Outcomes for September 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: 2021-09-01 Search Period End: 2021-09-30 Earliest Case: 2021-09-01 Latest Case: 2021-09-30 Total Cases: 1869 Total Transfers: 54 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 36.9% Of those, percentage pro se: 43.3% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: West Hyannisport Least stable with 10+ filings: Greenfield Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Franklin Cases per day: 64 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 369 19.7% central 353 18.9% southeast 296 15.8% western 275 14.7% eastern 196 10.5% metro_south 160 8.6% quincy district 22 1.2% lynn district 17 0.9% fall river district 13 0.7% chelsea district 11 0.6% malden district 11 0.6% northern berkshire district 10 0.5% pittsfield district 9 0.5% attleboro district 8 0.4% bmc west roxbury 8 0.4% framingham district 7 0.4% lawrence district 7 0.4% barnstable district 6 0.3% bmc east boston 6 0.3% plymouth district 6 0.3% somerville district 6 0.3% waltham district 6 0.3% woburn district 6 0.3% cambridge district 5 0.3% haverhill district 5 0.3% ayer district 4 0.2% lowell district 4 0.2% new bedford district 4 0.2% orleans district 3 0.2% brockton district 2 0.1% dedham district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% milford district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% salem district 2 0.1% wareham district 2 0.1% wrentham district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 1 0.1% bmc central 1 0.1% concord district 1 0.1% eastern hampshire district 1 0.1% fallmouth district 1 0.1% gloucester district 1 0.1% greenfield district 1 0.1% newton district 1 0.1% orange district 1 0.1% palmer district 1 0.1% peabody district 1 0.1% southern berkshire district 1 0.1% taunton district 1 0.1% uxbridge district 1 0.1% westfield district 1 0.1% worcester district 1 0.1% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1179 2 Natural Person 690 1867 Total 1869 1869 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 63.1% 0.1% Natural Person 36.9% 99.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1169 10 1179 Optional 391 299 690 Total 1560 309 1869 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 62.5% 0.5% 63.1% Optional 20.9% 16.0% 36.9% Total 83.5% 16.5% 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 1 1 2 Optional 179 1688 1867 Total 180 1689 1869 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Optional 9.6% 90.3% 99.9% Total 9.6% 90.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 70 3.7% 1 1236 66.1% 2 445 23.8% 3 84 4.5% 4 23 1.2% 5 7 0.4% 6 2 0.1% 7 1 0.1% 8 1 0.1% Total 1869 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 1027 54.9% No Fault 431 23.1% Cause 394 21.1% Foreclosure 15 0.8% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count West Hyannisport 555 1 Greenfield 211 37 Fall River 112 100 Adams 106 9 Bondsville 106 2 Gardner 98 20 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Norwood 94 27 New Bedford 93 89 West Dennis 91 2 East Falmouth 86 5 Marion 81 4 Worcester 81 148 Williamsburg 80 2 Lunenburg 79 8 Springfield 75 116 West Yarmouth 75 4 Lowell 73 78 Lawrence 72 55 Southbridge 71 12 Athol 69 8 Three Rivers 68 2 Marlborough 67 26 Hardwick 66 2 Whately 66 1 North Brookfield 64 3 Lynn 63 57 Stoughton 63 17 East Taunton 62 4 Phillipston 59 1 Randolph 59 19 North Adams 58 8 South Easton 58 6 East Sandwich 57 2 Fitchburg 57 23 Whitinsville 57 4 Russell 56 1 Wales 54 1 Oakham 52 1 Stockbridge 51 1 North Truro 49 1 South Deerfield 48 1 Chicopee 47 26 Holyoke 47 19 West Townsend 47 1 Framingham 46 32 Quincy 46 43 Bedford 45 6 Malden 45 27 Oak Bluffs 44 2 South Grafton 44 2 Townsend 44 4 Marstons Mills 41 2 Shirley 41 3 Ayer 40 3 Ware 40 4 Chelsea 39 14 Dorchester 39 36 Newtonville 38 2 Orange 38 3 Millbury 37 5 Revere 36 19 Hyannis 35 5 Hyde Park 35 12 Monson 35 3 North Andover 35 10 Tyngsborough 35 4 Berlin 34 1 Feeding Hills 34 4 Haverhill 34 21 Mattapoisett 33 2 Dennis Port 31 1 Everett 31 13 Marshfield 31 8 Pittsfield 31 14 Braintree 30 11 Cotuit 30 1 Foxborough 29 5 Indian Orchard 29 3 Nahant 29 