Outcomes for June 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: 2019-06-01 Search Period End: 2019-06-30 Earliest Case: 2019-06-03 Latest Case: 2019-06-28 Total Cases: 2732 Total Transfers: 89 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 35.7% Of those, percentage pro se: 56.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: North Adams Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 94 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 western 429 15.7% northeast 414 15.2% eastern 396 14.5% central 384 14.1% southeast 341 12.5% metro_south 204 7.5% quincy district 87 3.2% chelsea district 50 1.8% malden district 32 1.2% lynn district 27 1.0% pittsfield district 23 0.8% northern berkshire district 22 0.8% fall river district 20 0.7% bmc west roxbury 19 0.7% cambridge district 18 0.7% bmc east boston 16 0.6% somerville district 16 0.6% lowell district 15 0.5% springfield district 14 0.5% haverhill district 13 0.5% attleboro district 12 0.4% fallmouth district 12 0.4% brockton district 10 0.4% woburn district 10 0.4% barnstable district 8 0.3% chicopee district 8 0.3% framingham district 8 0.3% newton district 8 0.3% concord district 7 0.3% orleans district 7 0.3% dedham district 6 0.2% gloucester district 6 0.2% new bedford district 6 0.2% salem district 6 0.2% bmc south boston 5 0.2% brookline district 5 0.2% hingham district 5 0.2% milford district 5 0.2% waltham district 5 0.2% wrentham district 5 0.2% ayer district 4 0.1% bmc dorchester 4 0.1% plymouth district 4 0.1% stoughton district 4 0.1% taunton district 4 0.1% edgartown district 3 0.1% lawrence district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% holyoke district 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% peabody district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.0% bmc central 1 0.0% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% newburyport district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1758 11 Natural Person 974 2721 Total 2732 2732 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 64.3% 0.4% Natural Person 35.7% 99.6% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1688 70 1758 Optional 423 551 974 Total 2111 621 2732 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 61.8% 2.6% 64.3% Optional 15.5% 20.2% 35.7% Total 77.3% 22.7% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 3 8 11 Optional 176 2545 2721 Total 179 2553 2732 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.3% 0.4% Optional 6.4% 93.2% 99.6% Total 6.6% 93.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 182 6.7% 1 1766 64.6% 2 628 23.0% 3 107 3.9% 4 28 1.0% 5 12 0.4% 6 3 0.1% 7 2 0.1% 8 2 0.1% 9 2 0.1% Total 2732 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 1561 57.1% Unknown/Other 564 20.6% No Fault 296 10.8% Cause 245 9.0% Foreclosure 66 2.4% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 632 6 North Adams 175 24 Becket 168 3 Richmond 135 2 Springfield 130 200 Holyoke 125 50 Cummington 114 1 Brockton 110 104 Dorchester 109 101 New Bedford 109 104 Ayer 107 8 Vineyard Haven 105 2 Fall River 103 92 Pocasset 103 3 Three Rivers 102 3 Revere 100 52 Randolph 96 31 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Lynn 91 83 Worcester 91 165 Indian Orchard 89 9 Orange 89 7 Pittsfield 89 40 East Falmouth 86 5 Gilbertville 86 1 Spencer 85 10 Chicopee 79 44 Braintree 78 28 Charlemont 78 1 Roxbury 78 47 Haverhill 73 45 Turners Falls 73 3 Fitchburg 71 29 Lowell 71 76 Ware 70 7 Athol 69 8 Chelsea 68 24 Greenfield 68 12 Clinton 66 9 Ashby 65 2 Roslindale 65 19 Gardner 64 13 North Brookfield 64 3 Dennis Port 63 2 Lawrence 62 48 Salisbury 60 5 Feeding Hills 59 7 Hyde Park 59 20 Webster 59 10 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Nahant 58 2 Harwich Port 57 1 Jefferson 