Outcomes for 2023

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: 2023-01-01 Search Period End: 2023-12-31 Earliest Case: 2023-01-02 Latest Case: 2023-12-29 Total Cases: 38754 Total Transfers: 865 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 24.7% Of those, percentage pro se: 45.8% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Florence Least stable with 100+ filings: Holyoke Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 106 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 eastern 6769 17.5% northeast 6745 17.4% western 5831 15.0% central 5750 14.8% southeast 4424 11.4% metro_south 3536 9.1% malden district 480 1.2% quincy district 415 1.1% lynn district 370 1.0% lawrence district 324 0.8% fall river district 287 0.7% lowell district 284 0.7% brockton district 267 0.7% pittsfield district 228 0.6% chelsea district 216 0.6% somerville district 195 0.5% cambridge district 170 0.4% haverhill district 151 0.4% waltham district 132 0.3% northern berkshire district 129 0.3% bmc west roxbury 125 0.3% woburn district 123 0.3% framingham district 118 0.3% attleboro district 117 0.3% springfield district 106 0.3% salem district 95 0.2% new bedford district 85 0.2% dedham district 82 0.2% bmc east boston 79 0.2% barnstable district 76 0.2% chicopee district 64 0.2% wrentham district 64 0.2% bmc dorchester 63 0.2% peabody district 58 0.1% fallmouth district 43 0.1% milford district 40 0.1% stoughton district 40 0.1% concord district 39 0.1% hingham district 38 0.1% newburyport district 37 0.1% worcester district 37 0.1% orleans district 36 0.1% newton district 34 0.1% bmc brighton 32 0.1% holyoke district 31 0.1% bmc central 30 0.1% taunton district 30 0.1% ayer district 28 0.1% westfield district 28 0.1% gloucester district 27 0.1% plymouth district 25 0.1% bmc roxbury 24 0.1% wareham district 24 0.1% edgartown district 23 0.1% palmer district 19 0.0% nantucket district 18 0.0% southern berkshire district 17 0.0% uxbridge district 14 0.0% eastern hampshire district 13 0.0% natick district 13 0.0% brookline district 12 0.0% fitchburg district 9 0.0% clinton district 7 0.0% northampton district 7 0.0% greenfield district 6 0.0% bmc south boston 4 0.0% ipswich district 4 0.0% orange district 3 0.0% leominster district 2 0.0% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% east brookfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 29197 83 Natural Person 9557 38671 Total 38754 38754 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 75.3% 0.2% Natural Person 24.7% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 28961 236 29197 Optional 5181 4376 9557 Total 34142 4612 38754 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 74.7% 0.6% 75.3% Optional 13.4% 11.3% 24.7% Total 88.1% 11.9% 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 31 52 83 Optional 2186 36485 38671 Total 2217 36537 38754 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 5.6% 94.1% 99.8% Total 5.7% 94.3% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 1202 3.1% 1 27162 70.1% 2 8461 21.8% 3 1446 3.7% 4 336 0.9% 5 102 0.3% 6 32 0.1% 7 10 0.0% 8 2 0.0% 10 1 0.0% Total 38754 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 27615 71.3% Cause 5942 15.3% No Fault 4819 12.4% Foreclosure 352 0.9% Unknown/Other 