Outcomes for 2021

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: 2021-01-01 Search Period End: 2021-12-31 Earliest Case: 2021-01-04 Latest Case: 2021-12-31 Total Cases: 22783 Total Transfers: 707 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 35.1% Of those, percentage pro se: 42.7% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: West Hyannisport Least stable with 10+ filings: Florence Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 62 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 4131 18.1% central 3863 17.0% western 3637 16.0% southeast 3227 14.2% eastern 2877 12.6% metro_south 2020 8.9% quincy district 294 1.3% lynn district 179 0.8% malden district 173 0.8% pittsfield district 163 0.7% fall river district 155 0.7% chelsea district 122 0.5% cambridge district 113 0.5% northern berkshire district 112 0.5% somerville district 97 0.4% waltham district 94 0.4% attleboro district 89 0.4% lowell district 85 0.4% barnstable district 84 0.4% brockton district 76 0.3% woburn district 69 0.3% fallmouth district 65 0.3% bmc west roxbury 64 0.3% framingham district 64 0.3% lawrence district 61 0.3% bmc east boston 56 0.2% orleans district 52 0.2% springfield district 49 0.2% peabody district 47 0.2% haverhill district 46 0.2% new bedford district 37 0.2% dedham district 36 0.2% plymouth district 34 0.1% newburyport district 31 0.1% taunton district 31 0.1% wrentham district 31 0.1% ayer district 30 0.1% wareham district 29 0.1% palmer district 28 0.1% salem district 28 0.1% milford district 26 0.1% nantucket district 23 0.1% hingham district 21 0.1% westfield district 21 0.1% stoughton district 20 0.1% bmc brighton 15 0.1% edgartown district 15 0.1% newton district 15 0.1% southern berkshire district 15 0.1% bmc central 12 0.1% eastern hampshire district 12 0.1% holyoke district 12 0.1% concord district 11 0.0% gloucester district 10 0.0% clinton district 9 0.0% worcester district 9 0.0% orange district 8 0.0% uxbridge district 8 0.0% brookline district 7 0.0% bmc roxbury 6 0.0% leominster district 6 0.0% chicopee district 5 0.0% greenfield district 4 0.0% northampton district 4 0.0% bmc charlestown 2 0.0% bmc south boston 2 0.0% marlborough district 2 0.0% bmc dorchester 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% westborough district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 14792 82 Natural Person 7991 22701 Total 22783 22783 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 64.9% 0.4% Natural Person 35.1% 99.6% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 14625 167 14792 Optional 4582 3409 7991 Total 19207 3576 22783 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 64.2% 0.7% 64.9% Optional 20.1% 15.0% 35.1% Total 84.3% 15.7% 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 29 53 82 Optional 2527 20174 22701 Total 2556 20227 22783 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.4% Optional 11.1% 88.5% 99.6% Total 11.2% 88.8% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 915 4.0% 1 15272 67.0% 2 5341 23.4% 3 875 3.8% 4 269 1.2% 5 79 0.3% 6 18 0.1% 7 3 0.0% 8 4 0.0% 9 2 0.0% 10 1 0.0% 11 2 0.0% 12 1 0.0% 13 1 0.0% Total 22783 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 13872 60.9% Cause 4692 20.6% No Fault 4003 17.6% Foreclosure 199 