Outcomes for January 2018

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: 2018-01-01 Search Period End: 2018-01-31 Earliest Case: 2018-01-01 Latest Case: 2018-01-31 Total Cases: 3411 Total Transfers: 68 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 31.4% Of those, percentage pro se: 61.3% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Pittsfield Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 113 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 southeast 568 16.7% eastern 503 14.7% northeast 477 14.0% western 476 14.0% central 474 13.9% quincy district 141 4.1% malden district 72 2.1% cambridge district 60 1.8% pittsfield district 55 1.6% chelsea district 40 1.2% springfield district 33 1.0% lynn district 32 0.9% dedham district 30 0.9% stoughton district 30 0.9% lowell district 27 0.8% barnstable district 26 0.8% wrentham district 24 0.7% somerville district 23 0.7% attleboro district 20 0.6% fall river district 20 0.6% woburn district 19 0.6% brockton district 18 0.5% framingham district 17 0.5% haverhill district 17 0.5% bmc dorchester 16 0.5% waltham district 16 0.5% northampton district 12 0.4% brookline district 11 0.3% salem district 11 0.3% bmc west roxbury 10 0.3% bmc east boston 9 0.3% lawrence district 9 0.3% northern berkshire district 9 0.3% holyoke district 8 0.2% westfield district 8 0.2% newburyport district 7 0.2% peabody district 7 0.2% chicopee district 6 0.2% new bedford district 6 0.2% orleans district 6 0.2% hingham district 5 0.1% natick district 5 0.1% ayer district 4 0.1% fallmouth district 4 0.1% milford district 4 0.1% palmer district 4 0.1% eastern hampshire district 3 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% southern berkshire district 2 0.1% worcester district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% plymouth district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2341 3 Natural Person 1070 3408 Total 3411 3411 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 68.6% 0.1% Natural Person 31.4% 99.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2078 263 2341 Optional 414 656 1070 Total 2492 919 3411 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 60.9% 7.7% 68.6% Optional 12.1% 19.2% 31.4% Total 73.1% 26.9% 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 2 1 3 Optional 205 3203 3408 Total 207 3204 3411 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.0% 0.1% Optional 6.0% 93.9% 99.9% Total 6.1% 93.9% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 231 6.8% 1 2325 68.2% 2 677 19.8% 3 110 3.2% 4 49 1.4% 5 15 0.4% 6 2 0.1% 8 1 0.0% 9 1 0.0% Total 3411 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 1897 55.6% Cause 1190 34.9% No Fault 180 5.3% Foreclosure 142 4.2% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 421 4 Chestnut Hill 235 5 Pittsfield 183 82 Fall River 176 157 Springfield 163 250 Hyannis 156 22 Thorndike 144 1 Charlestown 143 24 New Bedford 130 124 Chicopee 124 69 Fitchburg 121 49 Holyoke 117 47 Randolph 112 36 Brockton 109 103 Worcester 109 199 South Dennis 108 4 Lowell 103 110 Webster 101 17 Indian Orchard 99 10 Dorchester 98 91 Greenfield 97 17 Salisbury 96 8 West Wareham 92 2 Haverhill 91 56 Taunton 91 51 Chelsea 90 32 Orange 89 7 Athol 86 10 Framingham 86 59 Gilbertville 86 1 Lawrence 86 66 Lynn 86 78 Salem 84 35 Roxbury 82 49 Ayer 80 6 North Adams 80 11 Gardner 79 16 Royalston 79 1 Charlemont 78 1 Southbridge 77 13 Everett 76 32 Turners Falls 73 3 West Springfield 73 21 Dorchester Center 