Outcomes for January 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: 2021-01-31 Earliest Case: 2021-01-04 Latest Case: 2021-01-29 Total Cases: 2432 Total Transfers: 85 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 30.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 38.5% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Holyoke Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 81 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 514 21.1% western 465 19.1% central 438 18.0% southeast 315 13.0% eastern 274 11.3% metro_south 181 7.4% quincy district 31 1.3% lynn district 21 0.9% chelsea district 14 0.6% lowell district 13 0.5% somerville district 13 0.5% brockton district 12 0.5% malden district 11 0.5% orleans district 8 0.3% attleboro district 7 0.3% dedham district 6 0.2% fall river district 6 0.2% lawrence district 6 0.2% waltham district 6 0.2% wareham district 6 0.2% cambridge district 5 0.2% fallmouth district 5 0.2% bmc east boston 4 0.2% pittsfield district 4 0.2% westfield district 4 0.2% woburn district 4 0.2% wrentham district 4 0.2% ayer district 3 0.1% barnstable district 3 0.1% framingham district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% northern berkshire district 3 0.1% orange district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% peabody district 3 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% haverhill district 2 0.1% marlborough district 2 0.1% southern berkshire district 2 0.1% springfield district 2 0.1% stoughton district 2 0.1% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% bmc dorchester 1 0.0% bmc west roxbury 1 0.0% brookline district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% hingham district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% new bedford district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1687 10 Natural Person 745 2422 Total 2432 2432 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 69.4% 0.4% Natural Person 30.6% 99.6% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1672 15 1687 Optional 458 287 745 Total 2130 302 2432 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 68.8% 0.6% 69.4% Optional 18.8% 11.8% 30.6% Total 87.6% 12.4% 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 7 3 10 Optional 289 2133 2422 Total 296 2136 2432 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.3% 0.1% 0.4% Optional 11.9% 87.7% 99.6% Total 12.2% 87.8% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 60 2.5% 1 1617 66.5% 2 633 26.0% 3 85 3.5% 4 25 1.0% 5 8 0.3% 6 3 0.1% 8 1 0.0% Total 2432 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 1740 71.5% Cause 452 18.6% No Fault 228 9.4% Foreclosure 12 0.5% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 316 3 Sunderland 217 8 Harwich Port 172 3 Holyoke 165 66 East Falmouth 155 9 Springfield 137 211 Whitinsville 129 9 Ware 111 11 Lowell 104 111 Orange 102 8 Leeds 98 1 Marlborough 98 38 Stoughton 96 26 Adams 94 8 New Bedford 91 87 Lawrence 89 68 Lynn 89 81 West Warren 88 1 Buzzards Bay 87 3 Fall River 85 76 Framingham 80 55 Chelsea 79 28 Fitchburg 79 32 Lunenburg 79 8 Charlemont 78 1 Worcester 78 143 West Stockbridge 76 1 Lakeville 75 8 Saugus 75 20 Ashland 72 12 West Springfield 70 20 Indian Orchard 69 7 Three Rivers 68 2 Orleans 67 4 Pittsfield 67 30 Hardwick 66 2 Chicopee 63 35 Dennis Port 63 2 South Lancaster 61 1 Webster 59 10 Brookfield 58 2 Jamaica Plain 58 22 Greenfield 57 10 Hyannis 56 8 Brockton 53 50 Dorchester 53 49 Southbridge 53 9 Carver 52 6 Randolph 52 17 