Outcomes for January 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: 2023-01-31 Earliest Case: 2023-01-02 Latest Case: 2023-01-31 Total Cases: 3385 Total Transfers: 68 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 22.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 42.5% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Orange Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 112 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 645 19.1% northeast 554 16.4% central 502 14.8% western 500 14.8% southeast 398 11.8% metro_south 283 8.4% quincy district 46 1.4% lynn district 41 1.2% malden district 41 1.2% lawrence district 37 1.1% fall river district 28 0.8% somerville district 27 0.8% brockton district 25 0.7% lowell district 23 0.7% pittsfield district 21 0.6% springfield district 21 0.6% chelsea district 19 0.6% woburn district 16 0.5% cambridge district 11 0.3% waltham district 11 0.3% haverhill district 9 0.3% new bedford district 9 0.3% peabody district 9 0.3% attleboro district 8 0.2% framingham district 8 0.2% salem district 8 0.2% chicopee district 7 0.2% northern berkshire district 7 0.2% barnstable district 6 0.2% plymouth district 6 0.2% southern berkshire district 6 0.2% dedham district 5 0.1% worcester district 4 0.1% bmc dorchester 3 0.1% bmc east boston 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% nantucket district 3 0.1% wrentham district 3 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% fallmouth district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% orleans district 2 0.1% stoughton district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% bmc brighton 1 0.0% bmc south boston 1 0.0% bmc west roxbury 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% newburyport district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2621 6 Natural Person 764 3379 Total 3385 3385 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 77.4% 0.2% Natural Person 22.6% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2601 20 2621 Optional 439 325 764 Total 3040 345 3385 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 76.8% 0.6% 77.4% Optional 13.0% 9.6% 22.6% Total 89.8% 10.2% 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 2 4 6 Optional 180 3199 3379 Total 182 3203 3385 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 5.3% 94.5% 99.8% Total 5.4% 94.6% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 91 2.7% 1 2385 70.5% 2 735 21.7% 3 137 4.0% 4 26 0.8% 5 10 0.3% 6 1 0.0% Total 3385 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 2508 74.1% Cause 476 14.1% No Fault 380 11.2% Foreclosure 21 0.6% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 632 6 Chestnut Hill 235 5 Orange 204 16 South Deerfield 195 4 Oxford 175 24 Springfield 158 242 Danvers 154 41 Turners Falls 146 6 Fall River 139 124 Three Rivers 136 4 Sunderland 135 5 New Bedford 133 127 Housatonic 132 1 Roxbury 124 74 Pittsfield 122 55 Indian Orchard 119 12 Dorchester 118 109 Stoughton 118 32 Buzzards Bay 116 4 Revere 115 60 Chelsea 113 40 Lynn 112 102 Worcester 109 199 Chicopee 106 59 Southbridge 95 16 Fitchburg 94 38 West Yarmouth 94 5 Lowell 93 100 Leominster 90 37 South Easton 88 9 West Warren 88 1 Holyoke 87 35 Salem 87 36 Gilbertville 86 1 Worthington 86 1 Malden 84 50 Mattapan 84 31 West Springfield 84 24 Brockton 83 78 Lawrence 81 62 Hyannis 78 11 Peabody 78 40 Marlborough 77 30 Norwood 76 22 West Stockbridge 76 1 Wrentham 73 8 Great Barrington 70 5 Framingham 67 46 Lee 67 4 Dorchester Center 65 60 East Boston 64 26 Gardner 64 13 Beverly 63 25 Norfolk 62 7 Otis 62 1 Randolph 62 20 Westhampton 62 1 Whitman 62 9 Athol 60 7 Ware 60 6 Charlestown 59 10 Colrain 59 1 Harwich Port 57 1 Haverhill 57 35 Whitinsville 57 4 Middleborough 56 13 North Andover 56 16 Osterville 56 2 Russell 56 1 Saugus 56 15 Shelburne Falls 56 1 South Dennis 54 2 Westborough 54 10 Halifax 53 4 Milford 53 15 Quincy 53 49 Bridgewater 52 14 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Canton 51 11 Waltham 51 31 Lunenburg 49 5 Nantucket 49 5 North Truro 49 1 Truro 49 1 Walpole 49 12 Attleborough 48 21 Methuen 