Outcomes for March 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: 2023-03-01 Search Period End: 2023-03-31 Earliest Case: 2023-03-01 Latest Case: 2023-03-31 Total Cases: 3367 Total Transfers: 84 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 25.3% Of those, percentage pro se: 45.2% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Fall River Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River Least stable county: Berkshire 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 552 16.4% northeast 550 16.3% central 484 14.4% western 479 14.2% southeast 462 13.7% metro_south 287 8.5% lowell district 41 1.2% malden district 41 1.2% lynn district 38 1.1% quincy district 36 1.1% pittsfield district 32 1.0% fall river district 29 0.9% lawrence district 24 0.7% somerville district 21 0.6% brockton district 20 0.6% bmc east boston 19 0.6% cambridge district 19 0.6% chelsea district 18 0.5% haverhill district 16 0.5% wrentham district 15 0.4% northern berkshire district 14 0.4% woburn district 13 0.4% attleboro district 12 0.4% waltham district 12 0.4% salem district 11 0.3% bmc west roxbury 9 0.3% springfield district 8 0.2% taunton district 8 0.2% barnstable district 7 0.2% chicopee district 7 0.2% bmc brighton 6 0.2% bmc dorchester 6 0.2% dedham district 6 0.2% new bedford district 6 0.2% gloucester district 4 0.1% holyoke district 4 0.1% orleans district 4 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% eastern hampshire district 3 0.1% fallmouth district 3 0.1% hingham district 3 0.1% nantucket district 3 0.1% newburyport district 3 0.1% northampton district 3 0.1% peabody district 3 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% westfield district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% framingham district 2 0.1% ipswich district 2 0.1% stoughton district 2 0.1% worcester district 2 0.1% brookline district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% milford district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2515 10 Natural Person 852 3357 Total 3367 3367 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 74.7% 0.3% Natural Person 25.3% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2503 12 2515 Optional 467 385 852 Total 2970 397 3367 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 74.3% 0.4% 74.7% Optional 13.9% 11.4% 25.3% Total 88.2% 11.8% 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 3 7 10 Optional 200 3157 3357 Total 203 3164 3367 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% Optional 5.9% 93.8% 99.7% Total 6.0% 94.0% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 97 2.9% 1 2404 71.4% 2 719 21.4% 3 110 3.3% 4 31 0.9% 5 4 0.1% 6 2 0.1% Total 3367 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 2414 71.7% Cause 500 14.9% No Fault 407 12.1% Foreclosure 39 1.2% Unknown/Other 7 0.2% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 527 5 Fall River 207 184 Turners Falls 195 8 East Falmouth 172 10 Holyoke 168 67 Southbridge 143 24 Pittsfield 138 62 Housatonic 132 1 Lowell 130 139 New Bedford 118 113 Lynn 116 105 Ashfield 115 2 Rockport 115 8 Springfield 113 174 Worcester 112 204 Indian Orchard 109 11 Berlin 104 3 Greenfield 103 18 North Adams 102 14 Randolph 99 32 Great Barrington 98 7 Dorchester 96 89 Marlborough 96 37 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Goshen 94 1 West Wareham 92 2 Chelsea 90 32 Fitchburg 89 36 Salem 89 37 Westborough 87 16 Chicopee 86 48 East Sandwich 86 3 Revere 86 45 Whitinsville 86 6 