Outcomes for August 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: 2022-08-01 Search Period End: 2022-08-31 Earliest Case: 2022-08-01 Latest Case: 2022-08-31 Total Cases: 3223 Total Transfers: 95 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 33.0% Of those, percentage pro se: 45.3% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Florence Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 107 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 562 17.4% central 554 17.2% western 531 16.5% eastern 390 12.1% southeast 382 11.9% metro_south 292 9.1% lynn district 47 1.5% quincy district 44 1.4% malden district 32 1.0% somerville district 30 0.9% brockton district 28 0.9% fall river district 27 0.8% chelsea district 24 0.7% pittsfield district 23 0.7% waltham district 20 0.6% bmc east boston 18 0.6% springfield district 17 0.5% chicopee district 15 0.5% lowell district 15 0.5% cambridge district 14 0.4% salem district 13 0.4% haverhill district 10 0.3% new bedford district 10 0.3% woburn district 9 0.3% attleboro district 8 0.2% barnstable district 8 0.2% bmc west roxbury 7 0.2% peabody district 7 0.2% lawrence district 6 0.2% fallmouth district 5 0.2% westfield district 5 0.2% wrentham district 5 0.2% bmc brighton 4 0.1% dedham district 4 0.1% gloucester district 4 0.1% northern berkshire district 4 0.1% orleans district 4 0.1% palmer district 4 0.1% taunton district 4 0.1% ayer district 3 0.1% bmc dorchester 3 0.1% edgartown district 3 0.1% framingham district 3 0.1% northampton district 3 0.1% uxbridge district 3 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% milford district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% worcester district 2 0.1% clinton district 1 0.0% concord district 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% fitchburg district 1 0.0% hingham district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% stoughton district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2160 19 Natural Person 1063 3204 Total 3223 3223 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 67.0% 0.6% Natural Person 33.0% 99.4% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2136 24 2160 Optional 581 482 1063 Total 2717 506 3223 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 66.3% 0.7% 67.0% Optional 18.0% 15.0% 33.0% Total 84.3% 15.7% 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 16 3 19 Optional 222 2982 3204 Total 238 2985 3223 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.5% 0.1% 0.6% Optional 6.9% 92.5% 99.4% Total 7.4% 92.6% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 141 4.4% 1 2273 70.5% 2 658 20.4% 3 100 3.1% 4 39 1.2% 5 8 0.2% 6 1 0.0% 8 2 0.1% 13 1 0.0% Total 3223 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 1967 61.0% No Fault 621 19.3% Cause 611 19.0% Foreclosure 22 0.7% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 2215 21 Monroe Bridge 1190 1 Woronoco 900 1 Southfield 404 2 West Warren 176 2 Gilbertville 173 2 Holyoke 170 68 Chesterfield 163 2 Bondsville 159 3 Dennis Port 158 5 Royalston 158 2 East Falmouth 155 9 Buzzards Bay 145 5 Thorndike 144 1 Fall River 132 118 Lynn 130 118 Whitinsville 129 9 Warwick 128 1 Worcester 128 232 Chicopee 124 69 Springfield 121 186 Greenfield 120 21 Chilmark 115 1 Avon 114 5 Webster 113 19 Athol 112 13 Randolph 105 34 Berlin 104 3 Fitchburg 101 41 Lowell 99 106 Edgartown 98 4 Turners Falls 97 4 Pittsfield 96 43 Taunton 96 54 New Bedford 91 87 West Springfield 91 26 Winthrop 91 16 Stoughton 89 24 Framingham 86 59 Norwood 83 24 Malden 82 49 Salem 82 34 