Outcomes for September 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: 2023-09-01 Search Period End: 2023-09-30 Earliest Case: 2023-09-01 Latest Case: 2023-09-29 Total Cases: 3144 Total Transfers: 79 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 25.5% Of those, percentage pro se: 45.8% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Turners Falls Least stable with 10+ filings: Turners Falls Least stable with 100+ filings: Fall River 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 539 17.1% eastern 534 17.0% central 501 15.9% western 498 15.8% southeast 339 10.8% metro_south 270 8.6% lynn district 44 1.4% lawrence district 38 1.2% brockton district 31 1.0% fall river district 31 1.0% quincy district 25 0.8% malden district 24 0.8% framingham district 19 0.6% lowell district 19 0.6% chelsea district 17 0.5% somerville district 16 0.5% dedham district 15 0.5% cambridge district 14 0.4% haverhill district 11 0.3% pittsfield district 10 0.3% attleboro district 9 0.3% waltham district 9 0.3% chicopee district 8 0.3% hingham district 8 0.3% worcester district 8 0.3% bmc west roxbury 7 0.2% northern berkshire district 7 0.2% salem district 7 0.2% stoughton district 7 0.2% bmc brighton 5 0.2% bmc east boston 5 0.2% new bedford district 5 0.2% springfield district 5 0.2% barnstable district 4 0.1% bmc dorchester 4 0.1% concord district 4 0.1% woburn district 4 0.1% wrentham district 4 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% fallmouth district 2 0.1% fitchburg district 2 0.1% holyoke district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% orleans district 2 0.1% taunton district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% bmc south boston 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% gloucester district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% leominster district 1 0.0% newburyport district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% peabody 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 2342 8 Natural Person 802 3136 Total 3144 3144 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 74.5% 0.3% Natural Person 25.5% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2324 18 2342 Optional 435 367 802 Total 2759 385 3144 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 73.9% 0.6% 74.5% Optional 13.8% 11.7% 25.5% Total 87.8% 12.2% 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 6 2 8 Optional 200 2936 3136 Total 206 2938 3144 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.2% 0.1% 0.3% Optional 6.4% 93.4% 99.7% Total 6.6% 93.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 112 3.6% 1 2227 70.8% 2 664 21.1% 3 99 3.1% 4 23 0.7% 5 12 0.4% 6 6 0.2% 7 1 0.0% Total 3144 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 2243 71.3% Cause 477 15.2% No Fault 387 12.3% Foreclosure 37 1.2% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Turners Falls 268 11 Chestnut Hill 235 5 Holyoke 215 86 Florence 210 2 Fall River 147 131 Springfield 139 214 Gardner 133 27 Randolph 124 40 Worcester 119 217 Wendell 117 1 Athol 112 13 Lynn 111 101 Salem 111 46 Marlborough 106 41 North Brookfield 106 5 Lowell 101 108 Lawrence 100 77 Leeds 98 1 Bridgewater 97 26 Sheffield 92 3 New Bedford 91 87 Dorchester 90 83 Indian Orchard 89 9 Buzzards Bay 87 3 Gilbertville 86 1 Revere 85 44 Fitchburg 84 34 Lakeville 84 9 West Springfield 84 24 Norwood 83 24 Southbridge 83 14 Brockton 81 76 Chicopee 81 45 Charlemont 78 1 Haverhill 78 48 Hull 77 8 Mattapan 76 28 Orange 76 6 West Yarmouth 75 4 Chelsea 73 26 Southwick 73 7 Adams 70 6 Feeding Hills 68 8 Malden 68 41 Richmond 67 1 Northfield 65 2 Oxford 65 9 Canton 64 14 Danvers 64 17 Pittsfield 64 29 Dennis Port 63 2 Leominster 63 26 Roxbury 63 38 Framingham 62 43 Hyde Park 62 21 Cheshire 61 2 Ware 60 6 Stoughton 59 16 Webster 59 10 Brookfield 58 2 Seekonk 58 8 South Easton 58 6 Ashfield 57 1 Greenfield 57 10 Hadley 57 3 Harwich Port 57 1 Hudson 57 11 Hyannis 56 8 Northborough 56 8 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Dorchester Center 55 51 Roslindale 55 16 Leverett 54 1 Ayer 53 4 Cohasset 53 4 Everett 52 