain 21 8 Roxbury Crossing 21 13 Swampscott 21 3 Westborough 21 4 Brookline 20 12 Marstons Mills 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Wakefield 20 5 Billerica 19 8 Hanson 19 2 Lenox 19 1 Nantucket 19 2 Warren 19 1 Brighton 18 8 Holbrook 18 2 Lakeville 18 2 Ludlow 18 4 Wareham 18 4 Medford 17 10 North Attleborough 17 5 Rowley 17 1 South Yarmouth 17 2 Tyngsborough 17 2 Ashburnham 16 1 Chatham 16 1 Dracut 16 5 Granby 16 1 Hopedale 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Orleans 16 1 Waltham 16 10 Amherst 15 6 East Taunton 15 1 Groveland 15 1 Harvard 15 1 Lincoln 15 1 Marshfield 15 4 Merrimac 15 1 Norton 15 3 Somerville 15 12 Bradford 14 2 Chelmsford 14 5 Dalton 14 1 Dighton 14 1 East Bridgewater 14 2 Holliston 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Uxbridge 14 2 Weymouth 14 8 Ayer 13 1 Cohasset 13 1 Duxbury 13 2 East Weymouth 13 7 Onset 13 3 Tewksbury 13 4 Upton 13 1 Westwood 13 2 Auburn 12 2 Bellingham 12 2 Boston 12 76 Fairhaven 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Lancaster 12 1 North Grafton 12 1 Plymouth 12 7 Sterling 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Waban 12 1 Westport 12 2 Blackstone 11 1 Holden 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Melrose 11 3 Middleton 11 1 South Hadley 11 2 Agawam 10 3 Needham Heights 10 3 Acushnet 9 1 Andover 9 3 East Wareham 9 2 Lunenburg 9 1 Natick 9 3 Sandwich 9 2 Watertown 9 3 Belmont 8 2 Dudley 8 1 Groton 8 1 Harwich 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Shrewsbury 8 3 West Harwich 8 1 Weston 8 1 Mashpee 7 1 Millbury 7 1 Milton 7 2 Wayland 7 1 Wellesley 7 2 Wilbraham 7 1 Falmouth 6 2 Hopkinton 6 1 Longmeadow 6 1 Concord 5 1 Dartmouth 5 2 Grafton 5 1 Newburyport 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Somerset 5 1 South Dartmouth 5 2 Acton 4 1 Easton 4 1 Hingham 4 1 Reading 4 1 Walpole 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Lexington 3 1 South Walpole 3 1 West Roxbury 3 1 Newton 1 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 South Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 17 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 558 397 Berkshire 458 74 Worcester 416 464 Bristol 406 334 Plymouth 405 175 Barnstable 341 66 Essex 340 374 Suffolk 266 527 Franklin 237 25 Norfolk 212 181 Hampshire 211 39 Middlesex 189 442 Nantucket 56 2 Dukes 24 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 2695 86.4% Ongoing/Error 425 13.6% 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 1351 50.1% Defaulted 629 23.3% Dismissed 585 21.7% Heard 116 4.3% Other 14 0.5% Total 2695 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 129 155 246 76 14 Foreclosure 20 52 50 5 0 No Fault 45 48 150 5 0 Non-payment 391 374 904 30 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 1 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.8% 5.8% 9.1% 2.8% 0.5% Foreclosure 0.7% 1.9% 1.9% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 1.7% 1.8% 5.6% 0.2% 0.0% Non-payment 14.5% 13.9% 33.5% 1.1% 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 1452 53.9% 46.5% Judgment inferred 574 21.3% 18.4% No judgment 669 24.8% 21.4% Total 2695 100.0% 64.9% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 353 13.1% 0 32,743 2,883 4,031 1,017,777 Foreclosure 74 2.7% 0 3,441 254 392 18,841 No fault 121 4.5% 0 14,243 1,508 2,012 182,575 Non-payment 904 33.5% 0 52,997 3,127 3,374 2,827,586 Subtotal 1452 53.9% 0 52,997 2,787 3,453 4,046,781 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 78 2.9% 0 17,176 2,480 2,909 193,448 Defaulted 600 22.3% 0 18,621 2,404 2,809 1,442,483 Mediated 697 25.9% 0 52,997 3,058 3,830 2,132,074 Heard 63 2.3% 0 20,431 3,670 4,415 231,238 Other 14 0.5% 0 15,455 3,395 4,336 47,535 Subtotal 1452 53.9% 0 52,997 2,787 3,453 4,046,781 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 6 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 1511 74.6% 56.1% 48.4% unknown 509 25.1% 18.9% 16.3% Total 2026 100.0% 75.2% 64.9% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1452 Range: 0.000 - 52997.690; Mean: 2787.040; Median: 1876.105; Stddev: 3454.415 Percentiles: 90th: 6038.160; 95th: 8572.460; 99th: 16000.000 