Outcomes for February 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: 2022-02-01 Search Period End: 2022-02-28 Earliest Case: 2022-02-01 Latest Case: 2022-02-28 Total Cases: 1908 Total Transfers: 55 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 34.5% Of those, percentage pro se: 43.9% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Granville Least stable with 10+ filings: Hyannis Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Barnstable Cases per day: 70 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 central 339 17.8% northeast 335 17.6% southeast 304 15.9% western 271 14.2% eastern 208 10.9% metro_south 158 8.3% quincy district 25 1.3% pittsfield district 21 1.1% malden district 20 1.0% fall river district 17 0.9% attleboro district 16 0.8% brockton district 13 0.7% framingham district 12 0.6% lynn district 11 0.6% bmc east boston 10 0.5% chelsea district 10 0.5% chicopee district 9 0.5% northern berkshire district 9 0.5% barnstable district 8 0.4% milford district 8 0.4% fallmouth district 7 0.4% haverhill district 7 0.4% somerville district 7 0.4% edgartown district 6 0.3% new bedford district 6 0.3% woburn district 6 0.3% wrentham district 5 0.3% cambridge district 4 0.2% lawrence district 4 0.2% bmc central 3 0.2% bmc west roxbury 3 0.2% concord district 3 0.2% lowell district 3 0.2% palmer district 3 0.2% peabody district 3 0.2% salem district 3 0.2% springfield district 3 0.2% waltham district 3 0.2% wareham district 3 0.2% bmc brighton 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% dedham district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% orleans district 2 0.1% southern berkshire district 2 0.1% bmc south boston 1 0.1% clinton district 1 0.1% greenfield district 1 0.1% hingham district 1 0.1% holyoke district 1 0.1% nantucket district 1 0.1% natick district 1 0.1% newburyport district 1 0.1% orange district 1 0.1% stoughton district 1 0.1% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1250 4 Natural Person 658 1904 Total 1908 1908 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 65.5% 0.2% Natural Person 34.5% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1227 23 1250 Optional 369 289 658 Total 1596 312 1908 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 64.3% 1.2% 65.5% Optional 19.3% 15.1% 34.5% Total 83.6% 16.4% 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 1 3 4 Optional 144 1760 1904 Total 145 1763 1908 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 7.5% 92.2% 99.8% Total 7.6% 92.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 82 4.3% 1 1265 66.3% 2 452 23.7% 3 71 3.7% 4 27 1.4% 5 10 0.5% 6 1 0.1% Total 1908 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 1103 57.8% Cause 399 20.9% No Fault 361 18.9% Foreclosure 43 2.3% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Granville 255 4 Tolland 206 1 Cheshire 123 4 Chilmark 115 1 Florence 105 1 East Falmouth 103 6 Three Rivers 102 3 Hyannis 99 14 South Chatham 97 1 Fall River 95 85 Indian Orchard 89 9 Gilbertville 86 1 New Bedford 86 82 Springfield 86 133 Rockland 80 14 Worcester 78 142 Framingham 76 52 Hadley 76 4 Edgartown 73 3 Turners Falls 73 3 South Egremont 72 1 West Tisbury 72 2 Adams 70 6 Oak Bluffs 66 3 North Adams 65 9 Lynn 64 58 Pittsfield 64 29 Orange 63 5 Randolph 62 20 Revere 61 32 Gardner 59 12 Webster 59 10 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Warren 58 3 East Sandwich 57 2 Holyoke 57 23 Leominster 56 23 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Erving 55 1 Everett 55 23 Whitman 55 8 Brockton 54 51 Chelsea 54 19 Malden 53 32 Buckland 52 1 Oakham 52 1 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Greenfield 51 9 Lawrence 51 39 Hinsdale 49 1 North Truro 49 1 Norwood 48 14 Fitchburg 47 19 Lakeville 47 5 Southbridge 47 8 West Wareham 46 1 Chicopee 45 25 Lowell 45 48 North Andover 45 13 West Dennis 45 1 Marlborough 44 17 South Yarmouth 43 5 Haverhill 41 25 Marstons Mills 41 2 Beverly 40 16 Stoughton 40 11 Winthrop 40 7 Barre 37 2 Bedford 37 5 Holbrook 37 4 North Falmouth 37 1 Raynham 37 5 Attleborough 36 16 East Wareham 36 8 Wellfleet 36 1 Mashpee 35 5 Milford 35 10 