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Oxford 51 7 Taunton 51 29 Milford 50 14 Danvers 49 13 Gardner 49 10 Mattapan 49 18 Quincy 49 46 Westborough 49 9 South Deerfield 48 1 Tewksbury 48 14 Turners Falls 48 2 Belchertown 47 7 Haverhill 47 29 Huntington 45 1 West Dennis 45 1 Dudley 43 5 Everett 43 18 Malden 43 26 Methuen 42 20 Spencer 42 5 Medfield 41 5 Palmer 41 5 Beverly 40 16 Eastham 40 2 Woburn 39 15 Chelmsford 38 13 Middleborough 38 9 Norwell 38 4 Watertown 37 12 Cherry Valley 36 4 Clinton 36 5 Waltham 36 22 Wareham 36 8 Wellfleet 36 1 West Tisbury 36 1 Athol 34 4 Berlin 34 1 Leominster 34 14 Norwood 34 10 Bridgewater 33 9 Duxbury 33 5 Littleton 33 3 Provincetown 33 1 Fiskdale 32 1 Granby 32 2 Hyde Park 32 11 Newton Upper Falls 32 2 Revere 32 17 Dunstable 31 1 Easthampton 31 5 Hudson 31 6 Peabody 31 16 Bellingham 30 5 Brewster 30 3 Cheshire 30 1 Dalton 29 2 Dorchester Center 29 27 Nantucket 29 3 Salem 29 12 Winchendon 29 3 East Sandwich 28 1 North Billerica 28 3 Roxbury 28 17 Sagamore Beach 27 1 South Dennis 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Weymouth 27 15 Ayer 26 2 Westfield 26 11 Millis 25 2 Newton Center 25 1 Salisbury 24 2 Douglas 23 2 Kingston 23 3 Avon 22 1 East Boston 22 9 East Wareham 22 5 Forestdale 22 1 Millbury 22 3 Shrewsbury 22 8 North Adams 21 3 North Andover 21 6 Bourne 20 4 Boxborough 20 1 North Attleborough 20 6 North Reading 20 3 Walpole 20 5 Braintree 19 7 Lenox 19 1 Manchester 19 1 Northbridge 19 3 Somerville 19 15 Attleborough 18 8 Barre 18 1 Canton 18 4 Fairhaven 18 3 Ludlow 18 4 South Barre 18 1 Feeding Hills 17 2 Medford 17 10 Pepperell 17 2 Sharon 17 3 Winthrop 17 3 Burlington 16 4 Dracut 16 5 Hopedale 16 1 Lee 16 1 North Dartmouth 16 4 Andover 15 5 Bedford 15 2 Franklin 15 5 Ipswich 15 2 Marshfield 15 4 Merrimac 15 1 Natick 15 5 North Easton 15 2 Dighton 14 1 East Bridgewater 14 2 Hanover 14 2 Milton 14 4 Raynham 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Seekonk 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Hingham 13 3 Shirley 13 1 Stoneham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Wilmington 13 3 Abington 12 2 Boxford 12 1 Falmouth 12 4 Lancaster 12 1 Mansfield 12 3 Plymouth 12 7 Brighton 11 5 Concord 11 2 Foxborough 11 2 Middleton 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Rockland 11 2 Somerset 11 2 Allston 10 3 Amherst 10 4 Auburndale 10 1 Cambridge 10 11 Needham 10 3 North Chelmsford 10 1 Northampton 10 3 Southborough 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Hanson 9 1 Holbrook 9 1 Hull 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Maynard 9 1 South Easton 9 1 Wrentham 9 1 Belmont 8 2 Harwich 8 1 Tyngsborough 8 1 Wakefield 8 2 Weston 8 1 Centerville 7 1 E. Boston 7 3 Holliston 7 1 Mashpee 7 1 Medway 7 1 Northborough 7 1 Swampscott 7 1 Wayland 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Amesbury 6 1 Auburn 6 1 Boston 6 41 East Longmeadow 6 1 Gloucester 6 2 Hopkinton 6 1 Longmeadow 6 1 Roslindale 6 2 Swansea 6 1 West Roxbury 6 2 Westport 6 1 Whitman 6 1 Charlestown 5 1 East Weymouth 5 3 Marblehead 5 1 South Boston 5 2 South Dartmouth 5 2 Sudbury 5 1 Acton 4 1 Arlington 4 2 Dedham 4 1 Onset 4 1 Reading 4 1 Westford 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Agawam 3 1 Melrose 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Newton 3 3 Wellesley 3 1 Barnstable 2 1 Brookline 1 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 Roxbury Crossing 1 1 (not given) 0 19 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 517 368 Plymouth 310 134 Worcester 292 