Outcomes for May 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: 2023-05-01 Search Period End: 2023-05-31 Earliest Case: 2023-05-01 Latest Case: 2023-05-31 Total Cases: 3517 Total Transfers: 93 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 27.1% Of those, percentage pro se: 44.4% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Holyoke Least stable with 100+ filings: Dorchester Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 117 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 676 19.2% northeast 675 19.2% western 487 13.8% central 483 13.7% southeast 417 11.9% metro_south 255 7.3% malden district 42 1.2% quincy district 42 1.2% brockton district 35 1.0% cambridge district 27 0.8% lynn district 24 0.7% lowell district 23 0.7% barnstable district 21 0.6% fall river district 20 0.6% pittsfield district 20 0.6% chelsea district 18 0.5% haverhill district 18 0.5% somerville district 18 0.5% northern berkshire district 12 0.3% attleboro district 11 0.3% new bedford district 11 0.3% waltham district 11 0.3% lawrence district 10 0.3% bmc dorchester 9 0.3% woburn district 9 0.3% framingham district 8 0.2% milford district 8 0.2% wrentham district 8 0.2% concord district 7 0.2% salem district 7 0.2% stoughton district 7 0.2% bmc west roxbury 6 0.2% brookline district 6 0.2% dedham district 6 0.2% nantucket district 6 0.2% peabody district 6 0.2% springfield district 5 0.1% bmc brighton 4 0.1% bmc central 4 0.1% holyoke district 4 0.1% orleans district 4 0.1% palmer district 4 0.1% chicopee district 3 0.1% edgartown district 3 0.1% newburyport district 3 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% westfield district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% bmc east boston 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% fallmouth district 2 0.1% fitchburg district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% taunton district 2 0.1% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% bmc south boston 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% plymouth district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2563 6 Natural Person 954 3511 Total 3517 3517 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 72.9% 0.2% Natural Person 27.1% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2542 21 2563 Optional 530 424 954 Total 3072 445 3517 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 72.3% 0.6% 72.9% Optional 15.1% 12.1% 27.1% Total 87.3% 12.7% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 3 3 6 Optional 211 3300 3511 Total 214 3303 3517 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 6.0% 93.8% 99.8% Total 6.1% 93.9% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 120 3.4% 1 2447 69.6% 2 761 21.6% 3 137 3.9% 4 36 1.0% 5 10 0.3% 6 4 0.1% 7 1 0.0% 8 1 0.0% Total 3517 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 2397 68.2% Cause 595 16.9% No Fault 489 13.9% Foreclosure 35 1.0% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 421 4 Holyoke 195 78 Hyannis 191 27 Dorchester 184 170 Springfield 143 219 Fall River 139 124 Lawrence 133 102 Mattapan 131 48 Fiskdale 129 4 Granville 127 2 New Bedford 123 117 North Adams 116 16 Chilmark 115 1 Osterville 113 4 West Yarmouth 113 6 Stoughton 111 30 Haverhill 110 67 Baldwinville 105 2 Buckland 105 2 Vineyard Haven 105 2 Berlin 104 3 Lowell 101 108 Fitchburg 99 40 Randolph 99 32 Worcester 97 177 Lynn 95 86 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Chelsea 90 32 Buzzards Bay 87 3 Nahant 87 3 Athol 86 10 Danvers 83 22 Everett 83 35 Framingham 83 57 Shirley 83 6 Webster 83 14 Pittsfield 82 37 Greenfield 80 14 Norwood 80 23 Salem 79 33 Brockton 78 74 West Stockbridge 76 1 