Outcomes for July 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: 2019-07-01 Search Period End: 2019-07-31 Earliest Case: 2019-07-01 Latest Case: 2019-07-31 Total Cases: 3642 Total Transfers: 98 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 34.3% Of those, percentage pro se: 56.2% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Thorndike Least stable with 10+ filings: Adams Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 121 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 669 18.4% eastern 539 14.8% central 529 14.5% western 511 14.0% southeast 413 11.3% metro_south 249 6.8% quincy district 93 2.6% cambridge district 54 1.5% somerville district 42 1.2% chelsea district 38 1.0% malden district 35 1.0% springfield district 34 0.9% fall river district 33 0.9% pittsfield district 31 0.9% lynn district 30 0.8% attleboro district 22 0.6% lowell district 21 0.6% woburn district 20 0.5% bmc east boston 19 0.5% northern berkshire district 17 0.5% haverhill district 15 0.4% bmc dorchester 14 0.4% holyoke district 13 0.4% brockton district 12 0.3% lawrence district 12 0.3% wrentham district 12 0.3% barnstable district 11 0.3% fallmouth district 11 0.3% waltham district 11 0.3% dedham district 10 0.3% bmc west roxbury 9 0.2% palmer district 9 0.2% framingham district 8 0.2% taunton district 8 0.2% orleans district 7 0.2% stoughton district 7 0.2% newburyport district 6 0.2% ayer district 5 0.1% bmc roxbury 5 0.1% chicopee district 5 0.1% plymouth district 5 0.1% salem district 5 0.1% milford district 4 0.1% newton district 4 0.1% bmc south boston 3 0.1% clinton district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% greenfield district 3 0.1% new bedford district 3 0.1% peabody district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2393 16 Natural Person 1249 3626 Total 3642 3642 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 65.7% 0.4% Natural Person 34.3% 99.6% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2307 86 2393 Optional 547 702 1249 Total 2854 788 3642 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 63.3% 2.4% 65.7% Optional 15.0% 19.3% 34.3% Total 78.4% 21.6% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 6 10 16 Optional 224 3402 3626 Total 230 3412 3642 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% Optional 6.2% 93.4% 99.6% Total 6.3% 93.7% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 241 6.6% 1 2380 65.3% 2 805 22.1% 3 143 3.9% 4 52 1.4% 5 13 0.4% 6 7 0.2% 8 1 0.0% Total 3642 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 2120 58.2% Unknown/Other 732 20.1% No Fault 393 10.8% Cause 341 9.4% Foreclosure 56 1.5% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Thorndike 433 3 Florence 210 2 Haydenville 177 2 Adams 176 15 Gilbertville 173 2 Holyoke 170 68 Springfield 169 260 Indian Orchard 168 17 Pittsfield 149 67 New Bedford 148 141 Lowell 147 157 Turners Falls 146 6 Fall River 141 126 Worcester 127 230 Holland 120 3 Lawrence 120 92 Montgomery 119 1 Haverhill 118 72 Dorchester 115 106 Lynn 115 104 Webster 113 19 Greenfield 108 19 Brockton 107 101 Hyde Park 107 36 Three Rivers 102 3 Mattapan 101 37 Southbridge 101 17 Dennis Port 94 3 Millville 94 3 Salem 94 39 Hyannis 92 13 Framingham 90 62 Roxbury 88 53 Nahant 87 3 Randolph 87 28 Athol 86 10 East Falmouth 86 5 Salisbury 84 7 Everett 81 34 Fitchburg 81 33 North Adams 80 11 Rockland 80 14 Charlemont 78 1 Orange 76 6 Holbrook 74 8 Chelsea 73 26 Charlestown 71 12 Chicopee 70 39 Stoughton 70 19 Ware 70 7 Revere 69 36 Leominster 68 28 Provincetown 67 2 Richmond 67 1 Norwood 66 19 Fiskdale 64 2 Gardner 64 13 Peabody 