Brighton 84 37 Lawrence 83 64 Adams 82 7 Bridgewater 82 22 Sunderland 81 3 West Chatham 78 1 Hadley 76 4 Orange 76 6 West Stockbridge 76 1 Malden 75 45 North Falmouth 74 2 Haverhill 72 44 Roxbury 72 43 Hyde Park 71 24 Brockton 70 66 Gardner 69 14 Quincy 69 64 Abington 68 11 Norwood 66 19 Whately 66 1 Fiskdale 64 2 Dennis Port 63 2 Granville 63 1 Stoughton 63 17 Cheshire 61 2 East Boston 61 25 Athol 60 7 Dedham 60 15 Saugus 60 16 Ware 60 6 Feeding Hills 59 7 Raynham 59 8 Beverly 58 23 Buzzards Bay 58 2 South Easton 58 6 Tewksbury 58 17 Warren 58 3 Becket 56 1 North Billerica 56 6 Canton 55 12 North Dartmouth 55 13 Taunton 55 31 Framingham 54 37 Leverett 54 1 Mattapan 54 20 Bondsville 53 1 Foxborough 53 9 Halifax 53 4 Tyngsborough 53 6 Northampton 52 15 Woburn 52 20 South Yarmouth 51 6 Braintree 50 18 Devens 49 1 Roslindale 48 14 South Deerfield 48 1 Winchendon 48 5 Everett 47 20 Dorchester Center 46 43 East Taunton 46 3 West Dennis 45 1 North Chelmsford 43 4 Cambridge 42 45 Hyannis 42 6 Ludlow 42 9 East Wareham 41 9 Marstons Mills 41 2 Palmer 41 5 Ayer 40 3 Hingham 40 9 Weymouth 40 22 Andover 39 13 E. Boston 39 16 Kingston 39 5 Medway 39 5 Peabody 39 20 Yarmouth Port 39 2 Gloucester 38 11 Hull 38 4 Newtonville 38 2 North Attleborough 38 11 Somerville 38 29 West Springfield 38 11 Westfield 38 16 Billerica 37 15 Medford 37 21 Burlington 36 9 Clinton 36 5 Hanover 36 5 Plainville 36 3 Swampscott 36 5 Wrentham 36 4 Charlestown 35 6 Webster 35 6 Allston 34 10 Brookline 34 20 South Hadley 34 6 Three Rivers 34 1 Hardwick 33 1 Lee 33 2 Provincetown 33 1 Ashby 32 1 Attleborough 32 14 Lanesborough 32 1 Milford 32 9 Franklin 31 10 North Andover 31 9 Bedford 30 4 Bourne 30 6 Dracut 30 9 Newbury 30 2 Plymouth 30 17 Chelmsford 29 10 Princeton 29 1 South Boston 29 10 Lakeville 28 3 Newburyport 28 5 Watertown 28 9 Westwood 27 4 Whitman 27 4 Danvers 26 7 Dudley 26 3 Hudson 26 5 Leominster 26 11 Norton 26 5 Fairhaven 25 4 Lynnfield 25 3 Mansfield 25 6 Northbridge 25 4 Spencer 25 3 Easthampton 24 4 Methuen 23 11 Monson 23 2 North Dighton 23 1 Roxbury Crossing 23 14 Avon 22 1 Blackstone 22 2 Forestdale 22 1 Hubbardston 22 1 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Rockland 22 4 Sudbury 22 4 Winthrop 22 4 Auburndale 21 2 Middleborough 21 5 North Brookfield 21 1 Northborough 21 3 Sturbridge 21 2 Boxborough 20 1 Brewster 20 2 Marion 20 1 Wakefield 20 5 Lexington 19 6 Lunenburg 19 2 Maynard 19 2 Nantucket 19 2 Westport 19 3 Amesbury 18 3 Jamaica Plain 18 7 Leicester 18 2 Melrose 18 5 Natick 18 6 Wareham 18 4 West Yarmouth 18 1 Westford 18 4 Carver 17 2 Rowley 17 1 Sharon 17 3 Southampton 17 1 Arlington 16 7 Belmont 16 4 Chatham 16 1 Granby 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Somerset 16 3 South Weymouth 16 9 Waltham 16 10 Millbury 15 2 Dalton 14 1 Holliston 14 2 Shrewsbury 14 5 Acton 13 3 Amherst 13 5 Belchertown 13 2 Cohasset 13 1 Shirley 13 1 West Boylston 13 1 Westminster 13 1 Ashland 12 2 Auburn 12 2 Boston 12 76 East Longmeadow 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Hamilton 12 1 Millis 12 1 North Grafton 12 1 Salisbury 12 1 Littleton 11 1 Montague 11 1 Pembroke 11 2 Townsend 11 1 Agawam 10 3 Southwick 10 1 Cherry Valley 9 1 Hanson 9 1 Holbrook 9 1 Rochdale 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 West Roxbury 9 3 Groton 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Walpole 8 2 Weston 8 1 Centerville 7 1 East Weymouth 7 4 Ipswich 7 1 Marshfield 7 2 Mashpee 7 1 Oxford 