Blackstone 33 3 Bridgewater 33 9 Provincetown 33 1 Chatham 32 2 East Boston 32 13 Hyde Park 32 11 North Chelmsford 32 3 Dennis Port 31 1 Dorchester 31 29 Sheffield 30 1 Brookfield 29 1 Hanson 29 3 Oxford 29 4 Salem 29 12 Ludlow 28 6 Pembroke 28 5 Quincy 28 26 West Springfield 28 8 Braintree 27 10 Marshfield 27 7 Wrentham 27 3 Cohasset 26 2 Danvers 26 7 Saugus 26 7 Taunton 26 15 East Longmeadow 25 4 Middleborough 25 6 Rutland 25 2 Easthampton 24 4 Lancaster 24 2 Monson 23 2 North Easton 23 3 Centerville 22 3 Littleton 22 2 Natick 21 7 North Brookfield 21 1 Peabody 21 11 Swampscott 21 3 Brewster 20 2 Burlington 20 5 Cambridge 20 22 Marion 20 1 Wakefield 20 5 Ware 20 2 Dorchester Center 19 18 Hull 19 2 Methuen 19 9 Newtonville 19 1 Winchendon 19 2 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Acton 18 4 Leicester 18 2 Melrose 18 5 Roxbury 18 11 West Yarmouth 18 1 Athol 17 2 Feeding Hills 17 2 Foxborough 17 3 Mansfield 17 4 Medford 17 10 North Attleborough 17 5 Sharon 17 3 Ashburnham 16 1 Dracut 16 5 Hopedale 16 1 Jamaica Plain 16 6 Mattapan 16 6 Orleans 16 1 Palmer 16 2 Shrewsbury 16 6 Berkley 15 1 Charlton 15 2 East Taunton 15 1 Hudson 15 3 Merrimac 15 1 Watertown 15 5 Woburn 15 6 Billerica 14 6 Clinton 14 2 Dennis 14 2 Dighton 14 1 East Bridgewater 14 2 Seekonk 14 2 Uxbridge 14 2 Waltham 14 9 West Bridgewater 14 1 Whitinsville 14 1 Belchertown 13 2 Brighton 13 6 Halifax 13 1 North Reading 13 2 Roslindale 13 4 Stoneham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Amesbury 12 2 Andover 12 4 Falmouth 12 4 Millis 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 Plainville 12 1 Salisbury 12 1 Walpole 12 3 Arlington 11 5 Assonet 11 1 East Weymouth 11 6 Holden 11 2 Middleton 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 South Dartmouth 11 4 South Hadley 11 2 Weymouth 11 6 Gloucester 10 3 Needham 10 3 Norton 10 2 Plymouth 10 6 Sturbridge 10 1 Westborough 10 2 Acushnet 9 1 Canton 9 2 Lunenburg 9 1 Maynard 9 1 Nantucket 9 1 Sandwich 9 2 South Easton 9 1 Belmont 8 2 Carver 8 1 Chelmsford 8 3 Dedham 8 2 Dudley 8 1 Lynnfield 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Reading 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 South Boston 8 3 Tyngsborough 8 1 Wilmington 8 2 Agawam 7 2 Amherst 7 3 E. Boston 7 3 Ipswich 7 1 Kingston 7 1 Milton 7 2 Northborough 7 1 Somerville 7 6 West Newton 7 1 Westfield 7 3 Wilbraham 7 1 Abington 6 1 Allston 6 2 Ashland 6 1 Auburn 6 1 Bellingham 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Franklin 6 2 Hopkinton 6 1 West Roxbury 6 2 Westwood 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Brookline 5 3 Charlestown 5 1 Grafton 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Scituate 5 1 South Weymouth 5 3 Hingham 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Wareham 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Boston 3 20 East Walpole 3 1 North Weymouth 3 2 Roxbury Crossing 3 2 Tewksbury 3 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 Newton 1 1 (not given) 0 13 span 0 1 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 Barnstable 321 62 Hampden 320 228 Berkshire 316 51 Plymouth 314 136 Bristol 282 232 Worcester 249 278 Dukes 243 10 Essex 197 217 Franklin 189 20 Norfolk 159 136 Middlesex 132 310 Suffolk 98 195 Hampshire 97 18 Nantucket 28 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 1648 86.4% Ongoing/Error 260 13.6% 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 653 39.6% Mediated 490 29.7% Defaulted 397 24.1% Heard 107 6.5% Other 1 0.1% Total 1648 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 83 75 128 29 0 Foreclosure 8 13 17 3 0 No Fault 88 73 159 22 0 Non-payment 474 236 185 53 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 1 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.0% 4.6% 7.8% 1.8% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.5% 0.8% 1.0% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 5.3% 4.4% 9.6% 1.3% 0.0% Non-payment 28.8% 14.3% 11.2% 3.2% 0.1% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 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 415 25.2% 21.8% Judgment inferred 106 6.4% 5.6% No judgment 