1 Nantucket 29 3 Uxbridge 29 4 Milford 28 8 Rockland 28 5 West Springfield 28 8 Methuen 27 13 Peabody 27 14 Roslindale 27 8 Bridgewater 26 7 Brockton 26 25 Pepperell 26 3 Salem 26 11 Taunton 26 15 Woburn 26 10 Newton Center 25 1 Andover 24 8 Georgetown 24 2 Leominster 24 10 Mattapan 24 9 Sherborn 24 1 Turners Falls 24 1 Plymouth 23 13 Waltham 23 14 Centerville 22 3 Forestdale 22 1 Wilmington 22 5 Jamaica Plain 21 8 Mansfield 21 5 Swampscott 21 3 Allston 20 6 Beverly 20 8 Eastham 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Southborough 20 2 Deerfield 19 1 Dorchester Center 19 18 Hadley 19 1 Lenox 19 1 Maynard 19 2 Warren 19 1 Westport 19 3 Winchendon 19 2 Attleborough 18 8 North Billerica 18 2 Somerville 18 14 Watertown 18 6 Wrentham 18 2 Carver 17 2 Gloucester 17 5 Middleborough 17 4 Northampton 17 5 Rowley 17 1 South Hadley 17 3 Spencer 17 2 Webster 17 3 Chatham 16 1 Shrewsbury 16 6 Charlton 15 2 Danvers 15 4 Hudson 15 3 Merrimac 15 1 North Easton 15 2 Billerica 14 6 Clinton 14 2 Dighton 14 1 East Boston 14 6 East Bridgewater 14 2 Seekonk 14 2 Amherst 13 5 Hingham 13 3 North Attleborough 13 4 Roxbury 13 8 Stoneham 13 3 Wareham 13 3 West Roxbury 13 4 Amesbury 12 2 Ashland 12 2 Belmont 12 3 Easthampton 12 2 Fairhaven 12 2 Falmouth 12 4 Franklin 12 4 Lancaster 12 1 Millis 12 1 North Grafton 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 Salisbury 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Williamstown 12 1 Blackstone 11 1 Charlestown 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Pembroke 11 2 Saugus 11 3 Sharon 11 2 South Boston 11 4 Brewster 10 1 Dracut 10 3 Fayville 10 1 North Chelmsford 10 1 Norton 10 2 Sturbridge 10 1 Westborough 10 2 Brighton 9 4 E. Boston 9 4 Hanson 9 1 Lakeville 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Ludlow 9 2 Westfield 9 4 Westford 9 2 Burlington 8 2 Dudley 8 1 Groton 8 1 Palmer 8 1 Reading 8 2 South Yarmouth 8 1 Wakefield 8 2 Walpole 8 2 Agawam 7 2 Cambridge 7 8 East Weymouth 7 4 Ipswich 7 1 Mashpee 7 1 Medway 7 1 Oxford 7 1 Raynham 7 1 Weymouth 7 4 Wilbraham 7 1 Abington 6 1 Auburn 6 1 Belchertown 6 1 Bellingham 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Lexington 6 2 Longmeadow 6 1 Swansea 6 1 Whitman 6 1 Boston 5 33 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Medford 5 3 Newburyport 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Winthrop 5 1 Acton 4 1 Arlington 4 2 Canton 4 1 East Wareham 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Melrose 3 1 Milton 3 1 Natick 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 South Weymouth 3 2 Tewksbury 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Chelmsford 2 1 Dartmouth 2 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 E. Weymouth 1 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 (not given) 0 15 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 Franklin 417 44 Bristol 302 249 Hampden 275 196 Worcester 266 297 Berkshire 210 34 Essex 203 224 Barnstable 196 38 Plymouth 196 85 Norfolk 179 153 Middlesex 132 310 Hampshire 124 23 Suffolk 99 196 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 1687 90.3% Ongoing/Error 182 9.7% 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 665 39.4% Mediated 544 32.2% Defaulted 422 25.0% Heard 56 3.3% Other 0 0.0% Total 1687 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 98 76 120 20 0 Foreclosure 1 4 8 2 0 No Fault 95 89 221 8 0 Non-payment 471 253 195 26 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.8% 4.5% 7.1% 1.2% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.2% 0.5% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 5.6% 5.3% 13.1% 0.5% 0.0% Non-payment 27.9% 15.0% 11.6% 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 668 39.6% 35.7% Judgment inferred 153 9.1% 8.2% No judgment 866 51.3% 46.3% Total 1687 100.0% 43.9% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 125 7.4% 0 37,158 2,128 5,142 266,041 Foreclosure 9 0.5% 0 29,363 4,228 9,038 38,057 No fault 168 10.0% 0 19,961 3,150 3,844 529,296 Non-payment 366 21.7% 0 61,592 6,263 6,225 2,292,403 Subtotal 668 39.6% 0 61,592 4,679 5,846 3,125,799 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 