26 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 7278 69 Holyoke 1830 730 Turners Falls 1707 70 Springfield 1664 2547 Chestnut Hill 1648 35 Fall River 1490 1324 New Bedford 1341 1275 Dorchester 1314 1209 Lawrence 1263 965 Lowell 1227 1308 Southbridge 1202 201 Worcester 1197 2168 Indian Orchard 1151 116 Lynn 1141 1031 Chelsea 1137 400 Chicopee 1135 628 Pittsfield 1110 497 Randolph 1093 351 Marlborough 1085 418 Fitchburg 1083 437 Framingham 1042 712 Mattapan 1016 371 Roxbury 989 590 Stoughton 986 266 Haverhill 983 599 Salem 979 405 Brockton 978 918 Norwood 978 280 Revere 956 495 North Adams 933 128 Hyannis 929 131 Gardner 924 187 Adams 919 78 Orange 892 70 New Ashford 877 2 Malden 871 518 Greenfield 802 140 Three Rivers 782 23 Athol 768 89 Berlin 767 22 West Springfield 746 212 East Falmouth 743 43 Everett 722 301 Quincy 717 662 Canton 714 154 Danvers 702 186 Hyde Park 702 235 Westborough 700 128 Webster 697 117 Nahant 674 23 Buzzards Bay 670 23 Ware 668 66 Bridgewater 662 176 Leominster 655 267 Woburn 629 240 Taunton 628 351 Peabody 626 321 Sunderland 624 23 Braintree 618 221 Gilbertville 608 7 Rockland 600 105 South Dennis 597 22 Dorchester Center 596 549 Cheshire 587 19 East Boston 570 231 South Easton 557 57 Charlemont 552 7 Whitinsville 547 38 Roslindale 546 158 Cambridge 540 568 South Deerfield 538 11 West Barnstable 531 15 West Yarmouth 531 28 West Warren 529 6 Saugus 522 139 Beverly 513 203 Foxborough 509 86 Dennis Port 506 16 Abington 500 80 North Billerica 496 53 Plainville 496 41 Milford 492 138 Feeding Hills 488 57 Charlestown 479 80 Methuen 476 225 Palmer 469 57 Attleborough 463 202 Plainfield 462 3 Ayer 457 34 Fiskdale 453 14 Allston 448 131 Jamaica Plain 448 168 Tewksbury 448 130 Waltham 448 272 North Andover 444 126 Hull 437 45 Dedham 428 106 Middleborough 428 99 Westfield 420 173 Raynham 418 56 East Sandwich 402 14 Oxford 401 55 Weymouth 401 216 Hadley 400 21 Maynard 395 40 Great Barrington 394 28 Spencer 393 46 Erving 388 7 South Yarmouth 387 45 Somerville 386 293 Brighton 382 168 Gloucester 382 110 Medford 379 213 Northampton 374 107 Kingston 372 47 Vineyard Haven 370 7 Baldwinville 369 7 West Wareham 368 8 Mansfield 366 85 Watertown 366 117 North Attleborough 365 105 North Brookfield 363 17 Northborough 360 51 Shirley 360 26 Andover 358 119 Whitman 351 51 Chilmark 346 3 Wrentham 346 38 Bedford 345 46 Clinton 345 47 Newtonville 345 18 Melrose 344 93 Franklin 331 105 Warren 331 17 Winchendon 330 34 Tyngsborough 327 37 Ludlow 326 69 East Wareham 325 71 Easthampton 323 52 South Boston 320 108 Amesbury 313 51 Osterville 312 11 Chelmsford 310 105 Newton Center 308 12 South Hadley 308 54 Burlington 306 75 Rockport 302 21 Norton 299 57 Acton 291 64 Thorndike 289 2 Ashfield 287 5 Harwich Port 287 5 Westwood 287 42 Shelburne Falls 284 5 Dudley 280 32 Cohasset 278 21 Dracut 278 82 Seekonk 276 38 Lakeville 273 29 Ashland 271 45 Provincetown 271 8 Edgartown 270 11 Williamstown 270 21 Holbrook 268 29 Housatonic 265 2 Charlton 261 34 Billerica 260 105 Boxborough 260 13 West Roxbury 259 79 Bellingham 257 42 Lee 252 15 Hudson 251 48 Winthrop 251 44 East Taunton 250 16 Belchertown 245 36 Sharon 244 43 Walpole 240 58 Colrain 239 4 Roxbury Crossing 238 142 Lunenburg 237 24 Yarmouth Port 237 12 Douglas 236 20 West Chatham 