325 Berkshire 291 47 Franklin 284 30 Bristol 279 230 Barnstable 274 53 Essex 274 302 Hampshire 200 37 Norfolk 200 171 Middlesex 191 446 Suffolk 132 261 Nantucket 85 3 Dukes 48 2 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 2232 91.8% Ongoing/Error 200 8.2% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Dismissed 1118 50.1% Mediated 542 24.3% Defaulted 299 13.4% Heard 197 8.8% Other 76 3.4% Total 2232 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 85 38 113 47 56 Foreclosure 3 1 3 3 2 No Fault 77 25 90 30 0 Non-payment 953 235 336 117 18 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.8% 1.7% 5.1% 2.1% 2.5% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% No Fault 3.4% 1.1% 4.0% 1.3% 0.0% Non-payment 42.7% 10.5% 15.1% 5.2% 0.8% 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 648 29.0% 26.6% Judgment inferred 186 8.3% 7.6% No judgment 1398 62.6% 57.5% Total 2232 100.0% 34.3% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 148 6.6% 0 71,910 5,990 9,193 886,556 Foreclosure 3 0.1% 182 327 274 65 822 No fault 66 3.0% 0 37,972 5,794 7,522 382,409 Non-payment 431 19.3% 0 213,589 10,076 14,119 4,342,927 Subtotal 648 29.0% 0 213,589 8,661 12,719 5,612,716 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 14 0.6% 158 16,807 7,173 5,583 100,428 Defaulted 297 13.3% 0 64,988 8,808 10,465 2,616,175 Mediated 186 8.3% 0 213,589 8,651 17,582 1,609,148 Heard 75 3.4% 0 31,308 7,593 7,570 569,528 Other 76 3.4% 230 71,910 9,439 11,415 717,434 Subtotal 648 29.0% 0 213,589 8,661 12,719 5,612,716 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 3 0.4% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 684 82.0% 30.6% 28.1% unknown 147 17.6% 6.6% 6.0% Total 834 100.0% 37.4% 34.3% Judgments All Cases: Count: 648 Range: 0.000 - 213589.410; Mean: 8661.599; Median: 5016.930; Stddev: 12729.316 Percentiles: 90th: 21372.880; 95th: 28842.420; 99th: 46090.630 0.000 - 60.349: 1 | 60.349 - 374.723: 81 ######################### 374.723 - 928.819: 17 ##### 928.819 - 2300.066: 78 ######################## 2300.066 - 5693.553: 157 ################################################ 5693.553 - 14091.569: 173 ##################################################### 14091.569 - 34874.521: 103 ################################ 34874.521 - 86307.035: 18 ###### 86307.035 - 213589.410: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 148 Range: 0.000 - 71910.580; Mean: 5990.244; Median: 3130.990; Stddev: 9225.064 Percentiles: 90th: 16369.180; 95th: 25431.090; 99th: 34905.750 0.000 - 54.021: 1 # 54.021 - 270.040: 32 ############################################## 270.040 - 600.569: 3 #### 600.569 - 1334.173: 7 ########## 1334.173 - 2962.397: 17 ######################## 2962.397 - 6576.217: 37 ##################################################### 6576.217 - 14597.034: 23 ################################# 14597.034 - 32399.119: 15 ##################### 32399.119 - 71910.580: 2 ### Foreclosure: Count: 3 Range: 182.400 - 327.860; Mean: 274.297; Median: 312.630; Stddev: 79.948 Percentiles: 90th: 327.860; 95th: 327.860; 99th: 327.860 182.400 - 193.429: 1 ########################### 193.429 - 327.860: 2 ##################################################### No Fault: Count: 66 Range: 0.000 - 37972.270; Mean: 5794.083; Median: 2987.025; Stddev: 7580.570 Percentiles: 90th: 17039.290; 95th: 20129.350; 99th: 37972.270 0.000 - 288.783: 24 ##################################################### 288.783 - 1470.888: 1 ## 1470.888 - 2529.125: 4 ######### 2529.125 - 4348.198: 8 ################## 4348.198 - 7475.123: 7 ############### 7475.123 - 12850.198: 7 ############### 12850.198 - 22089.767: 11 ######################## 22089.767 - 37972.270: 1 ## Non-payment: Count: 431 Range: 0.000 - 213589.410; Mean: 10076.399; Median: 5804.230; Stddev: 14135.486 Percentiles: 90th: 22896.030; 95th: 32919.710; 99th: 48283.630 0.000 - 327.118: 19 ########## 327.118 - 672.980: 9 ##### 672.980 - 1383.408: 25 ############# 1383.408 - 2842.681: 58 ############################## 2842.681 - 5840.141: 102 ##################################################### 5840.141 - 11997.156: 93 ################################################ 11997.156 - 24644.142: 82 ########################################### 24644.142 - 50622.030: 34 ################## 50622.030 - 103982.622: 3 ## 103982.622 - 213589.410: 1 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 14 Range: 158.740 - 16807.680; Mean: 7173.461; Median: 5720.245; Stddev: 5794.448 Percentiles: 90th: 15260.950; 95th: 16807.680; 99th: 16807.680 158.740 - 253.464: 2 ##################### 253.464 - 1027.636: 1 ########### 1027.636 - 4157.126: 2 ##################### 4157.126 - 6622.837: 4 ########################################## 6622.837 - 16807.680: 5 ##################################################### Defaulted: Count: 297 Range: 0.000 - 64988.900; Mean: 8808.672; Median: 5206.810; Stddev: 10483.536 Percentiles: 90th: 21507.560; 95th: 28802.130; 99th: 55203.150 0.000 - 304.781: 34 ################################ 304.781 - 553.644: 7 ####### 553.644 - 1005.046: 8 ######## 1005.046 - 1823.828: 20 ################### 1823.828 - 3308.984: 40 ###################################### 3308.984 - 6002.851: 56 ##################################################### 6002.851 - 10889.152: 46 ############################################ 10889.152 - 19752.220: 50 ############################################### 19752.220 - 35828.594: 23 ###################### 35828.594 - 64988.900: 12 ########### Mediated: Count: 186 Range: 0.000 - 213589.410; Mean: 8651.338; Median: 4007.435; Stddev: 17629.516 Percentiles: 90th: 21486.960; 95th: 32919.710; 99th: 36565.130 0.000 - 60.349: 1 # 60.349 - 374.723: 23 ####################### 374.723 - 928.819: 5 ##### 928.819 - 2300.066: 26 ########################### 2300.066 - 5693.553: 35 #################################### 5693.553 - 14091.569: 52 ##################################################### 14091.569 - 34874.521: 24 ######################## 34874.521 - 86307.035: 4 #### 86307.035 - 213589.410: 1 # Heard: Count: 75 Range: 0.000 - 31308.070; Mean: 7593.715; Median: 4376.290; Stddev: 7621.406 Percentiles: 90th: 18435.570; 95th: 22087.850; 99th: 31308.070 0.000 - 302.823: 11 ################################ 302.823 - 2383.017: 3 ######### 2383.017 - 3989.079: 18 ##################################################### 3989.079 - 6677.111: 12 ################################### 6677.111 - 11176.015: 10 ############################# 11176.015 - 18705.735: 11 ################################ 18705.735 - 31308.070: 7 ##################### Other Outcome: Count: 76 Range: 230.000 - 71910.580; Mean: 9439.927; Median: 5387.080; Stddev: 11491.095 Percentiles: 90th: 23606.210; 95th: 29090.040; 99th: 71910.580 230.000 - 409.139: 9 ########################### 409.139 - 1291.909: 2 ###### 1291.909 - 2294.550: 5 ############### 2294.550 - 4074.730: 13 ###################################### 4074.730 - 7235.425: 18 ##################################################### 7235.425 - 12847.214: 12 ################################### 12847.214 - 22810.900: 8 ######################## 22810.900 - 40501.343: 7 ##################### 40501.343 - 71910.580: 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 665 79.7% 29.8% 27.3% Issued 537 64.4% 24.1% 22.1% Levied 118 14.1% 5.3% 4.