Outcomes for January 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: 2019-01-31 Earliest Case: 2019-01-02 Latest Case: 2019-01-31 Total Cases: 3224 Total Transfers: 93 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 30.8% Of those, percentage pro se: 54.4% 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: 107 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 534 16.6% eastern 493 15.3% western 483 15.0% central 451 14.0% southeast 337 10.5% metro south 228 7.1% quincy district 88 2.7% cambridge district 62 1.9% chelsea district 41 1.3% lynn district 37 1.1% springfield district 36 1.1% pittsfield district 31 1.0% malden district 28 0.9% somerville district 26 0.8% woburn district 23 0.7% brockton district 22 0.7% wrentham district 21 0.7% barnstable district 20 0.6% lowell district 14 0.4% bmc dorchester 13 0.4% attleboro district 12 0.4% stoughton district 12 0.4% concord district 11 0.3% dedham district 11 0.3% plymouth district 11 0.3% salem district 11 0.3% fall river district 10 0.3% waltham district 10 0.3% holyoke district 9 0.3% northern berkshire district 9 0.3% framingham district 8 0.2% newton district 8 0.2% bmc south boston 7 0.2% fallmouth district 7 0.2% lawrence district 7 0.2% bmc east boston 6 0.2% bmc west roxbury 6 0.2% greenfield district 6 0.2% haverhill district 6 0.2% northampton district 6 0.2% peabody district 6 0.2% chicopee district 5 0.2% eastern hampshire district 5 0.2% milford district 5 0.2% new bedford district 5 0.2% orleans district 5 0.2% bmc brighton 4 0.1% brookline district 4 0.1% newburyport district 4 0.1% ayer district 3 0.1% bmc roxbury 3 0.1% hingham district 3 0.1% westfield district 3 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2230 9 Natural Person 994 3215 Total 3224 3224 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 69.2% 0.3% Natural Person 30.8% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2150 80 2230 Optional 453 541 994 Total 2603 621 3224 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 66.7% 2.5% 69.2% Optional 14.1% 16.8% 30.8% Total 80.7% 19.3% 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 1 8 9 Optional 200 3015 3215 Total 201 3023 3224 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.2% 0.3% Optional 6.2% 93.5% 99.7% Total 6.2% 93.8% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 169 5.2% 1 2213 68.6% 2 677 21.0% 3 104 3.2% 4 39 1.2% 5 12 0.4% 6 7 0.2% 7 2 0.1% 8 1 0.0% Total 3224 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 1879 58.3% Cause 1008 31.3% No Fault 216 6.7% Foreclosure 121 3.8% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 2215 21 Monroe Bridge 1190 1 Gilbertville 260 3 Pocasset 172 5 Springfield 162 249 Thorndike 144 1 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Indian Orchard 138 14 Warwick 128 1 Fall River 127 113 Holyoke 122 49 Brockton 119 112 Dorchester 119 110 Montgomery 119 1 Shelburne Falls 113 2 Erving 111 2 Webster 107 18 Adams 106 9 Worcester 103 187 Randolph 102 33 Lynn 101 92 Pittsfield 100 45 Hyannis 99 14 Lawrence 94 72 New Bedford 94 90 Salem 91 38 Ware 91 9 Mattapan 90 33 North Adams 87 12 Chelsea 85 30 Greenfield 85 15 Spencer 85 10 Lowell 84 90 Brimfield 83 3 Chicopee 83 46 Chesterfield 81 1 West Springfield 81 23 Eastham 80 4 Haverhill 80 49 Charlemont 78 1 Foxborough 77 13 Orange 76 6 West Yarmouth 75 4 Fitchburg 74 30 Gardner 74 15 Stoughton 74 20 Revere 71 37 East Falmouth 69 4 Roslindale 69 20 Abington 68 11 Three Rivers 68 2 Amesbury 67 11 Provincetown 67 2 Whately 66 1 Danvers 64 17 