Outcomes for April 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: 2023-04-01 Search Period End: 2023-04-30 Earliest Case: 2023-04-03 Latest Case: 2023-04-28 Total Cases: 3006 Total Transfers: 55 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 24.2% Of those, percentage pro se: 40.1% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Roxbury Least stable with 100+ filings: Lowell Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 103 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 597 19.9% northeast 587 19.5% central 429 14.3% western 407 13.5% southeast 289 9.6% metro_south 240 8.0% lawrence district 40 1.3% quincy district 38 1.3% malden district 32 1.1% lowell district 27 0.9% lynn district 26 0.9% pittsfield district 21 0.7% fall river district 19 0.6% haverhill district 19 0.6% chelsea district 18 0.6% cambridge district 16 0.5% somerville district 16 0.5% brockton district 12 0.4% northern berkshire district 12 0.4% bmc west roxbury 11 0.4% framingham district 11 0.4% springfield district 10 0.3% attleboro district 8 0.3% newburyport district 8 0.3% barnstable district 7 0.2% woburn district 7 0.2% dedham district 6 0.2% fallmouth district 6 0.2% stoughton district 6 0.2% waltham district 6 0.2% bmc central 5 0.2% bmc dorchester 5 0.2% orleans district 5 0.2% salem district 5 0.2% wareham district 5 0.2% chicopee district 4 0.1% gloucester district 4 0.1% wrentham district 4 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% natick district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% bmc east boston 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% palmer district 2 0.1% peabody district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% southern berkshire district 2 0.1% uxbridge district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% worcester district 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% new bedford district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2280 4 Natural Person 726 3002 Total 3006 3006 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 75.8% 0.1% Natural Person 24.2% 99.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2267 13 2280 Optional 435 291 726 Total 2702 304 3006 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 75.4% 0.4% 75.8% Optional 14.5% 9.7% 24.2% Total 89.9% 10.1% 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 1 3 4 Optional 160 2842 3002 Total 161 2845 3006 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.1% 0.1% Optional 5.3% 94.5% 99.9% Total 5.4% 94.6% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 75 2.5% 1 2095 69.7% 2 675 22.5% 3 128 4.3% 4 23 0.8% 5 5 0.2% 6 3 0.1% 7 1 0.0% 8 1 0.0% Total 3006 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 2113 70.3% Cause 475 15.8% No Fault 381 12.7% Foreclosure 36 1.2% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 421 4 Roxbury 142 85 Adams 129 11 Lawrence 121 93 Ware 121 12 Holyoke 120 48 Chelsea 119 42 Lowell 112 120 Springfield 109 167 Framingham 106 73 Revere 106 55 Mattapan 104 38 Malden 102 61 New Bedford 100 96 Indian Orchard 99 10 Lynn 98 89 Pittsfield 98 44 Turners Falls 97 4 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Cheshire 92 3 Haverhill 91 56 Norwood 90 26 Southbridge 89 15 Marlborough 88 34 West Warren 88 1 Worcester 87 158 East Sandwich 86 3 Ashland 84 14 Chicopee 81 45 Stoughton 81 22 Sunderland 81 3 Fall River 79 71 Braintree 78 28 Hyannis 78 11 West Chatham 78 1 Dorchester 76 70 Brockton 74 70 Palmer 74 9 Pocasset 69 2 Cambridge 68 72 Three Rivers 68 2 Fitchburg 64 26 Greenfield 63 11 Amesbury 61 10 Woburn 60 23 Phillipston 59 1 Seekonk 58 8 Ashfield 57 1 Milford 57 16 Whitinsville 57 