0.000 - 108.333: 2 | 108.333 - 216.342: 178 ######################### 216.342 - 431.049: 83 ############ 431.049 - 857.863: 111 ################ 857.863 - 1706.316: 243 ################################### 1706.316 - 3392.940: 370 ##################################################### 3392.940 - 6745.747: 296 ########################################## 6745.747 - 13410.725: 89 ############# 13410.725 - 26659.905: 27 #### 26659.905 - 52997.690: 3 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 353 Range: 0.000 - 32743.960; Mean: 2883.224; Median: 1610.000; Stddev: 4037.380 Percentiles: 90th: 7503.470; 95th: 11623.430; 99th: 18815.780 0.000 - 103.194: 1 # 103.194 - 196.387: 46 #################################### 196.387 - 372.936: 26 ##################### 372.936 - 707.395: 31 ######################### 707.395 - 1341.003: 29 ####################### 1341.003 - 2541.329: 67 ##################################################### 2541.329 - 4815.260: 61 ################################################ 4815.260 - 9123.060: 38 ############################## 9123.060 - 17283.877: 22 ################# 17283.877 - 32743.960: 4 ### Foreclosure: Count: 74 Range: 0.000 - 3441.400; Mean: 254.618; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 395.312 Percentiles: 90th: 271.780; 95th: 369.080; 99th: 3441.400 0.000 - 254.045: 55 ##################################################### 254.045 - 339.564: 8 ######## 339.564 - 453.759: 1 # 453.759 - 606.246: 1 # 606.246 - 1081.755: 1 # 1081.755 - 3441.400: 1 # No Fault: Count: 121 Range: 0.000 - 14243.640; Mean: 1508.890; Median: 863.420; Stddev: 2020.893 Percentiles: 90th: 3824.010; 95th: 4349.250; 99th: 8780.480 0.000 - 236.658: 40 ##################################################### 236.658 - 373.519: 4 ##### 373.519 - 589.196: 2 ### 589.196 - 929.077: 4 ##### 929.077 - 1464.686: 11 ############### 1464.686 - 2308.739: 20 ########################### 2308.739 - 3638.863: 12 ################ 3638.863 - 5734.974: 12 ################ 5734.974 - 9038.186: 3 #### 9038.186 - 14243.640: 1 # Non-payment: Count: 904 Range: 0.000 - 52997.690; Mean: 3127.861; Median: 2292.680; Stddev: 3376.518 Percentiles: 90th: 6244.070; 95th: 8506.000; 99th: 15488.270 0.000 - 198.092: 22 ##### 198.092 - 369.273: 41 ######### 369.273 - 687.637: 51 ########### 687.637 - 1279.731: 130 ########################### 1279.731 - 2380.913: 216 ############################################# 2380.913 - 4428.898: 255 ##################################################### 4428.898 - 8237.755: 135 ############################ 8237.755 - 15321.493: 41 ######### 15321.493 - 28495.878: 9 ## 28495.878 - 52997.690: 1 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 78 Range: 0.000 - 17176.870; Mean: 2480.113; Median: 1487.850; Stddev: 2928.611 Percentiles: 90th: 6343.850; 95th: 8738.350; 99th: 17176.870 0.000 - 270.140: 12 ################################################# 270.140 - 428.923: 4 ################ 428.923 - 680.692: 5 #################### 680.692 - 1079.900: 7 ############################# 1079.900 - 1712.889: 11 ############################################# 1712.889 - 2716.566: 13 ##################################################### 2716.566 - 4308.009: 10 ######################################### 4308.009 - 6831.422: 8 ################################# 6831.422 - 10832.580: 4 ################ 10832.580 - 17176.870: 2 ######## Defaulted: Count: 600 Range: 0.000 - 18621.580; Mean: 2404.140; Median: 1581.310; Stddev: 2812.096 Percentiles: 90th: 5125.450; 95th: 7220.660; 99th: 14370.460 0.000 - 228.774: 106 ################################################### 228.774 - 373.441: 29 ############## 373.441 - 609.190: 29 ############## 609.190 - 993.369: 46 ###################### 993.369 - 1619.427: 89 ########################################### 1619.427 - 2639.654: 95 ############################################## 2639.654 - 4302.221: 110 ##################################################### 4302.221 - 7011.546: 55 ########################### 7011.546 - 11426.672: 20 ########## 11426.672 - 18621.580: 13 ###### Mediated: Count: 697 Range: 0.000 - 52997.690; Mean: 3058.930; Median: 