Marlborough 75 29 Canton 74 16 Chester 74 1 Mansfield 73 17 Turners Falls 73 3 Chicopee 72 40 Tewksbury 72 21 Whitinsville 72 5 Westborough 71 13 Adams 70 6 Gardner 69 14 Indian Orchard 69 7 Quincy 69 64 Woburn 68 26 Revere 67 35 Charlestown 65 11 Foxborough 65 11 Roxbury 65 39 Southbridge 65 11 Dennis Port 63 2 Wrentham 63 7 Medford 62 35 Brewster 61 6 East Boston 61 25 South Yarmouth 60 7 Bradford 59 8 Lunenburg 59 6 Maynard 59 6 West Springfield 59 17 Malden 58 35 Nantucket 58 6 East Sandwich 57 2 Harwich Port 57 1 Rockland 57 10 Bridgewater 56 15 Jamaica Plain 56 21 North Billerica 56 6 Peabody 56 29 Shelburne Falls 56 1 South Dennis 54 2 Sunderland 54 2 Bondsville 53 1 Waltham 52 32 Orange 51 4 Roslindale 51 15 South Hadley 51 9 Spencer 51 6 Taunton 50 28 North Truro 49 1 Ashland 48 8 South Deerfield 48 1 West Townsend 47 1 West Wareham 46 1 Attleborough 45 20 Avon 45 2 Dorchester Center 45 42 Saugus 45 12 Melrose 44 12 Methuen 44 21 Raynham 44 6 South Grafton 44 2 Abington 43 7 Oxford 43 6 Cambridge 42 45 Beverly 40 16 Eastham 40 2 Andover 39 13 Kingston 39 5 Leominster 39 16 Milford 39 11 West Roxbury 39 12 Hadley 38 2 Hull 38 4 Warren 38 2 Allston 37 11 Bedford 37 5 Ludlow 37 8 Rochdale (Leicester) 37 1 Clinton 36 5 Wellfleet 36 1 West Tisbury 36 1 Dudley 35 4 Northampton 35 10 West Barnstable 35 1 East Falmouth 34 2 Feeding Hills 34 4 Lynnfield 34 4 Newburyport 34 6 North Attleborough 34 10 Pepperell 34 4 Pocasset 34 1 Rowley 34 2 Somerville 34 26 Three Rivers 34 1 Hardwick 33 1 Hopedale 33 2 Hopkinton 33 5 Billerica 32 13 Burlington 32 8 Chelmsford 32 11 Hyde Park 32 11 Lanesborough 32 1 Easthampton 31 5 Millville 31 1 Watertown 31 10 Bellingham 30 5 Cheshire 30 1 Shrewsbury 30 11 Ware 30 3 Brookfield 29 1 Seekonk 29 4 South Easton 29 3 Westfield 29 12 Winchendon 29 3 Great Barrington 28 2 Roxbury Crossing 28 17 Gloucester 27 8 Sagamore 27 1 Westwood 27 4 Weymouth 27 15 Ayer 26 2 Halifax 26 2 Hudson 26 5 Norton 26 5 Arlington 25 11 Braintree 25 9 Amesbury 24 4 Edgartown 24 1 Plainville 24 2 Plymouth 24 14 South Attleboro 24 2 Dracut 23 7 Monson 23 2 Brookline 22 13 Centerville 22 3 Forestdale 22 1 Hingham 22 5 Ipswich 22 3 Middleton 22 2 Westford 22 5 Agawam 21 6 Middleborough 21 5 North Brookfield 21 1 Northborough 21 3 Swampscott 21 3 Wilbraham 21 3 Belmont 20 5 Boxborough 20 1 East Freetown 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Wakefield 20 5 Boston 19 121 Lenox 19 1 Manchester 19 1 Marshfield 19 5 Cherry Valley 18 2 East Wareham 18 4 Holbrook 18 2 Stoneham 18 4 Dover 17 1 North Andover 17 5 Sharon 17 3 Tyngsborough 17 2 Winthrop 17 3 Ashburnham 16 1 Dedham 16 4 Harwich 16 2 Mattapoisett 16 1 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 Orleans 16 1 Berkley 15 1 Charlton 15 2 Franklin 15 5 Marblehead 15 3 Merrimac 15 1 North Easton 15 2 Dalton 14 1 East Bridgewater 14 2 Holliston 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 South Boston 14 5 Uxbridge 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Acton 13 3 Belchertown 13 2 Cohasset 13 1 East Weymouth 13 7 Upton 13 1 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Auburn 12 2 Fairhaven 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Hamilton 12 1 Natick 12 4 Salisbury 12 1 Westport 12 2 Williamstown 12 1 Blackstone 11 1 Brighton 11 5 Douglas 11 1 Montague 11 1 South Weymouth 11 6 Sutton 11 1 Auburndale 10 1 North Chelmsford 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 Lakeville 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Carver 8 1 Groton 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Palmer 8 1 South Dartmouth 8 3 Medway 7 1 Millbury 7 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Needham 