4 Hyde Park 56 19 Ludlow 56 12 North Andover 56 16 Shutesbury 56 1 Salem 55 23 Dorchester Center 54 50 South Dennis 54 2 Wales 54 1 West Brookfield 54 2 Bondsville 53 1 Quincy 53 49 Everett 52 22 East Boston 51 21 Newton Center 51 2 Orange 51 4 Stockbridge 51 1 Danvers 49 13 Gardner 49 10 Hinsdale 49 1 Peabody 48 25 Plainville 48 4 South Deerfield 48 1 Tewksbury 48 14 Foxborough 47 8 Merrimac 47 3 Beverly 45 18 East Brookfield 45 1 Huntington 45 1 Rockland 45 8 West Dennis 45 1 Tyngsborough 44 5 South Yarmouth 43 5 North Brookfield 42 2 Leominster 41 17 Ayer 40 3 Belchertown 40 6 Boxborough 40 2 Cohasset 39 3 Medford 39 22 Attleborough 38 17 Hadley 38 2 Hull 38 4 Barre 37 2 Fairhaven 37 6 Dedham 36 9 Waltham 36 22 Wellfleet 36 1 Athol 34 4 Berlin 34 1 Jamaica Plain 34 13 Lynnfield 34 4 Roslindale 34 10 Westfield 34 14 Chelmsford 32 11 Abington 31 5 Kingston 31 4 Bedford 30 4 Stow 30 2 Brookfield 29 1 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Charlestown 29 5 Hatfield 29 1 Maynard 29 3 Webster 29 5 Jefferson 28 1 Rockport 28 2 Taunton 28 16 Watertown 28 9 Allston 27 8 Andover 27 9 Cherry Valley 27 3 Westborough 27 5 Westford 27 6 Weymouth 27 15 Whitman 27 4 Bridgewater 26 7 Pepperell 26 3 Upton 26 2 Brighton 25 11 Feeding Hills 25 3 Spencer 25 3 Edgartown 24 1 Georgetown 24 2 Reading 24 6 Wakefield 24 6 Arlington 23 10 Marshfield 23 6 Methuen 23 11 Somerville 23 18 Avon 22 1 Bradford 22 3 Centerville 22 3 Clinton 22 3 Lexington 22 7 Millbury 22 3 Raynham 22 3 Middleborough 21 5 North Chelmsford 21 2 Northampton 21 6 Northborough 21 3 Norton 21 4 Randolph 21 7 West Springfield 21 6 Wilbraham 21 3 Belmont 20 5 East Freetown 20 1 Gloucester 20 6 Marion 20 1 Marstons Mills 20 1 North Attleborough 20 6 Acushnet 19 2 Hampden 19 1 Newtonville 19 1 Warren 19 1 West Roxbury 19 6 Winchendon 19 2 Acton 18 4 East Wareham 18 4 Easthampton 18 3 Franklin 18 6 Leicester 18 2 Natick 18 6 North Billerica 18 2 South Barre 18 1 South Weymouth 18 10 Billerica 17 7 Brookline 17 10 Dudley 17 2 East Falmouth 17 1 Mendon 17 1 Sharon 17 3 Southampton 17 1 Wilmington 17 4 Concord 16 3 Dracut 16 5 East Weymouth 16 9 Orleans 16 1 South Lee 16 1 Topsfield 16 1 Berkley 15 1 Charlton 15 2 East Taunton 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Saugus 15 4 Dennis 14 2 East Bridgewater 14 2 Great Barrington 14 1 Holliston 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 Melrose 14 4 North Adams 14 2 Oxford 14 2 Plymouth 14 8 Swampscott 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Boston 13 86 Hingham 13 3 North Reading 13 2 Onset 13 3 Shirley 13 1 West Boylston 13 1 Westminster 13 1 Auburn 12 2 Bellingham 12 2 Burlington 12 3 Falmouth 12 4 Mansfield 12 3 Millis 12 1 North Grafton 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 Rutland 12 1 Salisbury 12 1 South Attleboro 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Walpole 12 3 Williamstown 12 1 Assonet 11 1 Blackstone 11 1 Littleton 11 1 Shrewsbury 11 4 Somerset 11 2 South Hadley 11 2 Agawam 10 3 Auburndale 10 1 Brewster 10 1 Marblehead 10 2 Southwick 10 1 Holbrook 9 1 Lakeville 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Rochdale 9 1 South Easton 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Wareham 9 2 Carver 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Milton 7 2 North Easton 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Duxbury 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Needham Heights 6 2 Swansea 6 1 Westport 6 1 Amherst 5 2 Bourne 5 1 Newburyport 5 1 Roxbury Crossing 5 3 South Dartmouth 5 2 Winthrop 5 1 Canton 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Yarmouth 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Needham 