Westborough 82 15 Brockton 81 76 Revere 81 42 Ware 81 8 West Brookfield 81 3 Haverhill 80 49 Indian Orchard 79 8 Lawrence 79 61 Hyannis 78 11 Quincy 78 72 Marlborough 77 30 Northampton 77 22 Gardner 74 15 North Adams 72 10 Chelsea 71 25 Foxborough 71 12 Waltham 69 42 Dorchester 68 63 Nantucket 68 7 Rockland 68 12 Mattapan 63 23 Belchertown 61 9 Brewster 61 6 Hatfield 59 2 Spencer 59 7 Warren 58 3 South Hadley 57 10 Hyde Park 56 19 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Braintree 55 20 Sunderland 54 2 Baldwinville 52 1 Bridgewater 52 14 Uxbridge 52 7 East Boston 51 21 Orange 51 4 Attleboro Falls 50 1 Everett 50 21 Peabody 50 26 Watertown 50 16 Amesbury 49 8 Hinsdale 49 1 Topsfield 49 3 South Deerfield 48 1 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Milford 46 13 Huntington 45 1 North Oxford 44 1 Somerville 44 34 Carver 43 5 West Bridgewater 43 3 Agawam 42 12 Attleborough 41 18 Gloucester 41 12 Southbridge 41 7 Williamsburg 40 1 Leominster 39 16 Lunenburg 39 4 Dorchester Center 38 35 East Dennis 38 1 Hadley 38 2 Mansfield 38 9 North Andover 38 11 North Grafton 38 3 East Weymouth 37 20 Easthampton 37 6 Jamaica Plain 37 14 Tewksbury 37 11 Hanover 36 5 Salisbury 36 3 Woburn 36 14 Adams 35 3 Feeding Hills 34 4 Mendon 34 2 Roslindale 34 10 Three Rivers 34 1 Whitman 34 5 Blackstone 33 3 Hopedale 33 2 Melrose 33 9 Provincetown 33 1 Northbridge 31 5 Norton 31 6 Westfield 31 13 Andover 30 10 Roxbury 30 18 Dalton 29 2 Hanson 29 3 Oxford 29 4 Princeton 29 1 West Hatfield 29 1 East Sandwich 28 1 Essex 28 1 Jefferson 28 1 Mashpee 28 4 Medford 28 16 Wakefield 28 7 Allston 27 8 Beverly 27 11 Brimfield 27 1 Dracut 27 8 Holbrook 27 3 North Attleborough 27 8 Sagamore 27 1 South Dennis 27 1 Ayer 26 2 Cohasset 26 2 Danvers 26 7 South Boston 26 9 West Roxbury 26 8 Brighton 25 11 Millis 25 2 South Yarmouth 25 3 Auburn 24 4 Burlington 24 6 Medfield 24 3 Plainville 24 2 Sherborn 24 1 Cambridge 23 25 Ludlow 23 5 Medway 23 3 Methuen 23 11 Stoneham 23 5 Boylston 22 1 East Wareham 22 5 Forestdale 22 1 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Saugus 22 6 Sharon 22 4 Wareham 22 5 Westford 22 5 Arlington 21 9 Middleborough 21 5 North Chelmsford 21 2 Swampscott 21 3 East Freetown 20 1 Eastham 20 1 Marblehead 20 4 Marion 20 1 Marstons Mills 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Southborough 20 2 Walpole 20 5 Hampden 19 1 Hull 19 2 Manchester 19 1 Maynard 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Plymouth 19 11 Rochester 19 1 Winchendon 19 2 Fairhaven 18 3 West Yarmouth 18 1 Wrentham 18 2 Dudley 17 2 Groton 17 2 Newburyport 17 3 Rehoboth 17 2 Tyngsborough 17 2 Mattapoisett 16 1 Palmer 16 2 Amherst 15 6 East Taunton 15 1 Groveland 15 1 Harvard 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Kingston 15 2 Lincoln 15 1 Merrimac 15 1 Newbury 15 1 North Easton 15 2 Billerica 14 6 Clinton 14 2 E. Boston 14 6 East Bridgewater 14 2 Great Barrington 14 1 Shrewsbury 14 5 Canton 13 3 Halifax 13 1 Upton 13 1 Westminster 13 1 Weymouth 13 7 Abington 12 2 Ashland 12 2 Belmont 12 3 Dedham 12 3 East Templeton 12 1 Longmeadow 12 2 Rutland 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Williamstown 12 1 Charlestown 11 2 Concord 11 2 Douglas 11 1 Littleton 11 1 Marshfield 11 3 Milton 11 3 Monson 11 1 Pembroke 11 2 Fayville 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 Boston 9 56 Franklin 9 3 Natick 9 3 Sandwich 9 2 South Easton 9 1 South Weymouth 9 5 Lynnfield 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Reading 8 2 South Dartmouth 8 3 Wilmington 8 2 Centerville 