Outcomes for March 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: 2021-03-01 Search Period End: 2021-03-31 Earliest Case: 2021-03-01 Latest Case: 2021-03-31 Total Cases: 1988 Total Transfers: 66 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 29.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 39.8% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Hyde Park Least stable with 10+ filings: Hyde Park Least stable with 100+ filings: Hyde Park Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 66 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 388 19.5% northeast 351 17.7% central 292 14.7% western 274 13.8% southeast 244 12.3% metro_south 169 8.5% quincy district 40 2.0% somerville district 17 0.9% cambridge district 15 0.8% waltham district 15 0.8% lynn district 14 0.7% fall river district 11 0.6% barnstable district 10 0.5% bmc west roxbury 9 0.5% peabody district 9 0.5% pittsfield district 9 0.5% fallmouth district 8 0.4% northern berkshire district 8 0.4% orleans district 8 0.4% lowell district 7 0.4% malden district 7 0.4% chelsea district 6 0.3% bmc east boston 5 0.3% woburn district 5 0.3% attleboro district 4 0.2% haverhill district 4 0.2% lawrence district 4 0.2% stoughton district 4 0.2% wareham district 4 0.2% brockton district 3 0.2% holyoke district 3 0.2% newton district 3 0.2% salem district 3 0.2% southern berkshire district 3 0.2% uxbridge district 3 0.2% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% framingham district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% springfield district 2 0.1% taunton district 2 0.1% wrentham district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.1% concord district 1 0.1% dedham district 1 0.1% gloucester district 1 0.1% hingham district 1 0.1% newburyport district 1 0.1% orange district 1 0.1% palmer district 1 0.1% plymouth district 1 0.1% westfield district 1 0.1% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1400 14 Natural Person 588 1974 Total 1988 1988 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 70.4% 0.7% Natural Person 29.6% 99.3% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1386 14 1400 Optional 354 234 588 Total 1740 248 1988 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 69.7% 0.7% 70.4% Optional 17.8% 11.8% 29.6% Total 87.5% 12.5% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 6 8 14 Optional 253 1721 1974 Total 259 1729 1988 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.3% 0.4% 0.7% Optional 12.7% 86.6% 99.3% Total 13.0% 87.0% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 54 2.7% 1 1402 70.5% 2 436 21.9% 3 65 3.3% 4 21 1.1% 5 6 0.3% 6 1 0.1% 8 1 0.1% 9 1 0.1% 10 1 0.1% Total 1988 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 1386 69.7% Cause 364 18.3% No Fault 224 11.3% Foreclosure 14 0.7% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Hyde Park 355 119 Hardwick 200 6 Gilbertville 173 2 Woods Hole 122 1 Peru 118 1 Harwich Port 115 2 Bondsville 106 2 Stockbridge 102 2 West Warren 88 1 East Falmouth 86 5 Fall River 83 74 Halifax 79 6 Lawrence 73 56 Holyoke 72 29 Springfield 72 111 Indian Orchard 69 7 New Bedford 68 65 Richmond 67 1 Chatham 65 4 Lanesborough 64 2 Lowell 64 69 Dennis Port 63 2 Dorchester 59 55 Fitchburg 59 24 Yarmouth Port 59 3 Worcester 58 106 Shutesbury 56 1 West Yarmouth 56 3 Haverhill 55 34 Sagamore Beach 55 2 Wales 54 1 Westfield 53 22 Norwood 52 15 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Athol 51 6 Brockton 51 48 Clinton 51 7 Greenfield 51 9 North Adams 51 7 Pittsfield 51 23 Easthampton 49 8 Edgartown 49 2 Hyannis 49 7 Mashpee 49 7 Randolph 49 16 South Easton 48 5 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Chicopee 