235 3 Millbury 233 31 Millers Falls 233 3 Wakefield 232 58 North Chelmsford 230 21 Avon 229 10 West Stockbridge 229 3 Natick 227 75 Nantucket 226 23 Plymouth 226 128 Brookline 223 131 South Grafton 223 10 Auburn 222 36 Blackstone 221 20 Eastham 221 11 Southwick 221 21 Oak Bluffs 220 10 Salisbury 217 18 Swampscott 217 30 Hanson 215 22 Sheffield 214 7 Bondsville 213 4 Buckland 210 4 Auburndale 208 19 Mashpee 207 29 Pocasset 207 6 East Weymouth 204 110 Rowley 204 12 Brewster 203 20 Southfield 202 1 Hopkinton 201 30 Hinsdale 196 4 Leeds 196 2 Hingham 194 43 Shrewsbury 193 69 Granville 191 3 Pepperell 191 22 Stoneham 191 41 Marshfield 190 48 Agawam 189 54 Fairhaven 189 30 West Brookfield 189 7 Westford 186 41 Lynnfield 181 21 Hanover 180 25 Medway 180 23 Littleton 179 16 Brookfield 176 6 Arlington 175 75 Ipswich 174 23 North Dartmouth 173 41 Halifax 172 13 Newburyport 172 30 North Reading 167 25 Marblehead 166 33 Wales 163 3 Boston 161 999 Wareham 160 35 Northbridge 159 25 Royalston 158 2 Sudbury 158 28 Belmont 157 39 Merrimac 157 10 Lexington 156 49 Stockbridge 154 3 Wilbraham 154 22 Orleans 152 9 South Weymouth 152 82 Wayland 146 19 Wellfleet 145 4 Marstons Mills 143 7 Marion 142 7 North Chatham 142 1 Uxbridge 141 19 Sagamore Beach 138 5 East Brookfield 137 3 West Dennis 137 3 Amherst 134 51 Wilmington 134 30 Dalton 133 9 E. Boston 133 54 Hardwick 133 4 Whately 133 2 Northfield 131 4 Carver 130 15 West Boylston 130 10 Bradford 126 17 Groveland 123 8 Reading 121 30 Stow 121 8 Holland 120 3 Clarksburg 117 2 Wendell 117 1 Monson 116 10 Ashburnham 115 7 Cummington 114 1 Millis 114 9 Dighton 112 8 Shutesbury 112 2 Barre 111 6 Centerville 111 15 North Falmouth 111 3 Georgetown 109 9 West Tisbury 109 3 Westport 109 17 Leverett 108 2 Sturbridge 107 10 Byfield 106 3 Holliston 103 14 East Freetown 102 5 Hopedale 101 6 Cherry Valley 100 11 Leicester 100 11 North Easton 100 13 Pembroke 100 18 Rutland 100 8 Devens 99 2 Lenox 99 5 North Truro 99 2 Truro 99 2 Chatham 97 6 Manchester 97 5 Granby 96 6 East Longmeadow 95 15 Goshen 94 1 Millville 94 3 Bernardston 93 2 Duxbury 92 14 Milton 92 25 Cotuit 91 3 Medfield 91 11 Forestdale 90 4 Needham 90 26 Hatfield 89 3 Cataumet 88 1 Falmouth 88 28 Swansea 88 14 Acushnet 87 9 Worthington 86 1 Jefferson 85 3 South Attleboro 84 7 Brimfield 83 3 Somerset 82 15 Blandford 81 1 Chesterfield 81 1 Sagamore 81 3 Norfolk 80 9 Upton 79 6 Berkley 77 5 Chester 74 1 Harwich 73 9 Bourne 70 14 North Dighton 70 3 Plympton 70 2 Southampton 69 4 Onset 68 15 Richmond 67 1 Gill 66 1 Mattapoisett 66 4 Lanesborough 64 2 Rochdale 63 7 Dunstable 62 2 Otis 62 1 Sandwich 62 13 Westhampton 62 1 South Lancaster 61 1 Southborough 61 6 Rehoboth 60 7 North Hatfield 59 2 Phillipston 59 1 Princeton 58 2 Essex 57 2 West Bridgewater 57 4 Becket 56 1 Concord 56 10 Russell 56 1 Needham Heights 55 16 Sutton 55 5 West Falmouth 54 1 Westminster 54 4 Dover 53 3 Mendon 51 3 East Bridgewater 50 7 Grafton 50 9 Newton Upper Falls 49 3 South Dartmouth 49 17 Lincoln 47 3 West Townsend 47 1 Hubbardston 45 2 Huntington 45 1 Groton 44 5 Middleton 44 4 North Oxford 44 1 Townsend 44 4 Wellesley Hills 43 13 Holden 40 7 Hamilton 38 3 Hampden 38 2 North Grafton 38 3 Norwell 38 4 Rochdale (Leicester) 37 1 South Barre 37 2 West Newton 37 5 Weston 35 4 Scituate 