64 33 Bridgewater 63 17 Quincy 62 58 Taunton 62 35 Braintree 61 22 Tyngsborough 61 7 Mansfield 60 14 Feeding Hills 59 7 Marlborough 59 23 Allston 58 17 Clarksburg 58 1 Dorchester Center 58 54 South Easton 58 6 Winchendon 58 6 East Sandwich 57 2 Essex 57 2 Cambridge 56 59 North Billerica 56 6 Belchertown 54 8 Leverett 54 1 South Dennis 54 2 Wales 54 1 Westwood 54 8 Ayer 53 4 Bondsville 53 1 Malden 53 32 Attleborough 52 23 Somerville 52 40 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Newton Center 51 2 Roslindale 51 15 Spencer 51 6 Stockbridge 51 1 Easthampton 49 8 Mashpee 49 7 Westborough 49 9 Jamaica Plain 48 18 Methuen 48 23 Brighton 47 21 North Dighton 47 2 Hopkinton 46 7 Bedford 45 6 Beverly 45 18 Gloucester 45 13 Winthrop 45 8 Carver 43 5 North Chelmsford 43 4 Whitinsville 43 3 Canton 41 9 Palmer 41 5 Wareham 41 9 Whitman 41 6 Eastham 40 2 Milford 39 11 Abington 37 6 Fairhaven 37 6 Ipswich 37 5 Waltham 37 23 Bellingham 36 6 Hanover 36 5 Foxborough 35 6 Plympton 35 1 West Springfield 35 10 East Boston 34 14 Lynnfield 34 4 Danvers 33 9 Lee 33 2 Dedham 32 8 E. Boston 32 13 Northfield 32 1 Sturbridge 32 3 East Weymouth 31 17 Westfield 31 13 Woburn 31 12 Amesbury 30 5 Charlton 30 4 Millbury 30 4 Sheffield 30 1 Bradford 29 4 Brookfield 29 1 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Clinton 29 4 Walpole 29 7 Burlington 28 7 Jefferson 28 1 Osterville 28 1 East Wareham 27 6 Marshfield 27 7 North Attleborough 27 8 Scituate 27 5 Cohasset 26 2 Dudley 26 3 Norfolk 26 3 Roxbury Crossing 26 16 West Roxbury 26 8 Wilmington 26 6 North Grafton 25 2 Shrewsbury 25 9 South Yarmouth 25 3 Watertown 25 8 Agawam 24 7 Billerica 24 10 Medfield 24 3 North Andover 24 7 Plymouth 24 14 Tewksbury 24 7 Medford 23 13 Stoneham 23 5 West Newbury 23 1 Boylston 22 1 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Pembroke 22 4 South Grafton 22 1 Townsend 22 2 Middleborough 21 5 North Dartmouth 21 5 Northborough 21 3 Southwick 21 2 Swampscott 21 3 Boxborough 20 1 East Freetown 20 1 Marion 20 1 Hull 19 2 Lenox 19 1 Saugus 18 5 South Barre 18 1 Swansea 18 3 Wrentham 18 2 South Hadley 17 3 Southampton 17 1 Boston 16 99 Granby 16 1 Orleans 16 1 Reading 16 4 Wakefield 16 4 Weymouth 16 9 Andover 15 5 Bourne 15 3 Groveland 15 1 Hudson 15 3 Marblehead 15 3 Merrimac 15 1 Arlington 14 6 Dalton 14 1 Great Barrington 14 1 Ludlow 14 3 Oxford 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Seekonk 14 2 South Boston 14 5 Uxbridge 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Brookline 13 8 Dracut 13 4 North Reading 13 2 Shirley 13 1 Upton 13 1 Westford 13 3 Ashland 12 2 Auburn 12 2 Boxford 12 1 Franklin 12 4 Georgetown 12 1 Millis 12 1 Plainville 12 1 Williamstown 12 1 Chelmsford 11 4 Douglas 11 1 Holden 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Melrose 11 3 Milton 11 3 Monson 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Brewster 10 1 Northampton 10 3 Acushnet 9 1 Groton 9 1 Hanson 9 1 Lexington 9 3 Lunenburg 9 1 Natick 9 3 Onset 9 2 Harwich 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Rehoboth 8 1 South Dartmouth 8 3 West Harwich 8 1 Amherst 7 3 Centerville 7 1 East Walpole 7 2 Medway 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Raynham 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Falmouth 6 2 Needham 6 2 Northbridge 6 1 Norton 5 1 Sudbury 5 1 Acton 4 1 Belmont 4 1 Hingham 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Newton 3 3 North Weymouth 3 2 South Weymouth 3 2 Barnstable 2 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 (not given) 0 20 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 638 103 