Outcomes for January 2022

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: 2022-01-01 Search Period End: 2022-01-31 Earliest Case: 2022-01-03 Latest Case: 2022-01-31 Total Cases: 2176 Total Transfers: 47 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 29.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 48.2% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Indian Orchard Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 72 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 374 17.2% western 365 16.8% central 348 16.0% southeast 266 12.2% eastern 255 11.7% metro_south 231 10.6% pittsfield district 31 1.4% malden district 29 1.3% quincy district 28 1.3% brockton district 23 1.1% attleboro district 17 0.8% fallmouth district 14 0.6% waltham district 14 0.6% barnstable district 13 0.6% bmc west roxbury 10 0.5% lowell district 10 0.5% somerville district 10 0.5% woburn district 10 0.5% haverhill district 9 0.4% springfield district 9 0.4% fall river district 8 0.4% newburyport district 8 0.4% bmc east boston 7 0.3% cambridge district 7 0.3% lynn district 7 0.3% northern berkshire district 7 0.3% plymouth district 6 0.3% chelsea district 5 0.2% bmc central 4 0.2% milford district 4 0.2% orleans district 4 0.2% salem district 4 0.2% westfield district 4 0.2% framingham district 3 0.1% new bedford district 3 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% wrentham district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% bmc brighton 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% dedham district 1 0.0% gloucester district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% lawrence district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1531 4 Natural Person 645 2172 Total 2176 2176 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 70.4% 0.2% Natural Person 29.6% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1515 16 1531 Optional 334 311 645 Total 1849 327 2176 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 69.6% 0.7% 70.4% Optional 15.3% 14.3% 29.6% Total 85.0% 15.0% 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 3 1 4 Optional 160 2012 2172 Total 163 2013 2176 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.0% 0.2% Optional 7.4% 92.5% 99.8% Total 7.5% 92.5% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 87 4.0% 1 1471 67.6% 2 500 23.0% 3 83 3.8% 4 21 1.0% 5 7 0.3% 6 3 0.1% 7 3 0.1% 8 1 0.0% Total 2176 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 1370 63.0% Cause 413 19.0% No Fault 350 16.1% Foreclosure 41 1.9% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 210 2 Indian Orchard 138 14 Fiskdale 129 4 Warwick 128 1 Randolph 127 41 Ayer 121 9 Pittsfield 116 52 Springfield 116 179 Sagamore 108 4 East Falmouth 103 6 South Chatham 97 1 Turners Falls 97 4 Hyannis 92 13 West Warren 88 1 Southbridge 83 14 Fall River 77 69 Holyoke 77 31 Fitchburg 76 31 New Bedford 76 73 Pelham 75 1 West Yarmouth 75 4 North Falmouth 74 2 Quincy 71 66 Athol 69 8 Lawrence 69 53 Norwood 69 20 Pocasset 69 2 Three Rivers 68 2 Brockton 67 63 Everett 67 28 Stoughton 66 18 Dennis Port 63 2 Rockland 62 11 Woburn 62 24 Amesbury 61 10 Chicopee 61 34 Leominster 61 25 South Lancaster 61 1 Worcester 60 110 Colrain 59 1 Feeding Hills 59 7 Marlborough 59 23 Clinton 58 8 Whitinsville 57 4 Northborough 56 8 Lowell 55 59 Ashland 54 9 Bondsville 53 1 Baldwinville 52 1 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Stockbridge 51 1 Hopedale 50 3 Ware 50 5 Haverhill 49 30 Plainville 48 4 South Easton 48 5 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Bernardston 46 1 Greenfield 45 8 Jamaica Plain 45 17 Dalton 44 3 Dorchester 44 41 Gardner 44 9 South Grafton 44 2 Carver 43 5 Framingham 43 30 Lynn 43 39 Marshfield 43 11 North Adams 43 6 Salem 43 18 South Yarmouth 43 5 Attleborough 41 18 Methuen 40 19 Peabody 40 21 Wakefield 40 10 Sharon 39 7 Newtonville 38 2 Roslindale 38 11 Saugus 37 10 Waltham 37 23 Braintree 36 13 Revere 36 19 Wellfleet 36 1 Adams 35 