33 6 South Lee 33 2 Ashby 32 1 Topsfield 32 2 Wellesley 32 9 Newbury 30 2 Winchester 28 6 Newton Centre 26 1 Boxford 25 2 Longmeadow 25 4 South Hamilton 25 2 East Templeton 24 2 North Pembroke 24 1 Montague 23 2 West Newbury 23 1 Assonet 22 2 Boylston 22 1 Bolton 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Deerfield 19 1 East Walpole 19 5 Rochester 19 1 Newton 16 14 Newton Highlands 16 14 West Harwich 16 2 Harvard 15 1 Dennis 14 2 North Weymouth 14 8 Templeton 12 1 Waban 12 1 Wollaston 9 1 Yarmouth 8 2 North Uxbridge 7 1 Easton 4 1 E. Weymouth 3 2 South Walpole 3 1 Barnstable 2 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 North Quincy 1 1 West Medford 1 1 (not given) 0 307 span 0 17 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 6697 4761 Berkshire 5149 831 Plymouth 4727 2041 Bristol 4572 3761 Essex 4331 4761 Worcester 4113 4578 Norfolk 3865 3295 Franklin 3470 366 Suffolk 3145 6211 Barnstable 3015 582 Middlesex 2873 6704 Hampshire 2616 482 Dukes 829 34 Nantucket 655 23 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 34178 88.2% Ongoing/Error 4576 11.8% 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 14343 42.0% Dismissed 10985 32.1% Defaulted 7624 22.3% Heard 1211 3.5% Other 15 0.0% Total 34178 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 1240 1002 2123 312 5 Foreclosure 62 122 119 17 0 No Fault 1049 977 2482 133 0 Non-payment 8632 5513 9617 746 10 Unknown/Other 2 10 2 3 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.6% 2.9% 6.2% 0.9% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.4% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 3.1% 2.9% 7.3% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 25.3% 16.1% 28.1% 2.2% 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 17046 49.9% 44.0% Judgment inferred 3065 9.0% 7.9% No judgment 14067 41.2% 36.3% Total 34178 100.0% 51.9% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 2211 6.5% 0 1,584,978 3,939 34,111 8,710,327 Foreclosure 172 0.5% 0 43,040 810 3,641 139,380 No fault 2072 6.1% 0 99,806 4,812 6,653 9,971,211 Non-payment 12583 36.8% 0 464,516 7,942 9,337 99,941,502 Unknown/Other 8 0.0% 0 13,323 5,356 4,955 42,852 Subtotal 17046 49.9% 0 1,584,978 6,969 14,955 118,805,273 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 1396 4.1% 0 99,806 4,884 6,390 6,819,238 Defaulted 6833 20.0% 0 1,584,978 7,416 21,705 50,674,788 Mediated 8303 24.3% 0 103,362 6,930 7,723 57,545,115 Heard 502 1.5% 0 62,514 7,411 8,132 3,720,450 Other 12 0.0% 257 10,240 3,806 2,822 45,680 Subtotal 17046 49.9% 0 1,584,978 6,969 14,955 118,805,273 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 67 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 18295 91.0% 53.5% 47.2% unknown 1749 8.7% 5.1% 4.5% Total 20111 100.0% 58.8% 51.9% Judgments All Cases: Count: 17046 Range: 0.000 - 1584978.980; Mean: 6969.686; Median: 4657.465; Stddev: 14955.711 Percentiles: 90th: 15569.880; 95th: 20435.630; 99th: 34767.240 0.000 - 176.827: 83 # 176.827 - 487.528: 2079 ################### 487.528 - 1341.088: 1115 ########## 1341.088 - 3685.998: 3509 ############################### 3685.998 - 10127.956: 5937 ##################################################### 10127.956 - 27825.367: 3529 ################################ 27825.367 - 76443.867: 