47 26 Lynn 47 43 Leominster 46 19 Huntington 45 1 Oak Bluffs 44 2 Whitinsville 43 3 Bridgewater 41 11 Danvers 41 11 Salem 41 17 Jamaica Plain 40 15 Peabody 40 21 Winthrop 40 7 Framingham 39 27 Malden 38 23 Manchester 38 2 Winchendon 38 4 Abington 37 6 Canton 37 8 East Boston 37 15 Holbrook 37 4 North Falmouth 37 1 Braintree 36 13 Hanover 36 5 Quincy 36 34 Adams 35 3 Foxborough 35 6 North Andover 35 10 Plympton 35 1 Southbridge 35 6 Chelsea 34 12 Southampton 34 2 Three Rivers 34 1 Blackstone 33 3 Lee 33 2 Marlborough 33 13 Roxbury 33 20 Waltham 32 20 Medway 31 4 Bedford 30 4 Cheshire 30 1 Revere 30 16 Sheffield 30 1 Ware 30 3 Brookfield 29 1 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Maynard 29 3 Dighton 28 2 East Sandwich 28 1 Jefferson 28 1 Milford 28 8 Allston 27 8 Beverly 27 11 Brimfield 27 1 Dorchester Center 27 25 Roslindale 27 8 South Dennis 27 1 Sunderland 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Westminster 27 2 Westwood 27 4 Newton Centre 26 1 Pepperell 26 3 Newton Center 25 1 Spencer 25 3 Stoughton 25 7 Ashland 24 4 Mattapan 24 9 Salisbury 24 2 Turners Falls 24 1 Douglas 23 2 North Easton 23 3 Webster 23 4 Avon 22 1 Forestdale 22 1 Hubbardston 22 1 Shrewsbury 22 8 Uxbridge 22 3 Andover 21 7 Mansfield 21 5 Methuen 21 10 Middleborough 21 5 Norton 21 4 West Springfield 21 6 Bourne 20 4 Brighton 20 9 Marstons Mills 20 1 Tewksbury 20 6 Cambridge 19 20 Gardner 19 4 Lunenburg 19 2 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Rochester 19 1 Somerville 19 15 Taunton 19 11 Warren 19 1 West Roxbury 19 6 Franklin 18 6 Hingham 18 4 Lakeville 18 2 North Billerica 18 2 Stoneham 18 4 Westford 18 4 Dudley 17 2 Feeding Hills 17 2 Groton 17 2 Mendon 17 1 Northampton 17 5 Rowley 17 1 Belmont 16 4 Everett 16 7 Granby 16 1 Medford 16 9 Scituate 16 3 Sudbury 16 3 Topsfield 16 1 Weymouth 16 9 Merrimac 15 1 Watertown 15 5 Centerville 14 2 Dalton 14 1 East Weymouth 14 8 Great Barrington 14 1 Holliston 14 2 Ludlow 14 3 Rockport 14 1 Swampscott 14 2 Attleborough 13 6 Belchertown 13 2 Cohasset 13 1 Wareham 13 3 Woburn 13 5 Lancaster 12 1 Natick 12 4 North Grafton 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 Plainville 12 1 Plymouth 12 7 Reading 12 3 Wakefield 12 3 Westport 12 2 Williamstown 12 1 Charlestown 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Saugus 11 3 Sharon 11 2 South Hadley 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Townsend 11 1 Auburndale 10 1 Brewster 10 1 Dracut 10 3 Gloucester 10 3 North Attleborough 10 3 North Chelmsford 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Sandwich 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Chelmsford 8 3 Dartmouth 8 3 Medfield 8 1 Palmer 8 1 South Yarmouth 8 1 Wilmington 8 2 Amherst 7 3 Boston 7 48 Charlton 7 1 E. Boston 7 3 Marshfield 7 2 Millbury 7 1 Milton 7 2 Oxford 7 1 Raynham 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Wellesley 7 2 Wilbraham 7 1 Brookline 6 4 Duxbury 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Needham 6 2 Concord 5 1 Hudson 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Rockland 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Westborough 5 1 Acton 4 1 Arlington 4 2 Burlington 4 1 Dedham 4 1 East Wareham 4 1 Easton 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Walpole 4 1 Agawam 3 1 East Walpole 3 1 Lexington 3 1 Melrose 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Roxbury Crossing 3 2 Wellesley Hills 3 1 South Boston 2 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 1 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 South Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 22 span 0 3 