3 Byfield 35 1 Foxborough 35 6 Mashpee 35 5 Mattapan 35 13 Allston 34 10 Chelsea 34 12 Whitman 34 5 Blackstone 33 3 Lee 33 2 Mattapoisett 33 2 Sudbury 33 6 East Wareham 32 7 North Chelmsford 32 3 Northfield 32 1 Westborough 32 6 East Taunton 31 2 Beverly 30 12 Cheshire 30 1 Malden 30 18 Middleborough 30 7 Taunton 30 17 Buzzards Bay 29 1 East Boston 29 12 Hyde Park 29 10 Seekonk 29 4 Webster 29 5 Franklin 28 9 Medford 28 16 Milford 28 8 Roxbury 28 17 West Bridgewater 28 2 West Springfield 28 8 Winthrop 28 5 Leicester 27 3 North Attleborough 27 8 Sunderland 27 1 Westminster 27 2 Cohasset 26 2 Westfield 26 11 North Grafton 25 2 Rutland 25 2 Burlington 24 6 Avon 22 1 Boylston 22 1 Forestdale 22 1 Plymouth 21 12 Somerville 21 16 Bolton 20 1 Boxborough 20 1 East Freetown 20 1 Marstons Mills 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Hull 19 2 Lenox 19 1 Maynard 19 2 Abington 18 3 Auburn 18 3 Hingham 18 4 Lakeville 18 2 Onset 18 4 South Barre 18 1 Wrentham 18 2 Billerica 17 7 Chelmsford 17 6 Gloucester 17 5 Mendon 17 1 Ashburnham 16 1 North Dartmouth 16 4 Palmer 16 2 West Roxbury 16 5 Bedford 15 2 Berkley 15 1 Danvers 15 4 Dorchester Center 15 14 Groveland 15 1 Merrimac 15 1 Norton 15 3 East Bridgewater 14 2 Melrose 14 4 Rockport 14 1 Acton 13 3 Amherst 13 5 Cambridge 13 14 Shirley 13 1 Tewksbury 13 4 Wilmington 13 3 East Longmeadow 12 2 Easthampton 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Lexington 12 4 Natick 12 4 Northbridge 12 2 Orange 12 1 Salisbury 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Watertown 12 4 Westport 12 2 Williamstown 12 1 Littleton 11 1 Middleton 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Shrewsbury 11 4 Agawam 10 3 Bourne 10 2 Hudson 10 2 Southborough 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Andover 9 3 Brighton 9 4 Canton 9 2 Ludlow 9 2 Lunenburg 9 1 Nantucket 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Wareham 9 2 Winchendon 9 1 Dudley 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Reading 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 Spencer 8 1 Walpole 8 2 West Harwich 8 1 Boston 7 48 Bridgewater 7 2 Centerville 7 1 Hanover 7 1 Kingston 7 1 North Andover 7 2 Oxford 7 1 Swampscott 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Bellingham 6 1 Brookline 6 4 Dracut 6 2 Hopkinton 6 1 Needham 6 2 North Reading 6 1 Concord 5 1 Dartmouth 5 2 Grafton 5 1 Roxbury Crossing 5 3 Somerset 5 1 Weymouth 5 3 Arlington 4 2 Dedham 4 1 E. Boston 4 2 Stoneham 4 1 Westford 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Milton 3 1 Newton Highlands 3 3 Northampton 3 1 South Weymouth 3 2 South Boston 2 1 East Weymouth 1 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 24 span 0 2 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 Berkshire 433 70 Hampden 419 298 Plymouth 342 148 Barnstable 269 52 Bristol 256 211 Worcester 254 283 Norfolk 248 212 Essex 214 236 Franklin 170 18 Middlesex 154 360 Suffolk 123 244 Hampshire 86 16 Nantucket 28 1 Dukes 24 1 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 1845 84.8% Ongoing/Error 331 15.2% 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 751 40.7% Mediated 540 29.3% Defaulted 447 24.2% Heard 107 5.8% Other 0 0.0% Total 1845 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 97 70 119 22 0 Foreclosure 7 17 8 3 0 No Fault 74 73 172 15 0 Non-payment 573 287 241 67 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.3% 3.8% 6.4% 1.2% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.4% 0.9% 0.4% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 4.0% 4.0% 9.3% 0.8% 0.0% Non-payment 31.1% 15.6% 13.1% 3.6% 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 480 26.0% 22.1% Judgment inferred 125 6.8% 5.7% No judgment 1240 67.2% 57.0% Total 1845 100.0% 27.8% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 92 5.0% 0 24,589 2,428 4,634 223,451 Foreclosure 17 0.9% 0 454 233 79 3,965 No fault 101 5.5% 0 45,303 4,019 7,083 406,002 Non-payment 270 14.6% 0 78,323 7,662 