1127 68.4% 59.1% Total 1648 100.0% 27.3% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 97 5.9% 0 26,782 2,864 4,836 277,887 Foreclosure 12 0.7% 0 300 197 93 2,367 No fault 96 5.8% 0 36,016 5,197 7,477 498,998 Non-payment 209 12.7% 0 80,646 8,651 11,144 1,808,255 Unknown/Other 1 0.1% 0 0 0 0 0 Subtotal 415 25.2% 0 80,646 6,234 9,377 2,587,509 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 51 3.1% 0 80,646 6,320 11,872 322,360 Defaulted 191 11.6% 0 43,558 5,639 7,667 1,077,057 Mediated 154 9.3% 0 50,270 6,489 9,101 999,444 Heard 18 1.1% 0 66,490 10,220 16,592 183,964 Other 1 0.1% 4,682 4,682 4,682 0 4,682 Subtotal 415 25.2% 0 80,646 6,234 9,377 2,587,509 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 4 0.8% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 454 87.1% 27.5% 23.8% unknown 63 12.1% 3.8% 3.3% Total 521 100.0% 31.6% 27.3% Judgments All Cases: Count: 415 Range: 0.000 - 80646.480; Mean: 6234.964; Median: 3117.160; Stddev: 9389.185 Percentiles: 90th: 16657.120; 95th: 23508.870; 99th: 47400.000 0.000 - 170.029: 4 ## 170.029 - 337.943: 90 ##################################################### 337.943 - 670.715: 8 ##### 670.715 - 1330.198: 17 ########## 1330.198 - 2637.158: 47 ############################ 2637.158 - 5227.280: 72 ########################################## 5227.280 - 10360.361: 78 ############################################## 10360.361 - 20533.059: 47 ############################ 20533.059 - 40693.227: 22 ############# 40693.227 - 80646.480: 6 #### Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 97 Range: 0.000 - 26782.030; Mean: 2864.825; Median: 236.540; Stddev: 4861.586 Percentiles: 90th: 9111.000; 95th: 12985.640; 99th: 26782.030 0.000 - 152.178: 1 # 152.178 - 270.882: 40 ##################################################### 270.882 - 481.576: 2 ### 481.576 - 855.545: 1 # 855.545 - 1519.321: 2 ### 1519.321 - 2697.486: 7 ######### 2697.486 - 4788.664: 9 ############ 4788.664 - 8500.390: 8 ########### 8500.390 - 15088.499: 9 ############ 15088.499 - 26782.030: 3 #### Foreclosure: Count: 12 Range: 0.000 - 300.290; Mean: 197.273; Median: 227.530; Stddev: 98.158 Percentiles: 90th: 298.920; 95th: 300.290; 99th: 300.290 0.000 - 190.343: 1 ################## 190.343 - 210.655: 1 ################## 210.655 - 221.606: 1 ################## 221.606 - 233.123: 3 ##################################################### 233.123 - 245.237: 2 ################################### 245.237 - 300.290: 2 ################################### No Fault: Count: 96 Range: 0.000 - 36016.570; Mean: 5197.906; Median: 2941.865; Stddev: 7516.567 Percentiles: 90th: 12544.350; 95th: 23650.000; 99th: 36016.570 0.000 - 304.924: 34 ##################################################### 304.924 - 1498.388: 6 ######### 1498.388 - 2545.913: 3 ##### 2545.913 - 4325.275: 15 ####################### 4325.275 - 7347.762: 16 ######################### 7347.762 - 12481.865: 10 ################ 12481.865 - 21202.831: 5 ######## 21202.831 - 36016.570: 5 ######## Non-payment: Count: 209 Range: 0.000 - 80646.480; Mean: 8651.941; Median: 5172.000; Stddev: 11171.360 Percentiles: 90th: 19618.260; 95th: 28899.090; 99th: 50270.660 0.000 - 220.837: 7 ######## 220.837 - 426.111: 3 ### 426.111 - 821.331: 6 ####### 821.331 - 1582.263: 17 ################### 1582.263 - 3047.311: 36 ######################################### 3047.311 - 5868.021: 42 ############################################### 5868.021 - 11298.830: 47 ##################################################### 11298.830 - 21754.958: 31 ################################### 21754.958 - 41886.507: 10 ########### 41886.507 - 80646.480: 6 ####### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 51 Range: 0.000 - 80646.480; Mean: 6320.794; Median: 3066.590; Stddev: 11990.396 Percentiles: 90th: 11964.230; 95th: 16829.120; 99th: 80646.480 0.000 - 309.718: 8 ########################################## 309.718 - 575.253: 1 ##### 575.253 - 1067.711: 2 ########### 1067.711 - 1981.017: 8 ########################################## 1981.017 - 3674.824: 9 ################################################ 3674.824 - 6816.135: 7 ##################################### 6816.135 - 12641.970: 10 ##################################################### 12641.970 - 23446.489: 3 ################ 23446.489 - 43484.410: 1 ##### 43484.410 - 80646.480: 1 ##### Defaulted: Count: 191 Range: 0.000 - 43558.720; Mean: 5639.045; Median: 2519.100; Stddev: 7688.088 Percentiles: 90th: 14702.430; 95th: 22637.510; 99th: 36755.190 0.000 - 207.585: 23 ################################# 207.585 - 376.606: 35 ################################################## 376.606 - 682.589: 5 ####### 682.589 - 1236.516: 3 #### 1236.516 - 2239.302: 16 ####################### 2239.302 - 4054.666: 19 ########################### 4054.666 - 7341.060: 37 ##################################################### 7341.060 - 13290.489: 26 ##################################### 13290.489 - 24060.869: 14 #################### 24060.869 - 43558.720: 7 ########## Mediated: Count: 154 Range: 0.000 - 50270.660; Mean: 6489.901; Median: 3323.250; Stddev: 9130.923 Percentiles: 90th: 17173.820; 95th: 23575.400; 99th: 49039.950 0.000 - 162.133: 1 ## 162.133 - 307.371: 27 ################################################### 307.371 - 1100.884: 6 ########### 1100.884 - 2081.893: 14 ########################### 2081.893 - 3936.298: 25 ############################################### 3936.298 - 7441.683: 28 ##################################################### 7441.683 - 14067.919: 21 ######################################## 14067.919 - 26593.509: 14 ########################### 26593.509 - 50270.660: 7 ############# Heard: Count: 18 Range: 0.000 - 66490.470; Mean: 10220.259; Median: 4175.525; Stddev: 17073.316 Percentiles: 90th: 36016.570; 95th: 66490.470; 99th: 66490.470 0.000 - 419.800: 1 ################## 419.800 - 1295.204: 1 ################## 1295.204 - 3991.743: 1 ################## 3991.743 - 7006.615: 3 ##################################################### 7006.615 - 12297.982: 1 ################## 12297.982 - 21584.797: 3 ##################################################### 21584.797 - 37883.976: 1 ################## 37883.976 - 66490.470: 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 441 84.6% 26.8% 23.1% Issued 357 68.5% 21.7% 18.7% Levied 88 16.9% 5.3% 4.6% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 23 26.1% 4.4% 1.4% 1.2% Foreclosure 7 8.0% 1.3% 0.4% 0.4% No Fault 21 23.9% 4.0% 1.3% 1.1% Non-payment 37 42.0% 7.1% 2.2% 1.9% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 88 100.0% 16.9% 5.3% 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 10 11.4% 1.9% 0.6% 0.5% Defaulted 34 38.6% 6.5% 2.1% 1.8% Mediated 42 47.7% 8.1% 2.5% 2.2% Heard 2 2.3% 0.4% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 88 100.0% 16.9% 5.3% 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 7 43 16.3% No Fault 21 361 5.8% Cause 23 399 5.8% Non-payment 37 1103 3.4% 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 42 490 8.6% Defaulted 34 397 8.6% Heard 2 107 1.9% Dismissed 10 653 1.5% Other 0 1 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 2 530 95 91 Non-payment 1 557 79 71 No Fault 2 512 85 78 Foreclosure 4 401 90 102 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 1 557 84 77 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 530 75 66 Defaulted 16 451 79 61 Mediated 4 557 98 95 Heard 2 520 87 94 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 1 557 84 77 All Cases: Count: 1648 Range: 1.000 - 557.000; Mean: 84.112; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 77.934 Percentiles: 90th: 164.000; 95th: 237.000; 99th: 441.000 1.000 - 2.512: 4 | 2.512 - 5.168: 7 # 5.168 - 9.832: 22 ## 9.832 - 18.023: 64 ####### 18.023 - 32.407: 205 ##################### 32.407 - 57.667: 457 ############################################### 57.667 - 102.027: 520 ##################################################### 102.027 - 179.931: 244 ######################### 179.931 - 316.741: 81 ######## 316.741 - 557.000: 44 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 315 Range: 2.000 - 530.000; Mean: 95.705; Median: 64.000; Stddev: 91.282 Percentiles: 90th: 189.000; 95th: 283.000; 99th: 470.000 2.000 - 4.034: 3 ## 4.034 - 13.175: 1 # 13.175 - 22.785: 