Outcomes for August 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: 2023-08-01 Search Period End: 2023-08-31 Earliest Case: 2023-08-01 Latest Case: 2023-08-31 Total Cases: 3248 Total Transfers: 68 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 27.2% Of those, percentage pro se: 47.8% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Turners Falls Least stable with 10+ filings: Turners Falls 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 eastern 590 18.2% northeast 540 16.6% western 506 15.6% central 460 14.2% southeast 365 11.2% metro_south 288 8.9% malden district 56 1.7% lynn district 41 1.3% brockton district 35 1.1% lowell district 28 0.9% quincy district 27 0.8% pittsfield district 25 0.8% chelsea district 22 0.7% waltham district 16 0.5% bmc east boston 15 0.5% framingham district 15 0.5% salem district 15 0.5% attleboro district 14 0.4% haverhill district 14 0.4% new bedford district 13 0.4% somerville district 13 0.4% fall river district 12 0.4% woburn district 11 0.3% cambridge district 9 0.3% wrentham district 9 0.3% bmc dorchester 8 0.2% lawrence district 8 0.2% springfield district 8 0.2% barnstable district 6 0.2% bmc west roxbury 6 0.2% dedham district 6 0.2% northern berkshire district 6 0.2% ayer district 5 0.2% westfield district 5 0.2% stoughton district 4 0.1% bmc central 3 0.1% edgartown district 3 0.1% fallmouth district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% peabody district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% brookline district 1 0.0% chicopee district 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% fitchburg district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% hingham district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% newburyport district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% orleans district 1 0.0% plymouth district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2363 7 Natural Person 885 3241 Total 3248 3248 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 72.8% 0.2% Natural Person 27.2% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2342 21 2363 Optional 462 423 885 Total 2804 444 3248 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 72.1% 0.6% 72.8% Optional 14.2% 13.0% 27.2% Total 86.3% 13.7% 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 1 6 7 Optional 191 3050 3241 Total 192 3056 3248 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 5.9% 93.9% 99.8% Total 5.9% 94.1% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 112 3.4% 1 2280 70.2% 2 677 20.8% 3 124 3.8% 4 37 1.1% 5 10 0.3% 6 6 0.2% 7 1 0.0% 10 1 0.0% Total 3248 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 2245 69.1% Cause 510 15.7% No Fault 473 14.6% Foreclosure 19 0.6% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Turners Falls 292 12 Southbridge 185 31 Springfield 143 220 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Indian Orchard 138 14 Newtonville 134 7 New Bedford 125 119 Dorchester 122 113 Holyoke 122 49 Ayer 121 9 Pittsfield 116 52 Orange 114 9 Brockton 109 103 Lowell 108 116 Sunderland 108 4 Florence 105 1 Vineyard Haven 105 2 Gardner 103 21 Everett 100 42 Chicopee 99 55 Mattapan 98 36 Westborough 98 18 Revere 94 49 Lynn 92 84 Norwood 90 26 Fitchburg 89 36 Fall River 87 78 Nahant 87 3 Worcester 87 158 Athol 86 10 Framingham 86 59 Lawrence 83 64 Chelsea 82 29 Chesterfield 81 1 South Dennis 81 3 North Adams 80 11 Royalston 79 1 Allston 78 23 West Chatham 78 1 Warren 77 4 West Springfield 77 22 Haverhill 75 46 Salem 74 31 Leominster 71 29 Randolph 71 23 Adams 70 6 Stoughton 70 19 Berlin 69 2 East Falmouth 69 4 Maynard 69 7 Pocasset 69 2 Greenfield 68 12 South Hadley 68 12 Three Rivers 68 2 Danvers 67 18 Gill 66 1 Malden 65 39 Methuen 65 31 North Billerica 65 7 Webster 65 11 East Boston 64 26 Marlborough 64 25 Taunton 64 36 Hyannis 63 9 Norton 63 12 Roxbury 63 38 Rockland 62 11 South Lancaster 61 1 Colrain 59 1 Peabody 58 30 Middleborough 56 13 Saugus 56 15 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Erving 