Framingham 64 44 Saugus 63 17 Millville 62 2 Quincy 62 58 East Boston 61 25 Ashland 60 10 Cambridge 60 64 Malden 60 36 Woburn 60 23 Acton 59 13 Charlestown 59 10 Southbridge 59 10 Manchester 58 3 Palmer 57 7 Rockland 57 10 Whitinsville 57 4 Osterville 56 2 Beverly 55 22 Whitman 55 8 Dorchester Center 54 50 Ayer 53 4 Hyde Park 53 18 Roxbury 53 32 Everett 52 22 Athol 51 6 Canton 51 11 Millis 50 4 Ashburnham 49 3 Westborough 49 9 Dedham 48 12 Hull 48 5 Leominster 46 19 Milford 46 13 Taunton 46 26 Marlborough 44 17 Plymouth 44 25 North Brookfield 42 2 Peabody 42 22 Norwood 41 12 Belchertown 40 6 Holland 40 1 Methuen 40 19 North Reading 40 6 Braintree 39 14 Newtonville 38 2 Rochester 38 2 Westfield 38 16 Allston 37 11 Barre 37 2 Millbury 37 5 Attleborough 36 16 Leicester 36 4 Plainville 36 3 South Attleboro 36 3 Wellfleet 36 1 Northampton 35 10 Berlin 34 1 Carver 34 4 Tewksbury 34 10 Blackstone 33 3 Littleton 33 3 Middleton 33 3 Weymouth 33 18 Ashby 32 1 Granby 32 2 Jamaica Plain 32 12 West Roxbury 32 10 Gloucester 31 9 Hudson 31 6 Bedford 30 4 Cheshire 30 1 Cotuit 30 1 Bradford 29 4 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Lunenburg 29 3 Raynham 29 4 South Boston 29 10 Swampscott 29 4 Essex 28 1 Medford 28 16 Pembroke 28 5 Billerica 27 11 Shirley 27 2 South Dennis 27 1 Wareham 27 6 West Brookfield 27 1 Cohasset 26 2 East Weymouth 26 14 Pepperell 26 3 Feeding Hills 25 3 Middleborough 25 6 North Dartmouth 25 6 Andover 24 8 Turners Falls 24 1 Wakefield 24 6 Amherst 23 9 Arlington 23 10 Charlton 23 3 Douglas 23 2 Medway 23 3 Stoneham 23 5 Waltham 23 14 West Newbury 23 1 Avon 22 1 Boylston 22 1 Hubbardston 22 1 Melrose 22 6 Somerville 22 17 Winthrop 22 4 Southwick 21 2 Brighton 20 9 Burlington 20 5 Carlisle 20 1 Dracut 20 6 East Freetown 20 1 Hopkinton 20 3 Marion 20 1 Hadley 19 1 Marshfield 19 5 Nantucket 19 2 Northbridge 19 3 Norwell 19 2 South Easton 19 2 Warren 19 1 Auburn 18 3 Easthampton 18 3 Holbrook 18 2 Roxbury Crossing 18 11 Dudley 17 2 Mendon 17 1 Newburyport 17 3 North Andover 17 5 Rowley 17 1 Wilmington 17 4 Boston 16 105 Lee 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Orleans 16 1 Berkley 15 1 Lincoln 15 1 Watertown 15 5 Centerville 14 2 Chelmsford 14 5 Dalton 14 1 East Bridgewater 14 2 Ludlow 14 3 Mashpee 14 2 Northborough 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Seekonk 14 2 Uxbridge 14 2 West Newton 14 2 Wilbraham 14 2 Halifax 13 1 Hingham 13 3 Fairhaven 12 2 Franklin 12 4 Salisbury 12 1 Swansea 12 2 Walpole 12 3 Williamstown 12 1 Bridgewater 11 3 Montague 11 1 Shrewsbury 11 4 South Hadley 11 2 Townsend 11 1 Auburndale 10 1 Brewster 10 1 Marblehead 10 2 North Attleborough 10 3 Southborough 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 E. Boston 9 4 Hanson 9 1 Lakeville 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Sandwich 9 2 Winchendon 9 1 Lynnfield 8 1 Medfield 8 1 South Yarmouth 8 1 West Harwich 8 1 Clinton 7 1 East Walpole 7 2 Ipswich 7 1 Milton 7 2 North Easton 7 1 North Uxbridge 7 1 Oxford 7 1 Barnstable 6 3 Bellingham 6 1 Brookline 6 4 East Longmeadow 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 Longmeadow 6 1 Holden 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Somerset 5 1 South Weymouth 5 3 Sudbury 5 1 Mansfield 4 1 Agawam 3 1 Natick 3 1 Needham 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 North Weymouth 3 2 Wellesley 3 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 South Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 1 1 (not given) 0 16 span 0 9 