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Millbury 7 1 Northborough 7 1 Raynham 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Bellingham 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Lexington 6 2 Needham Heights 6 2 Swansea 6 1 Westport 6 1 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Hudson 5 1 North Weymouth 5 3 Roxbury Crossing 5 3 Scituate 5 1 Acton 4 1 Easton 4 1 Hingham 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Brookline 3 2 Wellesley 3 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 Chelmsford 2 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 1 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 (not given) 0 29 span 0 6 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Hampden 571 406 Hampshire 494 91 Worcester 418 466 Berkshire 390 63 Bristol 390 321 Plymouth 389 168 Essex 352 388 Franklin 331 35 Norfolk 319 272 Barnstable 284 55 Middlesex 223 521 Nantucket 199 7 Suffolk 197 389 Dukes 146 6 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 2762 85.7% Ongoing/Error 461 14.3% 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 1051 38.1% Dismissed 898 32.5% Defaulted 647 23.4% Heard 162 5.9% Other 4 0.1% Total 2762 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 110 103 213 52 3 Foreclosure 2 6 9 2 0 No Fault 154 102 305 25 1 Non-payment 632 436 524 82 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.0% 3.7% 7.7% 1.9% 0.1% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 5.6% 3.7% 11.0% 0.9% 0.0% Non-payment 22.9% 15.8% 19.0% 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 854 30.9% 26.5% Judgment inferred 216 7.8% 6.7% No judgment 1692 61.3% 52.5% Total 2762 100.0% 33.2% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 142 5.1% 0 154,024 4,717 14,947 669,821 Foreclosure 7 0.3% 0 17,256 3,074 5,889 21,519 No fault 147 5.3% 0 48,126 3,875 5,542 569,758 Non-payment 558 20.2% 0 61,907 8,843 9,167 4,934,713 Subtotal 854 30.9% 0 154,024 7,255 10,122 6,195,812 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 91 3.3% 177 22,989 4,401 4,512 400,512 Defaulted 317 11.5% 0 61,907 8,373 10,227 2,654,426 Mediated 389 14.1% 0 55,900 6,951 8,330 2,704,034 Heard 57 2.1% 0 154,024 7,663 20,652 436,839 Subtotal 854 30.9% 0 154,024 7,255 10,122 6,195,812 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 4 0.4% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 937 87.6% 33.9% 29.1% unknown 129 12.1% 4.7% 4.0% Total 1070 100.0% 38.7% 33.2% Judgments All Cases: Count: 854 Range: 0.000 - 154024.760; Mean: 7255.050; Median: 4281.645; Stddev: 10128.270 Percentiles: 90th: 17750.920; 95th: 24487.850; 99th: 44947.520 0.000 - 242.292: 95 ########################### 242.292 - 497.197: 35 ########## 497.197 - 1019.176: 38 ########### 1019.176 - 2088.051: 87 ######################### 2088.051 - 4276.827: 121 ################################## 4276.827 - 8758.861: 188 ##################################################### 8758.861 - 17936.886: 155 ############################################ 17936.886 - 36731.060: 68 ################### 36731.060 - 75216.574: 15 #### 75216.574 - 154024.760: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 142 Range: 0.000 - 154024.760; Mean: 4717.051; Median: 272.125; Stddev: 15000.013 Percentiles: 90th: 9000.000; 95th: 17148.790; 99th: 57446.740 0.000 - 242.292: 35 ##################################################### 242.292 - 497.197: 13 #################### 497.197 - 1019.176: 6 ######### 1019.176 - 2088.051: 11 ################# 2088.051 - 4276.827: 16 ######################## 4276.827 - 8758.861: 16 ######################## 8758.861 - 17936.886: 9 ############## 17936.886 - 36731.060: 4 ###### 36731.060 - 75216.574: 2 ### 75216.574 - 154024.760: 1 ## Foreclosure: Count: 7 Range: 0.000 - 17256.520; Mean: 3074.234; Median: 246.410; Stddev: 6361.188 Percentiles: 90th: 17256.520; 95th: 17256.520; 99th: 17256.520 0.000 - 350.777: 4 ##################################################### 350.777 - 4713.201: 1 ############# 4713.201 - 17256.520: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 147 Range: 0.000 - 48126.340; Mean: 3875.905; Median: 1804.200; Stddev: 5561.270 Percentiles: 90th: 10915.340; 95th: 12902.610; 99th: 16601.050 0.000 - 294.084: 47 ##################################################### 294.084 - 518.724: 5 ###### 518.724 - 914.378: 4 ##### 914.378 - 1611.233: 7 ######## 1611.233 - 2838.587: 7 ######## 2838.587 - 5000.296: 26 ############################# 5000.296 - 8807.660: 21 ######################## 8807.660 - 15513.479: 18 #################### 15513.479 - 27324.274: 2 ## 27324.274 - 48126.340: 1 # Non-payment: Count: 558 Range: 0.000 - 61907.690; Mean: 8843.573; Median: 6347.895; Stddev: 9175.663 Percentiles: 90th: 21390.640; 95th: 26932.600; 99th: 43177.640 0.000 - 294.675: 18 ######## 294.675 - 534.423: 9 #### 534.423 - 968.569: 25 ########### 968.569 - 1754.741: 48 ##################### 1754.741 - 3178.379: 57 ######################## 3178.379 - 5756.370: 98 ########################################## 5756.370 - 10424.719: 124 ##################################################### 10424.719 - 18878.387: 100 ########################################### 18878.387 - 34186.690: 52 ###################### 34186.690 - 61907.690: 15 ###### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 91 Range: 177.460 - 22989.680; Mean: 4401.237; Median: 3450.490; Stddev: 4537.777 Percentiles: 90th: 10973.600; 95th: 13265.070; 99th: 22989.680 177.460 - 289.096: 9 ####################### 289.096 - 470.567: 3 ######## 470.567 - 765.556: 5 ############# 765.556 - 1245.078: 11 ############################ 1245.078 - 2024.566: 9 ####################### 2024.566 - 3291.664: 7 ################## 3291.664 - 5351.400: 21 ##################################################### 5351.400 - 8699.609: 12 ############################## 8699.609 - 14142.299: 10 ######################### 14142.299 - 22989.680: 4 ########## Defaulted: Count: 317 Range: 0.000 - 61907.690; Mean: 8373.586; Median: 4885.110; Stddev: 10243.342 Percentiles: 90th: 21071.690; 95th: 27864.070; 99th: 51925.630 0.000 - 301.609: 47 ######################################## 301.609 - 545.569: 4 ### 545.569 - 986.207: 7 ###### 986.207 - 1782.084: 18 ############### 1782.084 - 3219.587: 34 ############################# 3219.587 - 5815.991: 50 ########################################### 5815.991 - 10505.588: 62 ##################################################### 10505.588 - 18975.888: 48 ######################################### 18975.888 - 34274.856: 28 ######################## 34274.856 - 61907.690: 9 ######## Mediated: Count: 389 Range: 0.000 - 55900.000; Mean: 6951.245; Median: 4442.310; Stddev: 8341.478 Percentiles: 90th: 16866.540; 95th: 23028.230; 99th: 41080.470 0.000 - 218.841: 22 ################ 218.841 - 405.786: 28 #################### 405.786 - 751.702: 15 ########### 751.702 - 1391.771: 25 ################## 1391.771 - 2576.130: 38 ########################### 2576.130 - 4767.623: 51 ##################################### 4767.623 - 8822.677: 74 ##################################################### 8822.677 - 16325.995: 69 ################################################# 16325.995 - 30209.848: 31 ###################### 30209.848 - 55900.000: 9 ###### Heard: Count: 57 Range: 0.000 - 154024.760; Mean: 7663.848; Median: 2263.890; Stddev: 20836.162 Percentiles: 90th: 17950.820; 95th: 23747.000; 99th: 154024.760 0.000 - 367.147: 10 ############################################ 367.147 - 1406.967: 2 ######### 1406.967 - 2752.457: 4 ################## 2752.457 - 5383.733: 7 ############################### 5383.733 - 10529.525: 12 ##################################################### 10529.525 - 20592.770: 3 ############# 20592.770 - 40272.714: 4 ################## 40272.714 - 154024.760: 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 915 85.5% 33.1% 28.4% Issued 725 67.8% 26.2% 22.5% Levied 188 17.6% 6.8% 5.8% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 21 11.2% 2.0% 0.8% 0.7% Foreclosure 5 2.7% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% No Fault 45 23.9% 4.2% 1.6% 1.4% Non-payment 117 62.2% 10.9% 4.2% 3.6% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 188 100.0% 17.6% 6.8% 5.8% 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 28 14.9% 2.6% 1.0% 0.9% Defaulted 70 37.2% 6.5% 2.5% 2.2% Mediated 87 46.3% 8.1% 3.1% 2.7% Heard 3 1.6% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 188 100.0% 17.6% 6.8% 5.8% 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 5 22 22.7% No Fault 45 621 7.2% Non-payment 117 1967 5.9% Cause 21 611 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 Defaulted 70 647 10.8% Mediated 87 1051 8.3% Dismissed 28 898 3.1% Heard 3 162 1.9% Other 0 4 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 0 564 99 99 Non-payment 0 577 90 90 No Fault 0 615 87 80 Foreclosure 20 558 129 119 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 615 91 90 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 564 83 87 Defaulted 0 577 79 71 Mediated 15 560 103 96 Heard 4 615 118 118 Other 17 20 17 1 All Outcomes 0 615 91 90 All Cases: Count: 2762 Range: 0.000 - 615.000; Mean: 91.955; Median: 59.000; Stddev: 90.471 Percentiles: 90th: 189.000; 95th: 289.000; 99th: 498.000 0.000 - 2.547: 13 # 2.547 - 5.291: 7 | 5.291 - 10.158: 27 # 10.158 - 18.790: 75 #### 18.790 - 34.100: 215 ########## 34.100 - 61.253: 1112 ##################################################### 61.253 - 109.412: 716 ################################## 109.412 - 194.826: 328 ################ 194.826 - 346.317: 173 ######## 346.317 - 615.000: 92 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 481 Range: 0.000 - 564.000; Mean: 99.742; Median: 64.000; Stddev: 99.451 Percentiles: 90th: 214.000; 95th: 335.000; 99th: 498.000 0.000 - 2.517: 3 # 2.517 - 9.873: 2 # 9.873 - 18.118: 16 ##### 18.118 - 32.615: 24 ######## 32.615 - 58.107: 169 ##################################################### 58.107 - 102.930: 148 ############################################## 102.930 - 181.745: 56 ################## 181.745 - 320.327: 36 ########### 320.327 - 564.000: 26 ######## Non-payment: Count: 1674 Range: 0.000 - 577.000; Mean: 90.940; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 90.564 Percentiles: 90th: 190.000; 95th: 291.000; 99th: 492.000 0.000 - 2.525: 8 # 2.525 - 5.212: 6 # 5.212 - 9.947: 19 ## 9.947 - 18.293: 57 ##### 18.293 - 33.000: 140 ############ 33.000 - 58.920: 614 ##################################################### 58.920 - 104.599: 446 ###################################### 104.599 - 185.101: 207 ################## 185.101 - 326.973: 108 ######### 326.973 - 577.000: 67 ###### No Fault: Count: 587 Range: 0.000 - 