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 301 214 Berkshire 285 46 Barnstable 269 52 Plymouth 250 108 Bristol 229 189 Worcester 217 242 Essex 214 236 Suffolk 192 380 Norfolk 186 159 Hampshire 146 27 Middlesex 124 291 Dukes 121 5 Franklin 113 12 Nantucket 56 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 1665 83.8% Ongoing/Error 323 16.2% 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 865 52.0% Mediated 402 24.1% Defaulted 215 12.9% Heard 146 8.8% Other 37 2.2% Total 1665 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 90 36 107 20 11 Foreclosure 5 4 1 2 0 No Fault 70 22 75 30 3 Non-payment 700 153 219 94 23 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.4% 2.2% 6.4% 1.2% 0.7% Foreclosure 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 4.2% 1.3% 4.5% 1.8% 0.2% Non-payment 42.0% 9.2% 13.2% 5.6% 1.4% 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 461 27.7% 23.2% Judgment inferred 130 7.8% 6.5% No judgment 1074 64.5% 54.0% Total 1665 100.0% 29.7% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 94 5.6% 0 33,215 3,777 5,964 355,062 Foreclosure 4 0.2% 183 341 248 57 995 No fault 59 3.5% 0 34,517 3,189 5,781 188,158 Non-payment 304 18.3% 0 143,521 8,587 11,332 2,610,546 Subtotal 461 27.7% 0 143,521 6,843 10,110 3,154,762 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 13 0.8% 190 23,264 5,971 6,167 77,624 Defaulted 212 12.7% 180 143,521 8,345 12,915 1,769,198 Mediated 148 8.9% 0 33,227 4,830 5,985 714,857 Heard 52 3.1% 0 38,577 7,135 8,631 371,025 Other 36 2.2% 0 22,430 6,168 5,224 222,057 Subtotal 461 27.7% 0 143,521 6,843 10,110 3,154,762 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 524 88.7% 31.5% 26.4% unknown 67 11.3% 4.0% 3.4% Total 591 100.0% 35.5% 29.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 461 Range: 0.000 - 143521.450; Mean: 6843.304; Median: 3858.920; Stddev: 10121.922 Percentiles: 90th: 16657.210; 95th: 22430.660; 99th: 37852.620 0.000 - 286.294: 76 ######################################### 286.294 - 572.021: 16 ######### 572.021 - 1141.916: 28 ############### 1141.916 - 2278.596: 46 ######################### 2278.596 - 4545.754: 72 ####################################### 4545.754 - 9067.702: 98 ##################################################### 9067.702 - 18086.928: 78 ########################################## 18086.928 - 36076.173: 32 ################# 36076.173 - 71956.517: 6 ### 71956.517 - 143521.450: 1 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 94 Range: 0.000 - 33215.240; Mean: 3777.260; Median: 930.980; Stddev: 5996.759 Percentiles: 90th: 13307.990; 95th: 17205.710; 99th: 33215.240 0.000 - 300.409: 38 ##################################################### 300.409 - 507.238: 1 # 507.238 - 855.993: 4 ###### 855.993 - 1444.066: 7 ########## 1444.066 - 2435.679: 8 ########### 2435.679 - 4107.740: 6 ######## 4107.740 - 6927.180: 7 ########## 6927.180 - 11681.333: 8 ########### 11681.333 - 19697.812: 9 ############# 19697.812 - 33215.240: 2 ### Foreclosure: Count: 4 Range: 183.520 - 341.300; Mean: 248.855; Median: 235.300; Stddev: 66.613 Percentiles: 90th: 341.300; 95th: 341.300; 99th: 341.300 183.520 - 195.282: 1 ##################################################### 195.282 - 235.259: 1 ##################################################### 235.259 - 250.319: 1 ##################################################### 250.319 - 341.300: 1 ##################################################### No Fault: Count: 59 Range: 0.000 - 34517.230; Mean: 3189.121; Median: 250.230; Stddev: 5831.336 Percentiles: 90th: 9506.820; 95th: 15968.920; 99th: 34517.230 0.000 - 248.138: 26 ##################################################### 248.138 - 429.920: 5 ########## 429.920 - 744.337: 2 #### 744.337 - 1288.167: 2 #### 1288.167 - 3855.758: 4 ######## 3855.758 - 6669.815: 6 ############ 6669.815 - 11537.130: 7 ############## 11537.130 - 19955.849: 3 ###### 19955.849 - 34517.230: 1 ## Non-payment: Count: 304 Range: 0.000 - 143521.450; Mean: 8587.326; Median: 5487.135; Stddev: 11351.244 Percentiles: 90th: 18956.750; 95th: 24566.810; 99th: 38577.870 0.000 - 376.140: 8 ###### 376.140 - 728.820: 11 ######## 728.820 - 1411.305: 23 ################ 1411.305 - 2732.013: 36 ########################## 2732.013 - 5287.770: 67 ################################################ 5287.770 - 10233.526: 74 ##################################################### 10233.526 - 19804.269: 57 ######################################### 19804.269 - 38325.025: 23 ################ 38325.025 - 74165.334: 3 ## 74165.334 - 143521.450: 1 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 13 Range: 190.000 - 23264.510; Mean: 5971.098; Median: 5779.000; Stddev: 6419.329 Percentiles: 90th: 10112.900; 95th: 23264.510; 99th: 23264.510 190.000 - 307.746: 2 ################################### 307.746 - 498.079: 2 ################################### 498.079 - 2107.011: 1 ################## 2107.011 - 5507.189: 1 ################## 5507.189 - 8902.827: 3 ##################################################### 8902.827 - 14391.779: 3 ##################################################### 14391.779 - 23264.510: 1 ################## Defaulted: Count: 212 Range: 180.350 - 143521.450; Mean: 8345.274; Median: 4725.225; Stddev: 12946.532 Percentiles: 90th: 19786.390; 95th: 28359.700; 99th: 42046.210 180.350 - 352.474: 35 ############################################## 352.474 - 687.966: 5 ####### 687.966 - 1341.883: 14 ################### 1341.883 - 2616.450: 25 ################################# 2616.450 - 5100.744: 31 ######################################### 5100.744 - 9942.950: 40 ##################################################### 9942.950 - 19381.025: 40 ##################################################### 19381.025 - 37777.037: 18 ######################## 37777.037 - 73633.207: 3 #### 73633.207 - 143521.450: 1 # Mediated: Count: 148 Range: 0.000 - 33227.480; Mean: 4830.122; Median: 2804.240; Stddev: 6005.939 Percentiles: 90th: 14000.000; 95th: 17851.630; 99th: 27411.970 0.000 - 300.420: 22 ################################################### 300.420 - 507.275: 7 ################ 507.275 - 856.088: 8 ################## 856.088 - 1444.279: 11 ######################### 1444.279 - 2436.128: 18 ######################################### 2436.128 - 4108.649: 19 ############################################ 4108.649 - 6928.967: 23 ##################################################### 6928.967 - 11684.777: 16 ##################################### 11684.777 - 19704.345: 14 ################################ 19704.345 - 33227.480: 4 ######### Heard: Count: 52 Range: 0.000 - 38577.870; Mean: 7135.106; Median: 4260.355; Stddev: 8715.466 Percentiles: 90th: 17291.400; 95th: 26052.810; 99th: 38577.870 0.000 - 250.924: 11 ##################################################### 250.924 - 439.612: 1 ##### 439.612 - 1346.813: 3 ############## 1346.813 - 2356.308: 2 ########## 2356.308 - 4121.901: 8 ####################################### 4121.901 - 7209.902: 9 ########################################### 7209.902 - 12610.775: 6 ############################# 12610.775 - 22056.834: 7 ################################## 22056.834 - 38577.870: 4 ################### Other Outcome: Count: 36 Range: 0.000 - 22430.660; Mean: 6168.254; Median: 5996.430; Stddev: 5298.333 Percentiles: 90th: 13544.670; 95th: 15244.520; 99th: 