0.9% Unknown/Other 17 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count West Hyannisport 2777 5 Woronoco 1801 2 Florence 1687 16 Wendell Depot 1111 1 Fall River 1082 962 East Falmouth 1054 61 Springfield 1040 1592 Holyoke 942 376 New Bedford 900 856 North Adams 897 123 Greenfield 802 140 Sunderland 787 29 Fitchburg 786 317 Worcester 764 1384 Chestnut Hill 753 16 Southbridge 747 125 Lowell 736 785 Indian Orchard 724 73 Pittsfield 721 323 Lawrence 718 549 Gardner 706 143 Randolph 706 227 Framingham 679 464 Adams 671 57 Orange 663 52 Chicopee 661 366 Marlborough 657 253 Hyannis 638 90 Lynn 638 577 Athol 621 72 Hyde Park 621 208 Brockton 600 563 Turners Falls 585 24 Dennis Port 569 18 Pocasset 553 16 Haverhill 533 325 West Yarmouth 531 28 Chelsea 514 181 Ayer 511 38 Ware 506 50 Revere 498 258 Dorchester 496 457 Webster 495 83 Norwood 489 140 Everett 470 196 Taunton 456 255 Quincy 445 411 Provincetown 441 13 Milford 439 123 Gilbertville 434 5 Malden 433 258 Thorndike 433 3 Whitinsville 432 30 East Sandwich 431 15 Baldwinville 422 8 Saugus 413 110 West Dennis 413 9 Tolland 412 2 Stoughton 411 111 Hardwick 401 12 West Springfield 401 114 Rockland 383 67 Clinton 382 52 Buzzards Bay 378 13 Braintree 374 134 Three Rivers 374 11 Bondsville 373 7 Vineyard Haven 370 7 Leominster 368 150 Peabody 359 184 Winchendon 359 37 Middleborough 354 82 Salem 353 146 South Yarmouth 352 41 Methuen 334 158 North Falmouth 333 9 East Boston 330 134 Roslindale 328 95 Nantucket 324 33 Bridgewater 323 86 Waltham 323 196 South Easton 322 33 Belchertown 320 47 Jamaica Plain 320 120 Lunenburg 317 32 Canton 315 68 Charlemont 315 4 Mattapan 315 115 Salisbury 313 26 Allston 308 90 Stockbridge 308 6 North Andover 306 87 Feeding Hills 299 35 South Dennis 298 11 Harwich Port 287 5 Marstons Mills 287 14 Foxborough 284 48 Great Barrington 281 20 Berlin 279 8 Amesbury 276 45 Attleborough 270 118 East Taunton 266 17 Florida 265 2 Housatonic 265 2 Spencer 265 31 West Warren 264 3 Woburn 264 101 Lanesborough 258 8 Danvers 256 68 Newton Center 256 10 Bedford 255 34 Beverly 255 101 Oxford 255 35 Dorchester Center 254 234 Avon 252 11 Westfield 245 101 Roxbury 241 144 Tewksbury 241 70 Royalston 238 3 Dalton 236 16 Westborough 235 43 Hull 233 24 Bellingham 232 38 Abington 231 37 Holbrook 231 25 Easthampton 230 37 Newtonville 230 12 Huntington 229 5 Shelburne Falls 227 4 Winthrop 222 39 Mashpee 221 31 Brighton 218 96 Wales 217 4 Wareham 210 46 North Attleborough 208 60 Plainville 205 17 Southfield 202 1 Eastham 201 10 Gloucester 201 58 Carver 199 23 Marshfield 198 50 Plymouth 198 112 Yarmouth Port 198 10 Swampscott 195 27 Sagamore Beach 193 7 Whitman 193 28 Hadley 190 10 Andover 189 63 Franklin 189 60 Goshen 189 2 Mansfield 189 44 North Billerica 187 20 Watertown 187 60 Ashland 186 31 Somerville 186 141 Dracut 183 54 Hudson 183 35 Seekonk 182 25 Mattapoisett 181 11 East Wareham 178 39 Cambridge 177 187 Northborough 176 25 Oak Bluffs 176 8 Weymouth 176 95 East Otis 174 1 Halifax 172 13 Palmer 172 21 Stoneham 172 37 Northampton 171 49 Shrewsbury 171 61 North Brookfield 170 8 Lakeville 169 18 Russell 169 3 Littleton 168 15 Westport 167 26 Blackstone 166 15 Erving 166 3 Millbury 165 22 Millis 164 13 Raynham 164 22 Chatham 163 10 Marion 163 8 Dedham 161 40 Fiskdale 161 5 Ludlow 161 34 