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 597 425 Plymouth 497 215 Berkshire 433 70 Essex 370 407 Hampshire 347 64 Worcester 342 381 Bristol 335 276 Franklin 293 31 Norfolk 290 248 Barnstable 279 54 Suffolk 274 541 Middlesex 207 485 Nantucket 56 2 Dukes 0 0 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2867 88.9% Ongoing/Error 357 11.1% 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 1467 51.2% Dismissed 676 23.6% Defaulted 598 20.9% Heard 116 4.0% Other 10 0.3% Total 2867 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 145 139 310 67 8 Foreclosure 21 42 44 6 0 No Fault 40 35 132 5 0 Non-payment 470 382 981 38 2 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.1% 4.8% 10.8% 2.3% 0.3% Foreclosure 0.7% 1.5% 1.5% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 1.4% 1.2% 4.6% 0.2% 0.0% Non-payment 16.4% 13.3% 34.2% 1.3% 0.1% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. Amounts in excess of 100% of cases disposed indicate a judgment was inferred from the docket history but no dollar amount was entered and the case was not yet disposed. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1455 50.7% 45.1% Judgment inferred 578 20.2% 17.9% No judgment 834 29.1% 25.9% Total 2867 100.0% 63.1% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 355 12.4% 0 32,741 2,362 3,569 838,661 Foreclosure 63 2.2% 0 268,702 7,082 34,030 446,199 No fault 75 2.6% 18 21,167 1,937 3,680 145,336 Non-payment 962 33.6% 0 60,914 3,542 4,204 3,407,560 Subtotal 1455 50.7% 0 268,702 3,324 8,161 4,837,757 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 80 2.8% 119 268,702 6,427 30,180 514,233 Defaulted 571 19.9% 0 60,914 2,965 4,267 1,693,115 Mediated 765 26.7% 0 48,757 3,176 3,744 2,430,277 Heard 31 1.1% 0 38,782 5,260 7,405 163,086 Other 8 0.3% 1,259 17,300 4,630 5,272 37,044 Subtotal 1455 50.7% 0 268,702 3,324 8,161 4,837,757 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 3 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1537 75.6% 53.6% 47.7% unknown 493 24.2% 17.2% 15.3% Total 2033 100.0% 70.9% 63.1% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1455 Range: 0.000 - 268702.750; Mean: 3324.919; Median: 2026.000; Stddev: 8163.881 Percentiles: 90th: 6911.540; 95th: 9778.090; 99th: 19249.280 0.000 - 48.409: 2 | 48.409 - 127.487: 3 | 127.487 - 333.126: 212 ####################### 333.126 - 867.884: 122 ############# 867.884 - 2258.507: 397 ############################################ 2258.507 - 5874.782: 480 ##################################################### 5874.782 - 15278.801: 168 ################### 15278.801 - 39733.678: 23 ### 39733.678 - 103327.878: 3 | 103327.878 - 268702.750: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 355 Range: 0.000 - 32741.820; Mean: 2362.427; Median: 1331.500; Stddev: 3574.849 Percentiles: 90th: 5520.780; 95th: 8512.800; 99th: 17999.560 0.000 - 265.271: 77 ##################################################### 265.271 - 453.488: 12 ######## 453.488 - 774.750: 17 ############ 774.750 - 1323.101: 31 ##################### 1323.101 - 2259.062: 58 ######################################## 2259.062 - 3856.620: 57 ####################################### 3856.620 - 6583.437: 37 ######################### 6583.437 - 11237.744: 18 ############ 11237.744 - 19182.018: 6 #### 19182.018 - 32741.820: 3 ## Foreclosure: Count: 63 Range: 0.000 - 268702.750; Mean: 7082.529; Median: 213.050; Stddev: 34303.464 Percentiles: 90th: 10702.970; 95th: 17297.340; 99th: 268702.750 0.000 - 299.071: 43 ##################################################### 