Outcomes for November 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: 2023-11-01 Search Period End: 2023-11-30 Earliest Case: 2023-11-01 Latest Case: 2023-11-30 Total Cases: 3077 Total Transfers: 74 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 25.8% Of those, percentage pro se: 47.7% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: New Ashford Least stable with 10+ filings: Chelsea Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 106 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 553 18.0% eastern 498 16.2% central 477 15.5% western 435 14.1% southeast 366 11.9% metro_south 299 9.7% malden district 58 1.9% lawrence district 44 1.4% lynn district 34 1.1% chelsea district 33 1.1% pittsfield district 25 0.8% quincy district 24 0.8% brockton district 18 0.6% northern berkshire district 18 0.6% lowell district 15 0.5% fall river district 14 0.5% bmc west roxbury 13 0.4% haverhill district 13 0.4% somerville district 12 0.4% woburn district 11 0.4% cambridge district 9 0.3% newburyport district 9 0.3% salem district 9 0.3% waltham district 8 0.3% framingham district 7 0.2% newton district 7 0.2% attleboro district 6 0.2% milford district 5 0.2% orleans district 5 0.2% springfield district 5 0.2% worcester district 5 0.2% chicopee district 4 0.1% bmc roxbury 3 0.1% fallmouth district 3 0.1% holyoke district 3 0.1% wrentham district 3 0.1% ayer district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% bmc dorchester 2 0.1% dedham district 2 0.1% fitchburg district 2 0.1% gloucester district 2 0.1% taunton district 2 0.1% barnstable district 1 0.0% bmc east boston 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% new bedford district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% plymouth district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2284 4 Natural Person 793 3073 Total 3077 3077 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 74.2% 0.1% Natural Person 25.8% 99.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2265 19 2284 Optional 415 378 793 Total 2680 397 3077 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 73.6% 0.6% 74.2% Optional 13.5% 12.3% 25.8% Total 87.1% 12.9% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1 3 4 Optional 168 2905 3073 Total 169 2908 3077 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.1% 0.1% Optional 5.5% 94.4% 99.9% Total 5.5% 94.5% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 96 3.1% 1 2125 69.1% 2 703 22.8% 3 115 3.7% 4 23 0.7% 5 9 0.3% 6 4 0.1% 7 2 0.1% Total 3077 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 2209 71.8% Cause 441 14.3% No Fault 393 12.8% Foreclosure 32 1.0% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count New Ashford 438 1 Plainfield 154 1 Chelsea 147 52 Turners Falls 146 6 North Chatham 142 1 Adams 141 12 Indian Orchard 129 13 Lawrence 129 99 Springfield 123 189 Canton 115 25 New Bedford 112 107 Erving 111 2 Holyoke 110 44 Mattapan 109 40 West Barnstable 106 3 Florence 105 1 Newton Center 102 4 Lowell 100 107 Whitinsville 100 7 Norwood 97 28 Framingham 95 65 Southbridge 95 16 Dennis Port 94 3 Pittsfield 93 42 Worcester 92 168 Everett 91 38 Fitchburg 89 36 Cataumet 88 1 Haverhill 88 54 Roxbury 88 53 Lynn 87 79 Athol 86 10 Chicopee 83 46 Shirley 83 6 South Dennis 81 3 Dorchester 76 70 Braintree 75 27 Fall River 74 66 Hopkinton 73 11 Leominster 73 30 Middleborough 73 17 North Adams 72 10 West Springfield 70 20 Berlin 69 2 East Falmouth 69 4 Feeding Hills 68 8 Taunton 68 38 Revere 65 34 Westborough 65 12 Woburn 65 25 Gardner 64 13 Brockton 63 60 Rockland 62 11 Whitman 62 9 Cheshire 61 2 Plainville 60 5 Hyde Park 59 20 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Nahant 58 2 Salem 58 24 Weymouth 57 31 Bridgewater 56 15 Danvers 56 15 Mansfield 56 13 Shutesbury 56 1 Malden 