3 1 E. Boston 2 1 South Boston 2 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 North Quincy 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 14 span 0 2 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 459 327 Berkshire 402 65 Essex 360 396 Plymouth 326 141 Bristol 300 247 Worcester 285 318 Middlesex 271 633 Norfolk 267 228 Suffolk 265 525 Franklin 237 25 Barnstable 227 44 Hampshire 217 40 Dukes 24 1 Nantucket 0 0 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 2673 88.9% Ongoing/Error 333 11.1% 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 1105 41.3% Dismissed 790 29.6% Defaulted 663 24.8% Heard 112 4.2% Other 3 0.1% Total 2673 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 99 87 160 34 2 Foreclosure 6 13 15 1 0 No Fault 83 85 191 11 0 Non-payment 602 478 739 65 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.7% 3.3% 6.0% 1.3% 0.1% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.5% 0.6% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 3.1% 3.2% 7.1% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 22.5% 17.9% 27.6% 2.4% 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 1335 49.9% 44.4% Judgment inferred 339 12.7% 11.3% No judgment 999 37.4% 33.2% Total 2673 100.0% 55.7% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 174 6.5% 0 22,392 2,660 4,103 462,868 Foreclosure 24 0.9% 0 349 215 86 5,161 No fault 166 6.2% 0 46,916 4,267 6,217 708,355 Non-payment 970 36.3% 0 44,339 7,621 6,599 7,392,980 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0 Subtotal 1335 49.9% 0 46,916 6,419 6,544 8,569,365 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 81 3.0% 0 46,916 5,140 6,198 416,398 Defaulted 614 23.0% 0 42,850 6,511 6,771 3,997,770 Mediated 587 22.0% 0 44,339 6,522 6,334 3,828,732 Heard 51 1.9% 0 32,492 6,277 6,561 320,159 Other 2 0.1% 1,870 4,434 3,152 1,281 6,305 Subtotal 1335 49.9% 0 46,916 6,419 6,544 8,569,365 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 1422 84.9% 53.2% 47.3% unknown 249 14.9% 9.3% 8.3% Total 1674 100.0% 62.6% 55.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1335 Range: 0.000 - 46916.500; Mean: 6419.001; Median: 4556.000; Stddev: 6547.394 Percentiles: 90th: 15105.650; 95th: 19180.230; 99th: 29390.280 0.000 - 251.017: 157 ################################ 251.017 - 449.446: 29 ###### 449.446 - 804.107: 33 ####### 804.107 - 1438.015: 72 ############### 1438.015 - 2571.036: 132 ########################### 2571.036 - 4596.149: 213 ########################################### 4596.149 - 8215.751: 263 ##################################################### 8215.751 - 14685.277: 254 ################################################### 14685.277 - 26248.636: 125 ######################### 26248.636 - 46916.500: 20 #### Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 174 Range: 0.000 - 22392.480; Mean: 2660.163; Median: 338.575; Stddev: 4115.083 Percentiles: 90th: 8561.720; 95th: 11177.000; 99th: 21214.190 0.000 - 234.424: 57 ##################################################### 234.424 - 389.534: 13 ############ 389.534 - 646.839: 7 ####### 646.839 - 1073.669: 3 ### 1073.669 - 1781.718: 11 ########## 1781.718 - 2956.266: 15 ############## 2956.266 - 4904.668: 15 ############## 4904.668 - 8136.781: 17 ################ 8136.781 - 13498.379: 14 ############# 13498.379 - 22392.480: 4 #### Foreclosure: Count: 24 Range: 0.000 - 349.620; Mean: 215.081; Median: 231.825; Stddev: 88.855 Percentiles: 90th: 287.770; 95th: 321.850; 99th: 349.620 0.000 - 219.988: 1 ####### 219.988 - 231.618: 8 ##################################################### 231.618 - 243.860: 6 ######################################## 