299.071 - 637.602: 4 ##### 637.602 - 1358.050: 1 # 1358.050 - 6154.260: 2 ## 6154.260 - 13098.414: 5 ###### 13098.414 - 27876.726: 4 ##### 27876.726 - 59327.423: 1 # 59327.423 - 268702.750: 1 # No Fault: Count: 75 Range: 18.000 - 21167.690; Mean: 1937.818; Median: 578.290; Stddev: 3704.890 Percentiles: 90th: 4305.320; 95th: 8109.780; 99th: 21167.690 18.000 - 37.322: 1 ## 37.322 - 76.293: 1 ## 76.293 - 154.896: 2 #### 154.896 - 313.434: 30 ##################################################### 313.434 - 633.196: 4 ####### 633.196 - 1278.139: 10 ################## 1278.139 - 2578.953: 11 ################### 2578.953 - 5202.624: 10 ################## 5202.624 - 10494.423: 3 ##### 10494.423 - 21167.690: 3 ##### Non-payment: Count: 962 Range: 0.000 - 60914.430; Mean: 3542.162; Median: 2550.710; Stddev: 4206.266 Percentiles: 90th: 7052.000; 95th: 9778.090; 99th: 18909.260 0.000 - 222.736: 35 ####### 222.736 - 416.148: 27 ##### 416.148 - 776.759: 58 ############ 776.759 - 1449.106: 146 ############################## 1449.106 - 2702.674: 240 ################################################# 2702.674 - 5039.909: 262 ##################################################### 5039.909 - 9397.607: 138 ############################ 9397.607 - 17522.389: 41 ######## 17522.389 - 32670.773: 8 ## 32670.773 - 60914.430: 4 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 80 Range: 119.000 - 268702.750; Mean: 6427.924; Median: 990.375; Stddev: 30371.020 Percentiles: 90th: 8565.220; 95th: 18388.150; 99th: 268702.750 119.000 - 258.532: 17 ##################################################### 258.532 - 560.306: 11 ################################## 560.306 - 1212.973: 15 ############################################### 1212.973 - 2624.538: 15 ############################################### 2624.538 - 5677.420: 10 ############################### 5677.420 - 12280.085: 7 ###################### 12280.085 - 26560.095: 3 ######### 26560.095 - 57444.396: 1 ### 57444.396 - 268702.750: 1 ### Defaulted: Count: 571 Range: 0.000 - 60914.430; Mean: 2965.177; Median: 1802.760; Stddev: 4271.182 Percentiles: 90th: 6669.380; 95th: 9393.400; 99th: 17945.650 0.000 - 84.110: 1 | 84.110 - 175.674: 11 #### 175.674 - 365.747: 111 ######################################## 365.747 - 760.309: 33 ############ 760.309 - 1579.358: 90 ################################ 1579.358 - 3279.575: 147 ##################################################### 3279.575 - 6808.956: 113 ######################################### 6808.956 - 14135.393: 40 ############## 14135.393 - 29343.923: 14 ##### 29343.923 - 60914.430: 2 # Mediated: Count: 765 Range: 0.000 - 48757.820; Mean: 3176.833; Median: 2307.000; Stddev: 3746.983 Percentiles: 90th: 6622.000; 95th: 9175.000; 99th: 17835.980 0.000 - 40.657: 1 | 40.657 - 199.237: 35 ####### 199.237 - 438.009: 42 ######### 438.009 - 961.506: 69 ############## 961.506 - 2109.247: 180 ###################################### 2109.247 - 4625.614: 254 ##################################################### 4625.614 - 10142.627: 117 ######################## 10142.627 - 22238.408: 30 ###### 22238.408 - 48757.820: 4 # Heard: Count: 31 Range: 0.000 - 38782.620; Mean: 5260.840; Median: 3235.520; Stddev: 7527.574 Percentiles: 90th: 8952.550; 95th: 21512.830; 99th: 38782.620 0.000 - 346.813: 3 ####################### 346.813 - 586.251: 1 ######## 586.251 - 1673.093: 2 ############### 1673.093 - 2825.557: 5 ###################################### 2825.557 - 4771.390: 7 ##################################################### 