Outcomes for February 2020

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: 2020-02-01 Search Period End: 2020-02-29 Earliest Case: 2020-02-01 Latest Case: 2020-02-28 Total Cases: 2961 Total Transfers: 79 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 28.4% Of those, percentage pro se: 55.3% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Florence Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 105 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 eastern 504 17.0% northeast 488 16.5% central 457 15.4% western 400 13.5% southeast 342 11.6% metro_south 209 7.1% quincy district 84 2.8% malden district 41 1.4% chelsea district 34 1.1% lynn district 34 1.1% cambridge district 31 1.0% pittsfield district 31 1.0% somerville district 29 1.0% springfield district 23 0.8% fall river district 22 0.7% waltham district 13 0.4% barnstable district 12 0.4% haverhill district 12 0.4% attleboro district 11 0.4% stoughton district 11 0.4% lowell district 10 0.3% northern berkshire district 10 0.3% bmc west roxbury 9 0.3% orleans district 9 0.3% bmc east boston 8 0.3% fallmouth district 8 0.3% peabody district 8 0.3% salem district 8 0.3% framingham district 6 0.2% wareham district 6 0.2% woburn district 6 0.2% wrentham district 6 0.2% bmc dorchester 5 0.2% concord district 5 0.2% lawrence district 5 0.2% newburyport district 5 0.2% bmc roxbury 4 0.1% brockton district 4 0.1% dedham district 4 0.1% greenfield district 4 0.1% holyoke district 4 0.1% ayer district 3 0.1% chicopee district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% westfield district 3 0.1% bmc south boston 2 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% fitchburg district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2120 33 Natural Person 841 2928 Total 2961 2961 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 71.6% 1.1% Natural Person 28.4% 98.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2072 48 2120 Optional 376 465 841 Total 2448 513 2961 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 70.0% 1.6% 71.6% Optional 12.7% 15.7% 28.4% Total 82.7% 17.3% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 5 28 33 Optional 173 2755 2928 Total 178 2783 2961 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.2% 0.9% 1.1% Optional 5.8% 93.0% 98.9% Total 6.0% 94.0% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 161 5.4% 1 2018 68.2% 2 627 21.2% 3 116 3.9% 4 31 1.0% 5 5 0.2% 6 1 0.0% 7 2 0.1% Total 2961 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 1870 63.2% Cause 827 27.9% No Fault 183 6.2% Foreclosure 79 2.7% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 1265 12 Gilbertville 173 2 Roxbury 150 90 Randolph 146 47 Thorndike 144 1 North Chatham 142 1 Indian Orchard 138 14 Springfield 125 192 East Falmouth 121 7 Holyoke 115 46 New Bedford 115 110 Pittsfield 113 51 Shelburne Falls 113 2 Worcester 111 201 North Adams 109 15 Fall River 106 95 Stoughton 103 28 Three Rivers 102 3 Hyde Park 101 34 Lowell 97 104 Salem 96 40 Mattapan 93 34 Hyannis 92 13 West Wareham 92 2 West Dennis 91 2 Athol 86 10 Framingham 84 58 Chelsea 82 29 Belchertown 81 12 Dorchester 77 71 Southbridge 77 13 Holbrook 74 8 Marlborough 72 28 Whitinsville 72 5 Everett 69 29 Lynn 69 63 Shirley 69 5 Whitman 69 10 Brockton 68 64 Haverhill 68 42 Spencer 68 8 Provincetown 67 2 Fitchburg 66 27 Lawrence 65 50 Braintree 64 23 Granville 63 1 Greenfield 63 11 Orange 63 5 Cheshire 61 2 Peabody 60 31 Salisbury 60 5 Westborough 60 11 Colrain 59 1 