6 2 Northbridge 6 1 Swansea 6 1 Whitman 6 1 Amherst 5 2 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Newton 4 4 Reading 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Wilmington 4 1 Lexington 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 E. Boston 2 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 15 span 0 4 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 568 404 Bristol 426 351 Berkshire 415 67 Essex 415 457 Barnstable 409 79 Plymouth 375 162 Worcester 353 393 Norfolk 316 270 Suffolk 316 624 Franklin 265 28 Middlesex 263 615 Hampshire 200 37 Nantucket 170 6 Dukes 121 5 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 3149 89.5% Ongoing/Error 368 10.5% 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 1363 43.3% Dismissed 913 29.0% Defaulted 760 24.1% Heard 110 3.5% Other 3 0.1% Total 3149 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 96 119 219 35 0 Foreclosure 5 15 11 3 0 No Fault 111 99 253 12 0 Non-payment 701 527 880 60 3 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.0% 3.8% 7.0% 1.1% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.5% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 3.5% 3.1% 8.0% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 22.3% 16.7% 27.9% 1.9% 0.1% 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 1648 52.3% 46.9% Judgment inferred 381 12.1% 10.8% No judgment 1120 35.6% 31.8% Total 3149 100.0% 57.7% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 243 7.7% 0 48,000 3,893 6,777 946,009 Foreclosure 19 0.6% 0 552 215 121 4,094 No fault 192 6.1% 0 23,340 4,047 4,543 777,211 Non-payment 1194 37.9% 0 64,301 7,575 7,515 9,045,305 Subtotal 1648 52.3% 0 64,301 6,536 7,286 10,772,620 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 119 3.8% 182 35,814 4,875 5,781 580,128 Defaulted 698 22.2% 0 64,301 6,508 6,943 4,543,215 Mediated 782 24.8% 0 62,500 6,817 7,755 5,331,536 Heard 46 1.5% 0 34,255 6,515 7,236 299,697 Other 3 0.1% 1,000 10,240 6,014 3,813 18,042 Subtotal 1648 52.3% 0 64,301 6,536 7,286 10,772,620 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 8 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% plaintiff 1756 86.5% 55.8% 49.9% unknown 265 13.1% 8.4% 7.5% Total 2029 100.0% 64.4% 57.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1648 Range: 0.000 - 64301.440; Mean: 6536.784; Median: 4366.625; Stddev: 7289.132 Percentiles: 90th: 15166.000; 95th: 20153.150; 99th: 33946.200 0.000 - 260.084: 183 ############################ 260.084 - 480.389: 34 ##### 480.389 - 886.590: 44 ####### 886.590 - 1635.549: 102 ################ 1635.549 - 3016.487: 223 ################################## 3016.487 - 5562.675: 334 ################################################### 5562.675 - 10257.366: 348 ##################################################### 10257.366 - 18913.489: 239 #################################### 18913.489 - 34873.744: 80 ############ 34873.744 - 64301.440: 15 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 243 Range: 0.000 - 48000.000; Mean: 3893.042; Median: 449.780; Stddev: 6791.816 Percentiles: 90th: 11787.430; 95th: 16798.420; 99th: 33937.210 0.000 - 287.199: 92 ##################################################### 287.199 - 507.783: 7 #### 507.783 - 897.198: 6 ### 897.198 - 1584.667: 10 ###### 1584.667 - 2798.315: 17 ########## 2798.315 - 4940.871: 24 ############## 4940.871 - 8723.311: 30 ################# 8723.311 - 15400.778: 18 ########## 15400.778 - 27189.086: 11 ###### 27189.086 - 48000.000: 4 ## Foreclosure: Count: 19 Range: 0.000 - 552.250; Mean: 215.498; Median: 231.540; Stddev: 125.143 Percentiles: 90th: 297.810; 95th: 552.250; 99th: 552.250 0.000 - 183.442: 2 ##################### 