55 1 Sagamore Beach 55 2 Quincy 54 50 Milford 53 15 Woburn 52 20 Williamstown 51 4 Attleborough 50 22 Truro 49 1 Dorchester Center 48 45 Westfield 48 20 Waltham 47 29 Bernardston 46 1 West Wareham 46 1 Bedford 45 6 Franklin 44 14 South Grafton 44 2 Cambridge 43 46 North Chelmsford 43 4 Watertown 43 14 Feeding Hills 42 5 Braintree 41 15 South Boston 41 14 Boxborough 40 2 Marion 40 2 South Easton 39 4 Abington 37 6 Melrose 37 10 West Yarmouth 37 2 Acton 36 8 Beverly 35 14 Byfield 35 1 East Weymouth 35 19 Foxborough 35 6 Plympton 35 1 Tyngsborough 35 4 West Barnstable 35 1 Gloucester 34 10 South Yarmouth 34 4 Spencer 34 4 Bridgewater 33 9 Hardwick 33 1 Provincetown 33 1 Auburndale 32 3 Hyde Park 32 11 Jamaica Plain 32 12 Sturbridge 32 3 Dennis Port 31 1 Kingston 31 4 Roxbury Crossing 31 19 Swansea 31 5 Cheshire 30 1 Cotuit 30 1 Sheffield 30 1 Charlestown 29 5 E. Boston 29 12 Hatfield 29 1 Dedham 28 7 Great Barrington 28 2 Hanover 28 4 Lakeville 28 3 North Andover 28 8 Northborough 28 4 Whitinsville 28 2 Winthrop 28 5 Canton 27 6 East Wareham 27 6 Sagamore 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Westford 27 6 Westwood 27 4 Weymouth 27 15 Newton Centre 26 1 Edgartown 24 1 Northampton 24 7 Palmer 24 3 Plainville 24 2 Plymouth 24 14 Salisbury 24 2 Walpole 24 6 Douglas 23 2 Dracut 23 7 Ludlow 23 5 Medford 23 13 Brighton 22 10 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Sharon 22 4 Uxbridge 22 3 Arlington 21 9 Mansfield 21 5 Southwick 21 2 Brewster 20 2 Tewksbury 20 6 Ware 20 2 Hadley 19 1 Hanson 19 2 Lenox 19 1 Lunenburg 19 2 Rochester 19 1 Somerville 19 15 Winchendon 19 2 Andover 18 6 Brookline 18 11 Holbrook 18 2 Wrentham 18 2 Agawam 17 5 Dudley 17 2 Roslindale 17 5 Southampton 17 1 Ashburnham 16 1 Boston 16 101 Orleans 16 1 Charlton 15 2 East Taunton 15 1 Falmouth 15 5 Hudson 15 3 Medway 15 2 North Easton 15 2 Wayland 15 2 Billerica 14 6 Clinton 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 Raynham 14 2 Swampscott 14 2 Cohasset 13 1 Duxbury 13 2 Needham 13 4 North Attleborough 13 4 Shirley 13 1 South Weymouth 13 7 Stoneham 13 3 Westminster 13 1 Whitman 13 2 Auburn 12 2 Belmont 12 3 East Longmeadow 12 2 Lexington 12 4 Millis 12 1 Natick 12 4 Rutland 12 1 Chelmsford 11 4 Concord 11 2 Grafton 11 2 Holden 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Amherst 10 4 Southborough 10 1 Hingham 9 2 Hull 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Nantucket 9 1 Wareham 9 2 West Roxbury 9 3 Burlington 8 2 Carver 8 1 Medfield 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 Pepperell 8 1 Rehoboth 8 1 Shrewsbury 8 3 Wakefield 8 2 Weston 8 1 Centerville 7 1 Ipswich 7 1 Millbury 7 1 Milton 7 2 Oxford 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Ashland 6 1 Belchertown 6 1 Bellingham 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 North Reading 6 1 Northbridge 6 1 Westport 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Sudbury 5 1 Onset 4 1 Reading 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Marshfield 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 (not given) 0 28 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 569 405 Berkshire 483 78 Plymouth 447 193 Franklin 398 42 Bristol 359 296 Worcester 346 386 Essex 335 369 Norfolk 299 255 Suffolk 281 556 Middlesex 239 558 Barnstable 238 46 Hampshire 168 31 Dukes 97 4 Nantucket 28 1 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2808 86.5% Ongoing/Error 440 13.5% 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 1212 43.2% Dismissed 911 32.4% Defaulted 577 20.5% Heard 108 3.8% Other 0 0.0% Total 2808 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 121 80 160 27 0 Foreclosure 1 10 7 1 0 No Fault 110 110 228 11 0 Non-payment 679 376 817 69 0 Unknown/Other 0 1 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.3% 2.8% 5.7% 1.0% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.0% 0.4% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 3.9% 3.9% 8.1% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 24.2% 13.4% 