Outcomes for 2019

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: 2019-01-01 Search Period End: 2019-12-31 Earliest Case: 2019-01-02 Latest Case: 2019-12-31 Total Cases: 37544 Total Transfers: 1016 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 32.9% Of those, percentage pro se: 54.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Florence Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 103 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 northeast 5367 14.3% western 4774 12.7% central 4756 12.7% eastern 4698 12.5% southeast 3758 10.0% metro_south 1707 4.5% Northeast 970 2.6% quincy district 875 2.3% Eastern 844 2.2% Central 838 2.2% Western 777 2.1% metro south 685 1.8% Southeast 642 1.7% chelsea district 476 1.3% cambridge district 458 1.2% malden district 443 1.2% Metro South 439 1.2% lynn district 378 1.0% pittsfield district 367 1.0% springfield district 283 0.8% somerville district 274 0.7% fall river district 221 0.6% barnstable district 190 0.5% lowell district 189 0.5% northern berkshire district 172 0.5% attleboro district 166 0.4% waltham district 156 0.4% woburn district 146 0.4% brockton district 144 0.4% bmc east boston 142 0.4% framingham district 138 0.4% wrentham district 121 0.3% bmc west roxbury 119 0.3% bmc dorchester 106 0.3% haverhill district 106 0.3% orleans district 99 0.3% dedham district 94 0.3% fallmouth district 93 0.2% holyoke district 93 0.2% lawrence district 80 0.2% plymouth district 73 0.2% newton district 71 0.2% salem district 71 0.2% stoughton district 70 0.2% milford district 53 0.1% peabody district 50 0.1% bmc south boston 49 0.1% chicopee district 49 0.1% palmer district 45 0.1% brookline district 43 0.1% wareham district 42 0.1% new bedford district 41 0.1% northampton district 39 0.1% taunton district 38 0.1% hingham district 37 0.1% newburyport district 37 0.1% westfield district 34 0.1% concord district 32 0.1% eastern hampshire district 31 0.1% bmc roxbury 28 0.1% ayer district 27 0.1% edgartown district 25 0.1% gloucester district 23 0.1% bmc brighton 22 0.1% greenfield district 22 0.1% southern berkshire district 22 0.1% orange district 19 0.1% nantucket district 12 0.0% natick district 12 0.0% clinton district 11 0.0% worcester district 8 0.0% bmc central 6 0.0% uxbridge district 5 0.0% westborough district 5 0.0% ipswich district 4 0.0% bmc charlestown 2 0.0% east brookfield district 1 0.0% marlborough district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 25196 106 Natural Person 12348 37438 Total 37544 37544 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 67.1% 0.3% Natural Person 32.9% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 24449 747 25196 Optional 5605 6743 12348 Total 30054 7490 37544 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 65.1% 2.0% 67.1% Optional 14.9% 18.0% 32.9% Total 80.1% 19.9% 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 21 85 106 Optional 2201 35237 37438 Total 2222 35322 37544 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% Optional 5.9% 93.9% 99.7% Total 5.9% 94.1% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 2115 5.6% 1 24656 65.7% 2 8675 23.1% 3 1395 3.7% 4 451 1.2% 5 141 0.4% 6 64 0.2% 7 25 0.1% 8 11 0.0% 9 6 0.0% 10 1 0.0% 11 2 0.0% 12 1 0.0% 13 1 0.0% Total 37544 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 22468 