Outcomes for November 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: 2019-11-01 Search Period End: 2019-11-30 Earliest Case: 2019-11-01 Latest Case: 2019-11-29 Total Cases: 3028 Total Transfers: 67 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 30.2% Of those, percentage pro se: 56.8% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Woronoco Least stable with 10+ filings: Charlestown Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 104 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 564 18.6% central 480 15.9% eastern 455 15.0% western 430 14.2% southeast 353 11.7% metro_south 234 7.7% cambridge district 44 1.5% quincy district 44 1.5% chelsea district 39 1.3% malden district 37 1.2% pittsfield district 29 1.0% springfield district 27 0.9% lynn district 20 0.7% fall river district 18 0.6% northern berkshire district 14 0.5% attleboro district 12 0.4% barnstable district 12 0.4% somerville district 12 0.4% waltham district 12 0.4% chicopee district 11 0.4% bmc east boston 10 0.3% bmc west roxbury 10 0.3% lowell district 10 0.3% woburn district 10 0.3% framingham district 9 0.3% haverhill district 9 0.3% milford district 8 0.3% wareham district 8 0.3% wrentham district 8 0.3% brockton district 7 0.2% newton district 7 0.2% bmc dorchester 6 0.2% bmc south boston 6 0.2% fallmouth district 6 0.2% salem district 6 0.2% holyoke district 5 0.2% peabody district 5 0.2% eastern hampshire district 4 0.1% lawrence district 4 0.1% newburyport district 4 0.1% plymouth district 4 0.1% dedham district 3 0.1% orange district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% westfield district 3 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% northampton district 2 0.1% orleans district 2 0.1% southern berkshire district 2 0.1% stoughton district 2 0.1% hingham district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2113 9 Natural Person 915 3019 Total 3028 3028 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 69.8% 0.3% Natural Person 30.2% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2070 43 2113 Optional 395 520 915 Total 2465 563 3028 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 68.4% 1.4% 69.8% Optional 13.0% 17.2% 30.2% Total 81.4% 18.6% 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 1 8 9 Optional 179 2840 3019 Total 180 2848 3028 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.3% 0.3% Optional 5.9% 93.8% 99.7% Total 5.9% 94.1% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 137 4.5% 1 1992 65.8% 2 718 23.7% 3 126 4.2% 4 34 1.1% 5 11 0.4% 6 3 0.1% 7 4 0.1% 9 2 0.1% 10 1 0.0% Total 3028 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 1858 61.4% Cause 590 19.5% No Fault 275 9.1% Unknown/Other 245 8.1% Foreclosure 60 2.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Woronoco 1801 2 Rowe 254 1 Charlestown 203 34 Rockland 160 28 Springfield 149 229 Norwood 146 42 Thorndike 144 1 Chestnut Hill 141 3 North Adams 131 18 Warwick 128 1 Fall River 124 111 Greenfield 120 21 Hyde Park 116 39 Chilmark 115 1 Salem 111 46 Framingham 109 75 Lowell 109 117 Holyoke 107 43 Southbridge 107 18 Florence 105 1 Lawrence 102 78 Orange 102 8 Chicopee 99 55 New Bedford 97 93 Chelsea 96 34 Fitchburg 94 38 Worcester 94 171 Cheshire 92 3 West Dennis 91 2 West Warren 88 1 Pittsfield 87 39 Whitinsville 86 6 Petersham 81 1 Marlborough 80 31 Athol 77 9 Foxborough 77 13 Mattapan 74 27 Peabody 74 38 Roxbury 73 44 Turners Falls 73 3 Brockton 72 68 Haverhill 72 44 Saugus 71 19 East Falmouth 69 4 Gardner 69 14 Indian Orchard 69 7 Lynn 66 60 North Chelmsford 65 6 Oxford 65 9 Bridgewater 63 17 Granville 63 1 South Lancaster 61 1 Bedford 60 8 Cotuit 60 2 Ware 60 