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Seekonk 58 8 Dracut 57 17 East Sandwich 57 2 North Billerica 56 6 Russell 56 1 Erving 55 1 Chicopee 54 30 Gardner 54 11 Sunderland 54 2 Wales 54 1 West Brookfield 54 2 Vineyard Haven 52 1 East Boston 51 21 North Grafton 51 4 Dorchester Center 50 46 Taunton 50 28 Ware 50 5 Bellingham 48 8 Beverly 48 19 Revere 48 25 Tewksbury 48 14 Turners Falls 48 2 Adams 47 4 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Webster 47 8 West Townsend 47 1 Leominster 46 19 East Wareham 45 10 Huntington 45 1 West Springfield 45 13 Malden 43 26 North Chelmsford 43 4 Jamaica Plain 42 16 Mashpee 42 6 North Andover 42 12 Waltham 42 26 Bridgewater 41 11 Norwood 41 12 Saugus 41 11 Holland 40 1 Marion 40 2 Cohasset 39 3 Lunenburg 39 4 Cambridge 38 41 Gloucester 38 11 Middleborough 38 9 Allston 37 11 Quincy 37 35 West Yarmouth 37 2 Dover 35 2 Marshfield 35 9 Monson 35 3 Brighton 34 15 Pepperell 34 4 Pocasset 34 1 Westwood 34 5 Winthrop 34 6 Hopkinton 33 5 Ludlow 33 7 Attleborough 32 14 Fiskdale 32 1 Medford 32 18 South Boston 32 11 Dennis Port 31 1 East Taunton 31 2 Roslindale 31 9 Ashland 30 5 Bedford 30 4 Cotuit 30 1 Dalton 29 2 Hull 29 3 Maynard 29 3 Melrose 29 8 Winchendon 29 3 Lakeville 28 3 Rockport 28 2 Roxbury Crossing 28 17 Brimfield 27 1 South Dennis 27 1 Ayer 26 2 Danvers 26 7 Hudson 26 5 Marblehead 25 5 Millis 25 2 Newton Center 25 1 Northbridge 25 4 Somerville 25 19 Amesbury 24 4 Auburn 24 4 Dedham 24 6 Edgartown 24 1 Plainville 24 2 Weymouth 24 13 Canton 23 5 Kingston 23 3 Plymouth 23 13 Clinton 22 3 Millbury 22 3 Rockland 22 4 Scituate 22 4 Shrewsbury 22 8 South Hadley 22 4 Amherst 21 8 Mansfield 21 5 Methuen 21 10 North Dartmouth 21 5 Watertown 21 7 Westfield 21 9 Eastham 20 1 Marstons Mills 20 1 Wenham 20 1 Hadley 19 1 Newtonville 19 1 Warren 19 1 Andover 18 6 Fairhaven 18 3 Franklin 18 6 Leicester 18 2 Westford 18 4 Billerica 17 7 Feeding Hills 17 2 Rowley 17 1 South Yarmouth 17 2 Granby 16 1 Harwich 16 2 Hopedale 16 1 Palmer 16 2 Wakefield 16 4 Groveland 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Lexington 15 5 Norton 15 3 Stow 15 1 Boston 14 90 Centerville 14 2 Hanover 14 2 Raynham 14 2 Sandwich 14 3 Uxbridge 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Wilbraham 14 2 Acton 13 3 Needham 13 4 Stoneham 13 3 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 West Roxbury 13 4 Wilmington 13 3 Belmont 12 3 Burlington 12 3 East Longmeadow 12 2 Easthampton 12 2 Lancaster 12 1 Westport 12 2 Chelmsford 11 4 Douglas 11 1 Holden 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Montague 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Townsend 11 1 Brookline 10 6 North Attleborough 10 3 Northampton 10 3 Wellesley 10 3 Woburn 10 4 East Weymouth 9 5 Hanson 9 1 Hingham 9 2 Nantucket 9 1 Natick 9 3 Carver 8 1 Reading 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 Tyngsborough 8 1 Charlton 7 1 E. Boston 7 3 East Bridgewater 7 1 Milford 7 2 Milton 7 2 North Easton 7 1 Oxford 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Swampscott 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Abington 6 1 Duxbury 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 North Reading 6 1 Swansea 6 1 Wellesley Hills 6 2 Charlestown 5 1 Foxborough 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Sharon 5 1 Onset 4 1 Walpole 4 1 North Weymouth 3 2 Newton 2 2 (not given) 0 17 span 0 4 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 465 331 Berkshire 458 74 Plymouth 375 