48 23 Plainville 48 4 Taunton 48 27 Adams 47 4 Hyde Park 47 16 Somerville 47 36 Stoneham 46 10 Everett 45 19 Rockland 45 8 Blackstone 44 4 Braintree 44 16 North Oxford 44 1 Dudley 43 5 North Adams 43 6 Swampscott 43 6 Spencer 42 5 Gloucester 41 12 Palmer 41 5 Belchertown 40 6 Greenfield 40 7 Kingston 39 5 Medway 39 5 Yarmouth Port 39 2 Hadley 38 2 Holbrook 37 4 Jamaica Plain 37 14 Lakeville 37 4 Rutland 37 3 Weymouth 37 20 Acton 36 8 Brighton 36 16 Clinton 36 5 Woburn 36 14 Webster 35 6 Wilbraham 35 5 Berlin 34 1 North Attleborough 34 10 Pocasset 34 1 Melrose 33 9 Orleans 33 2 Provincetown 33 1 Cambridge 32 34 South Boston 32 11 Dennis Port 31 1 East Weymouth 31 17 Norton 31 6 Roxbury Crossing 31 19 Bellingham 30 5 Cheshire 30 1 Millbury 30 4 Hanson 29 3 Hull 29 3 Nahant 29 1 Westfield 29 12 Dighton 28 2 Mashpee 28 4 North Billerica 28 3 Reading 28 7 Sudbury 28 5 Winthrop 28 5 Allston 27 8 Brimfield 27 1 Ayer 26 2 Medford 26 15 West Boylston 26 2 Abington 25 4 Feeding Hills 25 3 North Dartmouth 25 6 South Yarmouth 25 3 Wakefield 24 6 Ludlow 23 5 Bradford 22 3 Newburyport 22 4 Oak Bluffs 22 1 South Grafton 22 1 Westford 22 5 Auburndale 21 2 Northborough 21 3 Southwick 21 2 Belmont 20 5 Brewster 20 2 Burlington 20 5 East Freetown 20 1 Marion 20 1 Marstons Mills 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Billerica 19 8 Duxbury 19 3 Lenox 19 1 Maynard 19 2 Shrewsbury 19 7 West Roxbury 19 6 Winchendon 19 2 Andover 18 6 Franklin 18 6 Hingham 18 4 Wareham 18 4 Chelmsford 17 6 East Falmouth 17 1 Foxborough 17 3 Lynnfield 17 2 Roslindale 17 5 Rowley 17 1 Southampton 17 1 Tyngsborough 17 2 Ashburnham 16 1 Chatham 16 1 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 Pembroke 16 3 Bedford 15 2 East Taunton 15 1 Groveland 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Marblehead 15 3 Natick 15 5 Stow 15 1 Watertown 15 5 Agawam 14 4 Holliston 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Seekonk 14 2 Cohasset 13 1 Dracut 13 4 Tewksbury 13 4 Westwood 13 2 Amesbury 12 2 Auburn 12 2 Boston 12 80 Dedham 12 3 Georgetown 12 1 Lexington 12 4 Plymouth 12 7 Salisbury 12 1 Arlington 11 5 Brookline 11 7 Littleton 11 1 Marshfield 11 3 Middleton 11 1 Monson 11 1 Sharon 11 2 Amherst 10 4 Hudson 10 2 Acushnet 9 1 East Wareham 9 2 Onset 9 2 Carver 8 1 Mansfield 8 2 Wilmington 8 2 Centerville 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Milton 7 2 Northampton 7 2 Wellesley 7 2 Ashland 6 1 Easthampton 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Swansea 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Concord 5 1 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Somerset 5 1 South Hadley 5 1 South Weymouth 5 3 E. Boston 4 2 Newton Highlands 4 4 Sandwich 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Needham 3 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 1 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 (not given) 0 6 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 Hampden 583 415 Berkshire 489 79 Bristol 415 342 Plymouth 407 176 Essex 402 442 Worcester 380 424 Franklin 379 40 Norfolk 317 271 Suffolk 299 592 Barnstable 253 49 Middlesex 218 510 Hampshire 168 31 Nantucket 142 5 Dukes 48 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 3020 89.2% Ongoing/Error 365 10.8% 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 1185 39.2% Dismissed 1058 35.0% Defaulted 681 22.5% Heard 94 3.1% Other 2 0.1% Total 3020 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 107 86 158 22 2 Foreclosure 7 4 10 0 0 No Fault 75 82 197 11 0 Non-payment 869 509 820 61 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.5% 2.8% 5.2% 0.7% 0.1% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 2.5% 2.7% 6.5% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 28.8% 16.9% 27.2% 2.0% 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 1435 47.5% 42.4% Judgment inferred 293 9.7% 8.7% No judgment 1292 42.8% 38.2% Total 3020 100.0% 51.0% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 170 5.6% 0 30,203 3,261 5,008 554,436 Foreclosure 8 0.3% 199 245 232 13 1,863 No fault 159 5.3% 0 52,919 4,516 6,375 718,156 