2131.130; Stddev: 3832.854 Percentiles: 90th: 6459.700; 95th: 8918.390; 99th: 16000.000 0.000 - 108.333: 2 # 108.333 - 216.342: 59 ################# 216.342 - 431.049: 34 ########## 431.049 - 857.863: 50 ############## 857.863 - 1706.316: 106 ############################## 1706.316 - 3392.940: 189 ##################################################### 3392.940 - 6745.747: 163 ############################################## 6745.747 - 13410.725: 47 ############# 13410.725 - 26659.905: 13 #### 26659.905 - 52997.690: 3 # Heard: Count: 63 Range: 0.000 - 20431.020; Mean: 3670.454; Median: 1819.680; Stddev: 4450.955 Percentiles: 90th: 8853.960; 95th: 12480.150; 99th: 20431.020 0.000 - 282.134: 7 ############################# 282.134 - 454.483: 1 #### 454.483 - 731.744: 2 ######## 731.744 - 1177.778: 1 #### 1177.778 - 1895.322: 13 ##################################################### 1895.322 - 3049.646: 7 ############################# 3049.646 - 4906.629: 7 ############################# 4906.629 - 7893.990: 9 ##################################### 7893.990 - 12699.811: 5 #################### 12699.811 - 20431.020: 3 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 14 Range: 0.000 - 15455.440; Mean: 3395.420; Median: 1996.765; Stddev: 4500.211 Percentiles: 90th: 11623.430; 95th: 15455.440; 99th: 15455.440 0.000 - 495.762: 2 ################################### 495.762 - 1065.393: 1 ################## 1065.393 - 1561.435: 2 ################################### 1561.435 - 2288.215: 2 ################################### 2288.215 - 3353.063: 3 ##################################################### 3353.063 - 4913.233: 1 ################## 4913.233 - 15455.440: 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 1410 69.6% 52.3% 45.2% Issued 1243 61.4% 46.1% 39.8% Levied 313 15.4% 11.6% 10.0% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 27 8.6% 1.3% 1.0% 0.9% Foreclosure 48 15.3% 2.4% 1.8% 1.5% No Fault 38 12.1% 1.9% 1.4% 1.2% Non-payment 200 63.9% 9.9% 7.4% 6.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 313 100.0% 15.4% 11.6% 10.0% 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 23 7.3% 1.1% 0.9% 0.7% Defaulted 109 34.8% 5.4% 4.0% 3.5% Mediated 174 55.6% 8.6% 6.5% 5.6% Heard 7 2.2% 0.3% 0.3% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 313 100.0% 15.4% 11.6% 10.0% 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 48 129 37.2% No Fault 38 249 15.3% Non-payment 200 1705 11.7% Cause 27 1036 2.6% 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 109 629 17.3% Mediated 174 1351 12.9% Heard 7 116 6.0% Dismissed 23 585 3.9% Other 0 14 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 1 2618 89 229 Non-payment 0 2496 37 127 No Fault 9 2043 39 136 Foreclosure 10 825 69 136 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2618 51 159 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 2115 59 174 Defaulted 0 2618 50 185 Mediated 1 2496 37 100 Heard 2 2610 169 343 Other 10 374 81 106 All Outcomes 0 2618 51 159 All Cases: Count: 2695 Range: 0.000 - 2618.000; Mean: 51.391; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 159.634 Percentiles: 90th: 73.000; 95th: 161.000; 99th: 578.000 0.000 - 3.100: 6 | 3.100 - 7.403: 13 # 7.403 - 16.225: 1120 ##################################################### 16.225 - 34.308: 941 ############################################# 34.308 - 71.374: 336 ################ 71.374 - 147.352: 128 ###### 147.352 - 303.091: 68 ### 303.091 - 622.325: 61 ### 622.325 - 1276.688: 11 # 1276.688 - 2618.000: 10 | By Reason Cause: Count: 620 Range: 1.000 - 2618.000; Mean: 89.902; Median: 29.000; Stddev: 229.809 Percentiles: 90th: 192.000; 95th: 371.000; 99th: 1257.000 1.000 - 3.100: 6 ## 3.100 - 7.403: 7 ## 7.403 - 16.225: 161 ################################################# 16.225 - 34.308: 175 ##################################################### 34.308 - 71.374: 120 #################################### 71.374 - 147.352: 71 ###################### 147.352 - 303.091: 42 ############# 303.091 - 622.325: 28 ######## 622.325 - 1276.688: 4 # 1276.688 - 2618.000: 6 ## Non-payment: Count: 1699 Range: 0.000 - 2496.000; Mean: 37.706; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 