162 Bristol 344 283 Worcester 328 366 Essex 296 326 Barnstable 279 54 Norfolk 278 237 Suffolk 269 533 Hampshire 266 49 Franklin 237 25 Middlesex 213 497 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 2325 78.5% Ongoing/Error 636 21.5% 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 1019 43.8% Dismissed 631 27.1% Defaulted 526 22.6% Heard 120 5.2% Other 29 1.2% Total 2325 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 53 43 131 30 27 Foreclosure 16 23 20 6 0 No Fault 41 33 84 14 0 Non-payment 521 427 784 70 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 1 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 2.3% 1.8% 5.6% 1.3% 1.2% Foreclosure 0.7% 1.0% 0.9% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 1.8% 1.4% 3.6% 0.6% 0.0% Non-payment 22.4% 18.4% 33.7% 3.0% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1034 44.5% 34.9% No judgment entered 1291 55.5% 43.6% Total 2325 100.0% 78.5% Judgments by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 85 3.7% 85 15,501 2,116 2,813 179,943 Foreclosure 30 1.3% 0 29,928 2,137 6,521 64,110 No fault 63 2.7% 111 21,444 2,200 3,365 138,657 Non-payment 855 36.8% 128 49,951 4,770 6,114 4,078,492 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 24,000 24,000 24,000 0 24,000 All 1034 44.5% 0 49,951 4,337 5,902 4,485,204 Judgments by outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 23 1.0% 186 46,648 4,631 9,404 106,525 Defaulted 519 22.3% 146 42,547 3,513 4,817 1,823,359 Mediated 444 19.1% 85 49,951 5,034 6,485 2,235,181 Heard 37 1.6% 0 26,319 6,863 7,278 253,935 Other 11 0.5% 253 24,000 6,018 6,548 66,202 All 1034 44.5% 0 49,951 4,337 5,902 4,485,204 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 1034 100.0% 44.5% 34.9% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1034 Range: 0.000 - 49951.370; Mean: 4337.722; Median: 2467.600; Stddev: 5905.193 Percentiles: 90th: 10371.750; 95th: 16376.090; 99th: 29689.000 0.000 - 161.519: 12 ### 161.519 - 306.121: 136 ############################## 306.121 - 579.384: 41 ######### 579.384 - 1095.785: 94 ##################### 1095.785 - 2071.656: 167 #################################### 2071.656 - 3915.815: 243 ##################################################### 3915.815 - 7400.825: 179 ####################################### 7400.825 - 13986.644: 98 ##################### 13986.644 - 26432.236: 49 ########### 26432.236 - 49951.370: 14 ### Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 85 Range: 85.000 - 15501.250; Mean: 2116.986; Median: 518.460; Stddev: 2830.655 Percentiles: 90th: 5734.450; 95th: 6681.610; 99th: 15501.250 85.000 - 143.573: 1 # 143.573 - 242.040: 36 ##################################################### 242.040 - 407.571: 4 ###### 407.571 - 685.842: 2 ### 685.842 - 1153.640: 5 ####### 1153.640 - 1940.048: 4 ###### 1940.048 - 3262.066: 9 ############# 3262.066 - 5484.491: 15 ###################### 5484.491 - 9220.575: 7 ########## 9220.575 - 15501.250: 2 ### Foreclosure: Count: 30 Range: 0.000 - 29928.950; Mean: 2137.031; Median: 212.260; Stddev: 6632.873 Percentiles: 90th: 334.320; 95th: 21522.650; 99th: 29928.950 0.000 - 255.372: 23 ##################################################### 255.372 - 434.075: 3 ####### 434.075 - 10391.510: 1 ## 10391.510 - 29928.950: 2 ##### No Fault: Count: 63 Range: 111.000 - 21444.110; Mean: 2200.907; Median: 1456.630; Stddev: 3392.609 Percentiles: 90th: 3914.310; 95th: 7094.120; 99th: 21444.110 111.000 - 188.421: 8 ########################### 