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Bellingham 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Longmeadow 6 1 North Reading 6 1 Grafton 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Onset 4 1 Reading 4 1 Wilmington 4 1 Winchester 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Milton 3 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 16 span 0 1 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Berkshire 613 99 Hampden 506 360 Bristol 492 405 Plymouth 426 184 Franklin 388 41 Essex 356 392 Worcester 352 392 Norfolk 332 283 Hampshire 271 50 Barnstable 269 52 Suffolk 262 518 Middlesex 244 571 Nantucket 56 2 Dukes 24 1 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2952 87.7% Ongoing/Error 415 12.3% 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 1191 40.3% Dismissed 945 32.0% Defaulted 714 24.2% Heard 101 3.4% Other 1 0.0% Total 2952 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 109 80 180 25 0 Foreclosure 11 17 7 0 0 No Fault 83 84 216 10 0 Non-payment 742 529 787 66 1 Unknown/Other 0 4 1 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.7% 2.7% 6.1% 0.8% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.4% 0.6% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 2.8% 2.8% 7.3% 0.3% 0.0% Non-payment 25.1% 17.9% 26.7% 2.2% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.1% 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 1497 50.7% 44.5% Judgment inferred 330 11.2% 9.8% No judgment 1125 38.1% 33.4% Total 2952 100.0% 54.3% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 191 6.5% 0 30,289 2,596 4,601 496,017 Foreclosure 21 0.7% 226 4,549 439 918 9,238 No fault 177 6.0% 0 41,030 4,956 6,709 877,383 Non-payment 1107 37.5% 0 97,794 7,833 7,954 8,671,936 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 2,775 2,775 2,775 0 2,775 Subtotal 1497 50.7% 0 97,794 6,718 7,670 10,057,350 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 134 4.5% 0 23,969 4,918 4,985 659,033 Defaulted 637 21.6% 0 84,496 6,872 7,327 4,377,757 Mediated 687 23.3% 0 97,794 6,870 8,376 4,719,724 Heard 38 1.3% 0 24,836 7,770 6,942 295,266 Other 1 0.0% 5,569 5,569 5,569 0 5,569 Subtotal 1497 50.7% 0 97,794 6,718 7,670 10,057,350 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 3 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1590 87.0% 53.9% 47.2% unknown 234 12.8% 7.9% 6.9% Total 1827 100.0% 61.9% 54.3% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1497 Range: 0.000 - 97794.710; Mean: 6718.337; Median: 4590.000; Stddev: 7673.116 Percentiles: 90th: 15095.420; 95th: 20097.120; 99th: 33829.940 0.000 - 155.966: 3 | 155.966 - 319.854: 196 ########################### 319.854 - 654.857: 27 #### 654.857 - 1339.636: 78 ########### 1339.636 - 2739.389: 177 ######################### 2739.389 - 5600.621: 323 ############################################# 5600.621 - 11449.258: 382 ##################################################### 11449.258 - 23404.438: 230 ################################ 23404.438 - 47841.987: 38 ##### 47841.987 - 97794.710: 5 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 191 Range: 0.000 - 30289.700; Mean: 2596.950; Median: 236.000; Stddev: 4613.397 Percentiles: 90th: 8232.000; 95th: 11077.060; 99th: 22357.010 0.000 - 274.232: 92 ##################################################### 274.232 - 463.028: 9 ##### 463.028 - 781.330: 6 ### 781.330 - 1317.972: 5 ### 1317.972 - 2222.726: 7 #### 2222.726 - 3748.099: 15 ######### 3748.099 - 6319.806: 11 ###### 6319.806 - 10655.586: 19 ########### 