6 Stoughton 59 16 Adams 58 5 Braintree 58 21 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Manchester 58 3 Dorchester 57 53 Hyannis 56 8 Russell 56 1 Holbrook 55 6 Taunton 55 31 Jamaica Plain 53 20 Milford 53 15 South Boston 53 18 Webster 53 9 Buckland 52 1 Everett 52 22 Vineyard Haven 52 1 West Springfield 52 15 Feeding Hills 51 6 Palmer 49 6 Beverly 48 19 South Deerfield 48 1 Belchertown 47 7 West Townsend 47 1 Cambridge 46 49 West Wareham 46 1 Dorchester Center 45 42 Leominster 44 18 North Oxford 44 1 Quincy 43 40 Westborough 43 8 Methuen 42 20 Danvers 41 11 Marstons Mills 41 2 Medfield 41 5 Shirley 41 3 Whitman 41 6 Holland 40 1 West Boylston 39 3 Malden 38 23 Millis 38 3 Revere 38 20 Roxbury Crossing 38 23 Squantum 38 1 Millbury 37 5 Tewksbury 37 11 Amesbury 36 6 Clinton 36 5 Salisbury 36 3 Swampscott 36 5 Roslindale 34 10 South Yarmouth 34 4 Three Rivers 34 1 Waltham 34 21 Winthrop 34 6 Littleton 33 3 Abington 31 5 Dennis Port 31 1 Dunstable 31 1 East Taunton 31 2 Gloucester 31 9 Merrimac 31 2 Westfield 31 13 Hatfield 30 1 Sheffield 30 1 Stow 30 2 Attleborough 29 13 Nahant 29 1 Winchendon 29 3 Burlington 28 7 Osterville 28 1 Plymouth 28 16 West Bridgewater 28 2 East Wareham 27 6 Sagamore Beach 27 1 South Dennis 27 1 Sunderland 27 1 Wareham 27 6 Ayer 26 2 Dudley 26 3 Hudson 26 5 Mansfield 25 6 Marblehead 25 5 North Dartmouth 25 6 North Grafton 25 2 Shrewsbury 25 9 Spencer 25 3 Lancaster 24 2 North Andover 24 7 North Attleborough 24 7 Dracut 23 7 Holden 23 4 East Boston 22 9 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Raynham 22 3 South Grafton 22 1 Sudbury 22 4 Sutton 22 2 Middleborough 21 5 Brewster 20 2 Marion 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Wakefield 20 5 Wenham 20 1 Acushnet 19 2 East Longmeadow 19 3 Hadley 19 1 Hanson 19 2 Hull 19 2 Lunenburg 19 2 Marshfield 19 5 Ashland 18 3 Canton 18 4 East Weymouth 18 10 Easthampton 18 3 Franklin 18 6 Randolph 18 6 Agawam 17 5 Mendon 17 1 Newburyport 17 3 Northampton 17 5 Pepperell 17 2 Tyngsborough 17 2 Wilmington 17 4 Ashburnham 16 1 Boston 16 104 Harwich 16 2 Lee 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 Pembroke 16 3 Scituate 16 3 Amherst 15 6 Woburn 15 6 Billerica 14 6 Chelmsford 14 5 Dennis 14 2 Dighton 14 1 Great Barrington 14 1 Hanover 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 Melrose 14 4 Northborough 14 2 Seekonk 14 2 Somerville 14 11 Allston 13 4 Brighton 13 6 Cohasset 13 1 Westminster 13 1 Weymouth 13 7 Auburn 12 2 Bellingham 12 2 Belmont 12 3 Dedham 12 3 E. Boston 12 5 Fairhaven 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Plainville 12 1 Reading 12 3 Rutland 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Swansea 12 2 Watertown 12 4 Westport 12 2 Williamstown 12 1 Blackstone 11 1 Brookline 11 7 Douglas 11 1 Middleton 11 1 Somerset 11 2 South Hadley 11 2 Townsend 11 1 Southborough 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Andover 9 3 Hingham 9 2 Lakeville 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Maynard 9 1 Nantucket 9 1 South Easton 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Carver 8 1 Medford 8 5 Rehoboth 8 1 Walpole 8 2 Arlington 7 3 Bradford 7 1 Centerville 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Kingston 7 1 North Easton 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Hopkinton 6 1 Needham 6 2 Westwood 6 1 Grafton 5 1 Norton 5 1 Sharon 5 1 South Dartmouth 5 2 Acton 4 1 Onset 4 1 Westford 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Falmouth 3 1 Lexington 3 1 Milton 3 1 Natick 3 1 Newton Highlands 3 3 West Roxbury 3 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 2 2 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 