243.860 - 256.746: 3 #################### 256.746 - 299.617: 1 ####### 299.617 - 332.091: 1 ####### 332.091 - 349.620: 1 ####### No Fault: Count: 166 Range: 0.000 - 46916.500; Mean: 4267.200; Median: 1655.585; Stddev: 6236.312 Percentiles: 90th: 11078.310; 95th: 14178.830; 99th: 32492.250 0.000 - 251.017: 57 ##################################################### 251.017 - 449.446: 5 ##### 449.446 - 804.107: 4 #### 804.107 - 1438.015: 7 ####### 1438.015 - 2571.036: 11 ########## 2571.036 - 4596.149: 19 ################## 4596.149 - 8215.751: 27 ######################### 8215.751 - 14685.277: 21 #################### 14685.277 - 26248.636: 6 ###### 26248.636 - 46916.500: 2 ## Non-payment: Count: 970 Range: 0.000 - 44339.000; Mean: 7621.629; Median: 5742.365; Stddev: 6602.736 Percentiles: 90th: 16506.920; 95th: 19924.820; 99th: 30864.430 0.000 - 316.917: 26 ####### 316.917 - 549.288: 12 ### 549.288 - 951.501: 22 ###### 951.501 - 1647.698: 81 ##################### 1647.698 - 2852.757: 108 ########################### 2852.757 - 4938.610: 170 ########################################### 4938.610 - 8549.046: 209 ##################################################### 8549.046 - 14798.403: 205 #################################################### 14798.403 - 25615.509: 110 ############################ 25615.509 - 44339.000: 19 ##### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 81 Range: 0.000 - 46916.500; Mean: 5140.716; Median: 3704.310; Stddev: 6236.641 Percentiles: 90th: 10827.160; 95th: 13841.310; 99th: 46916.500 0.000 - 252.497: 6 ################## 252.497 - 451.795: 4 ############ 451.795 - 807.781: 2 ###### 807.781 - 1443.642: 4 ############ 1443.642 - 2579.413: 15 ############################################ 2579.413 - 4608.124: 18 ##################################################### 4608.124 - 8231.798: 15 ############################################ 8231.798 - 14704.392: 12 ################################### 14704.392 - 26265.713: 3 ######### 26265.713 - 46916.500: 1 ### Defaulted: Count: 614 Range: 0.000 - 42850.460; Mean: 6511.027; Median: 4337.975; Stddev: 6777.463 Percentiles: 90th: 15951.960; 95th: 19818.350; 99th: 28096.820 0.000 - 248.743: 93 ######################################### 248.743 - 441.352: 17 ######## 441.352 - 782.507: 17 ######## 782.507 - 1386.771: 29 ############# 1386.771 - 2457.059: 57 ######################### 2457.059 - 4352.785: 89 ######################################## 4352.785 - 7710.550: 100 ############################################# 7710.550 - 13657.919: 119 ##################################################### 13657.919 - 24192.069: 74 ################################# 24192.069 - 42850.460: 12 ##### Mediated: Count: 587 Range: 0.000 - 44339.000; Mean: 6522.542; Median: 5007.530; Stddev: 6339.676 Percentiles: 90th: 15075.870; 95th: 18530.620; 99th: 29390.280 0.000 - 284.922: 53 ##################### 284.922 - 499.774: 8 ### 499.774 - 876.073: 15 ###### 876.073 - 1535.138: 38 ############### 1535.138 - 2689.447: 56 ###################### 2689.447 - 4711.145: 90 ################################### 4711.145 - 8252.021: 135 ##################################################### 8252.021 - 14453.637: 103 ######################################## 14453.637 - 25315.370: 57 ###################### 25315.370 - 44339.000: 11 #### Heard: Count: 51 Range: 0.000 - 32492.250; Mean: 6277.634; Median: 4238.710; Stddev: 6626.464 Percentiles: 90th: 15054.530; 95th: 17314.130; 99th: 32492.250 0.000 - 308.681: 6 ############################# 308.681 - 1459.632: 1 ##### 1459.632 - 2448.531: 3 ############## 2448.531 - 4106.949: 7 ################################## 4106.949 - 