Outcomes for July 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: 2023-07-01 Search Period End: 2023-07-31 Earliest Case: 2023-07-03 Latest Case: 2023-07-31 Total Cases: 3251 Total Transfers: 76 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 25.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 47.2% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Holyoke Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 108 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 northeast 596 18.3% western 540 16.6% eastern 505 15.5% central 489 15.0% southeast 366 11.3% metro_south 314 9.7% fall river district 40 1.2% quincy district 32 1.0% brockton district 26 0.8% woburn district 23 0.7% lynn district 22 0.7% malden district 19 0.6% lawrence district 16 0.5% lowell district 16 0.5% waltham district 16 0.5% barnstable district 14 0.4% cambridge district 14 0.4% haverhill district 14 0.4% northern berkshire district 14 0.4% pittsfield district 14 0.4% bmc west roxbury 10 0.3% salem district 10 0.3% somerville district 10 0.3% bmc central 9 0.3% chelsea district 9 0.3% dedham district 9 0.3% new bedford district 9 0.3% attleboro district 7 0.2% bmc east boston 7 0.2% peabody district 6 0.2% bmc roxbury 5 0.2% edgartown district 5 0.2% fallmouth district 5 0.2% hingham district 5 0.2% wareham district 5 0.2% bmc brighton 4 0.1% framingham district 4 0.1% orleans district 4 0.1% taunton district 4 0.1% plymouth district 3 0.1% southern berkshire district 3 0.1% springfield district 3 0.1% wrentham district 3 0.1% bmc dorchester 2 0.1% chicopee district 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% stoughton district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% brookline district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% fitchburg district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% newburyport district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2420 8 Natural Person 831 3243 Total 3251 3251 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 74.4% 0.2% Natural Person 25.6% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2396 24 2420 Optional 439 392 831 Total 2835 416 3251 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 73.7% 0.7% 74.4% Optional 13.5% 12.1% 25.6% Total 87.2% 12.8% 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 1 7 8 Optional 181 3062 3243 Total 182 3069 3251 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 5.6% 94.2% 99.8% Total 5.6% 94.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 100 3.1% 1 2289 70.4% 2 696 21.4% 3 130 4.0% 4 30 0.9% 5 5 0.2% 7 1 0.0% Total 3251 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 2318 71.3% Cause 481 14.8% No Fault 424 13.0% Foreclosure 22 0.7% Unknown/Other 6 0.2% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 632 6 Southfield 202 1 Holyoke 178 71 Springfield 155 238 Fall River 144 128 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Three Rivers 136 4 Hanson 127 13 Turners Falls 121 5 Framingham 120 82 Lawrence 117 90 Chilmark 115 1 Chicopee 113 63 Hyannis 113 16 Baldwinville 105 2 Berlin 104 3 Lowell 103 110 New Bedford 96 92 Pittsfield 96 43 Worcester 94 171 Dorchester 93 86 Hyde Park 92 31 Sheffield 92 3 Brockton 91 86 Danvers 90 24 Marlborough 90 35 Randolph 90 29 Fitchburg 89 36 West Warren 88 1 Roxbury 87 52 Gilbertville 86 1 Rockland 85 15 Gardner 84 17 Southbridge 83 14 South Dennis 81 3 Stoughton 81 22 Woburn 81 31 Haverhill 80 49 Lynn 80 73 North Adams 80 11 Indian Orchard 79 8 Chelsea 76 27 Westwood 75 11 Easthampton 74 12 Greenfield 