13 ####### 22.785 - 38.912: 54 ############################### 38.912 - 65.974: 93 ##################################################### 65.974 - 111.383: 73 ########################################## 111.383 - 187.582: 45 ########################## 187.582 - 315.444: 18 ########## 315.444 - 530.000: 15 ######### Non-payment: Count: 949 Range: 1.000 - 557.000; Mean: 79.491; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 71.300 Percentiles: 90th: 157.000; 95th: 200.000; 99th: 439.000 1.000 - 2.512: 2 | 2.512 - 5.168: 4 # 5.168 - 9.832: 16 ### 9.832 - 18.023: 52 ######### 18.023 - 32.407: 115 ################### 32.407 - 57.667: 246 ######################################### 57.667 - 102.027: 321 ##################################################### 102.027 - 179.931: 138 ####################### 179.931 - 316.741: 37 ###### 316.741 - 557.000: 18 ### No Fault: Count: 342 Range: 2.000 - 512.000; Mean: 85.673; Median: 58.500; Stddev: 78.135 Percentiles: 90th: 176.000; 95th: 253.000; 99th: 406.000 2.000 - 4.017: 1 | 4.017 - 7.389: 3 # 7.389 - 13.029: 3 # 13.029 - 22.460: 6 ### 22.460 - 38.230: 58 ########################### 38.230 - 64.602: 115 ##################################################### 64.602 - 108.703: 82 ###################################### 108.703 - 182.450: 41 ################### 182.450 - 305.773: 24 ########### 305.773 - 512.000: 9 #### Foreclosure: Count: 41 Range: 4.000 - 401.000; Mean: 90.634; Median: 51.000; Stddev: 102.006 Percentiles: 90th: 152.000; 95th: 372.000; 99th: 401.000 4.000 - 6.753: 1 ##### 6.753 - 27.912: 4 ################### 27.912 - 43.833: 11 ##################################################### 43.833 - 68.522: 9 ########################################### 68.522 - 106.808: 8 ####################################### 106.808 - 166.176: 4 ################### 166.176 - 401.000: 4 ################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 653 Range: 1.000 - 530.000; Mean: 75.383; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 66.566 Percentiles: 90th: 161.000; 95th: 177.000; 99th: 384.000 1.000 - 2.495: 3 # 2.495 - 5.107: 6 ## 5.107 - 9.672: 19 ##### 9.672 - 17.649: 45 ########### 17.649 - 31.588: 87 ###################### 31.588 - 55.947: 140 #################################### 55.947 - 98.512: 209 ##################################################### 98.512 - 172.893: 107 ########################### 172.893 - 302.870: 29 ####### 302.870 - 530.000: 8 ## Defaulted: Count: 397 Range: 16.000 - 451.000; Mean: 79.902; Median: 65.000; Stddev: 61.858 Percentiles: 90th: 144.000; 95th: 179.000; 99th: 365.000 16.000 - 22.600: 10 ###### 22.600 - 31.763: 40 ########################## 31.763 - 44.484: 70 ############################################# 44.484 - 62.143: 63 ######################################### 62.143 - 86.658: 82 ##################################################### 86.658 - 120.692: 79 ################################################### 120.692 - 167.940: 30 ################### 167.940 - 233.531: 9 ###### 233.531 - 324.589: 9 ###### 324.589 - 451.000: 5 ### Mediated: Count: 490 Range: 4.000 - 557.000; Mean: 98.471; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 95.836 Percentiles: 90th: 216.000; 95th: 329.000; 99th: 497.000 4.000 - 7.012: 1 | 7.012 - 19.572: 5 ## 19.572 - 31.964: 54 ###################### 31.964 - 51.820: 131 ##################################################### 51.820 - 83.639: 124 ################################################## 83.639 - 134.623: 77 ############################### 134.623 - 216.321: 49 #################### 216.321 - 347.231: 29 ############ 347.231 - 557.000: 20 ######## Heard: Count: 107 Range: 2.000 - 520.000; Mean: 87.364; Median: 46.000; Stddev: 94.602 Percentiles: 90th: 169.000; 95th: 308.000; 99th: 454.000 2.000 - 4.025: 1 # 4.025 - 13.094: 3 ### 13.094 - 22.605: 3 ### 22.605 - 38.535: 14 ############### 38.535 - 65.214: 48 ##################################################### 65.214 - 109.898: 15 ################# 109.898 - 184.735: 13 ############## 184.735 - 310.076: 5 ###### 310.076 - 520.000: 5 ###### -- 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/.