59.8% Cause 6158 16.4% Unknown/Other 4567 12.2% No Fault 3413 9.1% Foreclosure 938 2.5% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 5801 55 Monroe Bridge 2380 2 Mill River 1851 2 Woronoco 1801 2 Springfield 1718 2631 Indian Orchard 1528 154 Holyoke 1489 594 Gilbertville 1476 17 Thorndike 1445 10 Fall River 1431 1272 Pittsfield 1405 629 New Bedford 1383 1315 North Adams 1334 183 Dorchester 1237 1138 Randolph 1230 395 Chestnut Hill 1224 26 Worcester 1192 2159 Fitchburg 1143 461 Hyannis 1142 161 Turners Falls 1121 46 Lowell 1117 1190 Lawrence 1094 836 Brockton 1079 1013 Greenfield 1019 178 Lynn 1019 921 Hyde Park 965 323 Adams 954 81 Southbridge 945 158 Chicopee 931 515 Gardner 914 185 Haverhill 893 544 Rockland 891 156 Webster 888 149 Framingham 876 599 Ware 871 86 Revere 855 443 East Falmouth 847 49 Roxbury 840 501 Charlestown 839 140 Athol 837 97 Chelsea 827 291 Mattapan 816 298 Salem 791 327 Three Rivers 782 23 Orange 778 61 Rowe 763 3 West Wareham 736 16 West Springfield 690 196 Dennis Port 664 21 Housatonic 664 5 Taunton 662 370 Everett 659 275 Stoughton 641 173 Braintree 640 229 Vineyard Haven 635 12 Marlborough 633 244 Whitinsville 633 44 Peabody 624 320 Spencer 624 73 Foxborough 616 104 Roslindale 615 178 West Yarmouth 607 32 South Dennis 597 22 Leominster 593 242 Quincy 590 545 Pocasset 587 17 Buzzards Bay 582 20 Baldwinville 580 11 Malden 580 345 Dorchester Center 577 531 Norwood 566 162 Humarock 555 1 West Dennis 550 12 Feeding Hills 548 64 Westborough 547 100 Whitman 545 79 Siasconset 523 1 Salisbury 507 42 Abington 506 81 Hull 505 52 Winchendon 504 52 Cambridge 503 530 Bridgewater 496 132 Jamaica Plain 496 186 Beverly 491 194 Canton 491 106 Holbrook 481 52 South Boston 471 159 North Brookfield 470 22 Milford 467 131 South Yarmouth 464 54 Palmer 461 56 Attleborough 454 198 Woburn 451 172 Danvers 449 119 Gloucester 448 129 Millis 443 35 New Ashford 438 1 East Boston 436 177 Saugus 435 116 Waltham 423 257 Ayer 417 31 Methuen 416 197 Brighton 410 180 Sunderland 407 15 Clinton 396 54 Charlemont 394 5 Belchertown 375 55 Provincetown 373 11 Mansfield 370 86 Westfield 365 150 Allston 363 106 Tewksbury 362 105 Dracut 359 106 Middleborough 354 82 Wendell 353 3 Oxford 350 48 Winthrop 348 61 South Deerfield 342 7 Ashland 337 56 Becket 337 6 Somerville 332 252 North Egremont 326 4 Aquinnah 321 1 Plymouth 318 180 Plainville 314 26 Amesbury 313 51 Millville 313 10 South Easton 313 32 Otis 310 5 Shirley 305 22 Wheelwright 305 1 Roxbury Crossing 301 180 Dedham 295 73 Medford 295 166 Southwick 294 28 Fiskdale 291 9 North Attleborough 289 83 East Weymouth 288 155 Easthampton 286 46 East Wareham 284 62 Shelburne Falls 284 5 Northampton 283 81 Holland 282 7 Millbury 279 37 Chelmsford 278 94 Cheshire 278 9 Bedford 277 37 Erving 277 5 Lunenburg 277 28 Seekonk 276 38 Wareham 274 60 Mashpee 271 38 North Andover 271 77 Leverett 270 5 Bondsville 266 5 Fairhaven 264 42 Marion 264 13 North Oxford 264 6 Buckland 262 5 East Sandwich 258 9 Lynnfield 258 30 Newton Center 256 10 Stockbridge 256 5 Warwick 256 2 Weymouth 256 138 Lakeville 254 27 West Barnstable 248 7 Littleton 246 22 Marstons Mills 246 12 Swampscott 246 34 North Billerica 243 26 Pepperell 243 28 Cotuit 242 8 Ipswich 242 32 Wakefield 240 60 Great Barrington 239 17 Raynham 239 32 Montgomery 238 2 Dudley 237 27 Franklin 237 75 Ludlow 