15 span 0 10 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 548 390 Plymouth 430 186 Berkshire 427 69 Bristol 354 292 Essex 351 386 Franklin 350 37 Worcester 338 377 Suffolk 252 499 Norfolk 245 209 Middlesex 207 484 Barnstable 196 38 Hampshire 173 32 Dukes 73 3 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 2495 82.4% Ongoing/Error 533 17.6% 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 1282 51.4% Defaulted 581 23.3% Dismissed 487 19.5% Heard 131 5.3% Other 14 0.6% Total 2495 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 49 67 166 33 8 Foreclosure 10 16 22 8 0 No Fault 48 47 153 19 0 Non-payment 380 451 940 64 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 1 7 5 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 2.0% 2.7% 6.7% 1.3% 0.3% Foreclosure 0.4% 0.6% 0.9% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 1.9% 1.9% 6.1% 0.8% 0.0% Non-payment 15.2% 18.1% 37.7% 2.6% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.3% 0.2% 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 1312 52.6% 43.3% No judgment entered 1183 47.4% 39.1% Total 2495 100.0% 82.4% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 162 6.5% 0 9,567 1,137 1,747 184,273 Foreclosure 25 1.0% 178 13,040 1,126 3,139 28,165 No fault 101 4.0% 0 10,768 1,627 1,990 164,371 Non-payment 1022 41.0% 0 51,632 3,749 3,643 3,831,647 Unknown/Other 2 0.1% 645 1,964 1,305 659 2,610 All 1312 52.6% 0 51,632 3,209 3,500 4,211,067 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 23 0.9% 168 10,529 2,730 2,468 62,794 Defaulted 576 23.1% 0 25,959 2,928 3,039 1,686,657 Mediated 654 26.2% 0 51,632 3,438 3,791 2,248,755 Heard 52 2.1% 155 16,825 3,783 4,568 196,720 Other 7 0.3% 453 5,184 2,305 1,503 16,138 All 1312 52.6% 0 51,632 3,209 3,500 4,211,067 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 1312 100.0% 52.6% 43.3% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1312 Range: 0.000 - 51632.430; Mean: 3209.655; Median: 2402.855; Stddev: 3501.476 Percentiles: 90th: 6810.010; 95th: 8931.750; 99th: 16050.000 0.000 - 91.849: 1 | 91.849 - 186.410: 87 ############# 186.410 - 377.277: 112 ################ 377.277 - 762.532: 79 ############ 762.532 - 1540.148: 187 ########################### 1540.148 - 3109.726: 323 ############################################### 3109.726 - 6277.834: 362 ##################################################### 6277.834 - 12672.494: 132 ################### 12672.494 - 25579.773: 21 ### 25579.773 - 51632.430: 3 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 162 Range: 0.000 - 9567.500; Mean: 1137.489; Median: 216.470; Stddev: 1753.321 Percentiles: 90th: 3439.530; 95th: 5250.660; 99th: 7835.000 0.000 - 213.972: 79 ##################################################### 213.972 - 326.751: 10 ####### 326.751 - 498.697: 6 #### 498.697 - 760.849: 13 ######### 760.849 - 1160.533: 11 ####### 1160.533 - 1769.900: 8 ##### 1769.900 - 2698.954: 12 ######## 2698.954 - 4115.413: 8 ##### 4115.413 - 6274.978: 10 ####### 6274.978 - 9567.500: 4 ### Foreclosure: Count: 25 Range: 178.580 - 13040.160; Mean: 1126.623; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 3204.697 Percentiles: 90th: 262.290; 95th: 10352.370; 99th: 13040.160 178.580 - 274.654: 23 ##################################################### 274.654 - 13040.160: 2 ##### No Fault: Count: 101 Range: 0.000 - 10768.300; Mean: 1627.438; Median: 950.900; Stddev: 2000.663 Percentiles: 90th: 4424.610; 95th: 5480.610; 99th: 8325.940 0.000 - 217.361: 35 ##################################################### 217.361 - 335.735: 2 ### 335.735 - 518.279: 3 ##### 518.279 - 799.779: 6 ######### 799.779 - 1233.882: 