72 67 Byfield 71 2 Hyde Park 71 24 Mattapan 68 25 Rockland 68 12 South Easton 68 7 Bedford 67 9 Provincetown 67 2 New Marlborough 66 1 Roslindale 65 19 North Brookfield 64 3 Cambridge 63 67 Granville 63 1 Plainville 60 5 Stoughton 59 16 Beverly 58 23 Brookfield 58 2 Hull 58 6 Malden 58 35 Essex 57 2 Bridgewater 56 15 Jamaica Plain 56 21 Revere 56 29 Shutesbury 56 1 West Yarmouth 56 3 Amesbury 55 9 Brimfield 55 2 Bondsville 53 1 Halifax 53 4 Canton 51 11 Ashburnham 49 3 North Andover 49 14 Westfield 48 20 Adams 47 4 Kingston 47 6 Woburn 47 18 Attleborough 45 20 Forestdale 45 2 Hubbardston 45 2 Huntington 45 1 Millbury 45 6 Leominster 44 18 South Boston 44 15 South Grafton 44 2 Wakefield 44 11 Westborough 43 8 Whitinsville 43 3 East Weymouth 42 23 Feeding Hills 42 5 Great Barrington 42 3 Methuen 42 20 Northborough 42 6 Braintree 41 15 Chelmsford 41 14 Foxborough 41 7 Gloucester 41 12 Quincy 41 38 Holland 40 1 Melrose 40 11 Cohasset 39 3 Norwood 38 11 Abington 37 6 Barre 37 2 Plymouth 37 21 Georgetown 36 3 West Tisbury 36 1 Monument Beach 35 1 Northampton 35 10 Plympton 35 1 Allston 34 10 Berlin 34 1 Brighton 34 15 East Falmouth 34 2 South Yarmouth 34 4 Spencer 34 4 Three Rivers 34 1 Whitman 34 5 Medford 33 19 Peabody 33 17 Pembroke 33 6 Ashby 32 1 Milford 32 9 Stoneham 32 7 Dennis Port 31 1 East Taunton 31 2 Millville 31 1 North Attleborough 31 9 Waltham 31 19 Cheshire 30 1 Cotuit 30 1 Mansfield 30 7 Ware 30 3 Acushnet 29 3 Billerica 29 12 Nahant 29 1 Nantucket 29 3 Dedham 28 7 Lakeville 28 3 Osterville 28 1 South Hadley 28 5 Winthrop 28 5 Cherry Valley 27 3 Sunderland 27 1 Westwood 27 4 Danvers 26 7 North Reading 26 4 Tyngsborough 26 3 Upton 26 2 West Boylston 26 2 Weymouth 26 14 Newton Center 25 1 Westport 25 4 Edgartown 24 1 Lancaster 24 2 Palmer 24 3 Amherst 23 9 Ludlow 23 5 North Dighton 23 1 Brookline 22 13 Clinton 22 3 Middleton 22 2 Shrewsbury 22 8 East Bridgewater 21 3 Seekonk 21 3 Southwick 21 2 Swampscott 21 3 Belchertown 20 3 Belmont 20 5 Boxborough 20 1 Eastham 20 1 Marion 20 1 Roxbury Crossing 20 12 Tewksbury 20 6 East Boston 19 8 Hadley 19 1 Lunenburg 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Winchendon 19 2 Ashland 18 3 Fairhaven 18 3 Holbrook 18 2 North Billerica 18 2 South Barre 18 1 Watertown 18 6 Middleborough 17 4 Rowley 17 1 Sharon 17 3 Dracut 16 5 Granby 16 1 Lee 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 Orleans 16 1 West Roxbury 16 5 Berkley 15 1 Boston 15 94 Franklin 15 5 Medway 15 2 Natick 15 5 Newbury 15 1 Agawam 14 4 Centerville 14 2 Dalton 14 1 Mashpee 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Duxbury 13 2 Onset 13 3 Shirley 13 1 Somerville 13 10 Bellingham 12 2 Burlington 12 3 North Grafton 12 1 North Weymouth 12 7 Reading 12 3 South Hamilton 12 1 Swansea 12 2 Walpole 12 3 Williamstown 12 1 Blackstone 11 1 Douglas 11 1 East Walpole 11 3 Holden 11 2 Marshfield 11 3 Newburyport 11 2 Scituate 11 2 Hudson 10 2 Marblehead 10 2 North Chelmsford 10 1 Acton 9 2 Andover 9 3 E. Boston 9 4 East Wareham 9 2 Hanson 9 1 Maynard 9 1 Rochdale 9 1 Sandwich 9 2 Wareham 9 2 Westford 9 2 Dudley 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Wilmington 8 2 Hanover 7 1 Milton 7 2 North Uxbridge 7 1 Oxford 7 1 Raynham 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 Wellesley 7 2 West Newton 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Auburn 6 1 Easthampton 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Needham Heights 6 2 Concord 5 1 Dartmouth 5 2 Norton 5 1 Somerset 