55 33 Quincy 55 51 Dracut 54 16 Attleborough 52 23 Baldwinville 52 1 Buckland 52 1 Methuen 52 25 Northampton 52 15 Allston 51 15 Orange 51 4 Stockbridge 51 1 Milford 50 14 Amesbury 49 8 Hinsdale 49 1 Marlborough 49 19 Palmer 49 6 Randolph 49 16 Melrose 48 13 Roslindale 48 14 Saugus 48 13 South Deerfield 48 1 South Easton 48 5 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Kingston 47 6 Groveland 46 3 West Wareham 46 1 East Brookfield 45 1 Greenfield 45 8 Stoughton 44 12 Rockport 43 3 Watertown 43 14 Ashland 42 7 Cambridge 42 45 Hyannis 42 6 North Brookfield 42 2 Peabody 42 22 Charlestown 41 7 East Boston 41 17 Jamaica Plain 40 15 Marblehead 40 8 Ware 40 4 Somerville 39 30 Gloucester 38 11 Warren 38 2 Winchendon 38 4 Barre 37 2 Holbrook 37 4 Walpole 37 9 Clinton 36 5 Wrentham 36 4 Mashpee 35 5 North Andover 35 10 Brighton 34 15 Three Rivers 34 1 Waltham 34 21 Provincetown 33 1 Sudbury 33 6 Wakefield 32 8 Millville 31 1 Westfield 31 13 Brewster 30 3 Dorchester Center 30 28 Millbury 30 4 Southborough 30 3 Brookfield 29 1 North Hatfield 29 1 West Roxbury 29 9 Burlington 28 7 Dedham 28 7 Franklin 28 9 Great Barrington 28 2 North Billerica 28 3 Northborough 28 4 Belchertown 27 4 Beverly 27 11 Sagamore 27 1 Sunderland 27 1 Tewksbury 27 8 Westwood 27 4 Dudley 26 3 South Yarmouth 25 3 Spencer 25 3 Williamstown 25 2 Easthampton 24 4 Edgartown 24 1 North Attleborough 24 7 Amherst 23 9 Charlton 23 3 Chelmsford 23 8 Medford 23 13 Webster 23 4 Raynham 22 3 South Grafton 22 1 Townsend 22 2 Uxbridge 22 3 Auburndale 21 2 Hanover 21 3 Southwick 21 2 Boxborough 20 1 Eastham 20 1 Hudson 20 4 Marstons Mills 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Billerica 19 8 Hull 19 2 Manchester 19 1 Marshfield 19 5 Nantucket 19 2 Northbridge 19 3 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Andover 18 6 Cherry Valley 18 2 Lakeville 18 2 Ludlow 18 4 Rochdale 18 2 West Yarmouth 18 1 Agawam 17 5 Dover 17 1 Foxborough 17 3 Pepperell 17 2 Plymouth 17 10 Sharon 17 3 Chatham 16 1 Granby 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 Somerset 16 3 East Taunton 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Natick 15 5 North Easton 15 2 Norton 15 3 Stow 15 1 Wayland 15 2 Dighton 14 1 Milton 14 4 Oxford 14 2 Seekonk 14 2 South Boston 14 5 West Newton 14 2 Acton 13 3 Ayer 13 1 East Wareham 13 3 Hingham 13 3 Upton 13 1 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Abington 12 2 Auburn 12 2 Fairhaven 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Lexington 12 4 Longmeadow 12 2 North Dartmouth 12 3 Reading 12 3 Westport 12 2 Arlington 11 5 Blackstone 11 1 Brookline 11 7 East Weymouth 11 6 South Hadley 11 2 Winthrop 11 2 Bourne 10 2 North Chelmsford 10 1 Boston 9 57 Hanson 9 1 Leicester 9 1 Maynard 9 1 Stoneham 9 2 Groton 8 1 Shrewsbury 8 3 Tyngsborough 8 1 West Harwich 8 1 Bradford 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Medway 7 1 Swampscott 7 1 Bellingham 6 1 Duxbury 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Roxbury Crossing 6 4 Concord 5 1 Holden 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Onset 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 Westford 4 1 Wilmington 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Falmouth 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 South Weymouth 3 2 (not given) 0 35 span 0 1 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 497 354 Berkshire 452 73 Plymouth 363 157 Essex 362 399 Bristol 341 281 Worcester 336 374 Norfolk 310 265 Middlesex 242 566 Barnstable 238 46 Suffolk 231 457 Hampshire 228 42 Franklin 227 24 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 2716 88.3% Ongoing/Error 361 11.7% 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 1180 43.4% Dismissed 865 31.8% Defaulted 588 21.6% Heard 82 3.0% Other 1 