127.725 Percentiles: 90th: 42.000; 95th: 73.000; 99th: 568.000 0.000 - 8.307: 8 # 8.307 - 16.324: 812 ##################################################### 16.324 - 31.248: 575 ###################################### 31.248 - 59.027: 199 ############# 59.027 - 110.736: 51 ### 110.736 - 206.988: 15 # 206.988 - 386.154: 7 | 386.154 - 719.657: 24 ## 719.657 - 1340.448: 4 | 1340.448 - 2496.000: 3 | No Fault: Count: 248 Range: 9.000 - 2043.000; Mean: 39.512; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 136.374 Percentiles: 90th: 51.000; 95th: 95.000; 99th: 384.000 9.000 - 16.023: 108 ##################################################### 16.023 - 27.980: 69 ################################## 27.980 - 48.334: 43 ##################### 48.334 - 82.983: 11 ##### 82.983 - 141.969: 9 #### 141.969 - 242.382: 3 # 242.382 - 413.321: 3 # 413.321 - 704.318: 1 | 704.318 - 2043.000: 1 | Foreclosure: Count: 127 Range: 10.000 - 825.000; Mean: 69.882; Median: 22.000; Stddev: 136.540 Percentiles: 90th: 188.000; 95th: 279.000; 99th: 818.000 10.000 - 15.941: 35 ############################################# 15.941 - 25.092: 41 ##################################################### 25.092 - 39.185: 19 ######################### 39.185 - 60.891: 8 ########## 60.891 - 145.806: 8 ########## 145.806 - 225.102: 7 ######### 225.102 - 347.227: 3 #### 347.227 - 535.317: 3 #### 535.317 - 825.000: 3 #### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 585 Range: 1.000 - 2115.000; Mean: 59.945; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 174.349 Percentiles: 90th: 97.000; 95th: 222.000; 99th: 598.000 1.000 - 3.013: 2 # 3.013 - 7.052: 6 ## 7.052 - 15.158: 208 ##################################################### 15.158 - 31.421: 204 #################################################### 31.421 - 64.054: 79 #################### 64.054 - 129.533: 42 ########### 129.533 - 260.921: 17 #### 260.921 - 524.555: 14 #### 524.555 - 1053.550: 10 ### 1053.550 - 2115.000: 3 # Defaulted: Count: 629 Range: 0.000 - 2618.000; Mean: 50.149; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 185.472 Percentiles: 90th: 56.000; 95th: 128.000; 99th: 598.000 0.000 - 14.872: 182 ################################### 14.872 - 26.991: 274 ##################################################### 26.991 - 48.364: 99 ################### 48.364 - 86.056: 32 ###### 86.056 - 152.528: 15 ### 152.528 - 269.756: 10 ## 269.756 - 476.494: 3 # 476.494 - 841.087: 8 ## 841.087 - 1484.068: 2 | 1484.068 - 2618.000: 3 # Mediated: Count: 1351 Range: 1.000 - 2496.000; Mean: 37.812; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 100.526 Percentiles: 90th: 52.000; 95th: 112.000; 99th: 484.000 1.000 - 3.080: 1 | 3.080 - 7.324: 3 | 7.324 - 15.980: 533 ##################################################### 15.980 - 33.641: 528 ##################################################### 33.641 - 69.668: 181 ################## 69.668 - 143.166: 53 ##### 143.166 - 293.105: 31 ### 293.105 - 598.986: 16 ## 598.986 - 1222.995: 3 | 1222.995 - 2496.000: 2 | Heard: Count: 116 Range: 2.000 - 2610.000; Mean: 169.448; Median: 37.500; Stddev: 343.678 Percentiles: 90th: 495.000; 95th: 578.000; 99th: 1365.000 2.000 - 4.903: 4 ######## 4.903 - 10.616: 12 ####################### 10.616 - 21.857: 20 ###################################### 21.857 - 43.978: 28 ##################################################### 43.978 - 87.504: 18 ################################## 87.504 - 173.154: 7 ############# 173.154 - 341.690: 8 ############### 341.690 - 673.326: 14 ########################### 673.326 - 1325.900: 2 #### 1325.900 - 2610.000: 3 ###### Other Outcome: Count: 14 Range: 10.000 - 374.000; Mean: 81.857; Median: 28.000; Stddev: 106.538 Percentiles: 90th: 207.000; 95th: 374.000; 99th: 374.000 10.000 - 14.655: 4 ##################################################### 14.655 - 21.280: 2 ########################### 21.280 - 30.709: 1 ############# 30.709 - 44.128: 2 ########################### 44.128 - 90.406: 1 ############# 90.406 - 184.141: 2 ########################### 184.141 - 262.492: 1 ############# 262.492 - 374.000: 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/.