Outcomes for May 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: 2022-05-01 Search Period End: 2022-05-31 Earliest Case: 2022-05-02 Latest Case: 2022-05-31 Total Cases: 2623 Total Transfers: 64 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 32.2% Of those, percentage pro se: 44.5% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: West Hyannisport Least stable with 10+ filings: Fall River Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 87 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 450 17.2% eastern 415 15.8% central 410 15.6% southeast 363 13.8% western 344 13.1% metro_south 233 8.9% quincy district 38 1.4% lynn district 32 1.2% malden district 27 1.0% brockton district 26 1.0% pittsfield district 23 0.9% chelsea district 18 0.7% fall river district 17 0.6% woburn district 14 0.5% attleboro district 12 0.5% haverhill district 12 0.5% bmc east boston 11 0.4% somerville district 11 0.4% lowell district 10 0.4% wrentham district 10 0.4% newburyport district 9 0.3% bmc brighton 8 0.3% framingham district 8 0.3% waltham district 8 0.3% barnstable district 7 0.3% fallmouth district 7 0.3% cambridge district 6 0.2% lawrence district 6 0.2% new bedford district 6 0.2% northern berkshire district 6 0.2% springfield district 6 0.2% dedham district 5 0.2% orleans district 5 0.2% peabody district 5 0.2% stoughton district 5 0.2% brookline district 4 0.2% bmc roxbury 3 0.1% bmc west roxbury 3 0.1% edgartown district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% westfield district 3 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% bmc charlestown 2 0.1% chicopee district 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% eastern hampshire district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% holyoke district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% salem district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% hingham district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1779 58 Natural Person 844 2565 Total 2623 2623 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 67.8% 2.2% Natural Person 32.2% 97.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1762 17 1779 Optional 468 376 844 Total 2230 393 2623 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 67.2% 0.6% 67.8% Optional 17.8% 14.3% 32.2% 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 4 54 58 Optional 181 2384 2565 Total 185 2438 2623 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.2% 2.1% 2.2% Optional 6.9% 90.9% 97.8% Total 7.1% 92.9% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 124 4.7% 1 1796 68.5% 2 575 21.9% 3 91 3.5% 4 28 1.1% 5 8 0.3% 7 1 0.0% Total 2623 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 1382 52.7% Cause 649 24.7% No Fault 552 21.0% Foreclosure 40 1.5% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count West Hyannisport 555 1 Florence 210 2 Chestnut Hill 188 4 Cummaquid 182 1 North Chatham 142 1 East Falmouth 138 8 Fiskdale 129 4 Fall River 120 107 Plainville 108 9 Revere 106 55 North Adams 102 14 Pittsfield 102 46 Indian Orchard 99 10 Holyoke 97 39 New Bedford 95 91 Feeding Hills 94 11 West Wareham 92 2 Worcester 90 164 Gilbertville 86 1 Springfield 86 132 Lynn 81 74 Framingham 80 55 Rockland 80 14 Chelsea 79 28 Everett 79 33 Charlemont 78 1 Stoughton 77 21 Brockton 76 72 Orange 76 6 Bridgewater 75 20 Marlborough 75 29 Gardner 74 15 Greenfield 74 13 Malden 74 44 Haverhill 72 44 Hyannis 70 10 Ware 70 7 Berlin 69 2 Hull 68 7 South Yarmouth 68 8 Quincy 67 62 Chicopee 66 37 Leominster 66 27 Lowell 62 67 Amesbury 61 10 Lawrence 61 47 Fitchburg 59 24 Norwood 59 17 Southbridge 59 10 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Dorchester 58 54 Harwich Port 57 1 Middleborough 56 13 Shelburne Falls 56 1 West Springfield 56 16 West Yarmouth 56 3 Salem 55 23 Brighton 54 24 South Dennis 54 2 Cohasset 53 4 Webster 53 9 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Athol 51 6 Newton Center 51 2 Stockbridge 51 1 Devens 49 1 Edgartown 49 2 Chatham 48 3 Adams 47 4 West Townsend 47 1 Mattapan 46 17 Monson 46 4 Burlington 44 11 Fairhaven 44 7 Whitinsville 43 3 Taunton 42 24 Eastham 40 2 Winthrop 40 7 