236 50 Nahant 234 8 Northborough 233 33 Chilmark 230 2 North Chelmsford 230 21 Cummington 229 2 Huntington 229 5 Hudson 225 43 Brewster 224 22 Newburyport 218 38 Wellfleet 218 6 Carver 217 25 Wales 217 4 Medfield 216 26 South Hadley 216 38 Sheffield 214 7 Warren 214 11 Tyngsborough 212 24 Avon 206 9 Stoneham 205 44 Westwood 205 30 Richmond 203 3 Bellingham 202 33 Pembroke 201 36 Essex 199 7 Marshfield 198 50 Monson 198 17 Osterville 198 7 Northfield 197 6 Hinsdale 196 4 Leeds 196 2 Melrose 196 53 Chatham 195 12 Walpole 195 47 Manchester 194 10 E. Boston 192 78 Granby 192 12 Granville 191 3 Sagamore 190 7 Agawam 189 54 Billerica 188 76 East Taunton 187 12 Hanover 187 26 Watertown 187 60 Bradford 186 25 Amherst 185 70 Eastham 181 9 North Reading 181 27 Hopkinton 180 27 Williamstown 180 14 Auburn 179 29 Norton 178 34 South Grafton 178 8 Douglas 177 15 Haydenville 177 2 West Roxbury 177 54 Oak Bluffs 176 8 West Warren 176 2 West Bridgewater 173 12 Ashfield 172 3 Newtonville 172 9 Shrewsbury 171 61 Barre 166 9 Brimfield 166 6 Hanson 166 17 Marblehead 166 33 Petersham 162 2 West Brookfield 162 6 Charlton 161 21 Boylston 160 7 Boston 159 988 Cohasset 159 12 Duxbury 159 24 Kingston 158 20 Rockport 158 11 Nantucket 157 16 Oakham 157 3 Andover 156 52 Brookline 156 92 West Boylston 156 12 Wilmington 156 35 Centerville 155 21 Leicester 154 17 Plainfield 154 1 North Dartmouth 152 36 Orleans 152 9 Chester 149 2 Truro 149 3 Mattapoisett 148 9 Maynard 148 15 Burlington 146 36 Townsend 145 13 Merrimac 142 9 North Dighton 141 6 West Townsend 141 3 Berlin 139 4 Harwich 138 17 Rowley 136 8 Wrentham 136 15 Hopedale 135 8 Lee 134 8 Middleton 133 12 Rochester 133 7 Whately 133 2 Blackstone 132 12 Florida 132 1 Holden 132 23 Ashburnham 131 8 Ashby 130 4 Sturbridge 129 12 Acton 127 28 Natick 127 42 Scituate 126 23 Swansea 126 20 Edgartown 122 5 Woods Hole 122 1 Rehoboth 120 14 Colrain 119 2 Mendon 119 7 West Newbury 118 5 Brookfield 117 4 Clarksburg 117 2 Hubbardston 114 5 Jefferson 114 4 Needham 114 33 Northbridge 114 18 Forestdale 113 5 Sharon 113 20 Russell 112 2 Georgetown 109 9 Arlington 107 46 Sudbury 107 19 Acushnet 106 11 Halifax 106 8 Uxbridge 104 14 North Grafton 103 8 Southampton 103 6 Westport 103 16 East Freetown 102 5 East Longmeadow 101 16 Medway 101 13 Boxborough 100 5 Cherry Valley 100 11 South Chatham 97 1 Westminster 96 7 Hingham 94 21 Bernardston 93 2 North Easton 92 12 Reading 92 23 Onset 91 20 Sterling 89 7 Belmont 88 22 Cataumet 88 1 Somerset 88 16 Princeton 87 3 Rutland 87 7 Lancaster 86 7 Lexington 86 27 Worthington 86 1 Falmouth 85 27 Concord 84 15 Wilbraham 84 12 Sagamore Beach 82 3 Blandford 81 1 Chesterfield 81 1 Bourne 80 16 East Bridgewater 79 11 Lenox 79 4 Yarmouth Port 79 4 Lincoln 78 5 South Weymouth 78 42 Sutton 78 7 Millers Falls 77 1 Auburndale 76 7 Hadley 76 4 Dalton 74 5 North Falmouth 74 2 West Harwich 73 9 Byfield 71 2 Southborough 71 7 Milton 70 19 Plympton 70 2 Winchester 70 15 Norwell 66 7 Upton 66 5 Lanesborough 64 2 Waban 64 5 Paxton 62 3 Templeton 62 5 Carlisle 61 3 Grafton 61 11 South Lancaster 61 1 Wenham 61 3 South Attleboro 60 5 Stow 60 4 Holliston 59 8 Phillipston 59 1 West Newton 59 8 Westford 59 13 Hampden 58 3 Harwich Port 57 1 Assonet 56 5 South Barre 55 3 Needham Heights 51 15 Newton Upper Falls 49 3 Hanscom Afb 48 1 Berkley 46 3 Groveland 46 3 