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 16 13.6% 1.9% 0.7% 0.7% Foreclosure 1 0.8% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 18 15.3% 2.2% 0.8% 0.7% Non-payment 83 70.3% 10.0% 3.7% 3.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 118 100.0% 14.1% 5.3% 4.9% 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 10 8.5% 1.2% 0.4% 0.4% Defaulted 59 50.0% 7.1% 2.6% 2.4% Mediated 30 25.4% 3.6% 1.3% 1.2% Heard 17 14.4% 2.0% 0.8% 0.7% Other 2 1.7% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% All Outcomes 118 100.0% 14.1% 5.3% 4.9% 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 1 12 8.3% No Fault 18 228 7.9% Non-payment 83 1740 4.8% Cause 16 452 3.5% Unknown/Other 0 0 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 59 299 19.7% Heard 17 197 8.6% Mediated 30 542 5.5% Other 2 76 2.6% Dismissed 10 1118 0.9% 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 1 550 146 101 Non-payment 0 556 131 80 No Fault 22 539 136 93 Foreclosure 4 468 197 150 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 556 134 86 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 539 127 89 Defaulted 73 389 150 55 Mediated 17 556 129 81 Heard 1 550 152 95 Other 30 540 168 107 All Outcomes 0 556 134 86 All Cases: Count: 2232 Range: 0.000 - 556.000; Mean: 134.491; Median: 123.000; Stddev: 86.011 Percentiles: 90th: 235.000; 95th: 295.000; 99th: 455.000 0.000 - 2.512: 4 | 2.512 - 5.166: 8 # 5.166 - 9.826: 10 # 9.826 - 18.009: 35 ## 18.009 - 32.377: 76 ##### 32.377 - 57.604: 197 ############# 57.604 - 101.898: 615 ######################################### 101.898 - 179.672: 795 ##################################################### 179.672 - 316.229: 396 ########################## 316.229 - 556.000: 93 ###### By Reason Cause: Count: 339 Range: 1.000 - 550.000; Mean: 146.770; Median: 130.000; Stddev: 101.318 Percentiles: 90th: 267.000; 95th: 366.000; 99th: 514.000 1.000 - 2.508: 2 # 2.508 - 17.927: 9 ##### 17.927 - 32.196: 17 ######### 32.196 - 57.224: 31 ################# 57.224 - 101.121: 76 ########################################## 101.121 - 178.113: 96 ##################################################### 178.113 - 313.152: 88 ################################################# 313.152 - 550.000: 20 ########### Non-payment: Count: 1659 Range: 0.000 - 556.000; Mean: 131.289; Median: 123.000; Stddev: 80.499 Percentiles: 90th: 228.000; 95th: 285.000; 99th: 416.000 0.000 - 2.512: 2 | 2.512 - 5.166: 7 # 5.166 - 9.826: 10 # 9.826 - 18.009: 26 ## 18.009 - 32.377: 52 ##### 32.377 - 57.604: 142 ############ 57.604 - 101.898: 467 ######################################### 101.898 - 179.672: 610 ##################################################### 179.672 - 316.229: 283 ######################### 316.229 - 556.000: 57 ##### No Fault: Count: 222 Range: 22.000 - 539.000; Mean: 136.252; Median: 113.500; Stddev: 93.352 Percentiles: 90th: 243.000; 95th: 360.000; 99th: 459.000 22.000 - 30.535: 5 ###### 30.535 - 42.238: 10 ############ 42.238 - 58.283: 15 ################## 58.283 - 80.282: 38 ############################################# 80.282 - 110.445: 41 ################################################ 110.445 - 151.801: 45 ##################################################### 151.801 - 208.505: 36 ########################################## 