22430.660 0.000 - 311.068: 6 ######################################## 311.068 - 1296.537: 1 ####### 1296.537 - 2085.459: 1 ####### 2085.459 - 3354.059: 6 ######################################## 3354.059 - 5393.988: 2 ############# 5393.988 - 8674.226: 8 ##################################################### 8674.226 - 13948.901: 8 ##################################################### 13948.901 - 22430.660: 3 #################### 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 454 76.8% 27.3% 22.8% Issued 350 59.2% 21.0% 17.6% Levied 91 15.4% 5.5% 4.6% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 14 15.4% 2.4% 0.8% 0.7% Foreclosure 1 1.1% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% No Fault 15 16.5% 2.5% 0.9% 0.8% Non-payment 61 67.0% 10.3% 3.7% 3.1% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 91 100.0% 15.4% 5.5% 4.6% Read as X% of cases filed are levied for nonpayment, for example. Levied by outcome: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Dismissed 5 5.5% 0.8% 0.3% 0.3% Defaulted 47 51.6% 8.0% 2.8% 2.4% Mediated 27 29.7% 4.6% 1.6% 1.4% Heard 9 9.9% 1.5% 0.5% 0.5% Other 3 3.3% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% All Outcomes 91 100.0% 15.4% 5.5% 4.6% Read as X% of cases filed are levied following default, for example. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case is about X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Foreclosure 1 14 7.1% No Fault 15 224 6.7% Non-payment 61 1386 4.4% Cause 14 364 3.8% 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 47 215 21.9% Other 3 37 8.1% Mediated 27 402 6.7% Heard 9 146 6.2% Dismissed 5 865 0.6% 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 0 533 115 88 Non-payment 0 554 112 83 No Fault 2 518 114 83 Foreclosure 39 499 173 120 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 554 113 84 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 554 106 87 Defaulted 0 472 136 55 Mediated 4 522 109 85 Heard 1 499 124 85 Other 31 520 160 120 All Outcomes 0 554 113 84 All Cases: Count: 1665 Range: 0.000 - 554.000; Mean: 113.894; Median: 91.000; Stddev: 84.985 Percentiles: 90th: 217.000; 95th: 288.000; 99th: 443.000 0.000 - 2.510: 7 # 2.510 - 5.161: 11 # 5.161 - 9.815: 23 ## 9.815 - 17.982: 47 ##### 17.982 - 32.317: 80 ######## 32.317 - 57.477: 213 ##################### 57.477 - 101.639: 546 ##################################################### 101.639 - 179.153: 488 ############################################### 179.153 - 315.204: 181 ################## 315.204 - 554.000: 67 ####### By Reason Cause: Count: 264 Range: 0.000 - 533.000; Mean: 115.530; Median: 86.500; Stddev: 88.794 Percentiles: 90th: 204.000; 95th: 276.000; 99th: 489.000 0.000 - 4.037: 2 # 4.037 - 13.199: 3 ## 13.199 - 22.839: 6 #### 22.839 - 39.025: 9 ##### 39.025 - 66.201: 58 ################################### 66.201 - 111.828: 88 ##################################################### 111.828 - 188.434: 68 ######################################### 188.434 - 317.053: 18 ########### 317.053 - 533.000: 11 ####### Non-payment: Count: 1189 Range: 0.000 - 554.000; Mean: 112.866; Median: 93.000; Stddev: 83.819 Percentiles: 90th: 223.000; 95th: 285.000; 99th: 409.000 0.000 - 2.510: 5 # 2.510 - 5.161: 9 # 5.161 - 9.815: 20 ### 9.815 - 17.982: 40 ###### 17.982 - 32.317: 71 ########### 32.317 - 57.477: 154 ####################### 57.477 - 101.639: 353 ##################################################### 101.639 - 179.153: 353 ##################################################### 179.153 - 315.204: 137 ##################### 315.204 - 554.000: 46 ####### No Fault: Count: 200 Range: 2.000 - 518.000; Mean: 114.245; Median: 