East Brookfield 45 1 Newbury 45 3 Norfolk 44 5 Weston 44 5 Sandwich 43 9 Dennis 42 6 Dighton 42 3 Bolton 40 2 Williamsburg 40 1 Hamilton 38 3 Squantum 38 1 West Tisbury 36 1 East Walpole 35 9 Groton 35 4 Monument Beach 35 1 Wellesley 35 10 South Dartmouth 32 11 Topsfield 32 2 Dunstable 31 1 Longmeadow 31 5 Wayland 30 4 Wellesley Hills 30 9 Hatfield 29 1 Newton 27 23 Newton Highlands 27 23 Tisbury 25 1 North Pembroke 24 1 Dartmouth 23 8 Montague 23 2 North Weymouth 19 11 Rochdale 18 2 Barnstable 15 7 Harvard 15 1 North Uxbridge 14 2 Boxford 12 1 Easton 12 3 South Hamilton 12 1 Freetown 11 1 Manchaug 11 1 South Walpole 3 1 Arlington Heights 2 1 Beverly Farms 2 1 First Floor Lynn 1 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 White Horse Beach 1 1 (not given) 0 1318 J 0 14 RB Springfield 0 1 Whi 0 1 span 0 53 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 6489 4613 Berkshire 6178 997 Plymouth 5266 2274 Bristol 4484 3689 Worcester 4113 4578 Essex 3835 4216 Barnstable 3517 679 Franklin 3413 360 Norfolk 3221 2746 Suffolk 3045 6012 Hampshire 2546 469 Middlesex 2347 5478 Dukes 731 30 Nantucket 484 17 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 33253 88.6% Ongoing/Error 4291 11.4% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 16742 50.3% Defaulted 7604 22.9% Dismissed 7487 22.5% Heard 1316 4.0% Other 96 0.3% Total 33253 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 951 972 2340 343 47 Foreclosure 161 312 370 57 1 No Fault 598 574 2062 124 1 Non-payment 5472 5192 11255 332 11 Unknown/Other 305 555 721 461 36 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 2.9% 2.9% 7.0% 1.0% 0.1% Foreclosure 0.5% 0.9% 1.1% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 1.8% 1.7% 6.2% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 16.5% 15.6% 33.8% 1.0% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.9% 1.7% 2.2% 1.4% 0.1% 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 16886 50.8% 45.0% Judgment inferred 5782 17.4% 15.4% No judgment 10585 31.8% 28.2% Total 33253 100.0% 60.4% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 2177 6.5% 0 261,638 2,297 7,128 5,002,739 Foreclosure 420 1.3% 0 287,571 2,772 19,783 1,164,651 No fault 1252 3.8% 0 39,617 1,976 3,165 2,474,616 Non-payment 11709 35.2% 0 258,670 3,702 4,855 43,352,885 Unknown/Other 1328 4.0% 0 73,161 3,009 4,474 3,996,712 Subtotal 16886 50.8% 0 287,571 3,315 5,944 55,991,605 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 797 2.4% 0 287,571 3,348 14,370 2,668,600 Defaulted 7241 21.8% 0 258,670 3,097 5,169 22,428,289 Mediated 8319 25.0% 0 261,638 3,469 5,023 28,866,280 Heard 442 1.3% 0 101,733 3,882 7,738 1,715,917 Other 87 0.3% 46 19,025 3,592 4,203 312,517 Subtotal 16886 50.8% 0 287,571 3,315 5,944 55,991,605 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 34 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 17393 76.7% 52.3% 46.3% unknown 5241 23.1% 15.8% 14.0% Total 22668 100.0% 68.2% 60.4% Judgments All Cases: Count: 16886 Range: 0.000 - 287571.230; Mean: 3315.860; Median: 2232.410; Stddev: 5944.837 Percentiles: 90th: 6943.070; 95th: 9442.010; 99th: 19025.230 0.000 - 2.892: 1 | 2.892 - 45.998: 8 | 45.998 - 162.316: 130 # 162.316 - 566.522: 2771 #################### 566.522 - 1971.129: 4423 ############################### 1971.129 - 6852.119: 7493 ##################################################### 6852.119 - 23813.483: 1645 ############ 23813.483 - 82753.964: 96 # 82753.964 - 287571.230: 6 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 2177 Range: 0.000 - 261638.000; Mean: 2297.997; Median: 833.000; Stddev: 7130.303 Percentiles: 90th: 5466.000; 95th: 7522.000; 99th: 16497.870 0.000 - 62.197: 3 | 62.197 - 158.436: 31 ## 158.436 - 401.232: 791 ##################################################### 401.232 - 1013.765: 212 ############## 1013.765 - 2559.089: 429 ############################# 2559.089 - 6457.692: 445 ############################## 6457.692 - 16293.238: 129 ######### 16293.238 - 41106.733: 20 # 41106.733 - 103707.178: 3 | 103707.178 - 261638.000: 1 | Foreclosure: Count: 420 Range: 0.000 - 287571.230; Mean: 2772.980; Median: 205.880; Stddev: 19806.798 Percentiles: 90th: 2812.850; 95th: 8525.800; 99th: 28404.940 0.000 - 2.892: 1 | 2.892 - 162.316: 12 ## 162.316 - 566.522: 350 ##################################################### 566.522 - 1971.129: 4 # 1971.129 - 6852.119: 18 ### 6852.119 - 23813.483: 19 ### 23813.483 - 82753.964: 6 # 82753.964 - 287571.230: 2 | No Fault: Count: 1252 Range: 0.000 - 39617.590; Mean: 1976.531; Median: 1071.875; Stddev: 3166.331 Percentiles: 90th: 4469.360; 95th: 6568.110; 99th: 17228.340 0.000 - 39.801: 1 | 39.801 - 86.616: 3 # 86.616 - 187.147: 208 ######################################## 187.147 - 403.028: 264 ################################################### 403.028 - 866.614: 86 ################# 866.614 - 1862.120: 244 ############################################### 1862.120 - 3999.879: 273 ##################################################### 3999.879 - 8590.519: 126 ######################## 8590.519 - 18448.495: 24 ##### 18448.495 - 39617.590: 11 ## Non-payment: Count: 11709 Range: 0.000 - 258670.080; Mean: 3702.527; Median: 2686.550; Stddev: 4856.095 Percentiles: 90th: 7390.000; 95th: 9846.000; 99th: 18909.260 0.000 - 64.276: 7 | 64.276 - 162.881: 41 | 162.881 - 410.439: 664 ######## 410.439 - 1031.959: 1315 ############### 1031.959 - 2592.347: 3594 ########################################## 2592.347 - 6509.856: 4517 ##################################################### 6509.856 - 16345.151: 1397 ################ 16345.151 - 41037.641: 143 ## 41037.641 - 103030.595: 17 | 103030.595 - 258670.080: 2 | Unknown/Other reason: Count: 1328 Range: 0.000 - 73161.000; Mean: 3009.573; Median: 1839.500; Stddev: 4476.328 Percentiles: 90th: 6730.050; 95th: 9715.000; 99th: 20410.980 0.000 - 167.841: 3 # 167.841 - 330.479: 110 ################### 330.479 - 649.781: 72 ############# 649.781 - 1276.654: 154 ########################### 1276.654 - 2507.372: 301 ##################################################### 2507.372 - 4923.597: 296 #################################################### 4923.597 - 9667.285: 156 ########################### 9667.285 - 18980.396: 51 ######### 18980.396 - 37264.492: 15 ### 37264.492 - 73161.000: 2 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 797 Range: 0.000 - 287571.230; Mean: 3348.307; Median: 1541.200; Stddev: 14379.881 Percentiles: 90th: 5818.000; 95th: 9048.870; 99th: 21167.690 0.000 - 256.023: 121 ################################ 256.023 - 559.692: 68 ################## 559.692 - 1222.143: 154 ######################################## 1222.143 - 2667.273: 