6888.172: 4 ################### 6888.172 - 11552.381: 11 ##################################################### 11552.381 - 19374.420: 10 ################################################ 19374.420 - 32492.250: 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 1303 77.8% 48.7% 43.3% Issued 1008 60.2% 37.7% 33.5% Levied 211 12.6% 7.9% 7.0% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 34 16.1% 2.0% 1.3% 1.1% Foreclosure 14 6.6% 0.8% 0.5% 0.5% No Fault 40 19.0% 2.4% 1.5% 1.3% Non-payment 123 58.3% 7.3% 4.6% 4.1% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 211 100.0% 12.6% 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 14 6.6% 0.8% 0.5% 0.5% Defaulted 101 47.9% 6.0% 3.8% 3.4% Mediated 92 43.6% 5.5% 3.4% 3.1% Heard 4 1.9% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 211 100.0% 12.6% 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 14 36 38.9% No Fault 40 381 10.5% Cause 34 475 7.2% Non-payment 123 2113 5.8% Unknown/Other 0 1 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 101 663 15.2% Mediated 92 1105 8.3% Heard 4 112 3.6% Dismissed 14 790 1.8% Other 0 3 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 3 549 101 104 Non-payment 0 538 90 94 No Fault 0 537 102 96 Foreclosure 17 448 101 103 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 549 94 96 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 526 81 91 Defaulted 0 537 81 79 Mediated 5 540 108 106 Heard 3 549 117 102 Other 16 127 64 56 All Outcomes 0 549 94 96 All Cases: Count: 2673 Range: 0.000 - 549.000; Mean: 94.172; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 96.787 Percentiles: 90th: 236.000; 95th: 338.000; 99th: 484.000 0.000 - 2.507: 2 | 2.507 - 5.150: 10 # 5.150 - 9.785: 16 # 9.785 - 17.913: 73 #### 17.913 - 32.166: 273 ############### 32.166 - 57.161: 986 ##################################################### 57.161 - 100.991: 642 ################################### 100.991 - 177.853: 298 ################ 177.853 - 312.639: 219 ############ 312.639 - 549.000: 151 ######## By Reason Cause: Count: 382 Range: 3.000 - 549.000; Mean: 101.529; Median: 60.500; Stddev: 104.714 Percentiles: 90th: 242.000; 95th: 345.000; 99th: 514.000 3.000 - 5.545: 2 # 5.545 - 9.708: 2 # 9.708 - 16.521: 10 ##### 16.521 - 27.667: 24 ############# 27.667 - 45.904: 92 ################################################## 45.904 - 75.744: 98 ##################################################### 75.744 - 124.566: 69 ##################################### 124.566 - 204.448: 34 ################## 204.448 - 335.149: 28 ############### 335.149 - 549.000: 23 ############ Non-payment: Count: 1885 Range: 0.000 - 538.000; Mean: 90.806; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 94.847 Percentiles: 90th: 213.000; 95th: 316.000; 99th: 478.000 0.000 - 2.500: 2 | 2.500 - 5.126: 8 # 5.126 - 9.720: 14 # 9.720 - 17.761: 56 #### 17.761 - 31.833: 184 ############## 31.833 - 56.460: 688 ##################################################### 56.460 - 99.559: 478 ##################################### 99.559 - 174.986: 213 ################ 174.986 - 306.987: 141 ########### 306.987 - 538.000: 99 ######## No Fault: Count: 370 Range: 0.000 - 537.000; Mean: 102.932; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 96.937 Percentiles: 90th: 254.000; 95th: 343.000; 99th: 434.000 0.000 - 15.230: 4 ## 15.230 - 22.948: 5 ## 22.948 - 34.335: 34 ################# 34.335 - 51.137: 107 ##################################################### 51.137 - 75.929: 79 ####################################### 75.929 - 112.508: 37 ################## 112.508 - 166.481: 28 ############## 166.481 - 246.118: 34 ################# 246.118 - 363.622: 32 ################ 