5 1 South Dartmouth 5 2 Arlington 4 2 Easton 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Lexington 3 1 Saugus 3 1 Barnstable 2 1 Marlborough 2 1 South Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 16 span 0 5 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Berkshire 650 105 Hampden 624 444 Plymouth 500 216 Bristol 489 403 Worcester 370 412 Essex 335 369 Franklin 284 30 Norfolk 283 242 Suffolk 278 549 Barnstable 269 52 Middlesex 225 525 Hampshire 206 38 Nantucket 85 3 Dukes 48 2 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2937 86.1% Ongoing/Error 474 13.9% 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 1480 50.4% Defaulted 673 22.9% Dismissed 620 21.1% Heard 149 5.1% Other 15 0.5% Total 2937 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 140 170 305 100 14 Foreclosure 21 50 62 7 0 No Fault 37 26 107 9 1 Non-payment 422 427 1006 33 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.8% 5.8% 10.4% 3.4% 0.5% Foreclosure 0.7% 1.7% 2.1% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 1.3% 0.9% 3.6% 0.3% 0.0% Non-payment 14.4% 14.5% 34.3% 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 1613 54.9% 47.3% Judgment inferred 550 18.7% 16.1% No judgment 774 26.4% 22.7% Total 2937 100.0% 63.4% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 424 14.4% 0 45,883 2,736 3,846 1,160,248 Foreclosure 73 2.5% 0 7,216 406 1,023 29,654 No fault 82 2.8% 0 482,039 7,357 52,788 603,285 Non-payment 1034 35.2% 0 93,894 2,982 3,991 3,083,963 Subtotal 1613 54.9% 0 482,039 3,023 12,534 4,877,151 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 91 3.1% 0 93,894 3,131 9,842 285,006 Defaulted 650 22.1% 0 25,454 2,491 2,812 1,619,675 Mediated 809 27.5% 0 482,039 3,404 17,129 2,753,997 Heard 49 1.7% 0 39,354 3,729 5,886 182,762 Other 14 0.5% 824 6,014 2,550 1,565 35,709 Subtotal 1613 54.9% 0 482,039 3,023 12,534 4,877,151 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 11 0.5% 0.4% 0.3% plaintiff 1676 77.5% 57.1% 49.1% unknown 476 22.0% 16.2% 14.0% Total 2163 100.0% 73.6% 63.4% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1613 Range: 0.000 - 482039.100; Mean: 3023.653; Median: 1906.300; Stddev: 12537.948 Percentiles: 90th: 6061.620; 95th: 8002.310; 99th: 13811.000 0.000 - 141.486: 11 # 141.486 - 350.494: 248 ######################### 350.494 - 866.090: 134 ############## 866.090 - 2137.994: 432 ############################################ 2137.994 - 5275.612: 525 ##################################################### 5275.612 - 13015.696: 188 ################### 13015.696 - 32109.449: 14 # 32109.449 - 79211.181: 2 | 79211.181 - 195404.854: 1 | 195404.854 - 482039.100: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 424 Range: 0.000 - 45883.540; Mean: 2736.435; Median: 1746.025; Stddev: 3851.495 Percentiles: 90th: 6615.080; 95th: 9010.080; 99th: 15990.350 0.000 - 221.389: 55 ##################################### 221.389 - 401.055: 30 #################### 401.055 - 725.872: 18 ############ 725.872 - 1313.107: 42 ############################# 1313.107 - 2374.765: 72 ################################################# 2374.765 - 4294.127: 78 ##################################################### 4294.127 - 7764.128: 59 ######################################## 7764.128 - 14037.516: 22 ############### 14037.516 - 25379.127: 5 ### 25379.127 - 45883.540: 2 # Foreclosure: Count: 73 Range: 0.000 - 7216.090; Mean: 406.225; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 1030.460 Percentiles: 90th: 