4771.390 - 8056.754: 6 ############################################# 8056.754 - 13603.799: 3 ####################### 13603.799 - 22969.488: 1 ######## 22969.488 - 38782.620: 1 ######## Other Outcome: Count: 8 Range: 1259.570 - 17300.000; Mean: 4630.560; Median: 2175.865; Stddev: 5636.379 Percentiles: 90th: 17300.000; 95th: 17300.000; 99th: 17300.000 1259.570 - 1637.013: 3 ##################################################### 1637.013 - 2127.471: 1 ################## 2127.471 - 2764.784: 2 ################################### 2764.784 - 10245.378: 1 ################## 10245.378 - 17300.000: 1 ################## 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 1388 68.3% 48.4% 43.1% Issued 1209 59.5% 42.2% 37.5% Levied 291 14.3% 10.1% 9.0% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 32 11.0% 1.6% 1.1% 1.0% Foreclosure 31 10.7% 1.5% 1.1% 1.0% No Fault 23 7.9% 1.1% 0.8% 0.7% Non-payment 205 70.4% 10.1% 7.2% 6.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 291 100.0% 14.3% 10.1% 9.0% 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 33 11.3% 1.6% 1.2% 1.0% Defaulted 107 36.8% 5.3% 3.7% 3.3% Mediated 148 50.9% 7.3% 5.2% 4.6% Heard 3 1.0% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 291 100.0% 14.3% 10.1% 9.0% 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 31 121 25.6% Non-payment 205 1879 10.9% No Fault 23 216 10.6% Cause 32 1008 3.2% Unknown/Other 0 0 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 107 598 17.9% Mediated 148 1467 10.1% Dismissed 33 676 4.9% Heard 3 116 2.6% Other 0 10 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 2025 86 208 Non-payment 0 1919 44 182 No Fault 5 1577 39 113 Foreclosure 4 2173 89 267 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2173 55 189 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 1995 61 203 Defaulted 0 1594 52 181 Mediated 0 2173 38 118 Heard 1 2025 249 512 Other 10 234 92 90 All Outcomes 0 2173 55 189 All Cases: Count: 2867 Range: 0.000 - 2173.000; Mean: 55.792; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 189.873 Percentiles: 90th: 70.000; 95th: 180.000; 99th: 1574.000 0.000 - 3.024: 4 | 3.024 - 7.096: 24 # 7.096 - 15.289: 1284 ##################################################### 15.289 - 31.773: 904 ##################################### 31.773 - 64.939: 330 ############## 64.939 - 131.668: 117 ##### 131.668 - 265.926: 104 #### 265.926 - 536.049: 37 ## 536.049 - 1079.529: 14 # 1079.529 - 2173.000: 34 # By Reason Cause: Count: 669 Range: 0.000 - 2025.000; Mean: 86.843; Median: 24.000; Stddev: 208.469 Percentiles: 90th: 199.000; 95th: 375.000; 99th: 1306.000 0.000 - 2.996: 1 | 2.996 - 6.983: 3 # 6.983 - 14.948: 175 ############################################# 14.948 - 30.862: 208 ##################################################### 30.862 - 62.655: 112 ############################# 62.655 - 126.173: 67 ################# 126.173 - 253.072: 57 ############### 253.072 - 506.595: 26 ####### 506.595 - 1013.095: 10 ### 1013.095 - 2025.000: 9 ## Non-payment: Count: 1873 Range: 0.000 - 1919.000; Mean: 44.542; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 182.646 Percentiles: 90th: 41.000; 95th: 70.000; 99th: 1576.000 0.000 - 2.974: 1 | 2.974 - 6.897: 4 | 6.897 - 14.693: 844 ##################################################### 14.693 - 30.184: 742 ############################################### 30.184 - 60.968: 155 ########## 60.968 - 122.138: 45 ### 122.138 - 243.692: 28 ## 243.692 - 485.236: 11 # 485.236 - 965.216: 5 | 965.216 - 1919.000: 24 ## No Fault: Count: 212 