8,581 2,068,753 Subtotal 480 26.0% 0 78,323 5,629 7,871 2,702,172 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 47 2.5% 218 24,589 4,582 4,536 215,379 Defaulted 216 11.7% 0 78,323 6,139 9,291 1,326,112 Mediated 194 10.5% 0 42,756 5,585 6,962 1,083,660 Heard 23 1.2% 0 14,916 3,348 4,632 77,018 Subtotal 480 26.0% 0 78,323 5,629 7,871 2,702,172 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 2 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 538 88.9% 29.2% 24.7% unknown 65 10.7% 3.5% 3.0% Total 605 100.0% 32.8% 27.8% Judgments All Cases: Count: 480 Range: 0.000 - 78323.430; Mean: 5629.526; Median: 3317.765; Stddev: 7879.745 Percentiles: 90th: 13700.560; 95th: 20537.890; 99th: 35633.390 0.000 - 164.328: 8 #### 164.328 - 326.815: 96 ##################################################### 326.815 - 648.999: 9 ##### 648.999 - 1287.831: 24 ############# 1287.831 - 2554.522: 58 ################################ 2554.522 - 5066.142: 86 ############################################### 5066.142 - 10046.237: 89 ################################################# 10046.237 - 19920.873: 58 ################################ 19920.873 - 39500.511: 22 ############ 39500.511 - 78323.430: 4 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 92 Range: 0.000 - 24589.380; Mean: 2428.818; Median: 239.360; Stddev: 4659.627 Percentiles: 90th: 7421.170; 95th: 16212.170; 99th: 24589.380 0.000 - 165.764: 5 ######## 165.764 - 289.445: 35 ##################################################### 289.445 - 504.856: 3 ##### 504.856 - 880.027: 2 ### 880.027 - 1533.447: 6 ######### 1533.447 - 2671.481: 2 ### 2671.481 - 4653.546: 6 ######### 4653.546 - 8105.622: 9 ############## 8105.622 - 14117.956: 3 ##### 14117.956 - 24589.380: 5 ######## Foreclosure: Count: 17 Range: 0.000 - 454.560; Mean: 233.235; Median: 232.530; Stddev: 81.468 Percentiles: 90th: 272.610; 95th: 454.560; 99th: 454.560 0.000 - 222.016: 1 ##### 222.016 - 240.436: 10 ##################################################### 240.436 - 260.379: 3 ################ 260.379 - 281.969: 1 ##### 281.969 - 454.560: 1 ##### No Fault: Count: 101 Range: 0.000 - 45303.030; Mean: 4019.823; Median: 1610.000; Stddev: 7118.348 Percentiles: 90th: 10118.410; 95th: 13442.640; 99th: 42756.780 0.000 - 250.137: 36 ##################################################### 250.137 - 446.304: 4 ###### 446.304 - 795.699: 1 # 795.699 - 1418.012: 3 #### 1418.012 - 2526.423: 12 ################## 2526.423 - 4500.629: 12 ################## 4500.629 - 8016.916: 16 ######################## 8016.916 - 14279.825: 8 ############ 14279.825 - 25434.780: 3 #### 25434.780 - 45303.030: 2 ### Non-payment: Count: 270 Range: 0.000 - 78323.430; Mean: 7662.051; Median: 4875.020; Stddev: 8597.493 Percentiles: 90th: 17453.200; 95th: 24639.940; 99th: 35633.390 0.000 - 164.328: 1 # 164.328 - 326.815: 8 ###### 326.815 - 648.999: 4 ### 648.999 - 1287.831: 16 ############# 1287.831 - 2554.522: 41 ################################# 2554.522 - 5066.142: 62 ################################################## 5066.142 - 10046.237: 66 ##################################################### 10046.237 - 19920.873: 45 #################################### 19920.873 - 39500.511: 20 ################ 39500.511 - 78323.430: 2 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 47 Range: 218.390 - 24589.380; Mean: 4582.548; Median: 2900.000; Stddev: 4585.753 Percentiles: 90th: 10287.380; 95th: 10798.700; 99th: 24589.380 218.390 - 350.699: 5 ###################### 350.699 - 902.819: 1 #### 902.819 - 1447.893: 2 ######### 1447.893 - 2321.689: 12 ##################################################### 2321.689 - 3722.453: 7 ############################### 3722.453 - 5967.988: 8 ################################### 5967.988 - 9567.758: 6 ########################### 9567.758 - 15338.472: 5 ###################### 15338.472 - 24589.380: 1 #### Defaulted: Count: 216 Range: 0.000 - 78323.430; Mean: 6139.412; Median: 3328.865; Stddev: 9313.351 Percentiles: 