Sharon 39 7 Cambridge 38 41 Hyde Park 38 13 Mansfield 38 9 Warren 38 2 North Falmouth 37 1 Saugus 37 10 Waltham 37 23 Clinton 36 5 Salisbury 36 3 Plympton 35 1 Lynnfield 34 4 Pocasset 34 1 Rowley 34 2 Tewksbury 34 10 Three Rivers 34 1 Westwood 34 5 Mattapoisett 33 2 Somerville 33 25 Attleborough 32 14 Beverly 32 13 East Boston 32 13 Sturbridge 32 3 Dennis Port 31 1 Easthampton 31 5 Gloucester 31 9 Hudson 31 6 Woburn 31 12 Braintree 30 11 Brookfield 29 1 Dalton 29 2 Foxborough 29 5 Uxbridge 29 4 Westfield 29 12 North Andover 28 8 Osterville 28 1 Pembroke 28 5 Watertown 28 9 Belchertown 27 4 Canton 27 6 East Wareham 27 6 Holbrook 27 3 Methuen 27 13 Peabody 27 14 Sunderland 27 1 Chelmsford 26 9 Jamaica Plain 26 10 Weymouth 26 14 Wilmington 26 6 Abington 25 4 Rehoboth 25 3 Roxbury 25 15 Rutland 25 2 Shrewsbury 25 9 Medford 24 14 Randolph 24 8 Roslindale 24 7 Turners Falls 24 1 Allston 23 7 Charlestown 23 4 Plymouth 23 13 Acton 22 5 Bedford 22 3 Centerville 22 3 Forestdale 22 1 Franklin 22 7 Ipswich 22 3 Millbury 22 3 Newburyport 22 4 South Grafton 22 1 Andover 21 7 Milford 21 6 Dedham 20 5 Dorchester Center 20 19 East Freetown 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Paxton 20 1 Hadley 19 1 Maynard 19 2 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Rochester 19 1 Westport 19 3 Auburn 18 3 Danvers 18 5 Leicester 18 2 Ludlow 18 4 South Barre 18 1 Wareham 18 4 Wrentham 18 2 Agawam 17 5 Billerica 17 7 Carver 17 2 Dudley 17 2 E. Boston 17 7 North Attleborough 17 5 Pepperell 17 2 South Hadley 17 3 Southampton 17 1 Tyngsborough 17 2 Weston 17 2 Ashburnham 16 1 Harwich 16 2 Wakefield 16 4 Walpole 16 4 Berkley 15 1 Charlton 15 2 Kingston 15 2 Marshfield 15 4 Merrimac 15 1 Norton 15 3 Stow 15 1 Dighton 14 1 East Weymouth 14 8 Great Barrington 14 1 Mashpee 14 2 Northborough 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Swampscott 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Boston 13 86 Dracut 13 4 Needham 13 4 Shirley 13 1 Westford 13 3 Whitman 13 2 Ashland 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Hamilton 12 1 Lexington 12 4 Natick 12 4 Northbridge 12 2 Assonet 11 1 Brookline 11 7 Littleton 11 1 Middleton 11 1 Milton 11 3 Brewster 10 1 North Chelmsford 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 Falmouth 9 3 Hanson 9 1 Lakeville 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 South Easton 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Belmont 8 2 North Dartmouth 8 2 South Boston 8 3 Spencer 8 1 Amherst 7 3 Arlington 7 3 East Walpole 7 2 Hanover 7 1 Medway 7 1 North Uxbridge 7 1 Oxford 7 1 Seekonk 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Wellesley 7 2 Wilbraham 7 1 Bellingham 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 West Roxbury 6 2 Bourne 5 1 Concord 5 1 Holden 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Somerset 5 1 South Dartmouth 5 2 Hingham 4 1 Reading 4 1 Newton 3 3 Northampton 3 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 Newton Lower Falls 2 2 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 20 South Harwich 0 1 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 Berkshire 421 68 Plymouth 416 180 Hampden 385 274 Bristol 337 278 Barnstable 305 59 Worcester 288 321 Essex 272 300 Norfolk 266 227 Franklin 218 23 Middlesex 200 468 Suffolk 187 371 Hampshire 146 27 Dukes 73 3 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 2244 85.6% Ongoing/Error 379 14.4% 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 Mediated 822 36.6% Dismissed 694 30.9% Defaulted 580 25.8% Heard 148 6.6% Other 0 0.0% Total 2244 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 129 124 207 51 0 Foreclosure 10 6 19 3 0 No Fault 132 97 268 26 0 Non-payment 423 353 328 68 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.7% 5.5% 9.2% 2.3% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.4% 0.3% 0.8% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 5.9% 4.3% 11.9% 1.2% 0.0% Non-payment 18.9% 15.7% 14.6% 3.0% 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 685 30.5% 26.1% Judgment inferred 166 7.4% 6.3% No judgment 1393 62.1% 53.1% Total 2244 100.0% 32.4% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 