74 13 Norwood 73 21 Quincy 70 65 Salem 70 29 West Barnstable 70 2 Bellingham 67 11 Malden 67 40 Oak Bluffs 66 3 Fiskdale 64 2 North Brookfield 64 3 Dennis Port 63 2 Orange 63 5 Charlton 61 8 Eastham 60 3 Ware 60 6 Colrain 59 1 Clarksburg 58 1 Hull 58 6 South Easton 58 6 Osterville 56 2 Beverly 55 22 Dorchester Center 55 51 Wrentham 54 6 Vineyard Haven 52 1 East Falmouth 51 3 Roslindale 51 15 Stockbridge 51 1 Taunton 51 29 Methuen 50 24 Revere 50 26 Watertown 50 16 Edgartown 49 2 Hinsdale 49 1 Peabody 48 25 Plainville 48 4 Adams 47 4 Webster 47 8 Mattapan 46 17 Wayland 46 6 Bridgewater 45 12 Jamaica Plain 45 17 West Springfield 45 13 South Grafton 44 2 Waltham 44 27 Middleborough 43 10 Rockport 43 3 South Yarmouth 43 5 Westborough 43 8 Cambridge 42 45 Norton 42 8 Spencer 42 5 Weymouth 42 23 Leominster 41 17 Belchertown 40 6 Holland 40 1 Westfield 38 16 Williamstown 38 3 Abington 37 6 East Boston 37 15 Holbrook 37 4 Melrose 37 10 Dedham 36 9 Salisbury 36 3 West Tisbury 36 1 Douglas 35 3 Northborough 35 5 Athol 34 4 Franklin 34 11 Tewksbury 34 10 Andover 33 11 Medfield 33 4 Provincetown 33 1 Saugus 33 9 Canton 32 7 Palmer 32 4 Acton 31 7 Kingston 31 4 North Andover 31 9 North Attleborough 31 9 Amesbury 30 5 Brookline 30 18 Cheshire 30 1 Acushnet 29 3 Buzzards Bay 29 1 Dalton 29 2 Hatfield 29 1 Maynard 29 3 Burlington 28 7 Hanover 28 4 Jefferson 28 1 Whitinsville 28 2 Attleborough 27 12 Sagamore Beach 27 1 Somerville 27 21 West Brookfield 27 1 Cohasset 26 2 Dudley 26 3 Halifax 26 2 Pepperell 26 3 Feeding Hills 25 3 Westport 25 4 Medford 24 14 Plymouth 24 14 South Weymouth 24 13 Charlestown 23 4 Chelmsford 23 8 Ludlow 23 5 Monson 23 2 Avon 22 1 Bedford 22 3 Boylston 22 1 Brighton 22 10 Forestdale 22 1 Holliston 22 3 Pembroke 22 4 Shrewsbury 22 8 South Hadley 22 4 Wareham 22 5 Wilmington 22 5 Winthrop 22 4 Auburndale 21 2 Everett 21 9 Natick 21 7 North Chelmsford 21 2 Roxbury Crossing 21 13 Allston 20 6 Boxborough 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Whitman 20 3 Billerica 19 8 Hadley 19 1 Lunenburg 19 2 Manchester 19 1 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 West Roxbury 19 6 Winchendon 19 2 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Ashland 18 3 Barre 18 1 Cherry Valley 18 2 Fairhaven 18 3 Lakeville 18 2 Leicester 18 2 North Billerica 18 2 South Barre 18 1 West Yarmouth 18 1 Foxborough 17 3 Gloucester 17 5 Lynnfield 17 2 Milford 17 5 Sharon 17 3 Tyngsborough 17 2 Braintree 16 6 Harwich 16 2 Lee 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Orleans 16 1 Wakefield 16 4 Berkley 15 1 East Taunton 15 1 Groveland 15 1 Hudson 15 3 Ipswich 15 2 Lexington 15 5 Marblehead 15 3 Marshfield 15 4 Medway 15 2 Merrimac 15 1 Stow 15 1 Agawam 14 4 Centerville 14 2 Great Barrington 14 1 Mashpee 14 2 Milton 14 4 Northampton 14 4 Oxford 14 2 Raynham 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Wilbraham 14 2 Amherst 13 5 Ayer 13 1 Dracut 13 4 Hingham 13 3 North Reading 13 2 Stoneham 13 3 Westminster 13 1 Auburn 12 2 E. Boston 12 5 East Longmeadow 12 2 Falmouth 12 4 Georgetown 12 1 Millis 12 1 North Dartmouth 12 3 Reading 12 3 Walpole 12 3 Blackstone 11 1 Boston 11 71 East Weymouth 11 6 Littleton 11 1 Somerset 11 2 Sudbury 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Southwick 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Wellesley Hills 10 3 East Wareham 9 2 Onset 9 2 Carver 8 1 Mansfield 8 2 Norfolk 8 1 Rehoboth 8 1 South Boston 8 3 South Dartmouth 8 3 Weston 8 1 Arlington 7 3 Clinton 7 1 Millbury 7 1 Swampscott 7 1 Uxbridge 