22 Clinton 51 7 Braintree 50 18 Maynard 49 5 Palmer 49 6 South Deerfield 48 1 Winchendon 48 5 Avon 45 2 Dedham 44 11 Peabody 44 23 North Adams 43 6 Watertown 43 14 Dighton 42 3 Taunton 42 24 East Boston 41 17 South Boston 41 14 Tewksbury 41 12 Eastham 40 2 Jamaica Plain 40 15 Wayland 38 5 Quincy 37 35 Andover 36 12 East Wareham 36 8 Plainville 36 3 Swampscott 36 5 Byfield 35 1 Douglas 35 3 Berlin 34 1 East Falmouth 34 2 South Yarmouth 34 4 Spencer 34 4 Woburn 34 13 Provincetown 33 1 Saugus 33 9 Chelmsford 32 11 Granby 32 2 Westborough 32 6 Abington 31 5 Dunstable 31 1 Gloucester 31 9 Methuen 31 15 Groveland 30 2 Medford 30 17 Attleborough 29 13 Cambridge 29 31 Charlestown 29 5 Osterville 28 1 Rockland 28 5 Rockport 28 2 Winthrop 28 5 Allston 27 8 Beverly 27 11 Somerville 27 21 South Dennis 27 1 West Brookfield 27 1 Weymouth 26 14 Brighton 25 11 Fairhaven 25 4 Rehoboth 25 3 Amesbury 24 4 Easthampton 24 4 North Andover 24 7 North Attleborough 24 7 Salisbury 24 2 Walpole 24 6 Westfield 24 10 Kingston 23 3 Medway 23 3 Bedford 22 3 Hubbardston 22 1 Littleton 22 2 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Sharon 22 4 Uxbridge 22 3 West Roxbury 22 7 Milford 21 6 Norton 21 4 Roxbury Crossing 21 13 Wilbraham 21 3 Boxborough 20 1 Brewster 20 2 North Reading 20 3 Wakefield 20 5 East Longmeadow 19 3 Lenox 19 1 Manchester 19 1 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Northbridge 19 3 Warren 19 1 Auburn 18 3 Bellingham 18 3 East Weymouth 18 10 Holbrook 18 2 Milton 18 5 Natick 18 6 North Billerica 18 2 Onset 18 4 Rochdale 18 2 Waltham 18 11 Wareham 18 4 Agawam 17 5 Dover 17 1 Dudley 17 2 Foxborough 17 3 Rowley 17 1 Tyngsborough 17 2 Wilmington 17 4 Burlington 16 4 Chatham 16 1 Hopedale 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Orleans 16 1 Shrewsbury 16 6 Boston 15 97 East Taunton 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Millbury 15 2 Dalton 14 1 Great Barrington 14 1 Mashpee 14 2 Raynham 14 2 Whitinsville 14 1 Acton 13 3 Belchertown 13 2 Duxbury 13 2 Shirley 13 1 West Boylston 13 1 Ashland 12 2 Belmont 12 3 Boxford 12 1 Falmouth 12 4 Lexington 12 4 Middleborough 12 3 North Dartmouth 12 3 North Grafton 12 1 South Attleboro 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Waban 12 1 Arlington 11 5 Blackstone 11 1 Melrose 11 3 Middleton 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 South Weymouth 11 6 Auburndale 10 1 Brookline 10 6 Marblehead 10 2 Northampton 10 3 Acushnet 9 1 Billerica 9 4 Cherry Valley 9 1 Franklin 9 3 Ludlow 9 2 Lunenburg 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Sandwich 9 2 Westford 9 2 Carver 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Lynnfield 8 1 Mansfield 8 2 Norfolk 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Amherst 7 3 Centerville 7 1 Charlton 7 1 Hanover 7 1 Plymouth 7 4 Dracut 6 2 Needham 6 2 Swansea 6 1 Westport 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Whitman 6 1 Somerset 5 1 South Hadley 5 1 Hingham 4 1 Reading 4 1 Stoneham 4 1 Needham Heights 3 1 South Walpole 3 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 E. Boston 2 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 35 span 0 3 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 593 422 Worcester 386 430 Plymouth 375 162 Bristol 369 304 Essex 366 403 Franklin 331 35 Berkshire 309 50 Norfolk 292 249 Suffolk 253 500 Barnstable 222 43 Middlesex 204 478 Hampshire 146 27 Nantucket 56 2 Dukes 24 1 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2732 86.9% Ongoing/Error 412 13.1% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 1202 44.0% Dismissed 901 33.0% Defaulted 542 19.8% Heard 87 3.2% Other 0 0.0% Total 2732 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 102 63 197 19 0 Foreclosure 3 10 11 5 0 No Fault 99 64 196 6 0 Non-payment 697 405 798 57 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.7% 2.3% 7.2% 0.7% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.4% 0.4% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 3.6% 2.3% 7.2% 0.2% 0.0% Non-payment 25.5% 14.8% 29.2% 2.1% 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 1357 