90th: 17039.820; 95th: 21667.130; 99th: 45303.030 0.000 - 264.269: 53 ##################################################### 264.269 - 498.062: 4 #### 498.062 - 937.907: 4 #### 937.907 - 1765.405: 15 ############### 1765.405 - 3322.213: 25 ######################### 3322.213 - 6251.101: 42 ########################################## 6251.101 - 11761.342: 36 #################################### 11761.342 - 22127.991: 20 #################### 22127.991 - 41631.207: 7 ####### 41631.207 - 78323.430: 3 ### Mediated: Count: 194 Range: 0.000 - 42756.780; Mean: 5585.880; Median: 3609.270; Stddev: 6980.344 Percentiles: 90th: 15156.600; 95th: 20601.000; 99th: 32829.200 0.000 - 154.617: 4 ##### 154.617 - 289.437: 35 ############################################ 289.437 - 541.061: 2 ### 541.061 - 1010.680: 7 ######### 1010.680 - 1887.159: 19 ######################## 1887.159 - 3522.983: 16 #################### 3522.983 - 6576.020: 42 ##################################################### 6576.020 - 12274.085: 30 ###################################### 12274.085 - 22908.722: 21 ########################### 22908.722 - 42756.780: 6 ######## Heard: Count: 23 Range: 0.000 - 14916.900; Mean: 3348.646; Median: 233.830; Stddev: 4736.277 Percentiles: 90th: 10592.070; 95th: 12964.620; 99th: 14916.900 0.000 - 337.202: 6 ##################################################### 337.202 - 514.113: 1 ######### 514.113 - 6429.671: 4 ################################### 6429.671 - 9793.494: 2 ################## 9793.494 - 14916.900: 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 530 87.6% 28.7% 24.4% Issued 414 68.4% 22.4% 19.0% Levied 103 17.0% 5.6% 4.7% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 24 23.3% 4.0% 1.3% 1.1% Foreclosure 7 6.8% 1.2% 0.4% 0.3% No Fault 20 19.4% 3.3% 1.1% 0.9% Non-payment 52 50.5% 8.6% 2.8% 2.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 103 100.0% 17.0% 5.6% 4.7% 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 7 6.8% 1.2% 0.4% 0.3% Defaulted 42 40.8% 6.9% 2.3% 1.9% Mediated 52 50.5% 8.6% 2.8% 2.4% Heard 2 1.9% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 103 100.0% 17.0% 5.6% 4.7% 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 7 41 17.1% Cause 24 413 5.8% No Fault 20 350 5.7% Non-payment 52 1370 3.8% 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 Mediated 52 540 9.6% Defaulted 42 447 9.4% Heard 2 107 1.9% Dismissed 7 751 0.9% 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 5 582 103 106 Non-payment 2 552 89 79 No Fault 9 560 103 96 Foreclosure 16 556 132 131 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 2 582 95 89 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 2 560 86 76 Defaulted 14 524 86 71 Mediated 15 582 109 108 Heard 4 552 124 119 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 2 582 95 89 All Cases: Count: 1845 Range: 2.000 - 582.000; Mean: 95.448; Median: 68.000; Stddev: 89.439 Percentiles: 90th: 183.000; 95th: 273.000; 99th: 493.000 2.000 - 4.081: 8 # 4.081 - 7.607: 13 # 7.607 - 13.578: 17 ## 13.578 - 23.691: 125 ############ 23.691 - 40.821: 237 ####################### 40.821 - 69.835: 541 ##################################################### 69.835 - 118.979: 490 ################################################ 118.979 - 202.217: 263 ########################## 202.217 - 343.202: 89 ######### 343.202 - 582.000: 62 ###### By Reason Cause: Count: 308 Range: 5.000 - 582.000; Mean: 103.630; Median: 65.000; Stddev: 106.796 Percentiles: 90th: 252.000; 95th: 318.000; 99th: 537.000 5.000 - 8.482: 5 ### 8.482 - 13.985: 1 # 13.985 - 22.681: 20 ############ 22.681 - 36.425: 35 #################### 36.425 - 58.144: 61 #################################### 58.144 - 92.468: 91 ##################################################### 92.468 - 146.711: 37 ###################### 146.711 - 232.435: 24 ############## 232.435 - 367.907: 21 ############ 367.907 - 582.000: 13 ######## Non-payment: Count: 1168 Range: 2.000 - 552.000; Mean: 89.883; Median: 