208.505 - 286.250: 13 ############### 286.250 - 392.847: 11 ############# 392.847 - 539.000: 8 ######### Foreclosure: Count: 12 Range: 4.000 - 468.000; Mean: 197.667; Median: 171.000; Stddev: 150.328 Percentiles: 90th: 455.000; 95th: 468.000; 99th: 468.000 4.000 - 6.874: 1 ################## 6.874 - 75.259: 2 ################################### 75.259 - 119.091: 1 ################## 119.091 - 188.118: 3 ##################################################### 188.118 - 296.819: 2 ################################### 296.819 - 468.000: 3 ##################################################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 1118 Range: 0.000 - 539.000; Mean: 127.116; Median: 110.000; Stddev: 89.826 Percentiles: 90th: 239.000; 95th: 307.000; 99th: 455.000 0.000 - 2.501: 2 | 2.501 - 5.128: 8 # 5.128 - 9.726: 10 # 9.726 - 17.775: 28 #### 17.775 - 31.863: 48 ####### 31.863 - 56.524: 126 ################### 56.524 - 99.690: 296 ############################################ 99.690 - 175.247: 355 ##################################################### 175.247 - 307.502: 187 ############################ 307.502 - 539.000: 55 ######## Defaulted: Count: 299 Range: 73.000 - 389.000; Mean: 150.579; Median: 154.000; Stddev: 55.201 Percentiles: 90th: 210.000; 95th: 246.000; 99th: 371.000 73.000 - 86.381: 39 ########################### 86.381 - 102.181: 44 ############################## 102.181 - 120.838: 11 ######## 120.838 - 142.868: 26 ################## 142.868 - 168.882: 77 ##################################################### 168.882 - 199.600: 65 ############################################# 199.600 - 235.873: 20 ############## 235.873 - 278.704: 8 ###### 278.704 - 329.279: 5 ### 329.279 - 389.000: 4 ### Mediated: Count: 542 Range: 17.000 - 556.000; Mean: 129.430; Median: 116.500; Stddev: 81.822 Percentiles: 90th: 213.000; 95th: 281.000; 99th: 465.000 17.000 - 24.371: 3 # 24.371 - 34.759: 20 ######## 34.759 - 49.402: 8 ### 49.402 - 70.040: 72 ############################ 70.040 - 99.130: 138 ##################################################### 99.130 - 140.131: 110 ########################################## 140.131 - 197.921: 123 ############################################### 197.921 - 279.375: 40 ############### 279.375 - 394.182: 15 ###### 394.182 - 556.000: 13 ##### Heard: Count: 197 Range: 1.000 - 550.000; Mean: 152.914; Median: 131.000; Stddev: 95.638 Percentiles: 90th: 283.000; 95th: 352.000; 99th: 488.000 1.000 - 2.508: 2 ## 2.508 - 17.927: 4 ### 17.927 - 32.196: 7 ##### 32.196 - 57.224: 10 ######## 57.224 - 101.121: 43 ################################# 101.121 - 178.113: 69 ##################################################### 178.113 - 313.152: 51 ####################################### 313.152 - 550.000: 11 ######## Other Outcome: Count: 76 Range: 30.000 - 540.000; Mean: 168.026; Median: 151.500; Stddev: 107.387 Percentiles: 90th: 319.000; 95th: 394.000; 99th: 540.000 30.000 - 40.262: 4 ############### 40.262 - 53.920: 3 ########### 53.920 - 72.099: 9 ################################## 72.099 - 96.296: 12 ############################################# 96.296 - 128.503: 3 ########### 128.503 - 171.371: 12 ############################################# 171.371 - 228.428: 14 ##################################################### 228.428 - 304.373: 11 ########################################## 304.373 - 405.456: 6 ####################### 405.456 - 540.000: 2 ######## -- 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. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.