272.220; 95th: 401.450; 99th: 7216.090 0.000 - 208.674: 54 ##################################################### 208.674 - 309.672: 10 ########## 309.672 - 459.320: 3 ### 459.320 - 4869.849: 2 ## 4869.849 - 7216.090: 1 # No Fault: Count: 82 Range: 0.000 - 482039.100; Mean: 7357.134; Median: 745.710; Stddev: 53113.150 Percentiles: 90th: 3689.580; 95th: 5161.800; 99th: 482039.100 0.000 - 317.963: 34 ##################################################### 317.963 - 718.450: 1 ## 718.450 - 1621.785: 13 #################### 1621.785 - 3659.339: 19 ############################## 3659.339 - 8255.227: 6 ######### 8255.227 - 18621.670: 2 ### 18621.670 - 482039.100: 1 ## Non-payment: Count: 1034 Range: 0.000 - 93894.860; Mean: 2982.557; Median: 2167.480; Stddev: 3993.839 Percentiles: 90th: 6312.080; 95th: 7933.080; 99th: 12675.220 0.000 - 119.984: 1 | 119.984 - 252.414: 59 ########## 252.414 - 529.803: 49 ######## 529.803 - 1110.821: 138 ####################### 1110.821 - 2327.825: 293 ################################################ 2327.825 - 4876.966: 322 ##################################################### 4876.966 - 10216.406: 141 ####################### 10216.406 - 21400.420: 21 ### 21400.420 - 44826.500: 2 | 44826.500 - 93894.860: 1 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 91 Range: 0.000 - 93894.860; Mean: 3131.934; Median: 1235.810; Stddev: 9896.974 Percentiles: 90th: 6057.930; 95th: 8246.000; 99th: 93894.860 0.000 - 269.123: 15 #################################### 269.123 - 516.493: 12 ############################# 516.493 - 990.396: 14 ################################## 990.396 - 1898.285: 11 ########################### 1898.285 - 3637.587: 22 ##################################################### 3637.587 - 6969.686: 10 ######################## 6969.686 - 13353.211: 5 ############ 13353.211 - 93894.860: 1 ## Defaulted: Count: 650 Range: 0.000 - 25454.600; Mean: 2491.809; Median: 1792.545; Stddev: 2814.927 Percentiles: 90th: 5667.740; 95th: 7542.630; 99th: 12675.220 0.000 - 105.180: 1 | 105.180 - 194.190: 52 #################### 194.190 - 357.818: 94 ################################### 357.818 - 658.614: 28 ########### 658.614 - 1211.566: 66 ######################### 1211.566 - 2228.055: 134 ################################################## 2228.055 - 4096.665: 141 ##################################################### 4096.665 - 7531.725: 87 ################################# 7531.725 - 13846.384: 29 ########### 13846.384 - 25454.600: 5 ## Mediated: Count: 809 Range: 0.000 - 482039.100; Mean: 3404.200; Median: 2057.340; Stddev: 17140.470 Percentiles: 90th: 6277.820; 95th: 8091.000; 99th: 15015.230 0.000 - 280.355: 82 ################# 280.355 - 642.530: 39 ######## 642.530 - 1470.917: 149 ############################## 1470.917 - 3365.647: 262 ##################################################### 3365.647 - 7699.374: 191 ####################################### 7699.374 - 17611.705: 43 ######### 17611.705 - 40283.719: 2 | 40283.719 - 92140.360: 1 | 92140.360 - 482039.100: 1 | Heard: Count: 49 Range: 0.000 - 39354.270; Mean: 3729.853; Median: 2088.990; Stddev: 5947.098 Percentiles: 90th: 8268.460; 95th: 9226.790; 99th: 39354.270 0.000 - 324.410: 7 ################################## 324.410 - 943.548: 1 ##### 943.548 - 1608.241: 6 ############################# 1608.241 - 2740.689: 11 ##################################################### 2740.689 - 4670.056: 7 ################################## 4670.056 - 7957.148: 8 ####################################### 7957.148 - 13557.417: 4 ################### 13557.417 - 39354.270: 1 ##### Other Outcome: Count: 14 Range: 824.380 - 6014.880; Mean: 2550.659; Median: 1755.625; Stddev: 1624.559 Percentiles: 90th: 5200.620; 95th: 6014.880; 99th: 6014.880 824.380 - 1005.743: 2 ##################### 1005.743 - 1496.778: 1 ########### 1496.778 - 1825.888: 5 ##################################################### 1825.888 - 2716.948: 1 ########### 2716.948 - 3314.168: 2 ##################### 3314.168 - 4931.131: 1 ########### 4931.131 - 6014.880: 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 1554 71.8% 52.9% 45.6% Issued 1367 63.2% 46.5% 40.1% Levied 314 14.5% 10.7% 9.2% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 33 10.5% 1.5% 1.1% 1.0% Foreclosure 52 16.6% 2.4% 1.8% 1.5% No Fault 19 6.1% 0.9% 0.6% 0.6% Non-payment 210 66.9% 9.7% 7.2% 6.2% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 314 100.0% 14.5% 10.7% 9.2% 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 27 8.6% 1.2% 0.9% 0.8% Defaulted 127 40.4% 5.9% 4.3% 3.7% Mediated 154 49.0% 7.1% 5.2% 4.5% Heard 6 1.9% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 314 100.0% 14.5% 10.7% 9.2% 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 52 142 36.6% Non-payment 210 1897 11.1% No Fault 19 180 10.6% Cause 33 1190 2.8% 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 127 673 18.9% Mediated 154 1480 10.4% Dismissed 27 620 4.4% Heard 6 149 4.0% Other 0 15 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 0 2577 93 243 Non-payment 1 2613 32 114 No Fault 4 2303 58 193 Foreclosure 2 590 52 98 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2613 49 163 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 1378 47 126 Defaulted 0 1528 34 89 Mediated 0 2613 43 136 Heard 1 2577 188 462 Other 10 427 94 116 All Outcomes 0 2613 49 163 All Cases: Count: 2937 Range: 0.000 - 2613.000; Mean: 49.892; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 163.071 Percentiles: 90th: 72.000; 95th: 189.000; 99th: 617.000 0.000 - 3.099: 13 | 3.099 - 7.400: 30 # 7.400 - 16.215: 1535 ##################################################### 16.215 - 34.281: 809 ############################ 34.281 - 71.305: 253 ######### 71.305 - 147.182: 119 #### 147.182 - 302.685: 83 ### 302.685 - 621.373: 63 ## 621.373 - 1274.493: 17 # 1274.493 - 2613.000: 12 | By Reason Cause: Count: 729 Range: 0.000 - 2577.000; Mean: 93.358; Median: 24.000; Stddev: 243.411 Percentiles: 90th: 210.000; 95th: 392.000; 99th: 1378.000 0.000 - 3.093: 5 # 3.093 - 7.377: 12 ### 7.377 - 16.144: 239 ##################################################### 16.144 - 34.086: 210 ############################################### 34.086 - 70.805: 99 ###################### 70.805 - 145.954: 62 ############## 145.954 - 299.751: 53 ############ 299.751 - 614.506: 25 ###### 614.506 - 1258.672: 13 ### 1258.672 - 2577.000: 8 ## Non-payment: Count: 1888 Range: 1.000 - 2613.000; Mean: 32.104; Median: 14.000; Stddev: 114.812 Percentiles: 90th: 37.000; 95th: 71.000; 99th: 469.000 1.000 - 3.099: 7 | 3.099 - 7.400: 15 # 7.400 - 16.215: 1148 ##################################################### 16.215 - 34.281: 500 ####################### 34.281 - 71.305: 124 ###### 71.305 - 147.182: 45 ## 147.182 - 302.685: 15 # 302.685 - 621.373: 28 # 621.373 - 1274.493: 3 | 1274.493 - 2613.000: 3 | No Fault: Count: 180 Range: 4.000 - 2303.000; Mean: 58.028; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 193.904 Percentiles: 