10655.586 - 17965.509: 7 #### 17965.509 - 30289.700: 5 ### Foreclosure: Count: 21 Range: 226.330 - 4549.280; Mean: 439.914; Median: 231.540; Stddev: 941.609 Percentiles: 90th: 249.200; 95th: 253.360; 99th: 4549.280 226.330 - 305.757: 20 ##################################################### 305.757 - 4549.280: 1 ### No Fault: Count: 177 Range: 0.000 - 41030.610; Mean: 4956.970; Median: 2853.520; Stddev: 6728.118 Percentiles: 90th: 12823.530; 95th: 16547.840; 99th: 39019.560 0.000 - 247.662: 51 ##################################################### 247.662 - 437.530: 6 ###### 437.530 - 772.373: 4 #### 772.373 - 1362.889: 8 ######## 1362.889 - 2404.298: 4 #### 2404.298 - 4240.884: 20 ##################### 4240.884 - 7479.812: 31 ################################ 7479.812 - 13191.851: 25 ########################## 13191.851 - 23265.369: 12 ############ 23265.369 - 41030.610: 5 ##### Non-payment: Count: 1107 Range: 0.000 - 97794.710; Mean: 7833.727; Median: 5791.210; Stddev: 7957.670 Percentiles: 90th: 16500.000; 95th: 20833.120; 99th: 35966.010 0.000 - 155.966: 2 | 155.966 - 319.854: 24 #### 319.854 - 654.857: 18 ### 654.857 - 1339.636: 58 ######### 1339.636 - 2739.389: 160 ########################## 2739.389 - 5600.621: 269 ############################################ 5600.621 - 11449.258: 325 ##################################################### 11449.258 - 23404.438: 202 ################################# 23404.438 - 47841.987: 32 ##### 47841.987 - 97794.710: 5 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 134 Range: 0.000 - 23969.570; Mean: 4918.159; Median: 3327.710; Stddev: 5003.865 Percentiles: 90th: 11543.640; 95th: 16500.000; 99th: 22601.610 0.000 - 135.377: 2 ### 135.377 - 241.203: 13 ################### 241.203 - 429.147: 6 ######### 429.147 - 762.931: 3 #### 762.931 - 1355.724: 10 ############### 1355.724 - 2408.511: 18 ########################### 2408.511 - 4278.236: 19 ############################ 4278.236 - 7598.826: 36 ##################################################### 7598.826 - 13496.116: 18 ########################### 13496.116 - 23969.570: 8 ############ Defaulted: Count: 637 Range: 0.000 - 84496.350; Mean: 6872.461; Median: 4860.900; Stddev: 7333.102 Percentiles: 90th: 15373.600; 95th: 20600.930; 99th: 32959.330 0.000 - 266.289: 100 ##################################### 266.289 - 505.692: 11 #### 505.692 - 959.520: 15 ###### 959.520 - 1819.827: 37 ############## 1819.827 - 3450.685: 71 ########################## 3450.685 - 6542.250: 129 ############################################### 6542.250 - 12402.833: 144 ##################################################### 12402.833 - 23512.555: 100 ##################################### 23512.555 - 44572.906: 16 ###### 44572.906 - 84496.350: 1 | Mediated: Count: 687 Range: 0.000 - 97794.710; Mean: 6870.050; Median: 4509.430; Stddev: 8383.050 Percentiles: 90th: 14984.830; 95th: 20103.760; 99th: 44295.060 0.000 - 308.457: 71 ######################### 308.457 - 585.606: 10 #### 585.606 - 1110.970: 31 ########### 1110.970 - 2106.851: 62 ###################### 2106.851 - 3994.641: 121 ########################################### 3994.641 - 7573.137: 148 ##################################################### 7573.137 - 14356.533: 143 ################################################### 14356.533 - 27215.137: 62 ###################### 27215.137 - 51589.905: 16 ###### 51589.905 - 97794.710: 4 # Heard: Count: 38 Range: 0.000 - 24836.720; Mean: 7770.159; Median: 8250.070; Stddev: 