363.622 - 537.000: 9 #### Foreclosure: Count: 35 Range: 17.000 - 448.000; Mean: 101.971; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 103.509 Percentiles: 90th: 164.000; 95th: 406.000; 99th: 448.000 17.000 - 23.830: 1 ##### 23.830 - 33.251: 1 ##### 33.251 - 46.246: 10 ##################################################### 46.246 - 64.172: 8 ########################################## 64.172 - 88.900: 3 ################ 88.900 - 123.010: 3 ################ 123.010 - 170.062: 6 ################################ 170.062 - 448.000: 3 ################ By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 790 Range: 0.000 - 526.000; Mean: 81.278; Median: 45.000; Stddev: 91.035 Percentiles: 90th: 189.000; 95th: 285.000; 99th: 462.000 0.000 - 2.492: 2 | 2.492 - 5.098: 8 ## 5.098 - 9.648: 12 ## 9.648 - 17.593: 45 ######### 17.593 - 31.465: 128 ########################### 31.465 - 55.689: 256 ##################################################### 55.689 - 97.987: 171 ################################### 97.987 - 171.844: 68 ############## 171.844 - 300.809: 61 ############# 300.809 - 526.000: 37 ######## Defaulted: Count: 663 Range: 0.000 - 537.000; Mean: 81.585; Median: 54.000; Stddev: 79.567 Percentiles: 90th: 160.000; 95th: 248.000; 99th: 402.000 0.000 - 23.015: 20 ##### 23.015 - 32.925: 38 ########## 32.925 - 46.924: 196 ##################################################### 46.924 - 66.699: 182 ################################################# 66.699 - 94.635: 93 ######################### 94.635 - 134.098: 49 ############# 134.098 - 189.846: 30 ######## 189.846 - 268.597: 22 ###### 268.597 - 379.846: 18 ##### 379.846 - 537.000: 14 #### Mediated: Count: 1105 Range: 5.000 - 540.000; Mean: 108.648; Median: 64.000; Stddev: 106.814 Percentiles: 90th: 269.000; 95th: 352.000; 99th: 498.000 5.000 - 8.411: 2 | 8.411 - 13.763: 3 # 13.763 - 22.156: 38 ####### 22.156 - 35.322: 100 ################# 35.322 - 55.974: 305 ##################################################### 55.974 - 88.367: 262 ############################################## 88.367 - 139.179: 151 ########################## 139.179 - 218.881: 87 ############### 218.881 - 343.900: 92 ################ 343.900 - 540.000: 65 ########### Heard: Count: 112 Range: 3.000 - 549.000; Mean: 117.598; Median: 80.500; Stddev: 102.519 Percentiles: 90th: 253.000; 95th: 354.000; 99th: 415.000 3.000 - 5.545: 1 ## 5.545 - 9.708: 2 #### 9.708 - 16.521: 3 ###### 16.521 - 27.667: 7 ############### 27.667 - 45.904: 13 ############################ 45.904 - 75.744: 25 ##################################################### 75.744 - 124.566: 23 ################################################# 124.566 - 204.448: 22 ############################################### 204.448 - 335.149: 9 ################### 335.149 - 549.000: 7 ############### Other Outcome: Count: 3 Range: 16.000 - 127.000; Mean: 64.667; Median: 51.000; Stddev: 56.748 Percentiles: 90th: 127.000; 95th: 127.000; 99th: 127.000 16.000 - 19.803: 1 ##################################################### 19.803 - 56.083: 1 ##################################################### 56.083 - 127.000: 1 ##################################################### -- Data Sources (report errors to hello@masslandlords.net): County Data Households Percent Renters Barnstable 96,509 20.0% Berkshire 53,792 30.0% Bristol 220,528 37.3% Dukes 18,146 22.6% Essex 297,898 36.9% Franklin 30,927 34.1% Hampden 179,970 39.5% Hampshire 60,002 30.7% Middlesex 612,366 38.1% Nantucket 11,399 30.8% Norfolk 269,717 31.6% Plymouth 191,041 22.6% Suffolk 309,945 63.7% Worcester 316,162 35.2% County Households: 2019 ACS TableID S1101 County Households and Renters, Dukes