183.442 - 207.385: 1 ########### 207.385 - 234.436: 5 ##################################################### 234.436 - 264.999: 4 ########################################## 264.999 - 299.530: 3 ################################ 299.530 - 552.250: 1 ########### No Fault: Count: 192 Range: 0.000 - 23340.000; Mean: 4047.979; Median: 2816.555; Stddev: 4555.483 Percentiles: 90th: 10126.300; 95th: 14091.420; 99th: 18110.860 0.000 - 234.922: 47 ##################################################### 234.922 - 392.074: 11 ############ 392.074 - 653.908: 2 ## 653.908 - 1090.153: 2 ## 1090.153 - 1816.989: 6 ####### 1816.989 - 3027.984: 22 ######################### 3027.984 - 5045.643: 30 ################################## 5045.643 - 8407.300: 32 #################################### 8407.300 - 14008.216: 19 ##################### 14008.216 - 23340.000: 10 ########### Non-payment: Count: 1194 Range: 0.000 - 64301.440; Mean: 7575.632; Median: 5303.985; Stddev: 7518.898 Percentiles: 90th: 16956.380; 95th: 21569.290; 99th: 35490.540 0.000 - 314.645: 33 ###### 314.645 - 568.847: 20 #### 568.847 - 1027.766: 42 ######## 1027.766 - 1856.272: 108 #################### 1856.272 - 3352.004: 181 ################################## 3352.004 - 6052.308: 266 ################################################## 6052.308 - 10927.271: 280 ##################################################### 10927.271 - 19728.229: 178 ################################## 19728.229 - 35616.939: 67 ############# 35616.939 - 64301.440: 11 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 119 Range: 182.760 - 35814.060; Mean: 4875.028; Median: 3474.600; Stddev: 5805.958 Percentiles: 90th: 10119.680; 95th: 13953.120; 99th: 33784.090 182.760 - 310.338: 21 ########################################### 310.338 - 526.490: 2 #### 526.490 - 892.707: 6 ############ 892.707 - 1513.178: 7 ############## 1513.178 - 2564.419: 11 ###################### 2564.419 - 4345.501: 22 ############################################# 4345.501 - 7363.127: 26 ##################################################### 7363.127 - 12475.786: 16 ################################# 12475.786 - 21137.989: 5 ########## 21137.989 - 35814.060: 3 ###### Defaulted: Count: 698 Range: 0.000 - 64301.440; Mean: 6508.905; Median: 4635.620; Stddev: 6948.086 Percentiles: 90th: 14607.160; 95th: 20429.770; 99th: 31422.380 0.000 - 260.084: 95 ################################ 260.084 - 480.389: 15 ##### 480.389 - 886.590: 16 ##### 886.590 - 1635.549: 31 ########### 1635.549 - 3016.487: 93 ################################ 3016.487 - 5562.675: 128 ########################################### 5562.675 - 10257.366: 156 ##################################################### 10257.366 - 18913.489: 107 #################################### 18913.489 - 34873.744: 37 ############# 34873.744 - 64301.440: 3 # Mediated: Count: 782 Range: 0.000 - 62500.000; Mean: 6817.821; Median: 4292.285; Stddev: 7760.601 Percentiles: 90th: 16362.140; 95th: 20607.760; 99th: 40119.670 0.000 - 294.908: 69 ####################### 294.908 - 535.364: 13 #### 535.364 - 971.217: 25 ######## 971.217 - 1761.247: 67 ###################### 1761.247 - 3193.259: 112 ##################################### 3193.259 - 5788.932: 162 ##################################################### 5788.932 - 10493.864: 155 ################################################### 10493.864 - 19022.053: 110 #################################### 19022.053 - 34480.297: 37 ############ 34480.297 - 62500.000: 11 #### Heard: Count: 46 Range: 0.000 - 34255.340; Mean: 6515.153; Median: 4053.190; Stddev: 7316.503 Percentiles: 90th: 15711.650; 95th: 18447.350; 99th: 34255.340 0.000 - 278.791: 4 ##################### 