57 2 Rockland 57 10 Hyannis 56 8 Mansfield 56 13 Erving 55 1 Framingham 55 38 Gloucester 55 16 West Brookfield 54 2 Westborough 54 10 Baldwinville 52 1 Brighton 52 23 West Springfield 52 15 Stockbridge 51 1 Beverly 50 20 Peabody 50 26 Danvers 49 13 Hull 48 5 Taunton 48 27 Adams 47 4 Foxborough 47 8 Bernardston 46 1 Holbrook 46 5 Leominster 46 19 Marlborough 46 18 West Wareham 46 1 Everett 45 19 North Oxford 44 1 Woburn 44 17 Middleborough 43 10 Salem 43 18 Sturbridge 43 4 Great Barrington 42 3 Southwick 42 4 Marstons Mills 41 2 Palmer 41 5 Quincy 41 38 Southbridge 41 7 East Freetown 40 2 East Weymouth 40 22 Stoughton 40 11 Maynard 39 4 South Easton 39 4 Mattapan 38 14 Fairhaven 37 6 Malden 37 22 West Yarmouth 37 2 East Wareham 36 8 Wrentham 36 4 Charlestown 35 6 South Boston 35 12 Attleborough 34 15 Carver 34 4 Jamaica Plain 34 13 Bridgewater 33 9 Hopedale 33 2 Provincetown 33 1 Fiskdale 32 1 Granby 32 2 Northfield 32 1 Wakefield 32 8 Abington 31 5 Dorchester Center 30 28 Medford 30 17 Sheffield 30 1 Amherst 29 11 Brookfield 29 1 Chelmsford 29 10 E. Boston 29 12 East Boston 29 12 Methuen 29 14 Oxford 29 4 Walpole 29 7 Lakeville 28 3 Mashpee 28 4 Milford 28 8 North Andover 28 8 Osterville 28 1 Rockport 28 2 Winthrop 28 5 Belchertown 27 4 South Dennis 27 1 Dudley 26 3 Plymouth 26 15 West Boylston 26 2 Bourne 25 5 South Yarmouth 25 3 Swansea 25 4 Williamstown 25 2 Harwich 24 3 Norwood 24 7 Boylston 22 1 Forestdale 22 1 Ipswich 22 3 Saugus 22 6 Cambridge 21 23 Northampton 21 6 Roxbury Crossing 21 13 Seekonk 21 3 Waltham 21 13 Carlisle 20 1 Eastham 20 1 Marion 20 1 North Attleborough 20 6 North Reading 20 3 Lenox 19 1 Lunenburg 19 2 Warren 19 1 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Stoneham 18 4 Wareham 18 4 Billerica 17 7 Mendon 17 1 Newburyport 17 3 Pepperell 17 2 Rowley 17 1 Sharon 17 3 South Hadley 17 3 Dracut 16 5 Mattapoisett 16 1 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 Reading 16 4 Weymouth 16 9 Franklin 15 5 Kingston 15 2 Lincoln 15 1 Millbury 15 2 Agawam 14 4 Bradford 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Whitinsville 14 1 Allston 13 4 Duxbury 13 2 West Roxbury 13 4 Ashland 12 2 Bellingham 12 2 East Longmeadow 12 2 Easthampton 12 2 Falmouth 12 4 Lancaster 12 1 Plainville 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Westport 12 2 Arlington 11 5 Brookline 11 7 Concord 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Marshfield 11 3 Monson 11 1 Pembroke 11 2 Somerville 11 9 Brewster 10 1 Hudson 10 2 Norton 10 2 Tewksbury 10 3 Canton 9 2 Cherry Valley 9 1 Hanson 9 1 Hingham 9 2 Leicester 9 1 Ludlow 9 2 Nantucket 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Onset 9 2 Westford 9 2 Boston 8 55 Burlington 8 2 Dedham 8 2 North Dartmouth 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 West Harwich 8 1 Bedford 7 1 Centerville 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Hanover 7 1 Medway 7 1 Melrose 7 2 Newton 7 6 North Easton 7 1 Northborough 7 1 Raynham 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Swampscott 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Westfield 7 3 Wilbraham 7 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Needham 6 2 Needham Heights 6 2 Northbridge 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Shrewsbury 5 2 Sudbury 5 1 Acton 4 1 Wilmington 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Andover 3 1 Milton 3 1 Newton Highlands 3 3 Wellesley 3 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 (not given) 0 11 Arlington Heights 0 1 Hanscom Afb 0 1 Leeds 0 2 Manchaug 0 1 North Pembroke 0 1 Sagamore 0 2 span 0 2 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Berkshire 501 81 Hampden 492 350 Plymouth 458 198 Bristol 347 286 Worcester 300 334 Essex 289 318 Barnstable 274 53 Franklin 246 26 