South Hadley 159 28 Dudley 158 18 Forestdale 158 7 Medford 158 89 South Grafton 156 7 Uxbridge 156 21 Millers Falls 155 2 Cheshire 154 5 Sheffield 153 5 West Stockbridge 153 2 Norton 152 29 Tyngsborough 150 17 West Hatfield 149 5 Hinsdale 147 3 Pepperell 147 17 Wrentham 146 16 Wellfleet 145 4 Chelmsford 144 49 Fairhaven 144 23 Heath 141 1 West Townsend 141 3 Boxborough 140 7 Hingham 139 31 North Easton 138 18 West Wareham 138 3 Wilmington 138 31 Warren 136 7 Sudbury 135 24 Townsend 134 12 Centerville 133 18 Whately 133 2 Granby 128 8 Maynard 128 13 Monson 128 11 Wakefield 128 32 Warwick 128 1 West Roxbury 128 39 Granville 127 2 East Weymouth 126 68 Lancaster 124 10 Medfield 124 15 Shirley 124 9 Acton 123 27 Westwood 123 18 East Freetown 122 6 Woods Hole 122 1 Belmont 121 30 Williamsburg 120 3 Colrain 119 2 Hatfield 119 4 Rowley 119 7 Burlington 118 29 Cherry Valley 118 13 Peru 118 1 Phillipston 118 2 Manchester 116 6 Ashfield 115 2 Hanover 115 16 West Bridgewater 115 8 Jefferson 114 4 Amherst 113 43 Sharon 113 20 Walpole 112 27 Auburn 111 18 Barre 111 6 Windsor 111 1 Kingston 110 14 Somerset 110 20 Groveland 108 7 Northbridge 108 17 Sagamore 108 4 Ipswich 106 14 North Dartmouth 106 25 West Barnstable 106 3 Newburyport 103 18 Mendon 102 6 Billerica 101 41 Charlestown 101 17 East Bridgewater 101 14 New Salem 101 1 Orleans 101 6 Lee 100 6 Lenox 99 5 Arlington 98 42 Dighton 98 7 Leeds 98 1 Wilbraham 98 14 Georgetown 97 8 South Deerfield 97 2 Westminster 96 7 Marblehead 95 19 Medway 94 12 Needham 93 27 Cohasset 92 7 Brewster 91 9 East Brookfield 91 2 Falmouth 91 29 Westford 91 20 Natick 90 30 Newbury 90 6 Brookfield 88 3 North Oxford 88 2 Reading 88 22 Agawam 87 25 Hopkinton 87 13 North Chelmsford 87 8 Princeton 87 3 Melrose 85 23 Charlton 84 11 Douglas 82 7 East Longmeadow 82 13 Leicester 82 9 Swansea 81 13 West Brookfield 81 3 Upton 79 6 Merrimac 78 5 West Chatham 78 1 East Dennis 77 2 North Grafton 77 6 Bourne 75 15 Brookline 74 44 Chester 74 1 E. Boston 74 30 Milton 74 20 Edgartown 73 3 Harwich 73 9 Southwick 73 7 Pembroke 72 13 Plympton 70 2 Boston 68 426 Boylston 68 3 Hubbardston 68 3 Onset 68 15 South Boston 68 23 Hopedale 67 4 North Reading 67 10 Richmond 67 1 Gill 66 1 Holliston 66 9 Ashburnham 65 4 Ashby 65 2 Northfield 65 2 West Boylston 65 5 Sturbridge 64 6 Dennis 63 9 Lexington 63 20 Berkley 62 4 Concord 62 11 Paxton 62 3 Westhampton 62 1 Bolton 61 3 South Lancaster 61 1 Cotuit 60 2 Lynnfield 60 7 Rehoboth 60 7 Duxbury 59 9 Clarksburg 58 1 Nahant 58 2 Teaticket 58 1 Longmeadow 57 9 Norwell 57 6 Roxbury Crossing 57 34 Becket 56 1 Shutesbury 56 1 Middleton 55 5 Sutton 55 5 South Weymouth 53 29 Wayland 53 7 Buckland 52 1 Conway 52 1 Oakham 52 1 Southborough 51 5 Williamstown 51 4 Boxford 50 4 Rutland 50 4 Newton Upper Falls 49 3 North Truro 49 1 Scituate 49 9 Hanson 48 5 Lincoln 47 3 West Newbury 47 2 Bernardston 46 1 Holden 46 8 Groton 44 5 Rockport 43 3 Sandwich 43 9 Acushnet 38 4 Hampden 38 2 South Dartmouth 38 13 East Templeton 37 3 South Hamilton 37 3 Rochdale 36 4 West Tisbury 36 1 Monument Beach 35 1 Weston 35 4 Needham Heights 34 10 Southampton 34 2 Auburndale 32 3 Dartmouth 32 11 Topsfield 32 2 Wellesley 32 9 Winchester 32 7 Dunstable 31 1 Millville 31 1 Stow 30 2 Bradford 29 4 Grafton 28 5 Osterville 28 1 Brimfield 27 1 