278.791 - 476.335: 2 ########### 476.335 - 1388.321: 2 ########### 1388.321 - 2369.240: 2 ########### 2369.240 - 4042.730: 5 ########################### 4042.730 - 6897.773: 5 ########################### 6897.773 - 11768.596: 7 ##################################### 11768.596 - 20078.424: 10 ##################################################### 20078.424 - 34255.340: 1 ##### Other Outcome: Count: 3 Range: 1000.000 - 10240.920; Mean: 6014.283; Median: 6801.930; Stddev: 4670.540 Percentiles: 90th: 10240.920; 95th: 10240.920; 99th: 10240.920 1000.000 - 1262.074: 1 ##################################################### 1262.074 - 8115.834: 1 ##################################################### 8115.834 - 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 1569 77.3% 49.8% 44.6% Issued 1198 59.0% 38.0% 34.1% Levied 264 13.0% 8.4% 7.5% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 45 17.0% 2.2% 1.4% 1.3% Foreclosure 13 4.9% 0.6% 0.4% 0.4% No Fault 47 17.8% 2.3% 1.5% 1.3% Non-payment 159 60.2% 7.8% 5.0% 4.5% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 264 100.0% 13.0% 8.4% 7.5% 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 9.8% 1.3% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 119 45.1% 5.9% 3.8% 3.4% Mediated 111 42.0% 5.5% 3.5% 3.2% Heard 8 3.0% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 264 100.0% 13.0% 8.4% 7.5% 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 13 35 37.1% No Fault 47 489 9.6% Cause 45 595 7.6% Non-payment 159 2397 6.6% 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 119 760 15.7% Mediated 111 1363 8.1% Heard 8 110 7.3% Dismissed 26 913 2.8% 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 0 617 98 103 Non-payment 0 577 89 98 No Fault 2 549 89 95 Foreclosure 19 389 96 94 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 617 90 98 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 507 76 89 Defaulted 16 550 75 77 Mediated 8 617 104 108 Heard 0 529 136 137 Other 19 220 104 104 All Outcomes 0 617 90 98 All Cases: Count: 3149 Range: 0.000 - 617.000; Mean: 90.626; Median: 52.000; Stddev: 98.727 Percentiles: 90th: 231.000; 95th: 319.000; 99th: 492.000 0.000 - 2.548: 6 | 2.548 - 5.295: 8 | 5.295 - 10.169: 39 ## 10.169 - 18.816: 91 #### 18.816 - 34.157: 570 ########################## 34.157 - 61.374: 1170 ##################################################### 61.374 - 109.663: 583 ########################## 109.663 - 195.335: 289 ############# 195.335 - 347.331: 263 ############ 347.331 - 617.000: 128 ###### By Reason Cause: Count: 469 Range: 0.000 - 617.000; Mean: 98.386; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 103.418 Percentiles: 90th: 248.000; 95th: 350.000; 99th: 501.000 0.000 - 5.621: 2 # 5.621 - 9.961: 1 | 9.961 - 17.144: 12 #### 17.144 - 29.035: 32 ########### 29.035 - 48.719: 152 ##################################################### 48.719 - 81.303: 102 #################################### 81.303 - 135.242: 77 ########################### 135.242 - 224.529: 34 ############ 224.529 - 372.332: 39 ############## 372.332 - 617.000: 17 ###### Non-payment: Count: 2171 Range: 0.000 - 577.000; Mean: 89.174; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 98.527 Percentiles: 90th: 230.000; 95th: 318.000; 99th: 492.000 0.000 - 2.525: 5 | 2.525 - 5.212: 5 | 5.212 - 9.947: 25 ## 9.947 - 18.293: 76 ##### 18.293 - 33.000: 386 ########################## 33.000 - 58.920: 773 ##################################################### 58.920 - 104.599: 414 ############################ 104.599 - 185.101: 207 ############## 185.101 - 326.973: 181 ############ 326.973 - 577.000: 98 ####### No Fault: Count: 475 Range: 2.000 - 549.000; Mean: 