66 3.9% 0 28,674 5,257 5,388 346,963 Defaulted 373 22.1% 0 61,592 4,785 5,797 1,784,905 Mediated 204 12.1% 0 40,316 4,565 6,192 931,313 Heard 25 1.5% 0 17,490 2,504 4,042 62,616 Subtotal 668 39.6% 0 61,592 4,679 5,846 3,125,799 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 3 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 721 87.8% 42.7% 38.6% unknown 97 11.8% 5.7% 5.2% Total 821 100.0% 48.7% 43.9% Judgments All Cases: Count: 668 Range: 0.000 - 61592.970; Mean: 4679.340; Median: 3147.190; Stddev: 5850.889 Percentiles: 90th: 10708.050; 95th: 14544.610; 99th: 30428.030 0.000 - 259.029: 138 ##################################################### 259.029 - 476.371: 18 ####### 476.371 - 875.378: 15 ###### 875.378 - 1607.892: 46 ################## 1607.892 - 2952.671: 83 ################################ 2952.671 - 5421.472: 130 ################################################## 5421.472 - 9953.799: 138 ##################################################### 9953.799 - 18274.436: 59 ####################### 18274.436 - 33549.807: 16 ###### 33549.807 - 61592.970: 3 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 125 Range: 0.000 - 37158.450; Mean: 2128.336; Median: 226.540; Stddev: 5163.686 Percentiles: 90th: 5979.660; 95th: 9230.100; 99th: 28674.390 0.000 - 248.319: 65 ##################################################### 248.319 - 433.744: 13 ########### 433.744 - 757.077: 2 ## 757.077 - 1320.883: 3 ## 1320.883 - 2304.007: 9 ####### 2304.007 - 4018.312: 8 ####### 4018.312 - 7007.597: 9 ####### 7007.597 - 12220.105: 4 ### 12220.105 - 21309.315: 3 ## 21309.315 - 37158.450: 2 ## Foreclosure: Count: 9 Range: 0.000 - 29363.100; Mean: 4228.571; Median: 212.250; Stddev: 9586.574 Percentiles: 90th: 29363.100; 95th: 29363.100; 99th: 29363.100 0.000 - 342.009: 4 ##################################################### 342.009 - 4062.713: 1 ############# 4062.713 - 6661.641: 1 ############# 6661.641 - 29363.100: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 168 Range: 0.000 - 19961.920; Mean: 3150.577; Median: 1749.210; Stddev: 3855.724 Percentiles: 90th: 8236.880; 95th: 11154.350; 99th: 18068.260 0.000 - 233.844: 41 ##################################################### 233.844 - 383.736: 12 ################ 383.736 - 629.298: 1 # 629.298 - 1031.591: 10 ############# 1031.591 - 1690.651: 9 ############ 1690.651 - 2770.364: 20 ########################## 2770.364 - 4539.212: 23 ############################## 4539.212 - 7437.045: 20 ########################## 7437.045 - 12184.446: 15 ################### 12184.446 - 19961.920: 8 ########## Non-payment: Count: 366 Range: 0.000 - 61592.970; Mean: 6263.397; Median: 4684.240; Stddev: 6233.541 Percentiles: 90th: 12812.690; 95th: 17411.860; 99th: 31800.000 0.000 - 259.029: 16 ######## 259.029 - 476.371: 4 ## 476.371 - 875.378: 11 ###### 875.378 - 1607.892: 25 ############# 1607.892 - 2952.671: 47 ######################## 2952.671 - 5421.472: 95 ################################################ 5421.472 - 9953.799: 104 ##################################################### 9953.799 - 18274.436: 46 ####################### 18274.436 - 33549.807: 12 ###### 33549.807 - 61592.970: 2 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 66 Range: 0.000 - 28674.390; Mean: 5257.026; Median: 3543.255; Stddev: 5429.780 Percentiles: 90th: 11112.360; 95th: 18176.840; 99th: 28674.390 0.000 - 301.732: 9 ##################################### 301.732 - 831.281: 1 #### 831.281 - 1378.989: 3 ############ 1378.989 - 2287.133: 7 ############################# 2287.133 - 3792.909: 13 ##################################################### 3792.909 - 6289.606: 13 ##################################################### 6289.606 - 10429.331: 11 ############################################# 10429.331 - 17293.329: 4 ################ 17293.329 - 28674.390: 4 ################ Defaulted: Count: 373 Range: 0.000 - 61592.970; Mean: 4785.270; Median: 3229.340; Stddev: 5805.536 Percentiles: 90th: 10964.240; 95th: 14544.610; 99th: 24494.010 0.000 - 259.029: 75 ##################################################### 259.029 - 476.371: 10 ####### 476.371 - 875.378: 12 ######## 875.378 - 1607.892: 22 ################ 1607.892 - 2952.671: 56 ######################################## 2952.671 - 5421.472: 68 ################################################ 5421.472 - 9953.799: 75 ##################################################### 9953.799 - 18274.436: 40 ############################ 18274.436 - 33549.807: 8 ###### 33549.807 - 61592.970: 1 # Mediated: Count: 204 Range: 0.000 - 40316.130; Mean: 4565.260; Median: 3105.835; Stddev: 6207.995 Percentiles: 90th: 9795.900; 95th: 13291.680; 99th: 32277.460 0.000 - 270.870: 47 ##################################################### 270.870 - 472.803: 6 ####### 472.803 - 824.722: 2 ## 824.722 - 1438.033: 15 ################# 1438.033 - 2506.882: 16 ################## 2506.882 - 4369.626: 32 #################################### 4369.626 - 7615.932: 39 ############################################ 7615.932 - 13273.452: 27 ############################## 13273.452 - 23133.127: 6 ####### 23133.127 - 40316.130: 5 ###### Heard: Count: 25 Range: 0.000 - 17490.640; Mean: 2504.676; Median: 245.570; Stddev: 4125.387 Percentiles: 90th: 7514.120; 95th: 8458.910; 99th: 17490.640 0.000 - 284.119: 8 ##################################################### 284.119 - 710.731: 1 ####### 710.731 - 1775.666: 1 ####### 1775.666 - 2806.054: 2 ############# 2806.054 - 4434.021: 2 ############# 4434.021 - 7006.137: 2 ############# 7006.137 - 11069.967: 2 ############# 11069.967 - 17490.640: 1 ####### Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. 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 683 83.2% 40.5% 36.5% Issued 565 68.8% 33.5% 30.2% Levied 105 12.8% 6.2% 5.6% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 26 24.8% 3.2% 1.5% 1.4% Foreclosure 3 2.9% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% No Fault 25 23.8% 3.0% 1.5% 1.3% Non-payment 51 48.6% 6.2% 3.0% 2.7% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 105 100.0% 12.8% 6.2% 5.6% 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 13 12.4% 1.6% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 57 54.3% 6.9% 3.4% 3.0% Mediated 30 28.6% 3.7% 1.8% 1.6% Heard 5 4.8% 0.6% 0.3% 0.3% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 105 100.0% 12.8% 6.2% 5.6% 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 3 15 20.0% Cause 26 394 6.6% No Fault 25 431 5.8% Non-payment 51 1027 5.0% Unknown/Other 0 2 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across reasons. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case ends with X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Defaulted 57 422 13.5% Heard 5 56 8.9% Mediated 30 544 5.5% Dismissed 13 665 2.0% Other 0 0 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 3 630 105 100 Non-payment 0 560 85 73 No Fault 4 611 90 86 Foreclosure 20 526 165 137 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 630 90 83 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 544 91 79 Defaulted 16 557 79 72 Mediated 6 630 99 96 Heard 4 379 94 73 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 630 90 83 All Cases: Count: 1687 Range: 0.000 - 630.000; Mean: 90.875; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 83.764 Percentiles: 90th: 190.000; 95th: 246.000; 99th: 439.000 0.000 - 2.556: 5 # 2.556 - 5.322: 11 # 5.322 - 10.239: 27 ### 10.239 - 18.982: 90 ########## 18.982 - 34.525: 215 ######################## 34.525 - 62.158: 479 ##################################################### 62.158 - 111.287: 411 ############################################# 111.287 - 198.632: 297 ################################# 198.632 - 353.919: 116 ############# 353.919 - 630.000: 35 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 314 Range: 3.000 - 630.000; Mean: 105.032; Median: 67.000; Stddev: 100.736 Percentiles: 90th: 239.000; 95th: 318.000; 99th: 512.000 3.000 - 5.635: 2 ## 5.635 - 10.007: 3 ## 10.007 - 17.258: 7 ##### 17.258 - 29.286: 32 ######################## 29.286 - 49.239: 64 ################################################ 49.239 - 82.338: 70 ##################################################### 82.338 - 137.242: 60 ############################################# 