7035.343 Percentiles: 90th: 18000.000; 95th: 22493.160; 99th: 24836.720 0.000 - 327.290: 4 ######################## 327.290 - 1387.489: 2 ############ 1387.489 - 2244.453: 2 ############ 2244.453 - 3630.328: 2 ############ 3630.328 - 5871.554: 1 ###### 5871.554 - 9496.047: 8 ############################################### 9496.047 - 15357.548: 9 ##################################################### 15357.548 - 24836.720: 5 ############################# 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 1471 80.5% 49.8% 43.7% Issued 1102 60.3% 37.3% 32.7% Levied 234 12.8% 7.9% 6.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 35 15.0% 1.9% 1.2% 1.0% Foreclosure 15 6.4% 0.8% 0.5% 0.4% No Fault 33 14.1% 1.8% 1.1% 1.0% Non-payment 151 64.5% 8.3% 5.1% 4.5% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 234 100.0% 12.8% 7.9% 6.9% 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 26 11.1% 1.4% 0.9% 0.8% Defaulted 103 44.0% 5.6% 3.5% 3.1% Mediated 102 43.6% 5.6% 3.5% 3.0% Heard 3 1.3% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 234 100.0% 12.8% 7.9% 6.9% 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 15 39 38.5% No Fault 33 407 8.1% Cause 35 500 7.0% Non-payment 151 2414 6.3% Unknown/Other 0 7 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 103 714 14.4% Mediated 102 1191 8.6% Heard 3 101 3.0% Dismissed 26 945 2.8% Other 0 1 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 0 574 109 114 Non-payment 0 585 92 99 No Fault 7 557 97 96 Foreclosure 3 579 82 105 Unknown/Other 38 224 77 82 All Reasons 0 585 95 101 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 559 82 96 Defaulted 0 585 89 94 Mediated 0 579 108 105 Heard 0 574 110 125 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 585 95 101 All Cases: Count: 2952 Range: 0.000 - 585.000; Mean: 95.303; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 101.311 Percentiles: 90th: 233.000; 95th: 353.000; 99th: 494.000 0.000 - 2.530: 8 | 2.530 - 5.229: 11 | 5.229 - 9.992: 23 # 9.992 - 18.399: 86 #### 18.399 - 33.234: 246 ########### 33.234 - 59.416: 1184 ##################################################### 59.416 - 105.620: 715 ################################ 105.620 - 187.159: 305 ############## 187.159 - 331.056: 207 ######### 331.056 - 585.000: 160 ####### By Reason Cause: Count: 394 Range: 0.000 - 574.000; Mean: 109.942; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 114.650 Percentiles: 90th: 288.000; 95th: 411.000; 99th: 529.000 0.000 - 5.574: 1 | 5.574 - 9.804: 5 ## 9.804 - 16.756: 5 ## 16.756 - 28.181: 20 ######## 28.181 - 46.958: 81 ################################## 46.958 - 77.818: 128 ##################################################### 77.818 - 128.535: 62 ########################## 128.535 - 211.886: 28 ############ 211.886 - 348.870: 34 ############## 348.870 - 574.000: 28 ############ Non-payment: Count: 2125 Range: 0.000 - 585.000; Mean: 92.394; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 99.262 Percentiles: 90th: 224.000; 95th: 338.000; 99th: 490.000 0.000 - 2.530: 8 | 2.530 - 5.229: 9 # 5.229 - 9.992: 16 # 9.992 - 18.399: 76 ##### 18.399 - 33.234: 185 ########### 33.234 - 59.416: 869 ##################################################### 59.416 - 105.620: 494 ############################## 105.620 - 187.159: 214 ############# 187.159 - 331.056: 140 ######### 331.056 - 585.000: 109 ####### No Fault: Count: 393 Range: 7.000 - 557.000; Mean: 97.718; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 96.900 Percentiles: 