and Nantucket: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts County Households and Renters, Large Counties: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S11&g=0400000US25.050000&d=ACS%201-Year%20Estimates%20Subject%20Tables&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1101&hidePreview=true Dukes County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts Nantucket County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/nantucketcountymassachusetts -- Methodology Publicly available records at MassCourts.org are read fully manually at two intervals: 1.) For a filings report, once within approximately one week of filing; 2.) For an outcomes report, once again approximately 12 to 18 months after filing. Cases are searched by 'case type' = 'summary process', party type = 'plaintiff' within date ranges, typically weekly. MassCourts.org displays matches, not cases. X plaintiffs on a single case result in X separate matches. Cases are manually de-duplicated. Where the number of matches exceeds the number displayed (e.g., 'Displaying 100 of 257 total matches.'), date ranges are reduced until all cases may be viewed. If the date range cannot be reduced (i.e., is one day) but matches still exceed the display limit of 100, then two additional passes are taken. First, municipalities are filtered in stages. Second, to capture cases with no municipality entered, the search switches from 'case type' to 'case number', guessing the missing numbers assuming serialized entry. This method results in 'matches' reconciled to case counts. This effort costs more than 1 FTE. Summary spreadsheets are produced by copying exactly what is read. The spreadsheets are processed using proprietary software. Repeated analyses of local spreadsheets does not burden the MassCourts servers. The software is developed using best practices for revision control and regression testing. Limitations: Data are snapshots. As such, we cannot track individual cases over time or produce real-time reports. MassLandlords does not have access to court databases beyond what is published in human readable form at MassCourts.org. As of this report, MassLandlords staff were not considering information available to attorneys (e.g., the contents of notices, discovery, evidence, etc.) but not available to the general public. All data presented here are readily verifiable at MassCourts.org without special permission. Information is not independently verified outside of the court record. For instance, clerical errors in address, omissions of a defendant, etc. are not readily verifiable. As this process matures, reporting algorithms may change. Transfers are counted as new cases. Clerical differences between original case and transfer (e.g., middle initial included then dropped; defendant dropped on transfer; street address spelling changed) as well as the potential for indefinite circular transferring (e.g., foreclosure cases moving between housing, land, and/or superior courts) make it very difficult to programmatically identify continuing matters. Methodology changes: 2022-03: Where docket history shows judgment and/or execution, but case has not been disposed, infer judgment and/or execution. 2022-05: Correct counting error in 'By prevailing party' section where agreement for judgment renders prevailing party unknown. Rows now sum to total. 2023-01: We now report dispositions on the basis of the last disposition found in a docket. Previously we were using a prioritized keyword match, which produced inaccurate results for complex cases. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.


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