Hampden 625 445 Plymouth 493 213 Bristol 463 381 Essex 422 464 Worcester 397 442 Franklin 322 34 Norfolk 305 260 Suffolk 300 594 Barnstable 269 52 Middlesex 253 592 Hampshire 206 38 Dukes 48 2 Nantucket 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 2905 79.8% Ongoing/Error 737 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 1491 51.3% Defaulted 722 24.9% Dismissed 526 18.1% Heard 147 5.1% Other 19 0.7% Total 2905 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 46 70 198 18 0 Foreclosure 5 15 24 6 0 No Fault 61 73 218 34 0 Non-payment 414 564 1051 62 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 27 19 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 1.6% 2.4% 6.8% 0.6% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.5% 0.8% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 2.1% 2.5% 7.5% 1.2% 0.0% Non-payment 14.3% 19.4% 36.2% 2.1% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.9% 0.7% 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 1404 48.3% 38.6% No judgment entered 1501 51.7% 41.2% Total 2905 100.0% 79.8% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 129 4.4% 0 31,139 1,628 3,386 210,097 Foreclosure 20 0.7% 0 7,016 720 1,661 14,418 No fault 154 5.3% 0 10,555 1,936 2,169 298,224 Non-payment 1092 37.6% 0 29,715 3,342 3,234 3,650,002 Unknown/Other 9 0.3% 0 6,010 2,209 1,921 19,885 All 1404 48.3% 0 31,139 2,986 3,199 4,192,627 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 7 0.2% 187 7,368 3,446 2,205 24,124 Defaulted 711 24.5% 0 31,139 2,697 3,017 1,917,591 Mediated 629 21.7% 0 29,715 3,303 3,296 2,077,765 Heard 50 1.7% 0 22,892 3,100 4,186 155,021 Other 7 0.2% 0 6,010 2,589 1,969 18,124 All 1404 48.3% 0 31,139 2,986 3,199 4,192,627 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 1404 100.0% 48.3% 38.6% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1404 Range: 0.000 - 31139.520; Mean: 2986.202; Median: 2185.860; Stddev: 3200.634 Percentiles: 90th: 6487.260; 95th: 8348.500; 99th: 13761.950 0.000 - 56.806: 2 | 56.806 - 115.266: 4 # 115.266 - 232.851: 158 #################### 232.851 - 469.351: 56 ####### 469.351 - 945.033: 119 ############### 945.033 - 1901.787: 276 ################################### 1901.787 - 3826.138: 414 ##################################################### 3826.138 - 7696.648: 275 ################################### 7696.648 - 15481.531: 79 ########## 15481.531 - 31139.520: 12 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 129 Range: 0.000 - 31139.520; Mean: 1628.661; Median: 224.380; Stddev: 3399.535 Percentiles: 90th: 4439.110; 95th: 5714.140; 99th: 15982.510 0.000 - 239.414: 65 ##################################################### 239.414 - 411.731: 6 ##### 411.731 - 707.556: 5 #### 707.556 - 1215.415: 8 ####### 1215.415 - 2087.281: 11 ######### 2087.281 - 3584.059: 12 ########## 3584.059 - 6153.655: 14 ########### 6153.655 - 10565.012: 3 ## 10565.012 - 18138.215: 1 # 18138.215 - 31139.520: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 20 Range: 0.000 - 7016.330; Mean: 720.910; Median: 203.400; Stddev: 1704.750 Percentiles: 90th: 365.660; 95th: 3955.000; 99th: 7016.330 0.000 - 161.838: 2 ######## 161.838 - 246.376: 14 ##################################################### 246.376 - 374.802: 1 #### 374.802 - 4618.236: 1 #### 4618.236 - 7016.330: 1 #### No Fault: Count: 154 Range: 0.000 - 10555.270; Mean: 1936.520; Median: 1285.345; Stddev: 2176.475 Percentiles: 90th: 4523.900; 95th: 7200.000; 99th: 9758.980 0.000 - 155.306: 1 # 155.306 - 248.607: 49 ##################################################### 248.607 - 397.601: 5 ##### 397.601 - 635.532: 6 ###### 635.532 - 1015.488: 7 ######## 1015.488 - 1622.244: 19 ##################### 1622.244 - 2591.182: 23 ######################### 2591.182 - 4138.493: 20 ###################### 4138.493 - 6609.417: 13 ############## 6609.417 - 10555.270: 9 ########## Non-payment: Count: 1092 Range: 0.000 - 29715.550; Mean: 3342.493; Median: 2518.985; Stddev: 3236.168 Percentiles: 90th: 6827.000; 95th: 9056.720; 99th: 15295.890 0.000 - 56.536: 2 | 56.536 - 114.183: 2 | 114.183 - 229.590: 33 ##### 229.590 - 460.627: 36 ##### 460.627 - 923.150: 96 ############## 923.150 - 1849.094: 229 ################################## 1849.094 - 3702.778: 361 ##################################################### 3702.778 - 7413.742: 241 ################################### 7413.742 - 14842.873: 80 ############ 14842.873 - 29715.550: 11 ## Unknown/Other reason: Count: 9 Range: 0.000 - 6010.250; Mean: 2209.507; Median: 1785.990; Stddev: 2038.469 Percentiles: 90th: 6010.250; 95th: 6010.250; 99th: 6010.250 0.000 - 1457.206: 1 ################## 1457.206 - 1996.643: 3 ##################################################### 1996.643 - 2337.124: 1 ################## 2337.124 - 5134.884: 1 ################## 5134.884 - 6010.250: 1 ################## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 7 Range: 187.160 - 7368.470; Mean: 3446.354; Median: 3703.860; Stddev: 2381.938 Percentiles: 90th: 7368.470; 95th: 7368.470; 99th: 7368.470 187.160 - 270.530: 1 ################## 270.530 - 1698.310: 1 ################## 1698.310 - 2451.243: 1 ################## 2451.243 - 5105.759: 3 ##################################################### 5105.759 - 7368.470: 1 ################## Defaulted: Count: 711 Range: 0.000 - 31139.520; Mean: 2697.034; Median: 1909.180; Stddev: 3019.424 Percentiles: 90th: 5996.400; 95th: 7805.270; 99th: 12549.180 0.000 - 78.114: 1 | 78.114 - 152.673: 5 ## 152.673 - 297.496: 107 ################################# 297.496 - 578.801: 41 ############# 578.801 - 1125.212: 91 ############################ 1125.212 - 2186.567: 156 ################################################ 2186.567 - 4248.154: 172 ##################################################### 4248.154 - 8252.603: 105 ################################ 8252.603 - 16030.890: 28 ######### 16030.890 - 31139.520: 4 # Mediated: Count: 629 Range: 0.000 - 29715.550; Mean: 3303.283; Median: 2576.770; Stddev: 3299.308 Percentiles: 90th: 7098.900; 95th: 8806.910; 99th: 15295.890 0.000 - 56.536: 1 | 56.536 - 114.183: 2 # 114.183 - 229.590: 52 ############## 229.590 - 460.627: 15 #### 460.627 - 923.150: 42 ############ 923.150 - 1849.094: 120 ################################# 1849.094 - 3702.778: 193 ##################################################### 3702.778 - 7413.742: 145 ######################################## 7413.742 - 14842.873: 47 ############# 14842.873 - 29715.550: 7 ## Heard: Count: 50 Range: 0.000 - 22892.330; Mean: 3100.432; Median: 2339.835; Stddev: 4228.723 Percentiles: 90th: 4901.070; 95th: 13629.300; 99th: 22892.330 0.000 - 290.260: 12 ################################################# 290.260 - 1246.642: 3 ############ 1246.642 - 2025.250: 6 ######################## 2025.250 - 3289.760: 13 ##################################################### 3289.760 - 5343.406: 10 ######################################### 5343.406 - 8678.658: 1 #### 8678.658 - 14095.321: 1 #### 14095.321 - 22892.330: 2 ######## Other Outcome: Count: 7 Range: 0.000 - 6010.250; Mean: 2589.237; Median: 1925.850; Stddev: 2127.217 Percentiles: 90th: 6010.250; 95th: 6010.250; 99th: 6010.250 0.000 - 1457.206: 1 ########################### 