87.500; Stddev: 83.685 Percentiles: 90th: 196.000; 95th: 246.000; 99th: 443.000 2.000 - 4.023: 2 # 4.023 - 7.409: 1 # 7.409 - 13.078: 1 # 13.078 - 22.569: 3 ## 22.569 - 38.459: 3 ## 38.459 - 65.062: 42 ############################ 65.062 - 109.600: 80 ##################################################### 109.600 - 184.165: 41 ########################### 184.165 - 309.001: 18 ############ 309.001 - 518.000: 9 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 12 Range: 39.000 - 499.000; Mean: 173.833; Median: 150.000; Stddev: 120.416 Percentiles: 90th: 302.000; 95th: 499.000; 99th: 499.000 39.000 - 50.493: 1 ############# 50.493 - 108.856: 1 ############# 108.856 - 140.421: 3 ######################################## 140.421 - 181.056: 4 ##################################################### 181.056 - 233.367: 1 ############# 233.367 - 387.400: 1 ############# 387.400 - 499.000: 1 ############# By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 865 Range: 0.000 - 554.000; Mean: 106.303; Median: 78.000; Stddev: 87.232 Percentiles: 90th: 219.000; 95th: 296.000; 99th: 423.000 0.000 - 2.510: 5 # 2.510 - 5.161: 6 # 5.161 - 9.815: 20 ##### 9.815 - 17.982: 30 ####### 17.982 - 32.317: 61 ############## 32.317 - 57.477: 165 ###################################### 57.477 - 101.639: 230 ##################################################### 101.639 - 179.153: 223 ################################################### 179.153 - 315.204: 88 #################### 315.204 - 554.000: 36 ######## Defaulted: Count: 215 Range: 0.000 - 472.000; Mean: 136.916; Median: 130.000; Stddev: 55.608 Percentiles: 90th: 195.000; 95th: 237.000; 99th: 335.000 0.000 - 88.083: 43 ################################################ 88.083 - 106.240: 33 ##################################### 106.240 - 128.098: 25 ############################ 128.098 - 154.412: 47 ##################################################### 154.412 - 186.088: 35 ####################################### 186.088 - 224.221: 19 ##################### 224.221 - 270.127: 6 ####### 270.127 - 325.389: 3 ### 325.389 - 391.915: 2 ## 391.915 - 472.000: 1 # Mediated: Count: 402 Range: 4.000 - 522.000; Mean: 109.851; Median: 76.500; Stddev: 85.381 Percentiles: 90th: 201.000; 95th: 276.000; 99th: 444.000 4.000 - 6.960: 1 | 6.960 - 11.673: 3 # 11.673 - 19.176: 16 ##### 19.176 - 31.121: 5 # 31.121 - 50.137: 8 ## 50.137 - 80.412: 184 ##################################################### 80.412 - 128.611: 78 ###################### 128.611 - 205.346: 68 #################### 205.346 - 327.510: 22 ###### 327.510 - 522.000: 17 ##### Heard: Count: 146 Range: 1.000 - 499.000; Mean: 124.281; Median: 101.000; Stddev: 85.914 Percentiles: 90th: 249.000; 95th: 293.000; 99th: 361.000 1.000 - 2.474: 2 ## 2.474 - 5.034: 4 #### 5.034 - 9.481: 1 # 9.481 - 17.206: 6 ###### 17.206 - 30.623: 3 ### 30.623 - 53.928: 5 ##### 53.928 - 94.409: 49 ##################################################### 94.409 - 164.723: 40 ########################################### 164.723 - 286.856: 27 ############################# 286.856 - 499.000: 9 ########## Other Outcome: Count: 37 Range: 31.000 - 520.000; Mean: 160.514; Median: 119.000; Stddev: 120.397 Percentiles: 90th: 375.000; 95th: 473.000; 99th: 520.000 31.000 - 41.298: 3 ################ 41.298 - 72.902: 3 ################ 72.902 - 96.684: 6 ################################ 96.684 - 128.120: 10 ##################################################### 128.120 - 169.672: 4 ##################### 169.672 - 224.596: 4 ##################### 224.596 - 297.195: 2 ########### 297.195 - 393.157: 3 ################ 393.157 - 520.000: 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/.