Newton Centre 26 1 Sherborn 24 1 Templeton 24 2 Montague 23 2 Assonet 22 2 Deerfield 19 1 East Walpole 19 5 Rochester 19 1 South Barre 18 1 Norfolk 17 2 West Harwich 16 2 Newton Highlands 15 13 Newton 14 12 North Weymouth 14 8 Easton 12 3 Waban 12 1 Manchaug 11 1 Fayville 10 1 West Newton 7 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 Barnstable 2 1 E. Weymouth 1 1 Manomet 1 1 (not given) 0 218 Berkshire 0 1 span 0 16 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 3979 2829 Berkshire 3687 595 Bristol 3164 2603 Plymouth 3136 1354 Barnstable 2854 551 Worcester 2779 3093 Franklin 2655 280 Essex 2407 2646 Norfolk 2104 1794 Hampshire 1688 311 Middlesex 1586 3701 Suffolk 1387 2740 Nantucket 939 33 Dukes 463 19 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 20282 89.0% Ongoing/Error 2501 11.0% 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 Dismissed 8842 43.6% Mediated 6369 31.4% Defaulted 4403 21.7% Heard 662 3.3% Other 6 0.0% Total 20282 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 1127 809 1549 250 1 Foreclosure 43 57 80 10 0 No Fault 1091 741 1934 100 0 Non-payment 6580 2796 2806 299 4 Unknown/Other 1 0 0 3 1 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.6% 4.0% 7.6% 1.2% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 5.4% 3.7% 9.5% 0.5% 0.0% Non-payment 32.4% 13.8% 13.8% 1.5% 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. Amounts in excess of 100% of cases disposed indicate a judgment was inferred from the docket history but no dollar amount was entered and the case was not yet disposed. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 6809 33.6% 29.9% Judgment inferred 1808 8.9% 7.9% No judgment 11665 57.5% 51.2% Total 20282 100.0% 37.8% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 1397 6.9% 0 99,225 2,759 6,595 3,855,031 Foreclosure 78 0.4% 0 126,644 4,907 18,307 382,790 No fault 1337 6.6% 0 61,442 3,526 5,357 4,714,906 Non-payment 3994 19.7% 0 213,589 7,645 9,788 30,535,862 Unknown/Other 3 0.0% 200 4,861 2,764 1,931 8,294 Subtotal 6809 33.6% 0 213,589 5,800 8,917 39,496,885 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 681 3.4% 0 213,589 5,105 10,107 3,476,732 Defaulted 3691 18.2% 0 143,521 6,199 8,553 22,882,062 Mediated 2200 10.8% 0 160,910 5,409 9,136 11,900,798 Heard 233 1.1% 0 60,084 5,262 8,490 1,226,276 Other 4 0.0% 256 4,896 2,753 2,141 11,015 Subtotal 6809 33.6% 0 213,589 5,800 8,917 39,496,885 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 29 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 7497 87.0% 37.0% 32.9% unknown 1091 12.7% 5.4% 4.8% Total 8617 100.0% 42.5% 37.8% Judgments All Cases: Count: 6809 Range: 0.000 - 213589.410; Mean: 5800.688; Median: 3194.490; Stddev: 8918.123 Percentiles: 90th: 14266.370; 95th: 20458.530; 99th: 37852.620 0.000 - 29.298: 4 | 29.298 - 80.095: 3 | 80.095 - 216.054: 790 ###################### 216.054 - 579.952: 764 ##################### 579.952 - 1553.942: 564 ################ 1553.942 - 4160.861: 1533 ########################################### 4160.861 - 11138.383: 1903 ##################################################### 11138.383 - 29813.991: 842 ####################### 29813.991 - 79799.979: 139 #### 79799.979 - 213589.410: 10 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 1397 Range: 