345 ### 76443.867 - 210009.083: 13 | 210009.083 - 576940.745: 2 | 576940.745 - 1584978.980: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 2211 Range: 0.000 - 1584978.980; Mean: 3939.542; Median: 313.500; Stddev: 34119.409 Percentiles: 90th: 9600.000; 95th: 13285.690; 99th: 27527.820 0.000 - 266.427: 655 ##################################################### 266.427 - 701.114: 347 ############################ 701.114 - 1842.358: 185 ############### 1842.358 - 4838.625: 312 ######################### 4838.625 - 12705.143: 382 ############################### 12705.143 - 33358.208: 113 ######### 33358.208 - 87581.583: 9 # 87581.583 - 1584978.980: 1 | Foreclosure: Count: 172 Range: 0.000 - 43040.850; Mean: 810.349; Median: 246.330; Stddev: 3652.451 Percentiles: 90th: 360.190; 95th: 1150.000; 99th: 16598.740 0.000 - 267.011: 85 ##################################################### 267.011 - 470.232: 60 ##################################### 470.232 - 827.546: 4 ## 827.546 - 1455.796: 1 # 1455.796 - 7917.534: 4 ## 7917.534 - 13921.808: 2 # 13921.808 - 24478.857: 1 # 24478.857 - 43040.850: 1 # No Fault: Count: 2072 Range: 0.000 - 99806.450; Mean: 4812.361; Median: 3064.550; Stddev: 6654.893 Percentiles: 90th: 11663.440; 95th: 15462.140; 99th: 27233.270 0.000 - 133.869: 2 | 133.869 - 280.007: 493 ##################################################### 280.007 - 584.494: 126 ############## 584.494 - 1218.912: 60 ###### 1218.912 - 2540.758: 183 #################### 2540.758 - 5294.903: 414 ############################################# 5294.903 - 11033.325: 468 ################################################## 11033.325 - 22989.663: 204 ###################### 22989.663 - 47901.395: 23 ## 47901.395 - 99806.450: 6 # Non-payment: Count: 12583 Range: 0.000 - 464516.850; Mean: 7942.581; Median: 5661.530; Stddev: 9338.210 Percentiles: 90th: 16902.600; 95th: 21624.600; 99th: 35843.400 0.000 - 182.432: 20 | 182.432 - 437.172: 370 ##### 437.172 - 1045.680: 570 ####### 1045.680 - 2499.252: 1811 ####################### 2499.252 - 5971.464: 3652 ############################################## 5971.464 - 14265.693: 4211 ##################################################### 14265.693 - 34078.490: 1673 ##################### 34078.490 - 81406.208: 148 ## 81406.208 - 194460.053: 9 | 194460.053 - 464516.850: 2 | Unknown/Other reason: Count: 8 Range: 0.000 - 13323.090; Mean: 5356.587; Median: 5129.375; Stddev: 5297.674 Percentiles: 90th: 13323.090; 95th: 13323.090; 99th: 13323.090 0.000 - 391.276: 1 ########################### 391.276 - 2779.818: 1 ########################### 2779.818 - 9004.780: 2 ##################################################### 9004.780 - 13323.090: 2 ##################################################### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 1396 Range: 0.000 - 99806.450; Mean: 4884.841; Median: 3144.125; Stddev: 6392.421 Percentiles: 90th: 10911.060; 95th: 14647.970; 99th: 28977.890 0.000 - 133.869: 4 # 133.869 - 280.007: 146 ###################### 280.007 - 584.494: 88 ############## 584.494 - 1218.912: 116 ################## 1218.912 - 2540.758: 236 #################################### 2540.758 - 5294.903: 345 ##################################################### 5294.903 - 11033.325: 316 ################################################# 