8 ############ 1233.882 - 1903.311: 16 ######################## 1903.311 - 2935.637: 13 #################### 2935.637 - 4527.586: 6 ######### 4527.586 - 6982.531: 6 ######### 6982.531 - 10768.300: 4 ###### Non-payment: Count: 1022 Range: 0.000 - 51632.430; Mean: 3749.166; Median: 2929.085; Stddev: 3645.545 Percentiles: 90th: 7246.460; 95th: 9793.640; 99th: 17612.410 0.000 - 91.849: 1 | 91.849 - 186.410: 19 ### 186.410 - 377.277: 29 ##### 377.277 - 762.532: 54 ######## 762.532 - 1540.148: 154 ######################## 1540.148 - 3109.726: 280 ############################################ 3109.726 - 6277.834: 337 ##################################################### 6277.834 - 12672.494: 123 ################### 12672.494 - 25579.773: 20 ### 25579.773 - 51632.430: 3 | Unknown/Other reason: Count: 2 Range: 645.600 - 1964.840; Mean: 1305.220; Median: 1305.220; Stddev: 932.844 Percentiles: 90th: 1964.840; 95th: 1964.840; 99th: 1964.840 645.600 - 721.648: 1 ##################################################### 721.648 - 1964.840: 1 ##################################################### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 23 Range: 168.000 - 10529.100; Mean: 2730.200; Median: 2544.140; Stddev: 2523.773 Percentiles: 90th: 4907.450; 95th: 7423.360; 99th: 10529.100 168.000 - 254.471: 6 ##################################################### 254.471 - 1333.012: 1 ######### 1333.012 - 2015.574: 4 ################################### 2015.574 - 3047.378: 3 ########################### 3047.378 - 4607.115: 6 ##################################################### 4607.115 - 6964.911: 1 ######### 6964.911 - 10529.100: 2 ################## Defaulted: Count: 576 Range: 0.000 - 25959.960; Mean: 2928.225; Median: 2219.045; Stddev: 3042.076 Percentiles: 90th: 6058.330; 95th: 8027.440; 99th: 13225.790 0.000 - 237.445: 96 ########################################### 237.445 - 400.527: 9 #### 400.527 - 675.146: 26 ############ 675.146 - 1137.587: 58 ########################## 1137.587 - 1916.309: 71 ################################ 1916.309 - 3227.626: 117 ##################################################### 3227.626 - 5435.802: 116 ##################################################### 5435.802 - 9154.230: 57 ########################## 9154.230 - 15415.827: 21 ########## 15415.827 - 25959.960: 4 ## Mediated: Count: 654 Range: 0.000 - 51632.430; Mean: 3438.464; Median: 2579.220; Stddev: 3794.698 Percentiles: 90th: 6975.000; 95th: 8715.790; 99th: 17612.410 0.000 - 91.849: 1 | 91.849 - 186.410: 40 ########### 186.410 - 377.277: 38 ########### 377.277 - 762.532: 38 ########### 762.532 - 1540.148: 86 ######################## 1540.148 - 3109.726: 168 ############################################### 3109.726 - 6277.834: 189 ##################################################### 6277.834 - 12672.494: 78 ###################### 12672.494 - 25579.773: 10 ### 25579.773 - 51632.430: 2 # Heard: Count: 52 Range: 155.000 - 16825.910; Mean: 3783.096; Median: 1478.745; Stddev: 4612.802 Percentiles: 90th: 10768.300; 95th: 13887.460; 99th: 16825.910 155.000 - 248.122: 12 ##################################################### 248.122 - 634.314: 2 ######### 634.314 - 1013.557: 3 ############# 1013.557 - 1619.185: 12 ##################################################### 1619.185 - 2586.334: 4 ################## 2586.334 - 4130.811: 2 ######### 4130.811 - 6597.245: 5 ###################### 6597.245 - 10535.986: 6 ########################### 10535.986 - 16825.910: 6 ########################### Other Outcome: Count: 7 Range: 453.090 - 5184.650; Mean: 2305.554; Median: 2009.000; Stddev: 1623.835 Percentiles: 90th: 5184.650; 95th: 5184.650; 99th: 