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Holden 5 1 Newburyport 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Westford 4 1 Needham 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Newton 2 2 West Medford 1 1 (not given) 0 30 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 614 437 Plymouth 465 201 Berkshire 452 73 Bristol 375 309 Essex 358 394 Norfolk 349 298 Worcester 318 354 Barnstable 274 53 Hampshire 244 45 Middlesex 240 562 Suffolk 232 459 Franklin 227 24 Dukes 195 8 Nantucket 56 2 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2855 87.8% Ongoing/Error 396 12.2% 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 1151 40.3% Dismissed 907 31.8% Defaulted 674 23.6% Heard 123 4.3% Other 0 0.0% Total 2855 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 99 76 153 35 0 Foreclosure 4 7 10 0 0 No Fault 88 76 218 20 0 Non-payment 714 512 770 68 0 Unknown/Other 2 3 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.5% 2.7% 5.4% 1.2% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.2% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 3.1% 2.7% 7.6% 0.7% 0.0% Non-payment 25.0% 17.9% 27.0% 2.4% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.1% 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 1391 48.7% 42.8% Judgment inferred 220 7.7% 6.8% No judgment 1244 43.6% 38.3% Total 2855 100.0% 49.6% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 162 5.7% 0 1,584,978 13,943 123,990 2,258,861 Foreclosure 10 0.4% 0 5,000 703 1,437 7,032 No fault 168 5.9% 0 80,637 5,388 7,836 905,330 Non-payment 1048 36.7% 0 90,177 7,762 7,695 8,134,955 Unknown/Other 3 0.1% 7,483 13,323 9,626 2,624 28,879 Subtotal 1391 48.7% 0 1,584,978 8,148 42,986 11,335,059 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 110 3.9% 0 32,999 4,876 5,663 536,413 Defaulted 586 20.5% 0 1,584,978 10,018 65,543 5,870,562 Mediated 648 22.7% 0 90,177 7,095 8,127 4,597,718 Heard 47 1.6% 0 34,923 7,029 7,446 330,365 Subtotal 1391 48.7% 0 1,584,978 8,148 42,986 11,335,059 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 7 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 1502 93.2% 52.6% 46.2% unknown 102 6.3% 3.6% 3.1% Total 1611 100.0% 56.4% 49.6% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1391 Range: 0.000 - 1584978.980; Mean: 8148.856; Median: 4957.610; Stddev: 43002.438 Percentiles: 90th: 15005.140; 95th: 20034.090; 99th: 32999.600 0.000 - 306.187: 114 ############# 306.187 - 793.175: 51 ###### 793.175 - 2052.193: 170 ################### 2052.193 - 5307.151: 367 ######################################### 5307.151 - 13722.240: 479 ##################################################### 13722.240 - 35477.895: 167 ################## 35477.895 - 91723.111: 10 # 91723.111 - 1584978.980: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 162 Range: 0.000 - 1584978.980; Mean: 13943.587; Median: 991.210; Stddev: 124375.076 Percentiles: 90th: 13725.780; 95th: 20357.650; 99th: 30779.310 0.000 - 357.344: 57 ##################################################### 357.344 - 909.710: 9 ######## 909.710 - 2313.518: 22 #################### 2313.518 - 5881.216: 20 ################### 5881.216 - 14948.320: 26 ######################## 14948.320 - 37991.854: 13 ############ 37991.854 - 1584978.980: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 10 Range: 0.000 - 5000.000; Mean: 703.264; Median: 294.385; Stddev: 1515.403 Percentiles: 90th: 360.190; 95th: 5000.000; 99th: 5000.000 0.000 - 229.816: 1 ############# 229.816 - 323.853: 4 ##################################################### 323.853 - 