90th: 203.000; 95th: 339.000; 99th: 521.000 7.000 - 11.231: 1 | 11.231 - 17.698: 1 | 17.698 - 27.586: 15 ###### 27.586 - 42.703: 65 ########################## 42.703 - 65.813: 131 ##################################################### 65.813 - 101.145: 78 ################################ 101.145 - 155.160: 42 ################# 155.160 - 237.740: 27 ########### 237.740 - 363.989: 16 ###### 363.989 - 557.000: 17 ####### Foreclosure: Count: 35 Range: 3.000 - 579.000; Mean: 82.629; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 105.075 Percentiles: 90th: 181.000; 95th: 317.000; 99th: 579.000 3.000 - 5.580: 1 #### 5.580 - 9.823: 1 #### 9.823 - 28.282: 3 ############# 28.282 - 47.166: 9 ######################################## 47.166 - 78.228: 12 ##################################################### 78.228 - 129.322: 4 ################## 129.322 - 213.365: 3 ############# 213.365 - 351.607: 1 #### 351.607 - 579.000: 1 #### Unknown/Other reason: Count: 5 Range: 38.000 - 224.000; Mean: 77.000; Median: 41.000; Stddev: 82.186 Percentiles: 90th: 224.000; 95th: 224.000; 99th: 224.000 38.000 - 45.470: 4 ##################################################### 45.470 - 224.000: 1 ############# By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 945 Range: 0.000 - 559.000; Mean: 82.152; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 96.605 Percentiles: 90th: 177.000; 95th: 331.000; 99th: 471.000 0.000 - 2.514: 8 # 2.514 - 5.173: 9 # 5.173 - 9.844: 19 ### 9.844 - 18.050: 49 ######## 18.050 - 32.466: 126 ################### 32.466 - 57.793: 345 ##################################################### 57.793 - 102.286: 206 ################################ 102.286 - 180.450: 86 ############# 180.450 - 317.766: 45 ####### 317.766 - 559.000: 49 ######## Defaulted: Count: 714 Range: 0.000 - 585.000; Mean: 89.258; Median: 54.000; Stddev: 94.102 Percentiles: 90th: 162.000; 95th: 302.000; 99th: 521.000 0.000 - 19.338: 13 ### 19.338 - 28.545: 35 ####### 28.545 - 41.920: 95 #################### 41.920 - 61.350: 255 ##################################################### 61.350 - 89.576: 131 ########################### 89.576 - 130.580: 83 ################# 130.580 - 190.147: 41 ######### 190.147 - 276.679: 21 #### 276.679 - 402.386: 14 ### 402.386 - 585.000: 25 ##### Mediated: Count: 1191 Range: 0.000 - 579.000; Mean: 108.140; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 105.240 Percentiles: 90th: 286.000; 95th: 356.000; 99th: 492.000 0.000 - 19.317: 19 ## 19.317 - 28.484: 32 #### 28.484 - 41.788: 123 ################ 41.788 - 61.094: 404 ##################################################### 61.094 - 89.111: 236 ############################### 89.111 - 129.770: 106 ############## 129.770 - 188.775: 69 ######### 188.775 - 274.403: 73 ########## 274.403 - 398.667: 91 ############ 398.667 - 579.000: 36 ##### Heard: Count: 101 Range: 0.000 - 574.000; Mean: 110.337; Median: 72.000; Stddev: 125.395 Percentiles: 90th: 236.000; 95th: 469.000; 99th: 534.000 0.000 - 7.036: 3 ####### 7.036 - 11.915: 5 ############ 11.915 - 19.758: 7 ################# 19.758 - 32.362: 4 ########## 32.362 - 52.619: 17 ######################################### 52.619 - 85.176: 20 ################################################ 85.176 - 137.503: 22 ##################################################### 137.503 - 221.602: 10 ######################## 221.602 - 356.765: 4 ########## 356.765 - 574.000: 8 ################### -- 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/.