29.1% 2.5% 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 1396 49.7% 43.0% Judgment inferred 223 7.9% 6.9% No judgment 1189 42.3% 36.6% Total 2808 100.0% 49.8% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 171 6.1% 0 33,532 2,611 4,755 446,570 Foreclosure 11 0.4% 251 43,040 4,233 12,272 46,564 No fault 211 7.5% 0 71,557 4,847 7,439 1,022,770 Non-payment 1003 35.7% 0 464,516 8,629 16,523 8,655,144 Subtotal 1396 49.7% 0 464,516 7,285 14,609 10,171,049 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 124 4.4% 0 35,843 4,472 5,731 554,615 Defaulted 507 18.1% 0 464,516 8,119 22,038 4,116,784 Mediated 721 25.7% 0 100,000 7,151 7,767 5,156,459 Heard 44 1.6% 0 33,532 7,799 7,957 343,190 Subtotal 1396 49.7% 0 464,516 7,285 14,609 10,171,049 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 8 0.5% 0.3% 0.2% plaintiff 1514 93.5% 53.9% 46.6% unknown 97 6.0% 3.5% 3.0% Total 1619 100.0% 57.7% 49.8% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1396 Range: 0.000 - 464516.850; Mean: 7285.852; Median: 4666.465; Stddev: 14614.636 Percentiles: 90th: 16243.170; 95th: 21371.260; 99th: 35429.360 0.000 - 315.955: 151 ###################### 315.955 - 711.485: 51 ####### 711.485 - 1600.600: 89 ############# 1600.600 - 3599.248: 266 ###################################### 3599.248 - 8092.023: 370 ##################################################### 8092.023 - 18191.362: 320 ############################################## 18191.362 - 40893.737: 105 ############### 40893.737 - 91926.563: 6 # 91926.563 - 206643.608: 1 | 206643.608 - 464516.850: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 171 Range: 0.000 - 33532.650; Mean: 2611.523; Median: 292.250; Stddev: 4769.234 Percentiles: 90th: 8533.480; 95th: 11469.640; 99th: 24792.410 0.000 - 313.048: 74 ##################################################### 313.048 - 526.696: 13 ######### 526.696 - 885.688: 2 # 885.688 - 1488.903: 4 ### 1488.903 - 2502.485: 14 ########## 2502.485 - 4205.610: 13 ######### 4205.610 - 7067.372: 13 ######### 7067.372 - 11875.994: 13 ######### 11875.994 - 19955.927: 5 #### 19955.927 - 33532.650: 3 ## Foreclosure: Count: 11 Range: 251.320 - 43040.850; Mean: 4233.133; Median: 321.540; Stddev: 12871.586 Percentiles: 90th: 689.150; 95th: 43040.850; 99th: 43040.850 251.320 - 420.838: 9 ##################################################### 420.838 - 704.244: 1 ###### 704.244 - 43040.850: 1 ###### No Fault: Count: 211 Range: 0.000 - 71557.370; Mean: 4847.254; Median: 3602.680; Stddev: 7456.719 Percentiles: 90th: 10098.680; 95th: 14693.610; 99th: 27233.270 0.000 - 261.883: 29 ############################### 261.883 - 489.126: 36 ####################################### 489.126 - 912.801: 1 # 912.801 - 1702.710: 7 ######## 1702.710 - 3175.434: 18 ################### 3175.434 - 5921.211: 49 ##################################################### 5921.211 - 11040.499: 42 ############################################# 11040.499 - 20585.010: 15 ################ 20585.010 - 38380.002: 2 ## 38380.002 - 71557.370: 2 ## Non-payment: Count: 1003 Range: 0.000 - 464516.850; Mean: 8629.256; Median: 5824.000; Stddev: 16531.918 Percentiles: 90th: 18307.920; 95th: 23277.560; 99th: 35429.360 0.000 - 341.356: 19 ### 341.356 - 762.020: 23 #### 762.020 - 1699.569: 82 ############### 1699.569 - 3789.117: 225 ######################################### 3789.117 - 8446.164: 288 ##################################################### 8446.164 - 18825.485: 267 ################################################# 18825.485 - 41958.232: 86 ################ 41958.232 - 93514.979: 2 | 93514.979 - 208421.267: 1 | 208421.267 - 464516.850: 1 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 124 Range: 0.000 - 35843.400; Mean: 4472.704; Median: 2376.720; Stddev: 5754.794 Percentiles: 90th: 12117.920; 95th: 14693.610; 99th: 23300.230 0.000 - 342.061: 24 ##################################################### 342.061 - 574.057: 5 ########### 574.057 - 962.939: 5 ########### 962.939 - 1614.803: 16 ################################### 