149 6.6% 0 41,964 3,679 7,354 548,256 Foreclosure 13 0.6% 0 287 192 86 2,502 No fault 173 7.7% 0 25,582 3,376 4,301 584,143 Non-payment 350 15.6% 0 83,315 8,922 9,834 3,122,982 Subtotal 685 30.5% 0 83,315 6,215 8,586 4,257,885 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 47 2.1% 192 21,411 3,848 5,140 180,891 Defaulted 280 12.5% 0 54,924 7,634 9,581 2,137,778 Mediated 316 14.1% 0 83,315 5,462 7,880 1,725,994 Heard 42 1.9% 0 36,454 5,076 8,261 213,220 Subtotal 685 30.5% 0 83,315 6,215 8,586 4,257,885 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 2 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 761 89.4% 33.9% 29.0% unknown 88 10.3% 3.9% 3.4% Total 851 100.0% 37.9% 32.4% Judgments All Cases: Count: 685 Range: 0.000 - 83315.310; Mean: 6215.891; Median: 3348.540; Stddev: 8592.497 Percentiles: 90th: 15387.380; 95th: 21248.320; 99th: 41964.910 0.000 - 318.457: 137 ##################################################### 318.457 - 591.778: 16 ###### 591.778 - 1098.947: 21 ######## 1098.947 - 2040.039: 57 ###################### 2040.039 - 3786.312: 88 ################################## 3786.312 - 7026.663: 127 ################################################# 7026.663 - 13039.393: 99 ###################################### 13039.393 - 24196.499: 71 ########################### 24196.499 - 44899.404: 22 ######### 44899.404 - 83315.310: 5 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 149 Range: 0.000 - 41964.910; Mean: 3679.574; Median: 238.640; Stddev: 7379.644 Percentiles: 90th: 12175.000; 95th: 19753.180; 99th: 40575.060 0.000 - 316.102: 61 ##################################################### 316.102 - 544.686: 5 #### 544.686 - 938.047: 1 # 938.047 - 1614.963: 11 ########## 1614.963 - 2779.838: 8 ####### 2779.838 - 4784.418: 13 ########### 4784.418 - 8234.008: 11 ########## 8234.008 - 14170.253: 6 ##### 14170.253 - 24385.667: 9 ######## 24385.667 - 41964.910: 4 ### Foreclosure: Count: 13 Range: 0.000 - 287.730; Mean: 192.495; Median: 227.250; Stddev: 89.647 Percentiles: 90th: 244.970; 95th: 287.730; 99th: 287.730 0.000 - 180.296: 1 ############# 180.296 - 210.717: 3 ######################################## 210.717 - 233.784: 2 ########################### 233.784 - 246.243: 4 ##################################################### 246.243 - 287.730: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 173 Range: 0.000 - 25582.090; Mean: 3376.554; Median: 1642.220; Stddev: 4313.558 Percentiles: 90th: 8602.250; 95th: 12598.350; 99th: 19975.000 0.000 - 297.353: 55 ##################################################### 297.353 - 488.253: 2 ## 488.253 - 801.298: 5 ##### 801.298 - 1314.643: 8 ######## 1314.643 - 2156.449: 9 ######### 2156.449 - 3536.880: 20 ################### 3536.880 - 5800.570: 19 ################## 5800.570 - 9512.669: 26 ######################### 9512.669 - 15599.931: 13 ############# 15599.931 - 25582.090: 2 ## Non-payment: Count: 350 Range: 0.000 - 83315.310; Mean: 8922.808; Median: 5978.145; Stddev: 9848.501 Percentiles: 90th: 19364.540; 95th: 27972.170; 99th: 45507.020 0.000 - 336.919: 10 ###### 336.919 - 622.134: 10 ###### 622.134 - 1148.079: 11 ####### 1148.079 - 2117.939: 31 #################### 2117.939 - 3906.392: 54 ################################## 3906.392 - 7204.359: 83 ##################################################### 7204.359 - 13285.917: 71 ############################################# 13285.917 - 24500.508: 54 ################################## 24500.508 - 45180.581: 15 ########## 45180.581 - 83315.310: 5 ### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 47 Range: 192.250 - 21411.300; Mean: 3848.756; Median: 1462.230; Stddev: 5196.084 Percentiles: 90th: 9798.930; 95th: 17381.990; 99th: 21411.300 192.250 - 308.438: 18 ##################################################### 308.438 - 494.482: 1 ### 494.482 - 792.383: 1 ### 792.383 - 1269.390: 2 ###### 1269.390 - 2033.190: 4 ############ 2033.190 - 3256.210: 3 ######### 3256.210 - 5214.551: 5 ############### 5214.551 - 8350.309: 6 ################## 8350.309 - 13371.387: 3 ######### 13371.387 - 21411.300: 4 ############ Defaulted: Count: 280 Range: 0.000 - 