11033.325 - 22989.663: 109 ################# 22989.663 - 47901.395: 20 ### 47901.395 - 99806.450: 4 # Defaulted: Count: 6833 Range: 0.000 - 1584978.980; Mean: 7416.184; Median: 4924.710; Stddev: 21707.126 Percentiles: 90th: 16179.930; 95th: 21188.240; 99th: 34888.700 0.000 - 292.097: 840 #################### 292.097 - 760.711: 329 ######## 760.711 - 1978.564: 597 ############## 1978.564 - 5143.566: 1644 ###################################### 5143.566 - 13368.893: 2281 ##################################################### 13368.893 - 34745.183: 958 ###################### 34745.183 - 90298.693: 66 ## 90298.693 - 234673.252: 2 | 234673.252 - 609879.309: 2 | 609879.309 - 1584978.980: 1 | Mediated: Count: 8303 Range: 0.000 - 103362.250; Mean: 6930.641; Median: 4738.070; Stddev: 7724.120 Percentiles: 90th: 15660.730; 95th: 20357.650; 99th: 34892.540 0.000 - 202.535: 88 ## 202.535 - 405.702: 692 ################## 405.702 - 811.667: 221 ###### 811.667 - 1622.860: 607 ################ 1622.860 - 3243.777: 1243 ################################# 3243.777 - 6482.674: 1972 ##################################################### 6482.674 - 12954.596: 1986 ##################################################### 12954.596 - 25886.711: 1029 ########################### 25886.711 - 51727.503: 189 ##### 51727.503 - 103362.250: 28 # Heard: Count: 502 Range: 0.000 - 62514.570; Mean: 7411.256; Median: 5273.605; Stddev: 8140.913 Percentiles: 90th: 16623.810; 95th: 21212.900; 99th: 34912.360 0.000 - 258.356: 33 ################ 258.356 - 476.060: 23 ########### 476.060 - 876.505: 3 # 876.505 - 1613.086: 26 ############ 1613.086 - 2967.955: 34 ################ 2967.955 - 5460.105: 73 ################################### 5460.105 - 10044.174: 111 ##################################################### 10044.174 - 18476.124: 100 ################################################ 18476.124 - 33985.879: 32 ############### 33985.879 - 62514.570: 7 ### Other Outcome: Count: 12 Range: 257.000 - 10240.920; Mean: 3806.731; Median: 2887.435; Stddev: 2947.959 Percentiles: 90th: 6801.930; 95th: 10240.920; 99th: 10240.920 257.000 - 371.817: 1 ################## 371.817 - 1123.927: 1 ################## 1123.927 - 1624.551: 1 ################## 1624.551 - 2347.966: 2 ################################### 2347.966 - 3393.321: 2 ################################### 3393.321 - 4903.887: 1 ################## 4903.887 - 7086.698: 3 ##################################################### 7086.698 - 10240.920: 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 16001 79.6% 46.8% 41.3% Issued 12261 61.0% 35.9% 31.6% Levied 2713 13.5% 7.9% 7.0% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 406 15.0% 2.0% 1.2% 1.0% Foreclosure 130 4.8% 0.6% 0.4% 0.3% No Fault 416 15.3% 2.1% 1.2% 1.1% Non-payment 1761 64.9% 8.8% 5.2% 4.5% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 2713 100.0% 13.5% 7.9% 7.0% 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 279 10.3% 1.4% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 1196 44.1% 5.9% 3.5% 3.1% Mediated 1189 43.8% 5.9% 3.5% 3.1% Heard 49 1.8% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 2713 100.0% 13.5% 7.9% 7.0% 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 130 352 36.9% No Fault 416 4819 