615.000; Mean: 87.189; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 80.515 Percentiles: 90th: 176.000; 95th: 245.000; 99th: 501.000 0.000 - 4.109: 3 # 4.109 - 13.820: 2 | 13.820 - 24.241: 21 #### 24.241 - 41.988: 57 ########### 41.988 - 72.214: 281 ##################################################### 72.214 - 123.693: 123 ####################### 123.693 - 211.368: 56 ########### 211.368 - 360.689: 34 ###### 360.689 - 615.000: 9 ## Foreclosure: Count: 19 Range: 20.000 - 558.000; Mean: 129.684; Median: 91.000; Stddev: 119.867 Percentiles: 90th: 214.000; 95th: 558.000; 99th: 558.000 20.000 - 28.157: 1 ############# 28.157 - 39.482: 1 ############# 39.482 - 55.205: 3 ######################################## 55.205 - 77.036: 3 ######################################## 77.036 - 107.347: 2 ########################### 107.347 - 149.430: 4 ##################################################### 149.430 - 207.859: 3 ######################################## 207.859 - 288.984: 1 ############# 288.984 - 558.000: 1 ############# By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 898 Range: 0.000 - 564.000; Mean: 83.049; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 87.631 Percentiles: 90th: 184.000; 95th: 277.000; 99th: 467.000 0.000 - 2.517: 13 ## 2.517 - 5.183: 5 # 5.183 - 9.873: 18 ### 9.873 - 18.118: 44 ####### 18.118 - 32.615: 92 ############### 32.615 - 58.107: 329 ##################################################### 58.107 - 102.930: 220 ################################### 102.930 - 181.745: 79 ############# 181.745 - 320.327: 61 ########## 320.327 - 564.000: 34 ##### Defaulted: Count: 647 Range: 0.000 - 577.000; Mean: 79.594; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 71.015 Percentiles: 90th: 147.000; 95th: 199.000; 99th: 386.000 0.000 - 20.611: 5 # 20.611 - 30.136: 32 ####### 30.136 - 43.858: 87 ################## 43.858 - 63.629: 257 ##################################################### 63.629 - 92.113: 135 ############################ 92.113 - 133.151: 56 ############ 133.151 - 192.276: 38 ######## 192.276 - 277.459: 16 ### 277.459 - 400.185: 15 ### 400.185 - 577.000: 5 # Mediated: Count: 1051 Range: 15.000 - 560.000; Mean: 103.425; Median: 65.000; Stddev: 96.275 Percentiles: 90th: 227.000; 95th: 308.000; 99th: 505.000 15.000 - 21.835: 39 ###### 21.835 - 31.590: 35 ##### 31.590 - 45.513: 108 ################# 45.513 - 65.383: 345 ##################################################### 65.383 - 93.742: 177 ########################### 93.742 - 134.215: 132 #################### 134.215 - 191.979: 89 ############## 191.979 - 274.419: 55 ######## 274.419 - 392.078: 38 ###### 392.078 - 560.000: 33 ##### Heard: Count: 162 Range: 4.000 - 615.000; Mean: 118.117; Median: 74.000; Stddev: 118.983 Percentiles: 90th: 269.000; 95th: 360.000; 99th: 564.000 4.000 - 7.092: 4 ##### 7.092 - 12.095: 3 #### 12.095 - 20.191: 9 ############ 20.191 - 33.294: 9 ############ 33.294 - 54.498: 41 ##################################################### 54.498 - 88.812: 25 ################################ 88.812 - 144.344: 28 #################################### 144.344 - 234.212: 20 ########################## 234.212 - 379.645: 15 ################### 379.645 - 615.000: 8 ########## Other Outcome: Count: 4 Range: 17.000 - 20.000; Mean: 17.750; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 1.500 Percentiles: 90th: 20.000; 95th: 20.000; 99th: 20.000 17.000 - 17.280: 3 ##################################################### 17.280 - 20.000: 1 ################## -- 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/.