89.147; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 95.051 Percentiles: 90th: 229.000; 95th: 296.000; 99th: 496.000 2.000 - 4.052: 2 # 4.052 - 13.325: 1 | 13.325 - 23.122: 22 ###### 23.122 - 39.620: 99 ############################# 39.620 - 67.402: 182 ##################################################### 67.402 - 114.183: 78 ####################### 114.183 - 192.961: 36 ########## 192.961 - 325.617: 36 ########## 325.617 - 549.000: 19 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 34 Range: 19.000 - 389.000; Mean: 96.971; Median: 61.500; Stddev: 94.572 Percentiles: 90th: 274.000; 95th: 329.000; 99th: 389.000 19.000 - 25.917: 1 ##### 25.917 - 35.227: 5 ########################### 35.227 - 47.757: 5 ########################### 47.757 - 64.621: 10 ##################################################### 64.621 - 87.318: 3 ################ 87.318 - 117.864: 3 ################ 117.864 - 158.976: 1 ##### 158.976 - 214.307: 2 ########### 214.307 - 288.775: 1 ##### 288.775 - 389.000: 3 ################ By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 913 Range: 1.000 - 507.000; Mean: 76.865; Median: 43.000; Stddev: 89.229 Percentiles: 90th: 189.000; 95th: 271.000; 99th: 456.000 1.000 - 2.479: 6 # 2.479 - 5.053: 7 # 5.053 - 9.531: 22 #### 9.531 - 17.322: 59 ########## 17.322 - 30.875: 161 ############################ 30.875 - 54.454: 310 ##################################################### 54.454 - 95.475: 161 ############################ 95.475 - 166.841: 78 ############# 166.841 - 290.998: 73 ############ 290.998 - 507.000: 36 ###### Defaulted: Count: 760 Range: 16.000 - 550.000; Mean: 75.258; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 77.367 Percentiles: 90th: 142.000; 95th: 262.000; 99th: 427.000 16.000 - 23.072: 24 ###### 23.072 - 33.087: 109 ########################## 33.087 - 47.268: 226 ##################################################### 47.268 - 67.349: 183 ########################################### 67.349 - 95.783: 85 #################### 95.783 - 136.047: 49 ########### 136.047 - 193.062: 33 ######## 193.062 - 273.796: 13 ### 273.796 - 388.118: 27 ###### 388.118 - 550.000: 11 ### Mediated: Count: 1363 Range: 8.000 - 617.000; Mean: 104.720; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 108.243 Percentiles: 90th: 248.000; 95th: 356.000; 99th: 526.000 8.000 - 12.738: 4 # 12.738 - 19.970: 24 ### 19.970 - 31.009: 128 ################## 31.009 - 47.859: 372 ##################################################### 47.859 - 73.579: 307 ############################################ 73.579 - 112.839: 166 ######################## 112.839 - 172.766: 109 ################ 172.766 - 264.240: 133 ################### 264.240 - 403.868: 78 ########### 403.868 - 617.000: 42 ###### Heard: Count: 110 Range: 0.000 - 529.000; Mean: 136.027; Median: 84.000; Stddev: 137.112 Percentiles: 90th: 364.000; 95th: 449.000; 99th: 513.000 0.000 - 8.392: 2 #### 8.392 - 13.702: 3 ####### 13.702 - 22.014: 8 ################## 22.014 - 35.025: 6 ############# 35.025 - 55.391: 15 ################################# 55.391 - 87.273: 24 ##################################################### 87.273 - 137.178: 18 ######################################## 137.178 - 215.297: 8 ################## 215.297 - 337.582: 11 ######################## 337.582 - 529.000: 13 ############################# Other Outcome: Count: 3 Range: 19.000 - 220.000; Mean: 104.000; Median: 73.000; Stddev: 104.024 Percentiles: 90th: 220.000; 95th: 220.000; 99th: 220.000 19.000 - 24.431: 1 ##################################################### 24.431 - 83.537: 1 ##################################################### 83.537 - 220.000: 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/.