Norfolk 241 206 Suffolk 235 464 Hampshire 228 42 Middlesex 150 350 Dukes 48 2 Nantucket 28 1 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2179 79.8% Ongoing/Error 553 20.2% 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 1122 51.5% Defaulted 531 24.4% Dismissed 386 17.7% Heard 121 5.6% Other 19 0.9% Total 2179 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 27 53 140 22 0 Foreclosure 5 22 24 14 0 No Fault 52 41 175 25 0 Non-payment 302 415 783 48 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 12 18 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 1.2% 2.4% 6.4% 1.0% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 1.0% 1.1% 0.6% 0.0% No Fault 2.4% 1.9% 8.0% 1.1% 0.0% Non-payment 13.9% 19.0% 35.9% 2.2% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.6% 0.8% 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. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1091 50.1% 39.9% No judgment entered 1088 49.9% 39.8% Total 2179 100.0% 79.8% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 106 4.9% 24 11,629 1,447 2,271 153,398 Foreclosure 26 1.2% 147 2,951 325 526 8,473 No fault 101 4.6% 100 25,250 2,199 3,195 222,122 Non-payment 850 39.0% 160 51,760 3,719 4,220 3,161,312 Unknown/Other 8 0.4% 0 15,526 3,060 4,792 24,480 All 1091 50.1% 0 51,760 3,272 4,036 3,569,787 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 10 0.5% 186 9,695 2,856 3,098 28,560 Defaulted 516 23.7% 140 51,760 2,947 4,640 1,520,787 Mediated 518 23.8% 24 25,250 3,606 3,381 1,868,299 Heard 40 1.8% 191 14,724 3,246 2,929 129,861 Other 7 0.3% 0 15,526 3,182 5,111 22,279 All 1091 50.1% 0 51,760 3,272 4,036 3,569,787 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% plaintiff 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% unknown 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Total 1091 100.0% 50.1% 39.9% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1091 Range: 0.000 - 51760.480; Mean: 3272.033; Median: 2403.030; Stddev: 4037.995 Percentiles: 90th: 6710.140; 95th: 8993.970; 99th: 17281.550 0.000 - 52.744: 1 | 52.744 - 114.305: 2 | 114.305 - 246.382: 130 ################### 246.382 - 529.747: 57 ######## 529.747 - 1137.694: 113 ################# 1137.694 - 2442.020: 244 #################################### 2442.020 - 5240.396: 362 ##################################################### 5240.396 - 11244.193: 149 ###################### 11244.193 - 24125.081: 26 #### 24125.081 - 51760.480: 6 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 106 Range: 24.050 - 11629.610; Mean: 1447.157; Median: 239.080; Stddev: 2282.476 Percentiles: 90th: 4563.810; 95th: 6156.530; 99th: 11423.840 24.050 - 45.290: 1 # 45.290 - 157.069: 3 ### 157.069 - 291.096: 56 ##################################################### 291.096 - 538.765: 5 ##### 538.765 - 996.435: 5 ##### 996.435 - 1842.164: 11 ########## 1842.164 - 3404.991: 9 ######### 3404.991 - 6292.946: 11 ########## 6292.946 - 11629.610: 5 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 26 Range: 147.000 - 2951.690; Mean: 325.905; Median: 205.740; Stddev: 536.808 Percentiles: 90th: 296.020; 95th: 296.020; 99th: 2951.690 147.000 - 198.644: 4 ############## 198.644 - 268.310: 15 ##################################################### 268.310 - 362.286: 6 ##################### 362.286 - 2951.690: 1 #### No Fault: Count: 101 Range: 100.160 - 25250.000; Mean: 2199.237; Median: 1167.760; Stddev: 3211.060 Percentiles: 90th: 5154.580; 95th: 7092.020; 99th: 10046.060 100.160 - 174.685: 7 ############### 174.685 - 304.114: 24 ##################################################### 304.114 - 528.895: 2 #### 528.895 - 919.273: 9 #################### 919.273 - 1597.246: 16 ################################### 1597.246 - 2774.688: 16 ################################### 