67.000; Stddev: 79.671 Percentiles: 90th: 167.000; 95th: 232.000; 99th: 469.000 2.000 - 4.055: 8 # 4.055 - 7.516: 8 # 7.516 - 13.348: 15 ## 13.348 - 23.175: 87 ############## 23.175 - 39.731: 144 ####################### 39.731 - 67.625: 328 ##################################################### 67.625 - 114.623: 322 #################################################### 114.623 - 193.807: 178 ############################# 193.807 - 327.220: 46 ####### 327.220 - 552.000: 32 ##### No Fault: Count: 334 Range: 9.000 - 560.000; Mean: 103.515; Median: 70.000; Stddev: 96.957 Percentiles: 90th: 206.000; 95th: 297.000; 99th: 548.000 9.000 - 13.959: 1 | 13.959 - 21.377: 10 ##### 21.377 - 32.473: 40 #################### 32.473 - 49.071: 19 ######### 49.071 - 73.900: 107 ##################################################### 73.900 - 111.041: 75 ##################################### 111.041 - 166.600: 30 ############### 166.600 - 249.709: 26 ############# 249.709 - 374.030: 14 ####### 374.030 - 560.000: 12 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 35 Range: 16.000 - 556.000; Mean: 132.200; Median: 89.000; Stddev: 131.238 Percentiles: 90th: 357.000; 95th: 482.000; 99th: 556.000 16.000 - 23.098: 1 ######## 23.098 - 33.161: 7 ##################################################### 33.161 - 47.425: 2 ############### 47.425 - 67.645: 4 ############################## 67.645 - 96.309: 4 ############################## 96.309 - 136.941: 5 ###################################### 136.941 - 194.539: 7 ##################################################### 194.539 - 276.188: 1 ######## 276.188 - 391.929: 1 ######## 391.929 - 556.000: 3 ####################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 751 Range: 2.000 - 560.000; Mean: 86.764; Median: 68.000; Stddev: 76.372 Percentiles: 90th: 160.000; 95th: 225.000; 99th: 445.000 2.000 - 4.062: 7 ## 4.062 - 7.541: 12 ### 7.541 - 13.410: 15 #### 13.410 - 23.314: 54 ############## 23.314 - 40.024: 94 ######################## 40.024 - 68.219: 197 ################################################# 68.219 - 115.791: 212 ##################################################### 115.791 - 196.058: 115 ############################# 196.058 - 331.490: 29 ####### 331.490 - 560.000: 16 #### Defaulted: Count: 447 Range: 14.000 - 524.000; Mean: 86.228; Median: 67.000; Stddev: 71.171 Percentiles: 90th: 164.000; 95th: 232.000; 99th: 413.000 14.000 - 20.404: 12 ##### 20.404 - 29.543: 56 ######################## 29.543 - 42.582: 30 ############# 42.582 - 61.190: 83 ################################### 61.190 - 87.741: 124 ##################################################### 87.741 - 125.629: 71 ############################## 125.629 - 179.692: 34 ############### 179.692 - 256.837: 22 ######### 256.837 - 366.919: 9 #### 366.919 - 524.000: 6 ### Mediated: Count: 540 Range: 15.000 - 582.000; Mean: 109.398; Median: 69.000; Stddev: 108.306 Percentiles: 90th: 242.000; 95th: 378.000; 99th: 548.000 15.000 - 21.923: 25 ######### 21.923 - 31.842: 64 ######################## 31.842 - 46.053: 24 ######### 46.053 - 66.412: 141 ##################################################### 66.412 - 95.582: 105 ####################################### 95.582 - 137.372: 59 ###################### 137.372 - 197.246: 55 ##################### 197.246 - 283.026: 26 ########## 283.026 - 405.924: 17 ###### 405.924 - 582.000: 24 ######### Heard: Count: 107 Range: 4.000 - 552.000; Mean: 124.514; Median: 94.000; Stddev: 119.135 Percentiles: 90th: 294.000; 95th: 414.000; 99th: 534.000 4.000 - 7.005: 2 #### 7.005 - 11.815: 2 #### 11.815 - 19.516: 3 ##### 19.516 - 31.845: 8 ############## 31.845 - 51.583: 14 ######################### 51.583 - 83.183: 21 ##################################### 83.183 - 133.772: 30 ##################################################### 133.772 - 214.762: 12 ##################### 214.762 - 344.422: 6 ########### 344.422 - 552.000: 9 ################ -- 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/.