203 ##################################################### 2667.273 - 5819.804: 166 ########################################### 5819.804 - 12697.013: 56 ############### 12697.013 - 27699.561: 18 ##### 27699.561 - 60427.437: 3 # 60427.437 - 287571.230: 2 # Defaulted: Count: 7241 Range: 0.000 - 258670.080; Mean: 3097.402; Median: 2098.960; Stddev: 5169.930 Percentiles: 90th: 6604.100; 95th: 8931.750; 99th: 16825.910 0.000 - 97.351: 8 | 97.351 - 234.926: 1005 ####################### 234.926 - 564.943: 461 ########### 564.943 - 1356.593: 1022 ####################### 1356.593 - 3255.611: 2309 ##################################################### 3255.611 - 7811.001: 1853 ########################################### 7811.001 - 18738.529: 439 ########## 18738.529 - 44951.627: 49 # 44951.627 - 107831.947: 8 | 107831.947 - 258670.080: 2 | Mediated: Count: 8319 Range: 0.000 - 261638.000; Mean: 3469.922; Median: 2451.560; Stddev: 5023.709 Percentiles: 90th: 7171.710; 95th: 9828.160; 99th: 19292.100 0.000 - 2.855: 1 | 2.855 - 44.684: 4 | 44.684 - 156.258: 51 # 156.258 - 540.328: 1070 ############## 540.328 - 1862.411: 2023 ########################### 1862.411 - 6413.416: 3929 ##################################################### 6413.416 - 22079.331: 1008 ############## 22079.331 - 76006.078: 60 # 76006.078 - 261638.000: 2 | Heard: Count: 442 Range: 0.000 - 101733.110; Mean: 3882.167; Median: 2157.995; Stddev: 7747.188 Percentiles: 90th: 8159.310; 95th: 11215.640; 99th: 31133.000 0.000 - 58.460: 1 | 58.460 - 134.979: 1 | 134.979 - 309.972: 61 ############################# 309.972 - 710.165: 18 ######## 710.165 - 1625.372: 55 ########################## 1625.372 - 3718.369: 113 ##################################################### 3718.369 - 8504.868: 102 ################################################ 8504.868 - 19451.165: 28 ############# 19451.165 - 44484.376: 9 #### 44484.376 - 101733.110: 3 # Other Outcome: Count: 87 Range: 46.200 - 19025.230; Mean: 3592.157; Median: 2089.580; Stddev: 4227.993 Percentiles: 90th: 8512.800; 95th: 15350.000; 99th: 19025.230 46.200 - 84.997: 1 ## 84.997 - 284.473: 7 ################# 284.473 - 519.123: 3 ####### 519.123 - 946.649: 6 ############## 946.649 - 1725.587: 18 ########################################### 1725.587 - 3144.788: 22 ##################################################### 3144.788 - 5730.530: 14 ################################## 5730.530 - 10441.673: 10 ######################## 10441.673 - 19025.230: 6 ############## 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 14842 65.5% 44.6% 39.5% Issued 12792 56.4% 38.5% 34.1% Levied 2588 11.4% 7.8% 6.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 272 10.5% 1.2% 0.8% 0.7% Foreclosure 189 7.3% 0.8% 0.6% 0.5% No Fault 254 9.8% 1.1% 0.8% 0.7% Non-payment 1872 72.3% 8.3% 5.6% 5.0% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 2588 100.0% 11.4% 7.8% 6.9% Read as X% of cases filed are levied for nonpayment, for example. Levied by outcome: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Dismissed 239 9.2% 1.1% 0.7% 0.6% Defaulted 1015 39.2% 4.5% 3.1% 2.7% Mediated 1287 49.7% 5.7% 3.9% 3.4% Heard 42 1.6% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 5 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 2588 100.0% 11.4% 7.8% 6.9% Read as X% of cases filed are levied following default, for example. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case is about X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Foreclosure 189 938 20.1% Non-payment 1872 22468 8.3% No Fault 254 3413 7.4% Cause 272 6158 4.4% Unknown/Other 1 4567 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 1015 7604 13.3% Mediated 1287 16742 7.7% Other 5 96 5.2% Dismissed 239 7487 3.2% Heard 42 1316 3.2% 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 2057 54 140 Non-payment 0 2076 26 85 No Fault 0 1877 32 70 Foreclosure 0 2173 58 130 Unknown/Other 0 2166 65 104 All Reasons 0 2173 34 97 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 2166 37 112 Defaulted 0 1594 29 76 Mediated 0 2173 30 74 Heard 0 2025 96 243 Other 0 538 69 91 All Outcomes 0 2173 34 97 All Cases: Count: 33245 Range: 0.000 - 2173.000; Mean: 34.560; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 97.273 Percentiles: 90th: 53.000; 95th: 106.000; 99th: 361.000 0.000 - 3.024: 124 | 3.024 - 7.096: 352 # 7.096 - 15.289: 15407 ##################################################### 15.289 - 31.773: 11205 ####################################### 31.773 - 64.939: 3363 ############ 64.939 - 131.668: 1423 ##### 131.668 - 265.926: 808 ### 265.926 - 536.049: 328 # 536.049 - 1079.529: 72 | 1079.529 - 2173.000: 80 | By Reason Cause: Count: 4653 Range: 0.000 - 2057.000; Mean: 54.501; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 140.813 Percentiles: 90th: 105.000; 95th: 188.000; 99th: 563.000 0.000 - 3.002: 24 # 3.002 - 7.008: 48 ## 7.008 - 15.023: 1634 ##################################################### 15.023 - 31.062: 1525 ################################################# 31.062 - 63.156: 669 ###################### 63.156 - 127.375: 386 ############# 127.375 - 255.874: 198 ###### 255.874 - 512.999: 105 ### 512.999 - 1027.499: 34 # 1027.499 - 2057.000: 23 # Non-payment: Count: 22262 Range: 0.000 - 2076.000; Mean: 26.780; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 85.268 Percentiles: 90th: 35.000; 95th: 57.000; 99th: 222.000 0.000 - 3.006: 73 | 3.006 - 7.023: 216 # 7.023 - 15.068: 11850 ##################################################### 15.068 - 31.180: 7383 ################################# 31.180 - 63.452: 1711 ######## 63.452 - 128.084: 529 ## 128.084 - 257.532: 261 # 257.532 - 516.792: 108 | 516.792 - 1036.041: 23 | 1036.041 - 2076.000: 52 | No Fault: Count: 3359 Range: 0.000 - 1877.000; Mean: 32.784; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 70.845 Percentiles: 90th: 54.000; 95th: 98.000; 99th: 252.000 0.000 - 4.712: 7 | 4.712 - 9.875: 112 #### 9.875 - 19.706: 1660 ##################################################### 19.706 - 38.423: 1055 ################################## 38.423 - 74.060: 298 ########## 74.060 - 141.911: 116 #### 141.911 - 271.097: 81 ### 271.097 - 517.061: 19 # 517.061 - 985.366: 1 | 985.366 - 1877.000: 4 | Foreclosure: Count: 901 Range: 0.000 - 2173.000; Mean: 58.370; Median: 21.000; Stddev: 130.145 Percentiles: 90th: 155.000; 95th: 232.000; 99th: 477.000 0.000 - 8.179: 10 # 8.179 - 15.851: 204 ############################ 15.851 - 29.935: 384 ##################################################### 29.935 - 55.792: 109 ############### 55.792 - 103.259: 66 ######### 103.259 - 190.401: 62 ######### 190.401 - 350.376: 44 ###### 350.376 - 644.062: 16 ## 644.062 - 2173.000: 3 | Unknown/Other reason: Count: 2078 Range: 0.000 - 2166.000; Mean: 65.844; Median: 28.000; Stddev: 104.380 Percentiles: 90th: 158.000; 95th: 238.000; 99th: 521.000 0.000 - 3.023: 21 ## 3.023 - 7.091: 61 ###### 7.091 - 15.273: 486 ############################################### 15.273 - 31.731: 545 ##################################################### 31.731 - 64.833: 367 #################################### 64.833 - 131.412: 303 ############################# 131.412 - 265.324: 197 ################### 265.324 - 534.665: 68 ####### 534.665 - 1076.398: 18 ## 1076.398 - 2166.000: 1 | By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 7487 Range: 0.000 - 2166.000; Mean: 37.227; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 112.239 Percentiles: 90th: 58.000; 95th: 125.000; 99th: 446.000 0.000 - 3.023: 57 # 3.023 - 7.091: 196 ### 7.091 - 15.273: 3770 ##################################################### 15.273 - 31.731: 2050 ############################# 31.731 - 64.833: 728 ########## 64.833 - 131.412: 330 ##### 131.412 - 265.324: 208 ### 265.324 - 534.665: 90 # 534.665 - 1076.398: 27 | 1076.398 - 2166.000: 22 | Defaulted: Count: 7604 Range: 0.000 - 1594.000; Mean: 29.553; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 76.195 Percentiles: 90th: 44.000; 95th: 80.000; 99th: 268.000 0.000 - 4.619: 23 | 4.619 - 9.526: 231 ### 9.526 - 18.716: 4493 ##################################################### 18.716 - 35.930: 1894 ###################### 35.930 - 68.174: 497 ###### 68.174 - 128.570: 243 ### 128.570 - 241.699: 127 # 241.699 - 453.604: 65 # 453.604 - 850.524: 14 | 850.524 - 1594.000: 13 | Mediated: Count: 16742 Range: 0.000 - 2173.000; Mean: 30.586; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 74.105 Percentiles: 90th: 49.000; 95th: 87.000; 99th: 270.000 0.000 - 3.024: 25 | 3.024 - 7.096: 58 | 7.096 - 15.289: 7756 ##################################################### 15.289 - 31.773: 5883 ######################################## 31.773 - 64.939: 1785 ############ 64.939 - 131.668: 682 ##### 131.668 - 265.926: 318 ## 265.926 - 536.049: 127 # 536.049 - 1079.529: 27 | 1079.529 - 2173.000: 18 | Heard: Count: 1316 Range: 0.000 - 2025.000; Mean: 96.364; Median: 24.000; Stddev: 243.114 Percentiles: 90th: 199.000; 95th: 325.000; 99th: 1574.000 0.000 - 2.996: 16 ## 2.996 - 6.983: 41 ###### 6.983 - 14.948: 327 ############################################### 14.948 - 30.862: 365 ##################################################### 30.862 - 62.655: 211 ############################### 62.655 - 126.173: 122 ################## 126.173 - 253.072: 134 ################### 253.072 - 506.595: 51 ####### 506.595 - 1013.095: 15 ## 1013.095 - 2025.000: 28 #### Other Outcome: Count: 96 Range: 0.000 - 538.000; Mean: 69.052; Median: 31.000; Stddev: 91.831 Percentiles: 90th: 197.000; 95th: 227.000; 99th: 538.000 0.000 - 13.899: 16 ################################### 13.899 - 21.198: 9 #################### 21.198 - 32.073: 24 ##################################################### 32.073 - 48.276: 8 ################## 48.276 - 72.417: 11 ######################## 72.417 - 108.384: 9 #################### 108.384 - 161.972: 7 ############### 161.972 - 241.812: 8 ################## 241.812 - 360.768: 1 ## 360.768 - 538.000: 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/.