2774.688 - 4819.562: 14 ############################### 4819.562 - 8370.912: 9 #################### 8370.912 - 14538.571: 3 ####### 14538.571 - 25250.000: 1 ## Non-payment: Count: 850 Range: 160.000 - 51760.480; Mean: 3719.191; Median: 2802.155; Stddev: 4222.693 Percentiles: 90th: 6977.760; 95th: 9429.870; 99th: 18970.390 160.000 - 285.777: 31 ####### 285.777 - 509.813: 29 ###### 509.813 - 908.872: 49 ########### 908.872 - 1619.683: 125 ########################### 1619.683 - 2885.797: 202 ############################################ 2885.797 - 5141.027: 243 ##################################################### 5141.027 - 9158.092: 126 ########################### 9158.092 - 16313.378: 34 ####### 16313.378 - 29058.531: 8 ## 29058.531 - 51760.480: 3 # Unknown/Other reason: Count: 8 Range: 0.000 - 15526.080; Mean: 3060.085; Median: 1746.315; Stddev: 5122.991 Percentiles: 90th: 15526.080; 95th: 15526.080; 99th: 15526.080 0.000 - 374.073: 1 ########################### 374.073 - 566.256: 1 ########################### 566.256 - 1961.324: 2 ##################################################### 1961.324 - 2966.799: 2 ##################################################### 2966.799 - 15526.080: 1 ########################### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 10 Range: 186.000 - 9695.590; Mean: 2856.030; Median: 1553.030; Stddev: 3265.734 Percentiles: 90th: 7059.880; 95th: 9695.590; 99th: 9695.590 186.000 - 276.536: 2 ##################################################### 276.536 - 610.329: 1 ########################### 610.329 - 906.303: 1 ########################### 906.303 - 1345.574: 1 ########################### 1345.574 - 1997.518: 1 ########################### 1997.518 - 2965.100: 1 ########################### 2965.100 - 6532.431: 1 ########################### 6532.431 - 9695.590: 2 ##################################################### Defaulted: Count: 516 Range: 140.000 - 51760.480; Mean: 2947.263; Median: 1997.865; Stddev: 4645.041 Percentiles: 90th: 5772.000; 95th: 7476.500; 99th: 15956.270 140.000 - 253.506: 73 ################################ 253.506 - 458.385: 25 ########### 458.385 - 828.193: 42 ################## 828.193 - 1495.698: 75 ################################# 1495.698 - 2700.549: 104 ############################################## 2700.549 - 4875.314: 121 ##################################################### 4875.314 - 8800.778: 56 ######################### 8800.778 - 15886.266: 14 ###### 15886.266 - 28675.618: 3 # 28675.618 - 51760.480: 3 # Mediated: Count: 518 Range: 24.050 - 25250.000; Mean: 3606.755; Median: 2811.165; Stddev: 3385.216 Percentiles: 90th: 7517.320; 95th: 9429.870; 99th: 17281.550 24.050 - 49.021: 1 | 49.021 - 98.885: 1 | 98.885 - 198.457: 33 ############ 198.457 - 397.287: 25 ######### 397.287 - 794.322: 23 ######## 794.322 - 1587.145: 68 ######################### 1587.145 - 3170.300: 142 #################################################### 3170.300 - 6331.634: 144 ##################################################### 6331.634 - 12644.369: 71 ########################## 12644.369 - 25250.000: 10 #### Heard: Count: 40 Range: 191.060 - 14724.550; Mean: 3246.538; Median: 2515.030; Stddev: 2966.672 Percentiles: 90th: 6076.980; 95th: 6992.200; 99th: 14724.550 191.060 - 295.415: 7 ######################################### 295.415 - 1088.659: 2 ############ 1088.659 - 1680.722: 3 ################## 1680.722 - 2594.480: 8 ############################################### 2594.480 - 4004.725: 8 ############################################### 4004.725 - 6181.222: 9 ##################################################### 6181.222 - 9540.311: 1 ###### 9540.311 - 14724.550: 2 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 7 Range: 0.000 - 15526.080; Mean: 3182.779; Median: 1684.630; Stddev: 5520.752 Percentiles: 90th: 15526.080; 95th: 15526.080; 99th: 15526.080 0.000 - 374.073: 1 ########################### 374.073 - 566.256: 1 ########################### 566.256 - 1961.324: 2 ##################################################### 1961.324 - 2966.799: 1 ########################### 2966.799 - 15526.080: 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. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 1080 99.0% 49.6% 39.5% Issued 935 85.7% 42.9% 34.2% Levied 231 21.2% 10.6% 8.5% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 22 9.5% 2.0% 1.0% 0.8% Foreclosure 22 9.5% 2.0% 1.0% 0.8% No Fault 21 9.1% 1.9% 1.0% 0.8% Non-payment 166 71.9% 15.2% 7.6% 6.1% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 231 100.0% 21.2% 10.6% 8.5% 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 5 2.2% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% Defaulted 121 52.4% 11.1% 5.6% 4.4% Mediated 97 42.0% 8.9% 4.5% 3.6% Heard 8 3.5% 0.7% 0.4% 0.3% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 231 100.0% 21.2% 10.6% 8.5% 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 22 66 33.3% Non-payment 166 1561 10.6% Cause 22 245 9.0% No Fault 21 296 7.1% Unknown/Other 0 564 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 121 531 22.8% Mediated 97 1122 8.6% Heard 8 121 6.6% Dismissed 5 386 1.3% Other 0 19 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 4 450 35 55 Non-payment 0 521 22 27 No Fault 6 259 32 38 Foreclosure 8 254 50 66 Unknown/Other 5 585 40 105 All Reasons 0 585 26 37 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 2 521 33 55 Defaulted 10 147 18 13 Mediated 0 224 22 20 Heard 7 273 70 76 Other 5 585 48 130 All Outcomes 0 585 26 37 All Cases: Count: 2179 Range: 0.000 - 585.000; Mean: 26.526; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 37.558 Percentiles: 90th: 45.000; 95th: 75.000; 99th: 190.000 0.000 - 2.530: 5 | 2.530 - 5.229: 7 | 5.229 - 9.992: 44 ## 9.992 - 18.399: 1266 ##################################################### 18.399 - 33.234: 515 ###################### 33.234 - 59.416: 192 ######## 59.416 - 105.620: 63 ### 105.620 - 187.159: 57 ## 187.159 - 331.056: 18 # 331.056 - 585.000: 4 | By Reason Cause: Count: 242 Range: 4.000 - 450.000; Mean: 35.971; Median: 19.500; Stddev: 55.246 Percentiles: 90th: 69.000; 95th: 130.000; 99th: 273.000 4.000 - 6.843: 1 # 6.843 - 11.303: 43 ################################ 11.303 - 18.299: 71 ##################################################### 18.299 - 29.273: 60 ############################################# 29.273 - 46.487: 32 ######################## 46.487 - 73.489: 12 ######### 73.489 - 115.846: 9 ####### 115.846 - 182.289: 7 ##### 182.289 - 286.512: 5 #### 286.512 - 450.000: 2 # Non-payment: Count: 1549 Range: 0.000 - 521.000; Mean: 22.605; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 27.749 Percentiles: 90th: 37.000; 95th: 52.000; 99th: 165.000 0.000 - 2.489: 5 | 2.489 - 5.086: 5 | 5.086 - 9.617: 28 ## 9.617 - 17.522: 916 ##################################################### 17.522 - 31.311: 379 ###################### 31.311 - 55.366: 135 ######## 55.366 - 97.328: 40 ## 97.328 - 170.531: 18 # 170.531 - 298.231: 14 # 298.231 - 521.000: 1 | No Fault: Count: 293 Range: 6.000 - 259.000; Mean: 32.631; Median: 19.000; Stddev: 38.895 Percentiles: 90th: 65.000; 95th: 134.000; 99th: 192.000 6.000 - 9.048: 3 ## 9.048 - 13.424: 46 ####################### 13.424 - 19.704: 104 ##################################################### 19.704 - 28.720: 57 ############################# 28.720 - 41.661: 34 ################# 41.661 - 60.238: 17 ######### 60.238 - 86.904: 8 #### 86.904 - 125.182: 6 ### 125.182 - 180.128: 15 ######## 180.128 - 259.000: 3 ## Foreclosure: Count: 65 Range: 8.000 - 254.000; Mean: 