456.202: 2 ########################### 456.202 - 5000.000: 1 ############# No Fault: Count: 168 Range: 0.000 - 80637.500; Mean: 5388.869; Median: 3819.465; Stddev: 7860.293 Percentiles: 90th: 11693.240; 95th: 15092.340; 99th: 31000.000 0.000 - 303.531: 40 ##################################################### 303.531 - 565.037: 5 ####### 565.037 - 1051.099: 2 ### 1051.099 - 1954.550: 5 ####### 1954.550 - 3633.806: 19 ######################### 3633.806 - 6755.059: 39 #################################################### 6755.059 - 12556.572: 35 ############################################## 12556.572 - 23339.918: 11 ############### 23339.918 - 43383.060: 2 ### 43383.060 - 80637.500: 1 # Non-payment: Count: 1048 Range: 0.000 - 90177.400; Mean: 7762.362; Median: 5733.295; Stddev: 7699.615 Percentiles: 90th: 15755.370; 95th: 20662.460; 99th: 34013.330 0.000 - 229.627: 6 # 229.627 - 446.643: 23 #### 446.643 - 867.867: 28 ##### 867.867 - 1685.455: 88 ################ 1685.455 - 3272.377: 163 ############################## 3272.377 - 6352.563: 250 ############################################## 6352.563 - 12331.145: 285 ##################################################### 12331.145 - 23935.460: 161 ############################## 23935.460 - 46459.216: 33 ###### 46459.216 - 90177.400: 4 # Unknown/Other reason: Count: 3 Range: 7483.750 - 13323.090; Mean: 9626.587; Median: 8072.920; Stddev: 3214.791 Percentiles: 90th: 13323.090; 95th: 13323.090; 99th: 13323.090 7483.750 - 7928.090: 1 ##################################################### 7928.090 - 8398.808: 1 ##################################################### 8398.808 - 13323.090: 1 ##################################################### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 110 Range: 0.000 - 32999.600; Mean: 4876.482; Median: 3316.870; Stddev: 5689.653 Percentiles: 90th: 11413.310; 95th: 14213.180; 99th: 30779.310 0.000 - 335.629: 9 ###################### 335.629 - 559.293: 1 ## 559.293 - 931.564: 10 ######################## 931.564 - 1551.179: 10 ######################## 1551.179 - 2582.480: 12 ############################# 2582.480 - 4299.001: 21 ################################################### 4299.001 - 7156.014: 22 ##################################################### 7156.014 - 11911.288: 13 ############################### 11911.288 - 19826.068: 6 ############## 19826.068 - 32999.600: 3 ####### Defaulted: Count: 586 Range: 0.000 - 1584978.980; Mean: 10018.025; Median: 5407.970; Stddev: 65599.950 Percentiles: 90th: 15873.170; 95th: 19953.820; 99th: 35550.010 0.000 - 409.546: 62 ################ 409.546 - 1026.732: 15 #### 1026.732 - 2571.751: 87 ###################### 2571.751 - 6439.444: 151 ####################################### 6439.444 - 16121.553: 205 ##################################################### 16121.553 - 40359.060: 53 ############## 40359.060 - 101033.524: 3 # 101033.524 - 1584978.980: 1 | Mediated: Count: 648 Range: 0.000 - 90177.400; Mean: 7095.244; Median: 4938.910; Stddev: 8133.460 Percentiles: 90th: 14737.700; 95th: 20357.650; 99th: 32639.630 0.000 - 229.627: 19 ###### 229.627 - 446.643: 38 ############ 446.643 - 867.867: 21 ####### 867.867 - 1685.455: 51 ################ 1685.455 - 3272.377: 83 ########################## 3272.377 - 6352.563: 153 ################################################ 6352.563 - 12331.145: 168 ##################################################### 12331.145 - 23935.460: 77 ######################## 23935.460 - 46459.216: 19 ###### 46459.216 - 90177.400: 3 # Heard: Count: 47 Range: 0.000 - 34923.150; Mean: 7029.046; Median: 5001.760; Stddev: 7527.315 Percentiles: 90th: 16623.810; 95th: 20741.410; 99th: 34923.150 0.000 - 243.686: 1 ##### 243.686 - 423.620: 7 ##################################### 423.620 - 1277.739: 1 ##### 1277.739 - 2218.078: 3 ################ 2218.078 - 3849.908: 4 ##################### 3849.908 - 6681.729: 10 ##################################################### 6681.729 - 11595.969: 6 ################################ 11595.969 - 20123.967: 8 ########################################## 20123.967 - 34923.150: 3 ################ Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 1330 82.6% 46.6% 40.9% Issued 1008 62.6% 35.3% 31.0% Levied 223 13.8% 7.8% 6.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 27 12.1% 1.7% 0.9% 0.8% Foreclosure 7 3.1% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% No Fault 32 14.3% 2.0% 1.1% 1.0% Non-payment 157 70.4% 9.7% 5.5% 4.8% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 223 100.0% 13.8% 7.8% 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 20 9.0% 1.2% 0.7% 0.6% Defaulted 103 46.2% 6.4% 3.6% 3.2% Mediated 95 42.6% 5.9% 3.3% 2.9% Heard 5 2.2% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 223 100.0% 13.8% 7.8% 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 7 22 31.8% No Fault 32 424 7.5% Non-payment 157 2318 6.8% Cause 27 481 5.6% Unknown/Other 0 6 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 103 674 15.3% Mediated 95 1151 8.3% Heard 5 123 4.1% Dismissed 20 907 2.2% Other 0 0 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 0 511 103 94 Non-payment 0 569 92 95 No Fault 2 469 91 78 Foreclosure 4 602 121 145 Unknown/Other 117 456 274 126 All Reasons 0 602 94 93 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 534 79 85 Defaulted 18 515 87 79 Mediated 0 602 105 101 Heard 2 569 135 117 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 602 94 93 All Cases: Count: 2855 Range: 0.000 - 602.000; Mean: 94.372; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 93.755 Percentiles: 90th: 226.000; 95th: 291.000; 99th: 472.000 0.000 - 2.540: 6 | 2.540 - 5.265: 11 | 5.265 - 10.087: 41 ## 10.087 - 18.622: 48 ## 18.622 - 33.728: 198 ######## 33.728 - 60.461: 1292 ##################################################### 60.461 - 107.776: 566 ####################### 107.776 - 191.513: 326 ############# 191.513 - 339.713: 248 ########## 339.713 - 602.000: 116 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 363 Range: 0.000 - 511.000; Mean: 103.989; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 94.052 Percentiles: 90th: 242.000; 95th: 291.000; 99th: 434.000 0.000 - 2.482: 3 # 2.482 - 5.063: 1 | 5.063 - 9.556: 2 # 9.556 - 17.379: 2 # 17.379 - 31.000: 23 ########## 31.000 - 54.715: 117 ##################################################### 54.715 - 96.006: 92 ########################################## 96.006 - 167.897: 50 ####################### 167.897 - 293.067: 54 ######################## 293.067 - 511.000: 18 ######## Non-payment: Count: 2064 Range: 0.000 - 569.000; Mean: 92.447; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 95.162 Percentiles: 90th: 220.000; 95th: 304.000; 99th: 493.000 0.000 - 4.070: 9 # 4.070 - 7.568: 9 # 7.568 - 13.479: 41 ## 13.479 - 23.469: 69 #### 23.469 - 40.352: 318 ################### 40.352 - 68.883: 871 ##################################################### 68.883 - 117.100: 324 #################### 117.100 - 198.583: 183 ########### 198.583 - 336.287: 144 ######### 336.287 - 569.000: 94 ###### No Fault: Count: 402 Range: 2.000 - 469.000; Mean: 