54924.840; Mean: 7634.925; Median: 4687.540; Stddev: 9598.612 Percentiles: 90th: 19272.150; 95th: 24597.520; 99th: 45507.020 0.000 - 305.420: 55 ################################################# 305.420 - 544.382: 4 #### 544.382 - 969.701: 6 ##### 969.701 - 1726.707: 15 ############# 1726.707 - 3074.066: 26 ####################### 3074.066 - 5472.170: 35 ############################### 5472.170 - 9740.445: 60 ##################################################### 9740.445 - 17337.352: 34 ############################## 17337.352 - 30858.740: 24 ##################### 30858.740 - 54924.840: 12 ########### Mediated: Count: 316 Range: 0.000 - 83315.310; Mean: 5462.009; Median: 3118.665; Stddev: 7893.137 Percentiles: 90th: 14055.050; 95th: 18579.000; 99th: 35519.280 0.000 - 336.919: 59 ##################################################### 336.919 - 622.134: 9 ######## 622.134 - 1148.079: 14 ############# 1148.079 - 2117.939: 28 ######################### 2117.939 - 3906.392: 47 ########################################## 3906.392 - 7204.359: 59 ##################################################### 7204.359 - 13285.917: 42 ###################################### 13285.917 - 24500.508: 29 ########################## 24500.508 - 45180.581: 6 ##### 45180.581 - 83315.310: 1 # Heard: Count: 42 Range: 0.000 - 36454.000; Mean: 5076.672; Median: 2183.805; Stddev: 8362.149 Percentiles: 90th: 9642.220; 95th: 24406.120; 99th: 36454.000 0.000 - 373.860: 6 ############################################# 373.860 - 622.369: 1 ######## 622.369 - 1722.845: 2 ############### 1722.845 - 2865.651: 3 ####################### 2865.651 - 4766.067: 5 ###################################### 4766.067 - 7926.344: 7 ##################################################### 7926.344 - 13181.694: 3 ####################### 13181.694 - 36454.000: 4 ############################## 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 730 85.8% 32.5% 27.8% Issued 583 68.5% 26.0% 22.2% Levied 161 18.9% 7.2% 6.1% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 28 17.4% 3.3% 1.2% 1.1% Foreclosure 12 7.5% 1.4% 0.5% 0.5% No Fault 50 31.1% 5.9% 2.2% 1.9% Non-payment 71 44.1% 8.3% 3.2% 2.7% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 161 100.0% 18.9% 7.2% 6.1% 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 14 8.7% 1.6% 0.6% 0.5% Defaulted 62 38.5% 7.3% 2.8% 2.4% Mediated 85 52.8% 10.0% 3.8% 3.2% Heard 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 161 100.0% 18.9% 7.2% 6.1% 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 12 40 30.0% No Fault 50 552 9.1% Non-payment 71 1382 5.1% Cause 28 649 4.3% 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 62 580 10.7% Mediated 85 822 10.3% Dismissed 14 694 2.0% Heard 0 148 0.0% 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 0 623 101 110 Non-payment 2 549 82 77 No Fault 0 561 86 90 Foreclosure 7 591 88 111 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 623 87 90 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 506 80 79 Defaulted 0 589 78 69 Mediated 0 623 100 104 Heard 4 584 86 112 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 623 87 90 All Cases: Count: 2244 Range: 0.000 - 623.000; Mean: 87.808; Median: 61.000; Stddev: 90.037 Percentiles: 90th: 184.000; 95th: 288.000; 99th: 489.000 0.000 - 4.116: 9 # 4.116 - 7.724: 11 # 7.724 - 13.878: 24 ## 13.878 - 24.372: 189 ############### 24.372 - 42.267: 480 ####################################### 42.267 - 72.784: 657 ##################################################### 72.784 - 124.825: 484 ####################################### 124.825 - 213.571: 201 ################ 213.571 - 364.913: 127 ########## 364.913 - 623.000: 59 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 511 Range: 0.000 - 623.000; Mean: 101.865; Median: 65.000; Stddev: 110.917 Percentiles: 90th: 248.000; 95th: 360.000; 99th: 550.000 0.000 - 7.102: 6 ## 7.102 - 12.128: 4 # 12.128 - 20.273: 21 ####### 20.273 - 33.471: 78 ########################### 33.471 - 54.857: 78 ########################### 54.857 - 89.510: 153 ##################################################### 89.510 - 145.663: 77 ########################### 145.663 - 236.652: 38 ############# 236.652 - 384.091: 33 ########### 384.091 - 623.000: 21 ####### Non-payment: Count: 1172 Range: 2.000 - 549.000; Mean: 82.147; Median: 61.000; Stddev: 77.576 Percentiles: 90th: 167.000; 95th: 259.000; 99th: 395.000 2.000 - 4.052: 5 # 4.052 - 7.507: 7 # 7.507 - 13.325: 13 ## 13.325 - 23.122: 97 ################# 23.122 - 39.620: 245 ########################################### 39.620 - 67.402: 291 ################################################### 67.402 - 114.183: 300 ##################################################### 114.183 - 192.961: 121 ##################### 192.961 - 325.617: 62 ########### 325.617 - 549.000: 31 ##### No Fault: Count: 523 Range: 0.000 - 561.000; Mean: 86.719; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 90.402 Percentiles: 90th: 179.000; 95th: 296.000; 99th: 489.000 0.000 - 4.063: 1 | 4.063 - 13.418: 5 ## 13.418 - 23.331: 19 ####### 23.331 - 40.061: 149 ##################################################### 40.061 - 68.293: 142 ################################################### 68.293 - 115.937: 107 ###################################### 115.937 - 196.339: 55 #################### 196.339 - 332.023: 23 ######## 332.023 - 561.000: 21 ####### Foreclosure: Count: 38 Range: 7.000 - 591.000; Mean: 88.395; Median: 52.500; Stddev: 111.111 Percentiles: 90th: 255.000; 95th: 298.000; 99th: 591.000 7.000 - 11.303: 1 ##### 11.303 - 17.921: 1 ##### 17.921 - 28.098: 5 ########################### 28.098 - 43.749: 10 ##################################################### 43.749 - 67.819: 7 ##################################### 67.819 - 104.835: 8 ########################################## 104.835 - 161.762: 1 ##### 161.762 - 249.308: 1 ##### 249.308 - 383.945: 3 ################ 383.945 - 591.000: 1 ##### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 694 Range: 0.000 - 506.000; Mean: 80.602; Median: 59.000; Stddev: 79.555 Percentiles: 90th: 158.000; 95th: 258.000; 99th: 440.000 0.000 - 4.011: 8 ### 4.011 - 7.369: 9 ### 7.369 - 12.979: 12 #### 12.979 - 22.349: 59 ################### 22.349 - 38.000: 132 ########################################## 38.000 - 64.141: 168 ##################################################### 64.141 - 107.803: 167 ##################################################### 107.803 - 180.732: 81 ########################## 180.732 - 302.542: 31 ########## 302.542 - 506.000: 26 ######## Defaulted: Count: 580 Range: 0.000 - 589.000; Mean: 78.910; Median: 61.000; Stddev: 69.689 Percentiles: 90th: 155.000; 95th: 227.000; 99th: 350.000 0.000 - 20.655: 12 #### 20.655 - 30.264: 80 ############################# 30.264 - 44.136: 90 ################################# 44.136 - 64.162: 133 ################################################ 64.162 - 93.074: 146 ##################################################### 93.074 - 134.815: 48 ################# 134.815 - 195.076: 35 ############# 195.076 - 282.074: 19 ####### 282.074 - 407.673: 13 ##### 407.673 - 589.000: 3 # Mediated: Count: 822 Range: 0.000 - 623.000; Mean: 100.328; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 104.210 Percentiles: 90th: 231.000; 95th: 350.000; 99th: 532.000 0.000 - 11.368: 1 | 11.368 - 18.121: 13 ### 18.121 - 28.561: 61 ################ 28.561 - 44.701: 164 ########################################### 44.701 - 69.654: 200 ##################################################### 69.654 - 108.231: 181 ################################################ 108.231 - 167.871: 77 #################### 167.871 - 260.075: 52 ############## 260.075 - 402.622: 45 ############ 402.622 - 623.000: 27 ####### Heard: Count: 148 Range: 4.000 - 584.000; Mean: 86.932; Median: 37.000; Stddev: 112.446 Percentiles: 90th: 231.000; 95th: 317.000; 99th: 550.000 4.000 - 7.050: 2 ## 7.050 - 11.960: 6 ####### 11.960 - 19.865: 12 ############### 19.865 - 32.593: 43 ##################################################### 32.593 - 53.083: 30 ##################################### 53.083 - 86.073: 15 ################## 86.073 - 139.185: 14 ################# 139.185 - 224.693: 10 ############ 224.693 - 362.360: 9 ########### 362.360 - 584.000: 7 ######### -- 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/.