90th: 69.000; 95th: 227.000; 99th: 772.000 4.000 - 8.233: 2 # 8.233 - 16.048: 80 ##################################################### 16.048 - 30.479: 56 ##################################### 30.479 - 57.127: 15 ########## 57.127 - 106.331: 13 ######### 106.331 - 197.188: 3 ## 197.188 - 364.956: 6 #### 364.956 - 674.741: 3 ## 674.741 - 1246.760: 1 # 1246.760 - 2303.000: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 140 Range: 2.000 - 590.000; Mean: 52.979; Median: 16.500; Stddev: 98.529 Percentiles: 90th: 138.000; 95th: 270.000; 99th: 528.000 2.000 - 4.088: 1 # 4.088 - 7.630: 1 # 7.630 - 13.637: 29 ###################### 13.637 - 23.826: 69 ##################################################### 23.826 - 41.107: 10 ######## 41.107 - 70.417: 7 ##### 70.417 - 120.129: 6 ##### 120.129 - 204.444: 8 ###### 204.444 - 347.450: 3 ## 347.450 - 590.000: 6 ##### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 620 Range: 0.000 - 1378.000; Mean: 47.763; Median: 14.500; Stddev: 126.811 Percentiles: 90th: 86.000; 95th: 196.000; 99th: 582.000 0.000 - 2.845: 2 | 2.845 - 6.392: 13 ### 6.392 - 13.210: 248 ##################################################### 13.210 - 26.318: 204 ############################################ 26.318 - 51.517: 67 ############## 51.517 - 99.960: 28 ###### 99.960 - 193.090: 25 ##### 193.090 - 372.128: 14 ### 372.128 - 716.317: 13 ### 716.317 - 1378.000: 5 # Defaulted: Count: 673 Range: 0.000 - 1528.000; Mean: 34.431; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 89.656 Percentiles: 90th: 43.000; 95th: 107.000; 99th: 482.000 0.000 - 6.249: 1 | 6.249 - 12.138: 174 ############################# 12.138 - 22.810: 319 ##################################################### 22.810 - 42.152: 109 ################## 42.152 - 77.205: 25 #### 77.205 - 140.732: 17 ### 140.732 - 255.864: 15 ## 255.864 - 464.520: 5 # 464.520 - 842.670: 6 # 842.670 - 1528.000: 1 | Mediated: Count: 1480 Range: 0.000 - 2613.000; Mean: 43.447; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 136.923 Percentiles: 90th: 64.000; 95th: 129.000; 99th: 597.000 0.000 - 4.904: 2 | 4.904 - 10.619: 353 ############################ 10.619 - 21.865: 672 ##################################################### 21.865 - 43.998: 242 ################### 43.998 - 87.555: 109 ######### 87.555 - 173.274: 38 ### 173.274 - 341.965: 25 ## 341.965 - 673.946: 26 ## 673.946 - 1327.272: 9 # 1327.272 - 2613.000: 3 | Heard: Count: 149 Range: 1.000 - 2577.000; Mean: 188.114; Median: 28.000; Stddev: 462.797 Percentiles: 90th: 365.000; 95th: 1145.000; 99th: 2342.000 1.000 - 3.093: 4 ##### 3.093 - 7.377: 4 ##### 7.377 - 16.144: 40 ##################################################### 16.144 - 34.086: 32 ########################################## 34.086 - 70.805: 23 ############################## 70.805 - 145.954: 9 ############ 145.954 - 299.751: 19 ######################### 299.751 - 614.506: 9 ############ 614.506 - 1258.672: 2 ### 1258.672 - 2577.000: 7 ######### Other Outcome: Count: 15 Range: 10.000 - 427.000; Mean: 94.533; Median: 38.000; Stddev: 116.504 Percentiles: 90th: 279.000; 95th: 427.000; 99th: 427.000 10.000 - 14.863: 1 ######### 14.863 - 31.992: 6 ##################################################### 31.992 - 46.579: 1 ######### 46.579 - 67.615: 2 ################## 67.615 - 97.952: 1 ######### 97.952 - 141.701: 1 ######### 141.701 - 204.794: 1 ######### 204.794 - 295.783: 1 ######### 295.783 - 427.000: 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/.