0.000 - 99225.000; Mean: 2759.507; Median: 231.540; Stddev: 6597.860 Percentiles: 90th: 7752.120; 95th: 12854.430; 99th: 31308.070 0.000 - 50.032: 2 | 50.032 - 273.589: 664 ##################################################### 273.589 - 635.948: 61 ##### 635.948 - 1476.488: 73 ###### 1476.488 - 3426.239: 129 ########## 3426.239 - 7948.955: 172 ############## 7948.955 - 18440.019: 101 ######## 18440.019 - 42775.496: 30 ## 42775.496 - 99225.000: 6 | Foreclosure: Count: 78 Range: 0.000 - 126644.050; Mean: 4907.574; Median: 230.330; Stddev: 18425.949 Percentiles: 90th: 5175.680; 95th: 35969.180; 99th: 126644.050 0.000 - 315.317: 64 ##################################################### 315.317 - 614.582: 2 ## 614.582 - 2330.371: 1 # 2330.371 - 4536.057: 1 # 4536.057 - 8828.519: 1 # 8828.519 - 17182.033: 1 # 17182.033 - 33438.720: 2 ## 33438.720 - 65075.685: 2 ## 65075.685 - 126644.050: 2 ## No Fault: Count: 1337 Range: 0.000 - 61442.880; Mean: 3526.482; Median: 1459.660; Stddev: 5359.122 Percentiles: 90th: 9416.760; 95th: 13164.310; 99th: 25707.490 0.000 - 25.749: 1 | 25.749 - 62.208: 1 | 62.208 - 148.361: 12 # 148.361 - 351.939: 489 ##################################################### 351.939 - 832.993: 37 #### 832.993 - 1969.724: 128 ############## 1969.724 - 4655.815: 261 ############################ 4655.815 - 11003.041: 253 ########################### 11003.041 - 26001.518: 88 ########## 26001.518 - 61442.880: 12 # Non-payment: Count: 3994 Range: 0.000 - 213589.410; Mean: 7645.434; Median: 4836.930; Stddev: 9789.269 Percentiles: 90th: 17411.860; 95th: 24151.710; 99th: 41858.560 0.000 - 36.226: 1 | 36.226 - 96.382: 2 | 96.382 - 253.752: 141 ##### 253.752 - 665.432: 126 ##### 665.432 - 1742.385: 439 ################# 1742.385 - 4559.695: 1149 ############################################ 4559.695 - 11929.776: 1372 ##################################################### 11929.776 - 31209.906: 618 ######################## 31209.906 - 81646.721: 98 #### 81646.721 - 213589.410: 7 | Unknown/Other reason: Count: 3 Range: 200.000 - 4861.980; Mean: 2764.913; Median: 3232.760; Stddev: 2365.941 Percentiles: 90th: 4861.980; 95th: 4861.980; 99th: 4861.980 200.000 - 275.418: 1 ##################################################### 275.418 - 3535.159: 1 ##################################################### 3535.159 - 4861.980: 1 ##################################################### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 681 Range: 0.000 - 213589.410; Mean: 5105.335; Median: 2955.690; Stddev: 10115.007 Percentiles: 90th: 11157.530; 95th: 16746.850; 99th: 28840.360 0.000 - 292.262: 108 #################################### 292.262 - 608.946: 30 ########## 608.946 - 1267.609: 61 #################### 1267.609 - 2637.543: 115 ####################################### 2637.543 - 5486.827: 158 ##################################################### 5486.827 - 11412.969: 139 ############################################### 11412.969 - 23738.576: 54 ################## 23738.576 - 49374.240: 8 ### 49374.240 - 102693.098: 2 # 102693.098 - 213589.410: 1 | Defaulted: Count: 3691 Range: 0.000 - 143521.450; Mean: 6199.421; Median: 3629.270; Stddev: 8554.872 Percentiles: 90th: 14940.680; 95th: 20887.790; 99th: 39472.660 0.000 - 28.117: 1 | 28.117 - 73.896: 1 | 73.896 - 191.650: 186 ######### 191.650 - 494.537: 628 ############################### 494.537 - 1273.627: 198 ########## 1273.627 - 3277.615: 671 ################################## 3277.615 - 8432.305: 1059 ##################################################### 8432.305 - 21691.278: 711 #################################### 21691.278 - 55796.212: 157 ######## 55796.212 - 143521.450: 13 # Mediated: Count: 2200 Range: 0.000 - 160910.990; Mean: 5409.454; Median: 2669.515; Stddev: 9138.937 Percentiles: 90th: 13075.360; 95th: 20172.300; 99th: 35853.390 0.000 - 35.186: 3 | 35.186 - 91.020: 2 | 91.020 - 233.002: 382 #################################### 233.002 - 594.057: 158 ############### 594.057 - 1512.201: 203 ################### 1512.201 - 3846.999: 439 ########################################## 3846.999 - 9784.282: 557 ##################################################### 9784.282 - 24882.514: 256 ######################## 24882.514 - 63276.608: 74 ####### 63276.608 - 160910.990: 7 # Heard: Count: 233 Range: 0.000 - 60084.840; Mean: 5262.991; Median: 813.000; Stddev: 8508.290 Percentiles: 90th: 15908.390; 95th: 25330.200; 99th: 35969.180 0.000 - 257.330: 39 ##################################################### 257.330 - 472.293: 9 ############ 472.293 - 866.132: 2 ### 866.132 - 1587.694: 7 ########## 1587.694 - 2909.688: 9 ############ 2909.688 - 5331.746: 28 ###################################### 5331.746 - 9769.262: 29 ####################################### 9769.262 - 17899.350: 24 ################################# 17899.350 - 32794.695: 15 #################### 32794.695 - 60084.840: 4 ##### Other Outcome: Count: 4 Range: 256.420 - 4896.080; Mean: 2753.787; Median: 2931.325; Stddev: 2472.796 Percentiles: 90th: 4896.080; 95th: 4896.080; 99th: 4896.080 256.420 - 344.598: 1 ########################### 344.598 - 1121.767: 1 ########################### 1121.767 - 4896.080: 2 ##################################################### Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 6878 79.8% 33.9% 30.2% Issued 5615 65.2% 27.7% 24.6% Levied 1230 14.3% 6.1% 5.4% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 266 21.6% 3.1% 1.3% 1.2% Foreclosure 33 2.7% 0.4% 0.2% 0.1% No Fault 283 23.0% 3.3% 1.4% 1.2% Non-payment 648 52.7% 7.5% 3.2% 2.8% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 1230 100.0% 14.3% 6.1% 5.4% 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 154 12.5% 1.8% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 640 52.0% 7.4% 3.2% 2.8% Mediated 413 33.6% 4.8% 2.0% 1.8% Heard 23 1.9% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 1230 100.0% 14.3% 6.1% 5.4% 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 33 199 16.6% No Fault 283 4003 7.1% Cause 266 4692 5.7% Non-payment 648 13872 4.7% Unknown/Other 0 17 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 640 4403 14.5% Mediated 413 6369 6.5% Heard 23 662 3.5% Dismissed 154 8842 1.7% Other 0 6 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 0 684 117 111 Non-payment 0 662 104 84 No Fault 0 687 106 100 Foreclosure 4 644 151 130 Unknown/Other 2 93 39 37 All Reasons 0 687 107 93 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 562 100 83 Defaulted 0 652 102 79 Mediated 0 687 120 110 Heard 0 684 124 123 Other 38 315 137 100 All Outcomes 0 