49.7% 43.2% Judgment inferred 180 6.6% 5.7% No judgment 1195 43.7% 38.0% Total 2732 100.0% 48.9% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 184 6.7% 0 56,453 3,916 7,180 720,578 Foreclosure 16 0.6% 0 8,273 773 1,940 12,373 No fault 159 5.8% 0 34,600 4,167 5,616 662,569 Non-payment 998 36.5% 0 100,490 7,963 8,331 7,947,670 Subtotal 1357 49.7% 0 100,490 6,885 8,071 9,343,190 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 113 4.1% 0 32,717 4,845 5,766 547,574 Defaulted 490 17.9% 0 100,490 7,617 9,518 3,732,549 Mediated 711 26.0% 0 59,790 6,670 7,134 4,742,863 Heard 43 1.6% 0 38,036 7,446 8,721 320,204 Subtotal 1357 49.7% 0 100,490 6,885 8,071 9,343,190 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 4 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1470 95.6% 53.8% 46.8% unknown 63 4.1% 2.3% 2.0% Total 1537 100.0% 56.3% 48.9% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1357 Range: 0.000 - 100490.870; Mean: 6885.181; Median: 4557.140; Stddev: 8074.112 Percentiles: 90th: 15819.920; 95th: 20682.790; 99th: 37126.640 0.000 - 201.963: 8 # 201.963 - 403.417: 158 ########################## 403.417 - 804.827: 42 ####### 804.827 - 1604.664: 83 ############## 1604.664 - 3198.391: 202 ################################# 3198.391 - 6373.998: 320 ##################################################### 6373.998 - 12701.604: 306 ################################################### 12701.604 - 25309.777: 163 ########################### 25309.777 - 50432.395: 41 ####### 50432.395 - 100490.870: 5 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 184 Range: 0.000 - 56453.090; Mean: 3916.185; Median: 601.965; Stddev: 7200.121 Percentiles: 90th: 11030.960; 95th: 14164.910; 99th: 36755.600 0.000 - 190.590: 3 ## 190.590 - 359.365: 70 ##################################################### 359.365 - 676.815: 9 ####### 676.815 - 1273.912: 5 #### 1273.912 - 2397.002: 19 ############## 2397.002 - 4509.438: 13 ########## 4509.438 - 8482.751: 29 ###################### 8482.751 - 15956.214: 16 ############ 15956.214 - 30013.163: 3 ## 30013.163 - 56453.090: 5 #### Foreclosure: Count: 16 Range: 0.000 - 8273.010; Mean: 773.354; Median: 305.605; Stddev: 2003.856 Percentiles: 90th: 482.190; 95th: 8273.010; 99th: 8273.010 0.000 - 325.845: 9 ##################################################### 325.845 - 467.028: 3 ################## 467.028 - 669.197: 1 ###### 669.197 - 8273.010: 1 ###### No Fault: Count: 159 Range: 0.000 - 34600.000; Mean: 4167.101; Median: 2454.750; Stddev: 5634.732 Percentiles: 90th: 10972.380; 95th: 14550.050; 99th: 32717.140 0.000 - 266.467: 41 ##################################################### 266.467 - 458.110: 16 ##################### 458.110 - 787.066: 2 ### 787.066 - 1351.725: 7 ######### 1351.725 - 2320.966: 10 ############# 2320.966 - 3984.680: 26 ################################## 3984.680 - 6840.464: 19 ######################### 6840.464 - 11742.446: 22 ############################ 11742.446 - 20156.752: 10 ############# 20156.752 - 34600.000: 3 #### Non-payment: Count: 998 Range: 0.000 - 100490.870; Mean: 7963.597; Median: 5545.790; Stddev: 8336.011 Percentiles: 90th: 17239.710; 95th: 22009.000; 99th: 40151.720 0.000 - 273.635: 10 ## 273.635 - 528.146: 22 ##### 528.146 - 1018.518: 34 ####### 1018.518 - 1963.330: 100 ##################### 1963.330 - 3783.721: 169 ################################### 3783.721 - 7291.111: 257 ##################################################### 7291.111 - 14048.882: 244 ################################################## 14048.882 - 27069.239: 119 ######################### 27069.239 - 52155.869: 27 ###### 52155.869 - 100490.870: 4 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 113 Range: 0.000 - 32717.140; Mean: 4845.789; Median: 3103.750; Stddev: 5792.221 Percentiles: 90th: 10976.080; 95th: 18045.020; 99th: 26890.820 0.000 - 192.621: 1 ## 192.621 - 341.365: 16 ################################## 341.365 - 604.378: 4 ######## 604.378 - 1069.444: 4 ######## 1069.444 - 1891.785: 20 ########################################## 1891.785 - 3345.870: 11 ####################### 3345.870 - 5917.018: 25 ##################################################### 5917.018 - 10463.385: 17 #################################### 10463.385 - 18502.384: 9 ################### 18502.384 - 32717.140: 5 ########### Defaulted: Count: 490 Range: 0.000 - 100490.870; Mean: 7617.447; Median: 4710.795; Stddev: 9528.488 Percentiles: 90th: 17386.770; 95th: 25327.870; 99th: 44250.050 0.000 - 310.514: 57 ############################# 310.514 - 590.857: 15 ######## 590.857 - 1123.491: 16 ######## 1123.491 - 2135.462: 36 ################## 2135.462 - 4058.144: 91 ############################################## 4058.144 - 7711.119: 106 ##################################################### 7711.119 - 14651.544: 97 ################################################# 14651.544 - 27837.916: 48 ######################## 27837.916 - 52891.199: 16 ######## 52891.199 - 100490.870: 3 ## Mediated: Count: 711 Range: 0.000 - 59790.870; Mean: 6670.693; Median: 4584.970; Stddev: 7139.891 Percentiles: 90th: 15090.920; 95th: 19373.900; 99th: 34600.000 0.000 - 191.694: 4 # 191.694 - 363.528: 70 ######################## 363.528 - 688.597: 16 ###### 688.597 - 1303.545: 30 ########## 1303.545 - 2466.874: 82 ############################ 2466.874 - 4667.601: 136 ############################################### 4667.601 - 8830.828: 154 ##################################################### 8830.828 - 16706.614: 141 ################################################# 16706.614 - 31605.637: 46 ################ 31605.637 - 59790.870: 10 ### Heard: Count: 43 Range: 0.000 - 38036.340; Mean: 7446.619; Median: 5276.340; Stddev: 8825.118 Percentiles: 90th: 19291.040; 95th: 25815.910; 99th: 38036.340 0.000 - 400.227: 6 ############################# 400.227 - 664.330: 1 ##### 664.330 - 1102.274: 1 ##### 1102.274 - 1828.491: 5 ######################## 1828.491 - 3032.730: 2 ########## 3032.730 - 5029.643: 4 ################### 5029.643 - 8341.000: 11 ##################################################### 8341.000 - 13832.014: 5 ######################## 13832.014 - 22937.419: 3 ############## 22937.419 - 38036.340: 4 ################### 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 1212 78.9% 44.4% 38.5% Issued 947 61.6% 34.7% 30.1% Levied 203 13.2% 7.4% 6.5% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 30 14.8% 2.0% 1.1% 1.0% Foreclosure 12 5.9% 0.8% 0.4% 0.4% No Fault 22 10.8% 1.4% 0.8% 0.7% Non-payment 139 68.5% 9.0% 5.1% 4.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 203 100.0% 13.2% 7.4% 6.5% 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 23 11.3% 1.5% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 79 38.9% 5.1% 2.9% 2.5% Mediated 96 47.3% 6.2% 3.5% 3.1% Heard 5 2.5% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 203 100.0% 13.2% 7.4% 6.5% 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 12 37 32.4% Cause 30 477 6.3% Non-payment 139 2243 6.2% No Fault 22 387 5.7% Unknown/Other 0 0 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 79 542 14.6% Mediated 96 1202 8.0% Heard 5 87 5.7% Dismissed 23 901 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 1 559 101 101 Non-payment 0 566 83 84 No Fault 0 465 88 79 Foreclosure 10 329 87 75 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 566 86 86 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 564 76 85 Defaulted 0 561 79 67 Mediated 0 566 96 92 Heard 2 459 107 97 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 566 86 86 All Cases: Count: 2732 Range: 0.000 - 566.000; Mean: 86.817; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 86.456 Percentiles: 90th: 188.000; 95th: 268.000; 99th: 454.000 0.000 - 2.518: 10 | 2.518 - 5.188: 20 # 5.188 - 9.884: 18 # 9.884 - 18.145: 80 #### 18.145 - 32.675: 238 ########### 32.675 - 58.233: 1156 ##################################################### 58.233 - 103.188: 505 ####################### 103.188 - 182.262: 405 ################### 182.262 - 321.350: 196 ######### 321.350 - 566.000: 101 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 381 Range: 1.000 - 559.000; Mean: 101.420; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 