1614.803 - 2707.489: 14 ############################### 2707.489 - 4539.106: 19 ########################################## 4539.106 - 7609.353: 18 ######################################## 7609.353 - 12755.856: 10 ###################### 12755.856 - 21382.682: 8 ################## 21382.682 - 35843.400: 3 ####### Defaulted: Count: 507 Range: 0.000 - 464516.850; Mean: 8119.891; Median: 4659.850; Stddev: 22059.943 Percentiles: 90th: 16417.900; 95th: 23277.560; 99th: 40036.470 0.000 - 315.955: 77 ################################# 315.955 - 711.485: 27 ############ 711.485 - 1600.600: 21 ######### 1600.600 - 3599.248: 85 ##################################### 3599.248 - 8092.023: 122 ##################################################### 8092.023 - 18191.362: 121 ##################################################### 18191.362 - 40893.737: 41 ################## 40893.737 - 91926.563: 4 ## 91926.563 - 464516.850: 1 | Mediated: Count: 721 Range: 0.000 - 100000.000; Mean: 7151.816; Median: 5057.370; Stddev: 7772.497 Percentiles: 90th: 16373.540; 95th: 21119.760; 99th: 33593.210 0.000 - 292.615: 45 ############## 292.615 - 560.224: 12 #### 560.224 - 1071.741: 21 ####### 1071.741 - 2049.470: 67 ##################### 2049.470 - 3918.331: 134 ########################################## 3918.331 - 7490.528: 170 ##################################################### 7490.528 - 14318.534: 161 ################################################## 14318.534 - 27369.792: 75 ####################### 27369.792 - 52316.364: 13 #### 52316.364 - 100000.000: 2 # Heard: Count: 44 Range: 0.000 - 33532.650; Mean: 7799.789; Median: 5754.345; Stddev: 8049.006 Percentiles: 90th: 16253.270; 95th: 26775.760; 99th: 33532.650 0.000 - 364.175: 4 ##################### 364.175 - 1646.509: 2 ########### 1646.509 - 2721.304: 1 ##### 2721.304 - 4497.269: 6 ################################ 4497.269 - 7431.831: 7 ##################################### 7431.831 - 12280.831: 10 ##################################################### 12280.831 - 20293.202: 6 ################################ 20293.202 - 33532.650: 3 ################ Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 1265 78.1% 45.0% 38.9% Issued 976 60.3% 34.8% 30.0% Levied 225 13.9% 8.0% 6.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 40 17.8% 2.5% 1.4% 1.2% Foreclosure 8 3.6% 0.5% 0.3% 0.2% No Fault 31 13.8% 1.9% 1.1% 1.0% Non-payment 146 64.9% 9.0% 5.2% 4.5% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 225 100.0% 13.9% 8.0% 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 24 10.7% 1.5% 0.9% 0.7% Defaulted 93 41.3% 5.7% 3.3% 2.9% Mediated 103 45.8% 6.4% 3.7% 3.2% Heard 5 2.2% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 225 100.0% 13.9% 8.0% 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 8 19 42.1% Cause 40 510 7.8% No Fault 31 473 6.6% Non-payment 146 2245 6.5% 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 93 577 16.1% Mediated 103 1212 8.5% Heard 5 108 4.6% Dismissed 24 911 2.6% 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 0 576 97 100 Non-payment 0 564 87 87 No Fault 0 527 84 73 Foreclosure 15 280 83 75 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 576 88 87 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 561 78 92 Defaulted 0 553 74 62 Mediated 7 576 99 90 Heard 0 485 106 92 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 576 88 87 All Cases: Count: 2808 Range: 0.000 - 576.000; Mean: 88.230; Median: 55.000; Stddev: 87.026 Percentiles: 90th: 198.000; 95th: 277.000; 99th: 468.000 0.000 - 2.524: 3 | 2.524 - 5.210: 15 # 5.210 - 9.941: 24 # 9.941 - 18.279: 67 ### 18.279 - 32.971: 216 ########## 32.971 - 58.857: 1193 ##################################################### 58.857 - 104.471: 622 ############################ 104.471 - 184.843: 357 ################ 184.843 - 326.462: 217 ########## 326.462 - 576.000: 91 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 388 Range: 0.000 - 576.000; Mean: 97.964; Median: 56.500; Stddev: 100.170 Percentiles: 90th: 