687 107 93 All Cases: Count: 20282 Range: 0.000 - 687.000; Mean: 107.890; Median: 80.000; Stddev: 93.799 Percentiles: 90th: 213.000; 95th: 291.000; 99th: 512.000 0.000 - 2.587: 44 | 2.587 - 5.432: 84 # 5.432 - 10.534: 228 ## 10.534 - 19.685: 963 ######## 19.685 - 36.094: 1796 ############### 36.094 - 65.522: 4566 ####################################### 65.522 - 118.295: 6255 ##################################################### 118.295 - 212.932: 4282 #################################### 212.932 - 382.648: 1516 ############# 382.648 - 687.000: 533 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 3736 Range: 0.000 - 684.000; Mean: 117.024; Median: 80.000; Stddev: 111.765 Percentiles: 90th: 256.000; 95th: 373.000; 99th: 556.000 0.000 - 2.585: 10 | 2.585 - 5.426: 10 | 5.426 - 10.519: 39 ## 10.519 - 19.649: 161 ######## 19.649 - 36.014: 362 ################## 36.014 - 65.348: 876 ############################################ 65.348 - 117.930: 1063 ##################################################### 117.930 - 212.186: 717 #################################### 212.186 - 381.142: 315 ################ 381.142 - 684.000: 178 ######### Non-payment: Count: 12485 Range: 0.000 - 662.000; Mean: 104.848; Median: 81.000; Stddev: 84.143 Percentiles: 90th: 203.000; 95th: 266.000; 99th: 444.000 0.000 - 2.573: 29 | 2.573 - 5.384: 66 # 5.384 - 10.407: 168 ## 10.407 - 19.381: 610 ######### 19.381 - 35.414: 1017 ############## 35.414 - 64.061: 2685 ###################################### 64.061 - 115.243: 3790 ##################################################### 115.243 - 206.691: 2922 ######################################### 206.691 - 370.078: 962 ############# 370.078 - 662.000: 228 ### No Fault: Count: 3866 Range: 0.000 - 687.000; Mean: 106.813; Median: 76.000; Stddev: 100.897 Percentiles: 90th: 213.000; 95th: 312.000; 99th: 559.000 0.000 - 2.587: 4 | 2.587 - 5.432: 7 | 5.432 - 10.534: 20 # 10.534 - 19.685: 189 ######## 19.685 - 36.094: 333 ############## 36.094 - 65.522: 972 ######################################## 65.522 - 118.295: 1298 ##################################################### 118.295 - 212.932: 654 ########################### 212.932 - 382.648: 246 ########## 382.648 - 687.000: 141 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 190 Range: 4.000 - 644.000; Mean: 151.932; Median: 107.500; Stddev: 130.514 Percentiles: 90th: 325.000; 95th: 459.000; 99th: 574.000 4.000 - 7.129: 1 # 7.129 - 20.486: 5 ###### 20.486 - 33.931: 13 ################ 33.931 - 55.789: 17 ##################### 55.789 - 91.326: 43 ##################################################### 91.326 - 149.101: 43 ##################################################### 149.101 - 243.029: 35 ########################################### 243.029 - 395.735: 18 ###################### 395.735 - 644.000: 15 ################## Unknown/Other reason: Count: 5 Range: 2.000 - 93.000; Mean: 39.800; Median: 38.000; Stddev: 37.772 Percentiles: 90th: 93.000; 95th: 93.000; 99th: 93.000 2.000 - 3.234: 1 ##################################################### 3.234 - 7.432: 1 ##################################################### 7.432 - 46.198: 1 ##################################################### 46.198 - 65.608: 1 ##################################################### 65.608 - 93.000: 