1457.206 - 1996.643: 2 ##################################################### 1996.643 - 2337.124: 1 ########################### 2337.124 - 5134.884: 1 ########################### 5134.884 - 6010.250: 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 1413 100.6% 48.6% 38.8% Issued 1198 85.3% 41.2% 32.9% Levied 277 19.7% 9.5% 7.6% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 26 9.4% 1.9% 0.9% 0.7% Foreclosure 7 2.5% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% No Fault 27 9.7% 1.9% 0.9% 0.7% Non-payment 217 78.3% 15.5% 7.5% 6.0% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 277 100.0% 19.7% 9.5% 7.6% 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 4 1.4% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% Defaulted 140 50.5% 10.0% 4.8% 3.8% Mediated 126 45.5% 9.0% 4.3% 3.5% Heard 7 2.5% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 277 100.0% 19.7% 9.5% 7.6% 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 7 56 12.5% Non-payment 217 2120 10.2% Cause 26 341 7.6% No Fault 27 393 6.9% Unknown/Other 0 732 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 140 722 19.4% Mediated 126 1491 8.5% Heard 7 147 4.8% Dismissed 4 526 0.8% 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 3 569 35 59 Non-payment 0 540 22 32 No Fault 2 503 29 39 Foreclosure 10 571 59 96 Unknown/Other 2 401 42 64 All Reasons 0 571 25 40 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 2 571 33 61 Defaulted 2 182 18 15 Mediated 0 569 23 32 Heard 2 247 58 64 Other 8 401 59 94 All Outcomes 0 571 25 40 All Cases: Count: 2905 Range: 0.000 - 571.000; Mean: 25.813; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 40.362 Percentiles: 90th: 41.000; 95th: 70.000; 99th: 201.000 0.000 - 4.072: 12 | 4.072 - 7.574: 19 # 7.574 - 13.495: 863 ################################### 13.495 - 23.504: 1289 ##################################################### 23.504 - 40.425: 424 ################# 40.425 - 69.030: 146 ###### 69.030 - 117.390: 59 ## 117.390 - 199.143: 60 ## 199.143 - 337.352: 19 # 337.352 - 571.000: 11 | By Reason Cause: Count: 332 Range: 3.000 - 569.000; Mean: 35.958; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 59.598 Percentiles: 90th: 70.000; 95th: 122.000; 99th: 231.000 3.000 - 5.568: 2 # 5.568 - 9.785: 7 ### 9.785 - 16.709: 135 ##################################################### 16.709 - 28.079: 101 ######################################## 28.079 - 46.749: 25 ########## 46.749 - 77.406: 33 ############# 77.406 - 127.745: 13 ##### 127.745 - 210.403: 12 ##### 210.403 - 346.131: 1 | 346.131 - 569.000: 3 # Non-payment: Count: 2091 Range: 0.000 - 540.000; Mean: 22.368; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 32.282 Percentiles: 90th: 34.000; 95th: 52.000; 99th: 190.000 0.000 - 4.043: 7 | 4.043 - 7.479: 12 # 7.479 - 13.254: 697 ######################################## 13.254 - 22.964: 933 ##################################################### 22.964 - 39.286: 290 ################ 39.286 - 66.728: 79 #### 66.728 - 112.861: 23 # 112.861 - 190.418: 27 ## 190.418 - 320.803: 16 # 320.803 - 540.000: 4 | No Fault: Count: 386 Range: 2.000 - 503.000; Mean: 29.464; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 39.307 Percentiles: 90th: 54.000; 95th: 93.000; 99th: 203.000 2.000 - 4.008: 1 | 4.008 - 7.360: 1 | 7.360 - 12.954: 73 ####################### 12.954 - 22.294: 169 ##################################################### 22.294 - 37.884: 83 ########################## 37.884 - 63.909: 28 ######### 63.909 - 107.352: 13 #### 107.352 - 179.871: 13 #### 179.871 - 300.925: 4 # 300.925 - 503.000: 1 | Foreclosure: Count: 50 Range: 10.000 - 571.000; Mean: 59.080; Median: 26.000; Stddev: 96.982 Percentiles: 90th: 123.000; 95th: 233.000; 99th: 571.000 10.000 - 15.330: 8 ############################ 15.330 - 23.243: 15 ##################################################### 23.243 - 34.991: 10 ################################### 34.991 - 52.431: 7 ######################### 52.431 - 78.322: 1 #### 78.322 - 116.759: 3 ########### 116.759 - 173.822: 3 ########### 173.822 - 258.535: 1 #### 258.535 - 384.297: 1 #### 384.297 - 571.000: 1 #### Unknown/Other reason: Count: 46 Range: 2.000 - 401.000; Mean: 42.391; Median: 23.000; Stddev: 64.869 Percentiles: 90th: 105.000; 95th: 116.000; 99th: 401.000 2.000 - 3.896: 2 ######## 3.896 - 12.039: 14 ##################################################### 12.039 - 20.280: 6 ####################### 20.280 - 33.728: 10 ###################################### 33.728 - 55.674: 4 ############### 55.674 - 91.490: 4 ############### 91.490 - 149.940: 4 ############### 149.940 - 245.329: 1 #### 245.329 - 401.000: 1 #### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 526 Range: 2.000 - 571.000; Mean: 33.519; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 61.351 Percentiles: 90th: 56.000; 95th: 129.000; 99th: 385.000 2.000 - 4.072: 5 # 4.072 - 7.574: 7 ## 7.574 - 13.495: 144 ################################## 13.495 - 23.504: 227 ##################################################### 23.504 - 40.425: 61 ############## 40.425 - 69.030: 37 ######### 69.030 - 117.390: 12 ### 117.390 - 199.143: 20 ##### 199.143 - 337.352: 6 # 337.352 - 571.000: 7 ## Defaulted: Count: 722 Range: 2.000 - 182.000; Mean: 18.064; Median: 14.500; Stddev: 15.598 Percentiles: 90th: 27.000; 95th: 37.000; 99th: 78.000 2.000 - 3.525: 2 | 3.525 - 9.297: 27 #### 9.297 - 14.533: 332 ##################################################### 14.533 - 22.431: 255 ######################################### 22.431 - 34.344: 60 ########## 34.344 - 52.315: 27 #### 52.315 - 79.424: 13 ## 79.424 - 182.000: 6 # Mediated: Count: 1491 Range: 0.000 - 569.000; Mean: 23.233; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 32.357 Percentiles: 90th: 37.000; 95th: 57.000; 99th: 136.000 0.000 - 4.070: 2 | 4.070 - 7.568: 6 | 7.568 - 13.479: 441 #################################### 13.479 - 23.469: 653 ##################################################### 23.469 - 40.352: 260 ##################### 40.352 - 68.883: 75 ###### 68.883 - 117.100: 31 ### 117.100 - 198.583: 12 # 198.583 - 336.287: 5 | 336.287 - 569.000: 3 | Heard: Count: 147 Range: 2.000 - 247.000; Mean: 58.075; Median: 27.000; Stddev: 64.087 Percentiles: 90th: 149.000; 95th: 201.000; 99th: 244.000 2.000 - 3.665: 2 ### 3.665 - 6.254: 2 ### 6.254 - 10.280: 10 ################ 10.280 - 16.541: 25 ######################################## 16.541 - 26.276: 33 ##################################################### 26.276 - 41.415: 23 ##################################### 41.415 - 64.956: 11 ################## 64.956 - 101.562: 10 ################ 101.562 - 158.485: 17 ########################### 158.485 - 247.000: 14 ###################### Other Outcome: Count: 19 Range: 8.000 - 401.000; Mean: 59.789; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 94.384 Percentiles: 90th: 155.000; 95th: 401.000; 99th: 401.000 8.000 - 12.160: 8 ##################################################### 12.160 - 18.242: 2 ############# 18.242 - 27.134: 2 ############# 27.134 - 59.150: 2 ############# 59.150 - 127.597: 3 #################### 127.597 - 187.031: 1 ####### 187.031 - 401.000: 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/.