5184.650 453.090 - 578.306: 1 ##################################################### 578.306 - 738.051: 1 ##################################################### 738.051 - 1956.666: 1 ##################################################### 1956.666 - 2496.496: 1 ##################################################### 2496.496 - 3185.185: 1 ##################################################### 3185.185 - 4063.780: 1 ##################################################### 4063.780 - 5184.650: 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 1106 84.3% 44.3% 36.5% Issued 949 72.3% 38.0% 31.3% Levied 190 14.5% 7.6% 6.3% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 26 13.7% 2.0% 1.0% 0.9% Foreclosure 7 3.7% 0.5% 0.3% 0.2% No Fault 24 12.6% 1.8% 1.0% 0.8% Non-payment 133 70.0% 10.1% 5.3% 4.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 190 100.0% 14.5% 7.6% 6.3% 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 2 1.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Defaulted 99 52.1% 7.5% 4.0% 3.3% Mediated 78 41.1% 5.9% 3.1% 2.6% Heard 11 5.8% 0.8% 0.4% 0.4% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 190 100.0% 14.5% 7.6% 6.3% 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 60 11.7% No Fault 24 275 8.7% Non-payment 133 1858 7.2% Cause 26 590 4.4% Unknown/Other 0 245 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 99 581 17.0% Heard 11 131 8.4% Mediated 78 1282 6.1% Dismissed 2 487 0.4% Other 0 14 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 6 497 36 62 Non-payment 0 476 22 33 No Fault 5 131 23 17 Foreclosure 5 477 56 100 Unknown/Other 1 78 19 20 All Reasons 0 497 24 40 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 3 497 30 57 Defaulted 9 477 18 21 Mediated 0 476 23 29 Heard 1 455 45 74 Other 7 486 70 122 All Outcomes 0 497 24 40 All Cases: Count: 2495 Range: 0.000 - 497.000; Mean: 24.967; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 40.270 Percentiles: 90th: 39.000; 95th: 64.000; 99th: 136.000 0.000 - 2.473: 2 | 2.473 - 5.029: 5 | 5.029 - 9.469: 120 ##### 9.469 - 17.176: 1291 ##################################################### 17.176 - 30.559: 702 ############################# 30.559 - 53.796: 211 ######### 53.796 - 94.141: 100 #### 94.141 - 164.192: 39 ## 164.192 - 285.820: 3 | 285.820 - 497.000: 19 # By Reason Cause: Count: 323 Range: 6.000 - 497.000; Mean: 36.950; Median: 19.000; Stddev: 62.326 Percentiles: 90th: 73.000; 95th: 119.000; 99th: 447.000 6.000 - 9.723: 16 ######## 9.723 - 15.426: 104 ##################################################### 15.426 - 24.162: 90 ############################################## 24.162 - 37.543: 42 ##################### 37.543 - 58.042: 26 ############# 58.042 - 89.443: 22 ########### 89.443 - 137.545: 15 ######## 137.545 - 211.228: 2 # 211.228 - 497.000: 6 ### Non-payment: Count: 1836 Range: 0.000 - 476.000; Mean: 22.214; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 33.263 Percentiles: 90th: 32.000; 95th: 51.000; 99th: 105.000 0.000 - 2.458: 1 | 2.458 - 4.978: 2 | 4.978 - 9.334: 83 ##### 9.334 - 16.866: 915 ##################################################### 16.866 - 29.887: 592 ################################## 29.887 - 52.398: 152 ######### 52.398 - 91.315: 57 ### 91.315 - 158.596: 19 # 158.596 - 274.911: 2 | 274.911 - 476.000: 10 # No Fault: Count: 267 Range: 5.000 - 131.000; Mean: 23.075; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 17.761 Percentiles: 90th: 39.000; 95th: 56.000; 99th: 125.000 5.000 - 7.173: 3 ### 7.173 - 10.134: 32 ############################# 10.134 - 14.166: 57 #################################################### 14.166 - 19.660: 54 ################################################# 