1 ##################################################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 8842 Range: 0.000 - 562.000; Mean: 100.443; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 83.169 Percentiles: 90th: 203.000; 95th: 266.000; 99th: 418.000 0.000 - 2.515: 34 # 2.515 - 5.179: 73 ## 5.179 - 9.861: 159 ### 9.861 - 18.091: 494 ########## 18.091 - 32.556: 721 ############### 32.556 - 57.982: 1624 ################################## 57.982 - 102.673: 2522 ##################################################### 102.673 - 181.227: 2029 ########################################### 181.227 - 319.303: 922 ################### 319.303 - 562.000: 254 ##### Defaulted: Count: 4403 Range: 0.000 - 652.000; Mean: 102.754; Median: 84.000; Stddev: 79.510 Percentiles: 90th: 182.000; 95th: 241.000; 99th: 452.000 0.000 - 8.590: 3 | 8.590 - 14.329: 2 | 14.329 - 23.501: 296 ########### 23.501 - 38.161: 313 ############ 38.161 - 61.594: 720 ########################### 61.594 - 99.048: 1425 ##################################################### 99.048 - 158.913: 950 ################################### 158.913 - 254.600: 497 ################## 254.600 - 407.542: 140 ##### 407.542 - 652.000: 56 ## Mediated: Count: 6369 Range: 0.000 - 687.000; Mean: 120.057; Median: 81.000; Stddev: 110.373 Percentiles: 90th: 246.000; 95th: 360.000; 99th: 566.000 0.000 - 5.693: 4 | 5.693 - 10.199: 11 | 10.199 - 17.738: 156 #### 17.738 - 30.352: 431 ############ 30.352 - 51.460: 901 ######################### 51.460 - 86.776: 1906 ##################################################### 86.776 - 145.869: 1338 ##################################### 145.869 - 244.744: 974 ########################### 244.744 - 410.183: 403 ########### 410.183 - 687.000: 243 ####### Heard: Count: 662 Range: 0.000 - 684.000; Mean: 124.204; Median: 81.000; Stddev: 123.596 Percentiles: 90th: 276.000; 95th: 409.000; 99th: 576.000 0.000 - 2.585: 10 ### 2.585 - 5.426: 6 ## 5.426 - 10.519: 7 ## 10.519 - 19.649: 38 ########## 19.649 - 36.014: 63 ################# 36.014 - 65.348: 114 ############################### 65.348 - 117.930: 196 ##################################################### 117.930 - 212.186: 116 ############################### 212.186 - 381.142: 70 ################### 381.142 - 684.000: 40 ########### Other Outcome: Count: 6 Range: 38.000 - 315.000; Mean: 137.500; Median: 97.000; Stddev: 100.649 Percentiles: 90th: 315.000; 95th: 315.000; 99th: 315.000 38.000 - 47.076: 1 ########################### 47.076 - 89.056: 2 ##################################################### 89.056 - 110.014: 1 ########################### 110.014 - 206.952: 1 ########################### 206.952 - 315.000: 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. Methodology changes: 2022-03: Where docket history shows judgment and/or execution, but case has not been disposed, infer judgment and/or execution. 2022-05: Correct counting error in 'By prevailing party' section where agreement for judgment renders prevailing party unknown. Rows now sum to total. 2023-01: We now report dispositions on the basis of the last disposition found in a docket. Previously we were using a prioritized keyword match, which produced inaccurate results for complex cases. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.