188.421 - 319.361: 16 ##################################################### 319.361 - 540.815: 2 ####### 540.815 - 915.352: 1 ### 915.352 - 1548.791: 5 ################# 1548.791 - 2620.104: 15 ################################################## 2620.104 - 4431.974: 10 ################################# 4431.974 - 7496.323: 3 ########## 7496.323 - 12678.942: 1 ### 12678.942 - 21444.110: 2 ####### Non-payment: Count: 855 Range: 128.000 - 49951.370; Mean: 4770.167; Median: 2752.450; Stddev: 6117.593 Percentiles: 90th: 11335.840; 95th: 17696.500; 99th: 31010.860 128.000 - 233.092: 50 ############## 233.092 - 423.799: 27 ####### 423.799 - 769.867: 46 ############ 769.867 - 1397.866: 110 ############################## 1397.866 - 2537.475: 168 ############################################# 2537.475 - 4605.484: 196 ##################################################### 4605.484 - 8358.228: 133 #################################### 8358.228 - 15168.205: 74 #################### 15168.205 - 27526.037: 38 ########## 27526.037 - 49951.370: 13 #### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 23 Range: 186.000 - 46648.400; Mean: 4631.546; Median: 1932.590; Stddev: 9616.298 Percentiles: 90th: 8766.060; 95th: 10371.750; 99th: 46648.400 186.000 - 323.745: 6 ##################################################### 323.745 - 562.952: 1 ######### 562.952 - 978.361: 1 ######### 978.361 - 1699.761: 2 ################## 1699.761 - 2952.547: 4 ################################### 2952.547 - 5128.137: 4 ################################### 5128.137 - 8906.272: 3 ########################### 8906.272 - 15467.392: 1 ######### 15467.392 - 46648.400: 1 ######### Defaulted: Count: 519 Range: 146.830 - 42547.650; Mean: 3513.216; Median: 2203.490; Stddev: 4822.229 Percentiles: 90th: 7261.300; 95th: 11508.470; 99th: 23266.980 146.830 - 259.420: 78 ###################################### 259.420 - 457.762: 20 ########## 457.762 - 807.164: 31 ############### 807.164 - 1422.678: 66 ################################ 1422.678 - 2506.981: 89 ########################################### 2506.981 - 4417.110: 110 ##################################################### 4417.110 - 7782.032: 84 ######################################## 7782.032 - 13709.748: 21 ########## 13709.748 - 24152.133: 15 ####### 24152.133 - 42547.650: 5 ## Mediated: Count: 444 Range: 85.000 - 49951.370; Mean: 5034.192; Median: 2707.565; Stddev: 6492.387 Percentiles: 90th: 12497.840; 95th: 17696.500; 99th: 31010.860 85.000 - 161.519: 4 ## 161.519 - 306.121: 48 ########################### 306.121 - 579.384: 16 ######### 579.384 - 1095.785: 32 ################## 1095.785 - 2071.656: 77 ########################################### 2071.656 - 3915.815: 95 ##################################################### 3915.815 - 7400.825: 81 ############################################# 7400.825 - 13986.644: 55 ############################### 13986.644 - 26432.236: 28 ################ 26432.236 - 49951.370: 8 #### Heard: Count: 37 Range: 0.000 - 26319.020; Mean: 6863.126; Median: 3801.390; Stddev: 7379.203 Percentiles: 90th: 18728.230; 95th: 26096.500; 99th: 26319.020 0.000 - 298.660: 7 ##################################################### 298.660 - 1331.033: 1 ######## 1331.033 - 2189.165: 3 ####################### 2189.165 - 3600.130: 5 ###################################### 3600.130 - 5920.076: 6 ############################################# 5920.076 - 9734.595: 2 ############### 9734.595 - 16006.531: 7 ##################################################### 16006.531 - 26319.020: 5 ###################################### Other Outcome: Count: 11 Range: 253.000 - 24000.000; Mean: 6018.450; Median: 4363.650; Stddev: 6867.897 Percentiles: 90th: 12995.000; 95th: 24000.000; 99th: 24000.000 253.000 - 399.289: 1 ################## 399.289 - 629.831: 1 ################## 629.831 - 3890.088: 3 ##################################################### 3890.088 - 6131.120: 3 ##################################################### 6131.120 - 9662.851: 1 ################## 9662.851 - 15228.645: 1 ################## 15228.645 - 24000.000: 1 ################## Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 793 76.7% 34.1% 26.8% Issued 560 54.2% 24.1% 18.9% Levied 158 15.3% 6.8% 5.3% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 18 11.4% 1.7% 0.8% 0.6% Foreclosure 13 8.2% 1.3% 0.6% 0.4% No Fault 15 9.5% 1.5% 0.6% 0.5% Non-payment 112 70.9% 10.8% 4.8% 3.8% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 158 100.0% 15.3% 6.8% 5.3% 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 3 1.9% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% Defaulted 99 62.7% 9.6% 4.3% 3.3% Mediated 52 32.9% 5.0% 2.2% 1.8% Heard 4 2.5% 0.4% 0.2% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 158 100.0% 15.3% 6.8% 5.3% 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 13 79 16.5% No Fault 15 183 8.2% Non-payment 112 1870 6.0% Cause 18 827 2.2% Unknown/Other 0 2 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 99 526 18.8% Mediated 52 1019 5.1% Heard 4 120 3.3% Dismissed 3 631 0.5% Other 0 29 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 0 529 46 93 Non-payment 0 533 35 73 No Fault 0 491 42 81 Foreclosure 5 520 58 107 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 533 38 77 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 533 46 83 Defaulted 9 480 22 46 Mediated 0 521 34 72 Heard 0 491 80 122 Other 6 529 101 177 All Outcomes 0 533 38 77 All Cases: Count: 2325 Range: 0.000 - 533.000; Mean: 38.352; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 77.780 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 268.000; 99th: 392.000 0.000 - 4.037: 12 # 4.037 - 7.457: 28 # 7.457 - 13.199: 559 ######################### 13.199 - 22.839: 1178 ##################################################### 22.839 - 39.025: 322 ############## 39.025 - 66.201: 45 ## 66.201 - 111.828: 14 # 111.828 - 188.434: 10 | 188.434 - 317.053: 101 ##### 317.053 - 533.000: 52 ## By Reason Cause: Count: 284 Range: 0.000 - 529.000; Mean: 46.595; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 93.614 Percentiles: 90th: 69.000; 95th: 279.000; 99th: 487.000 0.000 - 4.033: 1 | 4.033 - 7.444: 7 ### 7.444 - 13.167: 62 ######################### 13.167 - 22.767: 130 ##################################################### 22.767 - 38.875: 43 ################## 38.875 - 65.898: 10 #### 65.898 - 111.235: 3 # 111.235 - 187.298: 2 # 187.298 - 314.908: 15 ###### 314.908 - 529.000: 9 #### Non-payment: Count: 1803 Range: 0.000 - 533.000; Mean: 35.947; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 73.221 Percentiles: 90th: 35.000; 95th: 262.000; 99th: 378.000 0.000 - 4.037: 11 # 4.037 - 7.457: 18 # 7.457 - 13.199: 460 ########################## 13.199 - 22.839: 934 ##################################################### 22.839 - 39.025: 226 ############# 39.025 - 66.201: 29 ## 66.201 - 111.828: 8 | 111.828 - 188.434: 8 | 188.434 - 317.053: 72 #### 317.053 - 533.000: 36 ## No