Range: 5.000 - 1577.000; Mean: 39.179; Median: 19.000; Stddev: 113.876 Percentiles: 90th: 56.000; 95th: 126.000; 99th: 251.000 5.000 - 9.475: 8 ##### 9.475 - 17.287: 84 ##################################################### 17.287 - 30.926: 63 ######################################## 30.926 - 54.736: 35 ###################### 54.736 - 96.304: 10 ###### 96.304 - 168.873: 5 ### 168.873 - 295.565: 5 ### 295.565 - 516.745: 1 # 516.745 - 1577.000: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 113 Range: 4.000 - 2173.000; Mean: 89.593; Median: 25.000; Stddev: 267.895 Percentiles: 90th: 186.000; 95th: 240.000; 99th: 1820.000 4.000 - 8.179: 1 # 8.179 - 15.851: 22 ######################### 15.851 - 29.935: 46 ##################################################### 29.935 - 55.792: 16 ################## 55.792 - 103.259: 8 ######### 103.259 - 190.401: 10 ############ 190.401 - 350.376: 7 ######## 350.376 - 644.062: 1 # 644.062 - 2173.000: 2 ## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 676 Range: 0.000 - 1995.000; Mean: 61.462; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 203.013 Percentiles: 90th: 89.000; 95th: 189.000; 99th: 1498.000 0.000 - 2.990: 1 | 2.990 - 6.959: 3 # 6.959 - 14.877: 295 ##################################################### 14.877 - 30.672: 205 ##################################### 30.672 - 62.182: 79 ############## 62.182 - 125.040: 33 ###### 125.040 - 250.432: 31 ###### 250.432 - 500.573: 10 ## 500.573 - 999.570: 5 # 999.570 - 1995.000: 10 ## Defaulted: Count: 598 Range: 0.000 - 1594.000; Mean: 52.788; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 181.640 Percentiles: 90th: 58.000; 95th: 185.000; 99th: 1577.000 0.000 - 6.280: 3 # 6.280 - 12.250: 147 ############################ 12.250 - 23.114: 280 ##################################################### 23.114 - 42.887: 79 ############### 42.887 - 78.875: 40 ######## 78.875 - 144.372: 14 ### 144.372 - 263.576: 17 ### 263.576 - 480.527: 7 # 480.527 - 875.376: 2 | 875.376 - 1594.000: 8 ## Mediated: Count: 1467 Range: 0.000 - 2173.000; Mean: 38.829; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 118.862 Percentiles: 90th: 59.000; 95th: 120.000; 99th: 409.000 0.000 - 6.509: 2 | 6.509 - 13.096: 370 ############################ 13.096 - 25.462: 707 ##################################################### 25.462 - 48.675: 194 ############### 48.675 - 92.252: 91 ####### 92.252 - 174.057: 47 #### 174.057 - 327.624: 25 ## 327.624 - 615.907: 13 # 615.907 - 1157.083: 2 | 1157.083 - 2173.000: 6 | Heard: Count: 116 Range: 1.000 - 2025.000; Mean: 249.586; Median: 33.000; Stddev: 512.481 Percentiles: 90th: 1576.000; 95th: 1596.000; 99th: 1948.000 1.000 - 2.996: 1 ## 2.996 - 6.983: 2 ### 6.983 - 14.948: 32 ##################################################### 14.948 - 30.862: 20 ################################# 30.862 - 62.655: 23 ###################################### 62.655 - 126.173: 4 ####### 126.173 - 253.072: 14 ####################### 253.072 - 506.595: 7 ############ 506.595 - 2025.000: 13 ###################### Other Outcome: Count: 10 Range: 10.000 - 234.000; Mean: 92.600; Median: 41.000; Stddev: 90.057 Percentiles: 90th: 206.000; 95th: 234.000; 99th: 234.000 10.000 - 13.940: 2 ################################### 13.940 - 26.561: 1 ################## 26.561 - 49.843: 3 ##################################################### 49.843 - 126.389: 1 ################## 126.389 - 234.000: 3 ##################################################### -- 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/.