8.6% Cause 406 5942 6.8% Non-payment 1761 27615 6.4% Unknown/Other 0 26 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 1196 7624 15.7% Mediated 1189 14343 8.3% Heard 49 1211 4.0% Dismissed 279 10985 2.5% Other 0 15 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 0 617 99 101 Non-payment 0 598 90 93 No Fault 0 599 92 88 Foreclosure 3 602 105 110 Unknown/Other 38 512 160 151 All Reasons 0 617 92 94 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 567 80 89 Defaulted 0 595 84 80 Mediated 0 617 103 100 Heard 0 598 121 116 Other 16 248 101 79 All Outcomes 0 617 92 94 All Cases: Count: 34178 Range: 0.000 - 617.000; Mean: 92.443; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 94.055 Percentiles: 90th: 208.000; 95th: 305.000; 99th: 484.000 0.000 - 2.548: 61 | 2.548 - 5.295: 145 # 5.295 - 10.169: 364 # 10.169 - 18.816: 807 ### 18.816 - 34.157: 3380 ############# 34.157 - 61.374: 13865 ##################################################### 61.374 - 109.663: 7767 ############################## 109.663 - 195.335: 3997 ############### 195.335 - 347.331: 2462 ######### 347.331 - 617.000: 1296 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 4682 Range: 0.000 - 617.000; Mean: 99.702; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 101.191 Percentiles: 90th: 236.000; 95th: 341.000; 99th: 494.000 0.000 - 2.548: 6 | 2.548 - 5.295: 16 | 5.295 - 10.169: 38 # 10.169 - 18.816: 101 ### 18.816 - 34.157: 468 ############## 34.157 - 61.374: 1772 ##################################################### 61.374 - 109.663: 1099 ################################# 109.663 - 195.335: 552 ################# 195.335 - 347.331: 404 ############ 347.331 - 617.000: 219 ####### Non-payment: Count: 24518 Range: 0.000 - 598.000; Mean: 90.856; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 93.369 Percentiles: 90th: 202.000; 95th: 302.000; 99th: 485.000 0.000 - 2.537: 47 | 2.537 - 5.256: 118 # 5.256 - 10.065: 303 ## 10.065 - 18.570: 648 ### 18.570 - 33.612: 2272 ############ 33.612 - 60.216: 10089 ##################################################### 60.216 - 107.270: 5445 ############################# 107.270 - 190.491: 2923 ############### 190.491 - 337.678: 1676 ######### 337.678 - 598.000: 978 ##### No Fault: Count: 4641 Range: 0.000 - 599.000; Mean: 92.347; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 88.071 Percentiles: 90th: 203.000; 95th: 287.000; 99th: 450.000 0.000 - 2.538: 8 | 2.538 - 5.258: 9 | 5.258 - 10.070: 19 # 10.070 - 18.583: 53 # 18.583 - 33.641: 372 ########## 33.641 - 60.278: 1993 ##################################################### 60.278 - 107.396: 1089 ############################# 107.396 - 190.746: 564 ############### 190.746 - 338.187: 368 ########## 338.187 - 599.000: 158 #### Foreclosure: Count: 320 Range: 3.000 - 602.000; Mean: 105.588; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 110.291 Percentiles: 90th: 245.000; 95th: 379.000; 99th: 505.000 3.000 - 5.605: 2 # 5.605 - 9.907: 2 # 9.907 - 17.011: 7 #### 17.011 - 28.742: 12 ####### 28.742 - 48.112: 88 ################################################## 48.112 - 80.099: 94 ##################################################### 80.099 - 132.918: 38 ##################### 132.918 - 220.139: 40 ####################### 220.139 - 364.167: 19 ########### 364.167 - 602.000: 18 ########## Unknown/Other reason: Count: 17 Range: 38.000 - 512.000; Mean: 160.176; Median: 115.000; Stddev: 151.184 Percentiles: 90th: 456.000; 95th: 512.000; 99th: 512.000 38.000 - 49.463: 6 ##################################################### 49.463 - 64.294: 2 ################## 64.294 - 140.446: 3 ########################### 140.446 - 235.811: 2 ################## 235.811 - 305.413: 2 ################## 305.413 - 512.000: 2 ################## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 10985 Range: 0.000 - 567.000; Mean: 80.266; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 89.765 Percentiles: 90th: 183.000; 95th: 277.000; 99th: 471.000 0.000 - 2.519: 55 # 2.519 - 5.190: 121 ## 5.190 - 9.890: 221 ### 9.890 - 18.158: 659 ######### 18.158 - 32.705: 1507 #################### 32.705 - 58.295: 4084 ##################################################### 58.295 - 103.316: 2120 ############################ 103.316 - 182.521: 1098 ############## 182.521 - 321.862: 688 ######### 321.862 - 567.000: 416 ##### Defaulted: Count: 7624 Range: 0.000 - 595.000; Mean: 84.640; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 80.039 Percentiles: 90th: 164.000; 95th: 258.000; 99th: 451.000 0.000 - 5.597: 3 | 5.597 - 16.948: 22 | 16.948 - 28.603: 289 ##### 28.603 - 47.826: 2192 ######################################## 47.826 - 79.533: 2885 ##################################################### 79.533 - 131.828: 1180 ###################### 131.828 - 218.083: 556 ########## 218.083 - 360.350: 302 ###### 360.350 - 595.000: 188 ### Mediated: Count: 14343 Range: 0.000 - 617.000; Mean: 103.450; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 100.026 Percentiles: 90th: 238.000; 95th: 335.000; 99th: 498.000 0.000 - 2.548: 1 | 2.548 - 5.295: 8 | 5.295 - 10.169: 18 | 10.169 - 18.816: 159 # 18.816 - 34.157: 1016 ######### 34.157 - 61.374: 5789 ##################################################### 61.374 - 109.663: 3425 ############################### 109.663 - 195.335: 1974 ################## 195.335 - 347.331: 1288 ############ 347.331 - 617.000: 658 ###### Heard: Count: 1211 Range: 0.000 - 598.000; Mean: 121.536; Median: 79.000; Stddev: 116.986 Percentiles: 90th: 291.000; 95th: 397.000; 99th: 534.000 0.000 - 2.537: 5 # 2.537 - 5.256: 13 ## 5.256 - 10.065: 22 ### 10.065 - 18.570: 39 ###### 18.570 - 33.612: 77 ############ 33.612 - 60.216: 270 ######################################### 60.216 - 107.270: 348 ##################################################### 107.270 - 190.491: 214 ################################# 190.491 - 337.678: 129 #################### 337.678 - 598.000: 90 ############## Other Outcome: Count: 15 Range: 16.000 - 248.000; Mean: 101.733; Median: 72.000; Stddev: 79.925 Percentiles: 90th: 220.000; 95th: 248.000; 99th: 248.000 16.000 - 21.234: 3 ##################################################### 21.234 - 37.034: 1 ################## 37.034 - 64.062: 3 ##################################################### 64.062 - 84.094: 2 ################################### 84.094 - 144.562: 1 ################## 144.562 - 189.381: 2 ################################### 189.381 - 248.000: 3 ##################################################### -- 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/.