50.754; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 66.126 Percentiles: 90th: 172.000; 95th: 190.000; 99th: 254.000 8.000 - 11.574: 5 ############## 11.574 - 16.567: 19 ##################################################### 16.567 - 23.543: 16 ############################################# 23.543 - 33.290: 8 ###################### 33.290 - 46.906: 2 ###### 46.906 - 65.930: 1 ### 65.930 - 92.508: 2 ###### 92.508 - 129.641: 2 ###### 129.641 - 181.520: 5 ############## 181.520 - 254.000: 5 ############## Unknown/Other reason: Count: 30 Range: 5.000 - 585.000; Mean: 40.700; Median: 14.500; Stddev: 105.477 Percentiles: 90th: 54.000; 95th: 108.000; 99th: 585.000 5.000 - 8.487: 6 ################################### 8.487 - 14.000: 9 ##################################################### 14.000 - 22.718: 7 ######################################### 22.718 - 36.502: 3 ################## 36.502 - 58.296: 2 ############ 58.296 - 92.756: 1 ###### 92.756 - 147.243: 1 ###### 147.243 - 585.000: 1 ###### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 386 Range: 2.000 - 521.000; Mean: 33.531; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 55.300 Percentiles: 90th: 61.000; 95th: 134.000; 99th: 259.000 2.000 - 4.025: 5 ## 4.025 - 7.418: 4 # 7.418 - 13.102: 104 ##################################### 13.102 - 22.623: 150 ##################################################### 22.623 - 38.573: 51 ################## 38.573 - 65.290: 36 ############# 65.290 - 110.047: 10 #### 110.047 - 185.020: 16 ###### 185.020 - 310.613: 7 ## 310.613 - 521.000: 3 # Defaulted: Count: 531 Range: 10.000 - 147.000; Mean: 18.751; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 13.657 Percentiles: 90th: 29.000; 95th: 42.000; 99th: 86.000 10.000 - 13.265: 143 #################################### 13.265 - 17.500: 213 ##################################################### 17.500 - 22.991: 96 ######################## 22.991 - 30.113: 32 ######## 30.113 - 39.348: 20 ##### 39.348 - 51.326: 12 ### 51.326 - 66.858: 5 # 66.858 - 87.001: 5 # 87.001 - 113.123: 2 | 113.123 - 147.000: 3 # Mediated: Count: 1122 Range: 0.000 - 224.000; Mean: 22.661; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 20.587 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 55.000; 99th: 123.000 0.000 - 2.207: 4 | 2.207 - 4.144: 2 | 4.144 - 7.249: 2 | 7.249 - 12.228: 211 ###################### 12.228 - 20.213: 519 ##################################################### 20.213 - 33.019: 215 ###################### 33.019 - 53.555: 104 ########### 53.555 - 86.489: 34 ### 86.489 - 139.303: 14 # 139.303 - 224.000: 9 # Heard: Count: 121 Range: 7.000 - 273.000; Mean: 70.653; Median: 28.000; Stddev: 76.450 Percentiles: 90th: 175.000; 95th: 253.000; 99th: 272.000 7.000 - 10.391: 9 ###################### 10.391 - 15.219: 22 ##################################################### 15.219 - 22.093: 18 ########################################### 22.093 - 31.882: 13 ############################### 31.882 - 45.819: 8 ################### 45.819 - 65.663: 11 ########################### 65.663 - 93.919: 6 ############## 93.919 - 134.151: 6 ############## 134.151 - 191.435: 18 ########################################### 191.435 - 273.000: 10 ######################## Other Outcome: Count: 19 Range: 5.000 - 585.000; Mean: 48.737; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 130.550 Percentiles: 90th: 54.000; 95th: 585.000; 99th: 585.000 5.000 - 8.487: 3 ########################### 8.487 - 14.000: 6 ##################################################### 14.000 - 22.718: 5 ############################################ 22.718 - 36.502: 2 ################## 36.502 - 58.296: 2 ################## 58.296 - 585.000: 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. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.