91.928; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 78.871 Percentiles: 90th: 219.000; 95th: 263.000; 99th: 352.000 2.000 - 3.973: 1 | 3.973 - 7.244: 2 # 7.244 - 12.665: 1 | 12.665 - 21.652: 9 ### 21.652 - 36.550: 31 ######### 36.550 - 61.245: 173 ##################################################### 61.245 - 102.182: 81 ######################### 102.182 - 170.042: 43 ############# 170.042 - 282.531: 45 ############## 282.531 - 469.000: 16 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 21 Range: 4.000 - 602.000; Mean: 121.238; Median: 59.000; Stddev: 145.336 Percentiles: 90th: 245.000; 95th: 411.000; 99th: 602.000 4.000 - 7.074: 1 ###### 7.074 - 53.909: 9 ##################################################### 53.909 - 87.670: 5 ############################# 87.670 - 230.232: 3 ################## 230.232 - 372.407: 1 ###### 372.407 - 602.000: 2 ############ Unknown/Other reason: Count: 5 Range: 117.000 - 456.000; Mean: 274.600; Median: 295.000; Stddev: 126.725 Percentiles: 90th: 456.000; 95th: 456.000; 99th: 456.000 117.000 - 134.109: 1 ########################### 134.109 - 231.220: 1 ########################### 231.220 - 303.443: 2 ##################################################### 303.443 - 456.000: 1 ########################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 907 Range: 0.000 - 534.000; Mean: 79.921; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 85.789 Percentiles: 90th: 211.000; 95th: 263.000; 99th: 420.000 0.000 - 2.498: 4 # 2.498 - 5.116: 10 # 5.116 - 9.696: 23 ### 9.696 - 17.705: 48 ####### 17.705 - 31.711: 110 ################ 31.711 - 56.204: 354 ##################################################### 56.204 - 99.036: 166 ######################### 99.036 - 173.940: 69 ########## 173.940 - 304.930: 91 ############## 304.930 - 534.000: 30 #### Defaulted: Count: 674 Range: 18.000 - 515.000; Mean: 87.996; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 79.433 Percentiles: 90th: 173.000; 95th: 248.000; 99th: 438.000 18.000 - 25.433: 10 ## 25.433 - 35.773: 17 #### 35.773 - 50.159: 181 ########################################## 50.159 - 70.172: 226 ##################################################### 70.172 - 98.015: 90 ##################### 98.015 - 136.750: 59 ############## 136.750 - 190.638: 31 ####### 190.638 - 265.606: 33 ######## 265.606 - 369.903: 10 ## 369.903 - 515.000: 17 #### Mediated: Count: 1151 Range: 0.000 - 602.000; Mean: 105.088; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 101.825 Percentiles: 90th: 246.000; 95th: 345.000; 99th: 503.000 0.000 - 5.605: 1 | 5.605 - 17.011: 9 # 17.011 - 28.742: 29 #### 28.742 - 48.112: 346 ################################################### 48.112 - 80.099: 359 ##################################################### 80.099 - 132.918: 133 #################### 132.918 - 220.139: 130 ################### 220.139 - 364.167: 92 ############## 364.167 - 602.000: 51 ######## Heard: Count: 123 Range: 2.000 - 569.000; Mean: 135.610; Median: 93.000; Stddev: 117.712 Percentiles: 90th: 277.000; 95th: 387.000; 99th: 552.000 2.000 - 4.070: 2 #### 4.070 - 7.568: 1 ## 7.568 - 13.479: 1 ## 13.479 - 23.469: 1 ## 23.469 - 40.352: 13 ####################### 40.352 - 68.883: 24 ########################################## 68.883 - 117.100: 30 ##################################################### 117.100 - 198.583: 23 ######################################### 198.583 - 336.287: 18 ################################ 336.287 - 569.000: 10 ################## -- 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/.