101.583 Percentiles: 90th: 232.000; 95th: 341.000; 99th: 472.000 1.000 - 2.514: 1 | 2.514 - 5.173: 2 # 5.173 - 9.844: 1 | 9.844 - 18.050: 7 ### 18.050 - 32.466: 42 ################ 32.466 - 57.793: 139 ##################################################### 57.793 - 102.286: 69 ########################## 102.286 - 180.450: 62 ######################## 180.450 - 317.766: 38 ############## 317.766 - 559.000: 20 ######## Non-payment: Count: 1957 Range: 0.000 - 566.000; Mean: 83.663; Median: 52.000; Stddev: 84.315 Percentiles: 90th: 182.000; 95th: 260.000; 99th: 454.000 0.000 - 2.518: 7 | 2.518 - 5.188: 18 # 5.188 - 9.884: 15 # 9.884 - 18.145: 71 #### 18.145 - 32.675: 165 ########## 32.675 - 58.233: 838 ##################################################### 58.233 - 103.188: 364 ####################### 103.188 - 182.262: 287 ################## 182.262 - 321.350: 123 ######## 321.350 - 566.000: 68 #### No Fault: Count: 365 Range: 0.000 - 465.000; Mean: 88.438; Median: 56.000; Stddev: 79.897 Percentiles: 90th: 195.000; 95th: 240.000; 99th: 416.000 0.000 - 2.450: 2 # 2.450 - 9.262: 2 # 9.262 - 16.700: 1 | 16.700 - 29.529: 22 ########## 29.529 - 51.655: 120 ##################################################### 51.655 - 89.820: 105 ############################################## 89.820 - 155.644: 56 ######################### 155.644 - 269.178: 42 ################### 269.178 - 465.000: 13 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 29 Range: 10.000 - 329.000; Mean: 87.448; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 75.931 Percentiles: 90th: 225.000; 95th: 245.000; 99th: 329.000 10.000 - 14.456: 1 ####### 14.456 - 29.516: 3 #################### 29.516 - 41.879: 3 #################### 41.879 - 59.249: 8 ##################################################### 59.249 - 83.657: 5 ################################# 83.657 - 117.954: 3 #################### 117.954 - 166.144: 1 ####### 166.144 - 233.856: 3 #################### 233.856 - 329.000: 2 ############# By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 901 Range: 0.000 - 564.000; Mean: 76.195; Median: 44.000; Stddev: 85.692 Percentiles: 90th: 172.000; 95th: 247.000; 99th: 441.000 0.000 - 2.517: 9 # 2.517 - 5.183: 17 ### 5.183 - 9.873: 16 ## 9.873 - 18.118: 64 ######### 18.118 - 32.615: 117 ################# 32.615 - 58.107: 358 ##################################################### 58.107 - 102.930: 122 ################## 102.930 - 181.745: 111 ################ 181.745 - 320.327: 54 ######## 320.327 - 564.000: 32 ##### Defaulted: Count: 542 Range: 0.000 - 561.000; Mean: 79.166; Median: 53.500; Stddev: 67.878 Percentiles: 90th: 173.000; 95th: 212.000; 99th: 352.000 0.000 - 23.120: 11 ### 23.120 - 33.222: 28 ######## 33.222 - 47.555: 179 ##################################################### 47.555 - 67.891: 146 ########################################### 67.891 - 96.745: 51 ############### 96.745 - 137.682: 48 ############## 137.682 - 195.766: 43 ############# 195.766 - 278.176: 22 ####### 278.176 - 395.102: 10 ### 395.102 - 561.000: 3 # Mediated: Count: 1202 Range: 0.000 - 566.000; Mean: 96.762; Median: 58.000; Stddev: 92.154 Percentiles: 90th: 198.000; 95th: 316.000; 99th: 469.000 0.000 - 5.565: 2 | 5.565 - 9.774: 1 | 9.774 - 16.681: 7 # 16.681 - 28.018: 44 ###### 28.018 - 46.624: 390 ##################################################### 46.624 - 77.158: 282 ###################################### 77.158 - 127.270: 218 ############################## 127.270 - 209.513: 149 #################### 209.513 - 344.486: 58 ######## 344.486 - 566.000: 50 ####### Heard: Count: 87 Range: 2.000 - 459.000; Mean: 107.092; Median: 71.000; Stddev: 97.923 Percentiles: 90th: 251.000; 95th: 278.000; 99th: 459.000 2.000 - 3.962: 2 ### 3.962 - 7.208: 1 ## 7.208 - 12.577: 1 ## 12.577 - 21.458: 4 ####### 21.458 - 36.148: 7 ############ 36.148 - 60.447: 15 ########################## 60.447 - 100.641: 31 ##################################################### 100.641 - 167.124: 8 ############## 167.124 - 277.096: 13 ###################### 277.096 - 459.000: 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/.