Non-payment 1098 36.4% 0 96,727 7,627 8,129 8,375,540 Subtotal 1435 47.5% 0 96,727 6,724 7,801 9,649,997 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 133 4.4% 63 26,182 4,014 4,297 533,868 Defaulted 611 20.2% 0 70,521 6,646 7,094 4,060,853 Mediated 655 21.7% 0 96,727 7,363 8,882 4,823,059 Heard 35 1.2% 0 22,990 6,559 5,837 229,597 Other 1 0.0% 2,618 2,618 2,618 0 2,618 Subtotal 1435 47.5% 0 96,727 6,724 7,801 9,649,997 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 5 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% plaintiff 1517 87.8% 50.2% 44.8% unknown 206 11.9% 6.8% 6.1% Total 1728 100.0% 57.2% 51.0% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1435 Range: 0.000 - 96727.580; Mean: 6724.737; Median: 4425.580; Stddev: 7804.438 Percentiles: 90th: 15397.720; 95th: 19803.300; 99th: 32732.810 0.000 - 133.447: 2 | 133.447 - 278.251: 158 ####################### 278.251 - 579.017: 36 ##### 579.017 - 1203.718: 92 ############# 1203.718 - 2501.247: 158 ####################### 2501.247 - 5196.268: 300 ############################################ 5196.268 - 10793.935: 364 ##################################################### 10793.935 - 22420.516: 241 ################################### 22420.516 - 46569.392: 45 ####### 46569.392 - 96727.580: 8 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 170 Range: 0.000 - 30203.000; Mean: 3261.390; Median: 559.160; Stddev: 5023.038 Percentiles: 90th: 9958.170; 95th: 12376.000; 99th: 26990.550 0.000 - 274.153: 64 ##################################################### 274.153 - 462.762: 4 ### 462.762 - 780.658: 6 ##### 780.658 - 1316.461: 8 ####### 1316.461 - 2219.541: 12 ########## 2219.541 - 3741.656: 10 ######## 3741.656 - 6307.136: 15 ############ 6307.136 - 10631.177: 20 ################# 10631.177 - 17919.220: 12 ########## 17919.220 - 30203.000: 4 ### Foreclosure: Count: 8 Range: 199.950 - 245.420; Mean: 232.904; Median: 236.575; Stddev: 14.525 Percentiles: 90th: 245.420; 95th: 245.420; 99th: 245.420 199.950 - 204.091: 1 ################## 204.091 - 230.793: 1 ################## 230.793 - 235.569: 2 ################################### 235.569 - 240.444: 1 ################## 240.444 - 245.420: 3 ##################################################### No Fault: Count: 159 Range: 0.000 - 52919.590; Mean: 4516.710; Median: 2361.720; Stddev: 6395.430 Percentiles: 90th: 12674.640; 95th: 16873.360; 99th: 22542.680 0.000 - 125.578: 1 # 125.578 - 246.520: 42 ##################################################### 246.520 - 483.018: 5 ###### 483.018 - 945.484: 6 ######## 945.484 - 1849.824: 9 ########### 1849.824 - 3618.237: 19 ######################## 3618.237 - 7076.322: 34 ########################################### 7076.322 - 13838.515: 21 ########################### 13838.515 - 27061.803: 12 ############### 27061.803 - 52919.590: 1 # Non-payment: Count: 1098 Range: 0.000 - 96727.580; Mean: 7627.997; Median: 5344.845; Stddev: 8133.465 Percentiles: 90th: 16629.750; 95th: 20915.910; 99th: 36641.420 0.000 - 250.776: 36 ####### 250.776 - 486.737: 25 ##### 486.737 - 943.836: 49 ######### 943.836 - 1829.323: 96 ################### 1829.323 - 3544.675: 179 ################################### 3544.675 - 6867.630: 254 ################################################# 6867.630 - 13304.810: 274 ##################################################### 13304.810 - 25774.819: 147 ############################ 25774.819 - 49931.538: 26 ##### 49931.538 - 96727.580: 5 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 133 Range: 63.730 - 26182.690; Mean: 4014.051; Median: 2570.280; Stddev: 4313.985 Percentiles: 90th: 9790.470; 95th: 12616.980; 99th: 20882.820 63.730 - 116.977: 1 ## 116.977 - 214.026: 8 ################ 214.026 - 390.907: 15 ############################### 390.907 - 713.292: 6 ############ 713.292 - 1300.872: 10 #################### 1300.872 - 2371.798: 23 ############################################### 2371.798 - 4323.673: 26 ##################################################### 4323.673 - 7881.170: 20 ######################################### 7881.170 - 14365.082: 22 ############################################# 14365.082 - 26182.690: 2 #### Defaulted: Count: 611 Range: 0.000 - 70521.130; Mean: 6646.241; Median: 4669.690; Stddev: 7100.436 Percentiles: 90th: 15097.590; 95th: 18972.050; 99th: 29606.050 0.000 - 242.945: 74 ############################ 242.945 - 456.867: 21 ######## 456.867 - 858.385: 18 ####### 858.385 - 1612.006: 40 ############### 1612.006 - 3026.501: 68 ########################## 3026.501 - 5681.409: 112 ########################################### 5681.409 - 10664.488: 138 ##################################################### 10664.488 - 20017.381: 107 ######################################### 20017.381 - 37572.114: 24 ######### 37572.114 - 70521.130: 2 # Mediated: Count: 655 Range: 0.000 - 96727.580; Mean: 7363.449; Median: 4875.090; Stddev: 8888.953 Percentiles: 90th: 17059.470; 95th: 21086.520; 99th: 40070.980 0.000 - 269.927: 53 ################### 269.927 - 519.579: 6 ## 519.579 - 999.276: 32 ########### 999.276 - 1921.000: 57 #################### 1921.000 - 3692.065: 103 #################################### 3692.065 - 7095.113: 150 ##################################################### 7095.113 - 13633.967: 135 ################################################ 13633.967 - 26198.178: 79 ############################ 26198.178 - 50339.931: 18 ###### 50339.931 - 96727.580: 4 # Heard: Count: 35 Range: 0.000 - 22990.650; Mean: 6559.916; Median: 6274.440; Stddev: 5922.428 Percentiles: 90th: 13734.500; 95th: 19523.800; 99th: 22990.650 0.000 - 271.746: 2 ############ 271.746 - 445.414: 1 ###### 445.414 - 1956.378: 1 ###### 1956.378 - 3202.714: 2 ############ 3202.714 - 5242.640: 3 ################## 5242.640 - 8581.463: 8 ############################################### 8581.463 - 14046.242: 9 ##################################################### 14046.242 - 22990.650: 3 ################## Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 1373 79.5% 45.5% 40.6% Issued 1037 60.0% 34.3% 30.6% Levied 217 12.6% 7.2% 6.4% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 35 16.1% 2.0% 1.2% 1.0% Foreclosure 4 1.8% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% No Fault 34 15.7% 2.0% 1.1% 1.0% Non-payment 144 66.4% 8.3% 4.8% 4.3% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 217 100.0% 12.6% 7.2% 6.4% 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 22 10.1% 1.3% 0.7% 0.6% Defaulted 99 45.6% 5.7% 3.3% 2.9% Mediated 92 42.4% 5.3% 3.0% 2.7% Heard 4 1.8% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 217 100.0% 12.6% 7.2% 6.4% 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 4 21 19.0% No Fault 34 380 8.9% Cause 35 476 7.4% Non-payment 144 2508 5.7% 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 99 681 14.5% Mediated 92 1185 7.8% Heard 4 94 4.3% Dismissed 22 1058 2.1% Other 0 2 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 4 585 110 109 Non-payment 0 598 99 99 No Fault 12 545 97 98 Foreclosure 40 287 108 73 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 598 100 100 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 553 82 84 Defaulted 4 564 97 94 Mediated 7 585 115 108 Heard 3 598 147 144 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 598 100 100 All Cases: Count: 3020 Range: 0.000 - 598.000; Mean: 100.661; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 100.398 Percentiles: 90th: 211.000; 95th: 350.000; 99th: 497.000 0.000 - 4.095: 18 # 4.095 - 7.653: 12 # 7.653 - 13.696: 37 ## 13.696 - 23.960: 156 ####### 23.960 - 41.391: 292 ############## 41.391 - 70.995: 1105 ##################################################### 70.995 - 121.274: 741 #################################### 121.274 - 206.666: 350 ################# 206.666 - 351.693: 158 ######## 351.693 - 598.000: 150 ####### By Reason Cause: Count: 375 Range: 4.000 - 585.000; Mean: 110.664; Median: 72.000; Stddev: 109.793 Percentiles: 90th: 261.000; 95th: 378.000; 99th: 499.000 4.000 - 7.051: 5 ### 7.051 - 11.964: 6 ### 11.964 - 19.876: 12 ####### 19.876 - 32.616: 23 ############# 32.616 - 53.129: 93 ##################################################### 53.129 - 86.162: 83 ############################################### 86.162 - 139.352: 70 ######################################## 139.352 - 225.002: 37 ##################### 225.002 - 362.919: 25 ############## 362.919 - 585.000: 21 ############ Non-payment: Count: 2259 Range: 0.000 - 598.000; Mean: 99.366; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 99.176 Percentiles: 90th: 204.000; 95th: 326.000; 99th: 495.000 0.000 - 4.095: 16 # 4.095 - 7.653: 9 # 7.653 - 13.696: 29 ## 13.696 - 23.960: 117 ######## 23.960 - 41.391: 229 ############### 41.391 - 70.995: 821 ##################################################### 70.995 - 121.274: 559 #################################### 121.274 - 206.666: 257 ################# 206.666 - 351.693: 115 ####### 351.693 - 598.000: 106 ####### No Fault: Count: 365 Range: 12.000 - 545.000; Mean: 97.970; Median: 59.000; Stddev: 98.900 Percentiles: 90th: 190.000; 95th: 363.000; 99th: 499.000 12.000 - 17.892: 4 ## 17.892 - 26.453: 18 ####### 26.453 - 38.895: 21 ######## 38.895 - 56.975: 132 ##################################################### 56.975 - 83.250: 64 ########################## 83.250 - 121.431: 53 ##################### 121.431 - 176.917: 34 ############## 176.917 - 257.549: 11 #### 257.549 - 374.723: 10 #### 374.723 - 545.000: 18 ####### Foreclosure: Count: 21 Range: 40.000 - 287.000; Mean: 108.143; Median: 69.000; Stddev: 73.296 Percentiles: 90th: 204.000; 95th: 211.000; 99th: 287.000 40.000 - 48.825: 4 ################################### 48.825 - 59.549: 6 ##################################################### 59.549 - 72.581: 1 ######### 72.581 - 88.418: 1 ######### 88.418 - 131.053: 2 ################## 131.053 - 159.476: 1 ######### 159.476 - 194.016: 2 ################## 194.016 - 235.991: 3 ########################### 235.991 - 287.000: 1 ######### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 1058 Range: 0.000 - 553.000; Mean: 82.415; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 84.640 Percentiles: 90th: 168.000; 95th: 264.000; 99th: 451.000 0.000 - 4.055: 14 ## 4.055 - 7.519: 10 # 7.519 - 13.356: 32 ##### 13.356 - 23.192: 80 ########### 23.192 - 39.768: 140 #################### 39.768 - 67.700: 370 ##################################################### 67.700 - 114.769: 229 ################################# 114.769 - 194.089: 97 ############## 194.089 - 327.754: 51 ####### 327.754 - 553.000: 34 ##### Defaulted: Count: 681 Range: 4.000 - 564.000; Mean: 97.162; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 94.618 Percentiles: 90th: 184.000; 95th: 309.000; 99th: 485.000 4.000 - 7.022: 1 | 7.022 - 19.649: 10 ### 19.649 - 32.128: 39 ########## 32.128 - 52.151: 188 ################################################ 52.151 - 84.274: 207 ##################################################### 84.274 - 135.812: 136 ################################### 135.812 - 218.499: 44 ########### 218.499 - 351.160: 26 ####### 351.160 - 564.000: 30 ######## Mediated: Count: 1185 Range: 7.000 - 585.000; Mean: 115.185; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 108.696 Percentiles: 90th: 247.000; 95th: 419.000; 99th: 528.000 7.000 - 11.291: 4 # 11.291 - 17.882: 17 ### 17.882 - 28.009: 54 ######## 28.009 - 43.567: 70 ########## 43.567 - 67.469: 356 ##################################################### 67.469 - 104.190: 278 ######################################### 104.190 - 160.605: 190 ############################ 160.605 - 247.277: 98 ############### 247.277 - 380.432: 50 ####### 380.432 - 585.000: 68 ########## Heard: Count: 94 Range: 3.000 - 598.000; Mean: 147.032; Median: 93.500; Stddev: 144.682 Percentiles: 90th: 403.000; 95th: 496.000; 99th: 598.000 3.000 - 5.601: 3 ####### 5.601 - 9.893: 2 ##### 9.893 - 16.975: 1 ## 16.975 - 28.662: 5 ############ 28.662 - 47.949: 9 ##################### 47.949 - 79.776: 19 ############################################ 79.776 - 132.296: 23 ##################################################### 132.296 - 218.965: 13 ############################## 218.965 - 361.986: 8 ################## 361.986 - 598.000: 11 ######################### -- 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/.