231.000; 95th: 330.000; 99th: 507.000 0.000 - 4.076: 3 # 4.076 - 13.532: 2 # 13.532 - 23.589: 12 #### 23.589 - 40.605: 77 ############################# 40.605 - 69.397: 143 ##################################################### 69.397 - 118.113: 55 #################### 118.113 - 200.542: 45 ################# 200.542 - 340.013: 33 ############ 340.013 - 576.000: 17 ###### Non-payment: Count: 1941 Range: 0.000 - 564.000; Mean: 87.185; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 87.183 Percentiles: 90th: 192.000; 95th: 274.000; 99th: 469.000 0.000 - 2.517: 1 | 2.517 - 5.183: 9 # 5.183 - 9.873: 22 # 9.873 - 18.118: 53 ### 18.118 - 32.615: 157 ########## 32.615 - 58.107: 823 ##################################################### 58.107 - 102.930: 421 ########################### 102.930 - 181.745: 242 ################ 181.745 - 320.327: 146 ######### 320.327 - 564.000: 66 #### No Fault: Count: 459 Range: 0.000 - 527.000; Mean: 84.695; Median: 57.000; Stddev: 73.611 Percentiles: 90th: 179.000; 95th: 254.000; 99th: 372.000 0.000 - 2.493: 1 | 2.493 - 5.100: 4 # 5.100 - 9.654: 2 # 9.654 - 17.607: 5 ## 17.607 - 31.496: 28 ######### 31.496 - 55.753: 171 ##################################################### 55.753 - 98.118: 138 ########################################### 98.118 - 172.106: 60 ################### 172.106 - 301.325: 37 ########### 301.325 - 527.000: 12 #### Foreclosure: Count: 19 Range: 15.000 - 280.000; Mean: 83.263; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 75.241 Percentiles: 90th: 252.000; 95th: 280.000; 99th: 280.000 15.000 - 20.310: 1 ######## 20.310 - 36.800: 2 ############### 36.800 - 49.345: 4 ############################## 49.345 - 66.052: 7 ##################################################### 66.052 - 157.412: 2 ############### 157.412 - 209.983: 1 ######## 209.983 - 280.000: 2 ############### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 911 Range: 0.000 - 561.000; Mean: 78.933; Median: 46.000; Stddev: 92.126 Percentiles: 90th: 182.000; 95th: 265.000; 99th: 489.000 0.000 - 2.515: 2 | 2.515 - 5.177: 15 ## 5.177 - 9.855: 19 ### 9.855 - 18.077: 55 ######## 18.077 - 32.526: 119 ################# 32.526 - 57.919: 364 ##################################################### 57.919 - 102.544: 168 ######################## 102.544 - 180.968: 76 ########### 180.968 - 318.791: 55 ######## 318.791 - 561.000: 37 ##### Defaulted: Count: 577 Range: 0.000 - 553.000; Mean: 74.828; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 62.718 Percentiles: 90th: 140.000; 95th: 211.000; 99th: 342.000 0.000 - 29.376: 15 #### 29.376 - 40.941: 91 ####################### 40.941 - 56.909: 208 ##################################################### 56.909 - 78.957: 128 ################################# 78.957 - 109.399: 46 ############ 109.399 - 151.432: 35 ######### 151.432 - 209.467: 23 ###### 209.467 - 289.598: 17 #### 289.598 - 400.237: 11 ### 400.237 - 553.000: 2 # Mediated: Count: 1212 Range: 7.000 - 576.000; Mean: 99.941; Median: 63.000; Stddev: 90.718 Percentiles: 90th: 219.000; 95th: 303.000; 99th: 466.000 7.000 - 11.272: 2 | 11.272 - 17.824: 8 # 17.824 - 27.875: 24 #### 27.875 - 43.292: 276 ########################################### 43.292 - 66.941: 338 ##################################################### 66.941 - 103.218: 191 ############################## 103.218 - 158.864: 168 ########################## 158.864 - 244.222: 107 ################# 244.222 - 375.155: 69 ########### 375.155 - 576.000: 29 ##### Heard: Count: 108 Range: 0.000 - 485.000; Mean: 106.815; Median: 79.000; Stddev: 92.601 Percentiles: 90th: 254.000; 95th: 277.000; 99th: 483.000 0.000 - 2.464: 1 # 2.464 - 9.392: 3 #### 9.392 - 17.000: 2 ### 17.000 - 30.177: 6 ######### 30.177 - 53.000: 16 ####################### 53.000 - 92.531: 37 ##################################################### 92.531 - 161.000: 20 ############################# 161.000 - 279.592: 17 ######################## 279.592 - 485.000: 5 ####### -- 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/.