19.660 - 27.142: 58 ##################################################### 27.142 - 37.336: 33 ############################## 37.336 - 51.221: 16 ############### 51.221 - 70.136: 7 ###### 70.136 - 95.902: 3 ### 95.902 - 131.000: 4 #### Foreclosure: Count: 56 Range: 5.000 - 477.000; Mean: 56.357; Median: 24.500; Stddev: 100.691 Percentiles: 90th: 113.000; 95th: 450.000; 99th: 477.000 5.000 - 8.296: 1 ### 8.296 - 13.401: 4 ########### 13.401 - 21.312: 19 ##################################################### 21.312 - 33.567: 14 ####################################### 33.567 - 52.554: 5 ############## 52.554 - 81.969: 7 #################### 81.969 - 127.542: 3 ######## 127.542 - 477.000: 3 ######## Unknown/Other reason: Count: 13 Range: 1.000 - 78.000; Mean: 19.615; Median: 10.000; Stddev: 20.451 Percentiles: 90th: 37.000; 95th: 78.000; 99th: 78.000 1.000 - 1.889: 1 ################## 1.889 - 7.703: 3 ##################################################### 7.703 - 11.570: 3 ##################################################### 11.570 - 25.221: 3 ##################################################### 25.221 - 36.871: 1 ################## 36.871 - 53.697: 1 ################## 53.697 - 78.000: 1 ################## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 487 Range: 3.000 - 497.000; Mean: 30.127; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 57.196 Percentiles: 90th: 51.000; 95th: 98.000; 99th: 378.000 3.000 - 5.480: 5 # 5.480 - 9.498: 43 ########### 9.498 - 16.006: 213 ##################################################### 16.006 - 26.550: 132 ################################# 26.550 - 43.632: 40 ########## 43.632 - 71.304: 19 ##### 71.304 - 116.133: 17 #### 116.133 - 188.756: 8 ## 188.756 - 306.406: 1 | 306.406 - 497.000: 9 ## Defaulted: Count: 581 Range: 9.000 - 477.000; Mean: 18.940; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 21.347 Percentiles: 90th: 25.000; 95th: 32.000; 99th: 66.000 9.000 - 13.721: 124 #################### 13.721 - 20.671: 323 ##################################################### 20.671 - 30.903: 97 ################ 30.903 - 45.965: 23 #### 45.965 - 68.138: 9 # 68.138 - 100.779: 3 | 100.779 - 148.830: 1 | 148.830 - 477.000: 1 | Mediated: Count: 1282 Range: 0.000 - 476.000; Mean: 23.126; Median: 16.500; Stddev: 29.918 Percentiles: 90th: 39.000; 95th: 60.000; 99th: 102.000 0.000 - 2.458: 1 | 2.458 - 9.334: 60 ###### 9.334 - 16.866: 577 ##################################################### 16.866 - 29.887: 428 ####################################### 29.887 - 52.398: 135 ############ 52.398 - 91.315: 60 ###### 91.315 - 158.596: 14 # 158.596 - 476.000: 4 | Heard: Count: 131 Range: 1.000 - 455.000; Mean: 45.656; Median: 22.000; Stddev: 74.655 Percentiles: 90th: 106.000; 95th: 125.000; 99th: 415.000 1.000 - 2.442: 1 # 2.442 - 9.196: 12 ############### 9.196 - 16.547: 27 ################################## 16.547 - 29.199: 42 ##################################################### 29.199 - 50.975: 24 ############################## 50.975 - 88.451: 9 ########### 88.451 - 152.949: 11 ############## 152.949 - 263.955: 1 # 263.955 - 455.000: 4 ##### Other Outcome: Count: 14 Range: 7.000 - 486.000; Mean: 70.571; Median: 33.000; Stddev: 122.615 Percentiles: 90th: 84.000; 95th: 486.000; 99th: 486.000 7.000 - 11.065: 3 ######################################## 11.065 - 17.196: 1 ############# 17.196 - 26.442: 2 ########################### 26.442 - 40.387: 2 ########################### 40.387 - 61.418: 1 ############# 61.418 - 93.135: 4 ##################################################### 93.135 - 486.000: 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/.