Fault: Count: 172 Range: 0.000 - 491.000; Mean: 42.488; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 81.009 Percentiles: 90th: 49.000; 95th: 281.000; 99th: 468.000 0.000 - 8.323: 1 # 8.323 - 13.485: 27 ################## 13.485 - 21.506: 79 ##################################################### 21.506 - 33.968: 38 ######################### 33.968 - 53.332: 11 ####### 53.332 - 83.419: 1 # 83.419 - 130.166: 1 # 130.166 - 315.653: 11 ####### 315.653 - 491.000: 2 # Foreclosure: Count: 65 Range: 5.000 - 520.000; Mean: 58.431; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 107.295 Percentiles: 90th: 237.000; 95th: 333.000; 99th: 520.000 5.000 - 8.376: 2 #### 8.376 - 13.652: 10 ################## 13.652 - 21.896: 30 ##################################################### 21.896 - 34.779: 8 ############## 34.779 - 54.911: 5 ######### 54.911 - 86.370: 2 #### 86.370 - 332.403: 4 ####### 332.403 - 520.000: 4 ####### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 631 Range: 0.000 - 533.000; Mean: 46.659; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 83.184 Percentiles: 90th: 142.000; 95th: 273.000; 99th: 364.000 0.000 - 4.037: 8 ## 4.037 - 7.457: 19 #### 7.457 - 13.199: 147 ################################ 13.199 - 22.839: 247 ##################################################### 22.839 - 39.025: 107 ####################### 39.025 - 66.201: 24 ##### 66.201 - 111.828: 12 ### 111.828 - 188.434: 8 ## 188.434 - 317.053: 44 ######### 317.053 - 533.000: 14 ### Defaulted: Count: 526 Range: 9.000 - 480.000; Mean: 22.871; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 46.291 Percentiles: 90th: 23.000; 95th: 28.000; 99th: 329.000 9.000 - 13.730: 125 ##################### 13.730 - 20.698: 309 ##################################################### 20.698 - 30.963: 67 ########### 30.963 - 46.082: 14 ## 46.082 - 68.354: 1 | 68.354 - 325.536: 4 # 325.536 - 480.000: 6 # Mediated: Count: 1019 Range: 0.000 - 521.000; Mean: 34.484; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 72.683 Percentiles: 90th: 33.000; 95th: 265.000; 99th: 392.000 0.000 - 4.025: 2 | 4.025 - 7.418: 2 | 7.418 - 13.102: 258 ######################### 13.102 - 22.623: 540 ##################################################### 22.623 - 38.573: 147 ############## 38.573 - 65.290: 11 # 65.290 - 110.047: 1 | 110.047 - 310.613: 37 #### 310.613 - 521.000: 19 ## Heard: Count: 120 Range: 0.000 - 491.000; Mean: 80.058; Median: 19.500; Stddev: 122.990 Percentiles: 90th: 291.000; 95th: 364.000; 99th: 478.000 0.000 - 6.912: 5 ######## 6.912 - 11.519: 15 ######################## 11.519 - 18.809: 33 ##################################################### 18.809 - 30.345: 27 ########################################### 30.345 - 48.598: 11 ################## 48.598 - 77.481: 3 ##### 77.481 - 195.502: 2 ### 195.502 - 309.932: 14 ###################### 309.932 - 491.000: 9 ############## Other Outcome: Count: 29 Range: 6.000 - 529.000; Mean: 101.759; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 177.981 Percentiles: 90th: 487.000; 95th: 527.000; 99th: 529.000 6.000 - 9.790: 7 ##################################################### 9.790 - 15.632: 7 ##################################################### 15.632 - 24.636: 6 ############################################# 24.636 - 38.516: 2 ############### 38.516 - 59.910: 1 ######## 59.910 - 342.841: 1 ######## 342.841 - 529.000: 5 ###################################### -- 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/.