137.242 - 228.317: 38 ############################# 228.317 - 379.393: 28 ##################### 379.393 - 630.000: 10 ######## Non-payment: Count: 945 Range: 0.000 - 560.000; Mean: 85.222; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 73.865 Percentiles: 90th: 179.000; 95th: 223.000; 99th: 379.000 0.000 - 2.514: 5 # 2.514 - 5.175: 8 ## 5.175 - 9.850: 14 ### 9.850 - 18.064: 59 ############# 18.064 - 32.496: 120 ########################### 32.496 - 57.856: 238 ##################################################### 57.856 - 102.415: 226 ################################################## 102.415 - 180.709: 181 ######################################## 180.709 - 318.278: 77 ################# 318.278 - 560.000: 16 #### No Fault: Count: 413 Range: 4.000 - 611.000; Mean: 90.344; Median: 65.000; Stddev: 86.216 Percentiles: 90th: 180.000; 95th: 263.000; 99th: 506.000 4.000 - 7.086: 3 # 7.086 - 12.078: 3 # 12.078 - 20.150: 34 ############ 20.150 - 33.204: 32 ########### 33.204 - 54.317: 66 ######################## 54.317 - 88.462: 148 ##################################################### 88.462 - 143.683: 63 ####################### 143.683 - 232.989: 36 ############# 232.989 - 377.419: 19 ####### 377.419 - 611.000: 9 ### Foreclosure: Count: 15 Range: 20.000 - 526.000; Mean: 165.267; Median: 169.000; Stddev: 137.356 Percentiles: 90th: 266.000; 95th: 526.000; 99th: 526.000 20.000 - 27.985: 3 ################################ 27.985 - 39.007: 1 ########### 39.007 - 75.218: 2 ##################### 75.218 - 144.202: 1 ########### 144.202 - 199.416: 2 ##################### 199.416 - 275.626: 5 ##################################################### 275.626 - 526.000: 1 ########### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 665 Range: 0.000 - 544.000; Mean: 91.197; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 79.004 Percentiles: 90th: 192.000; 95th: 242.000; 99th: 381.000 0.000 - 2.504: 5 ## 2.504 - 5.139: 10 ### 5.139 - 9.756: 20 ####### 9.756 - 17.844: 34 ############ 17.844 - 32.015: 73 ######################### 32.015 - 56.843: 153 ##################################################### 56.843 - 100.341: 146 ################################################### 100.341 - 176.551: 132 ############################################## 176.551 - 310.071: 78 ########################### 310.071 - 544.000: 13 ##### Defaulted: Count: 422 Range: 16.000 - 557.000; Mean: 79.391; Median: 60.500; Stddev: 72.200 Percentiles: 90th: 151.000; 95th: 193.000; 99th: 424.000 16.000 - 23.103: 58 ########################## 23.103 - 33.173: 38 ################# 33.173 - 47.451: 42 ################### 47.451 - 67.695: 120 ##################################################### 67.695 - 96.396: 59 ########################## 96.396 - 137.089: 51 ####################### 137.089 - 194.785: 33 ############### 194.785 - 276.586: 11 ##### 276.586 - 392.564: 4 ## 392.564 - 557.000: 6 ### Mediated: Count: 544 Range: 6.000 - 630.000; Mean: 99.024; Median: 64.000; Stddev: 96.945 Percentiles: 90th: 218.000; 95th: 293.000; 99th: 526.000 6.000 - 9.980: 1 | 9.980 - 16.222: 15 ##### 16.222 - 26.013: 53 ################## 26.013 - 41.371: 57 #################### 41.371 - 65.461: 152 ##################################################### 65.461 - 103.245: 112 ####################################### 103.245 - 162.512: 56 #################### 162.512 - 255.474: 62 ###################### 255.474 - 401.287: 23 ######## 401.287 - 630.000: 13 ##### Heard: Count: 56 Range: 4.000 - 379.000; Mean: 94.429; Median: 75.000; Stddev: 73.207 Percentiles: 90th: 203.000; 95th: 234.000; 99th: 379.000 4.000 - 6.710: 1 #### 6.710 - 17.332: 4 ################## 17.332 - 27.268: 2 ######### 27.268 - 42.589: 7 ############################### 42.589 - 66.214: 11 ################################################# 66.214 - 102.643: 11 ################################################# 102.643 - 158.816: 12 ##################################################### 158.816 - 245.435: 6 ########################### 245.435 - 379.000: 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. 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/.