0.0% Total 2716 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 84 77 163 22 0 Foreclosure 3 10 13 2 0 No Fault 82 74 216 11 0 Non-payment 696 427 788 47 1 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.1% 2.8% 6.0% 0.8% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.4% 0.5% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 3.0% 2.7% 8.0% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 25.6% 15.7% 29.0% 1.7% 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 1408 51.8% 45.8% Judgment inferred 182 6.7% 5.9% No judgment 1126 41.5% 36.6% Total 2716 100.0% 51.7% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 167 6.1% 0 24,660 2,835 4,907 473,541 Foreclosure 16 0.6% 0 8,416 833 1,970 13,342 No fault 181 6.7% 0 68,475 5,426 7,022 982,141 Non-payment 1044 38.4% 0 65,430 8,151 7,317 8,510,277 Subtotal 1408 51.8% 0 68,475 7,087 7,261 9,979,303 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 113 4.2% 0 68,475 5,844 8,996 660,428 Defaulted 528 19.4% 0 56,252 7,354 7,448 3,883,019 Mediated 731 26.9% 0 65,430 7,177 6,841 5,246,513 Heard 35 1.3% 0 23,366 5,347 5,923 187,152 Other 1 0.0% 2,189 2,189 2,189 0 2,189 Subtotal 1408 51.8% 0 68,475 7,087 7,261 9,979,303 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 6 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 1545 97.2% 56.9% 50.2% unknown 39 2.5% 1.4% 1.3% Total 1590 100.0% 58.5% 51.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1408 Range: 0.000 - 68475.210; Mean: 7087.574; Median: 5096.540; Stddev: 7263.701 Percentiles: 90th: 15783.890; 95th: 20838.400; 99th: 33110.520 0.000 - 206.605: 15 ## 206.605 - 394.411: 132 ##################### 394.411 - 752.114: 30 ##### 752.114 - 1433.405: 74 ############ 1433.405 - 2731.015: 153 ######################### 2731.015 - 5202.486: 276 ############################################# 5202.486 - 9909.732: 326 ##################################################### 9909.732 - 18875.309: 276 ############################################# 18875.309 - 35951.442: 81 ############# 35951.442 - 68475.210: 10 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 167 Range: 0.000 - 24660.380; Mean: 2835.580; Median: 298.880; Stddev: 4922.099 Percentiles: 90th: 9006.000; 95th: 12395.890; 99th: 24279.120 0.000 - 186.450: 4 ### 186.450 - 321.363: 67 ##################################################### 321.363 - 553.375: 12 ######### 553.375 - 952.373: 2 ## 952.373 - 1638.540: 9 ####### 1638.540 - 2818.558: 7 ###### 2818.558 - 4847.865: 14 ########### 4847.865 - 8337.716: 13 ########## 8337.716 - 14339.302: 15 ############ 14339.302 - 24660.380: 6 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 16 Range: 0.000 - 8416.600; Mean: 833.910; Median: 297.225; Stddev: 2035.429 Percentiles: 90th: 1150.000; 95th: 8416.600; 99th: 8416.600 0.000 - 332.946: 12 ##################################################### 332.946 - 476.968: 1 #### 476.968 - 1400.426: 1 #### 1400.426 - 8416.600: 1 #### No Fault: Count: 181 Range: 0.000 - 68475.210; Mean: 5426.197; Median: 3864.110; Stddev: 7042.196 Percentiles: 90th: 13411.390; 95th: 16579.040; 99th: 22312.540 0.000 - 237.473: 11 ############# 237.473 - 446.261: 33 ###################################### 446.261 - 837.848: 1 # 837.848 - 1572.279: 10 ############ 1572.279 - 2949.720: 18 ##################### 2949.720 - 5533.143: 30 ################################### 5533.143 - 10378.411: 46 ##################################################### 10378.411 - 19465.821: 18 ##################### 19465.821 - 36509.466: 6 ####### 36509.466 - 68475.210: 1 # Non-payment: Count: 1044 Range: 0.000 - 65430.000; Mean: 8151.607; Median: 6019.710; Stddev: 7320.767 Percentiles: 90th: 16549.520; 95th: 21706.400; 99th: 33953.150 0.000 - 362.476: 12 ### 362.476 - 646.240: 9 ## 646.240 - 1151.537: 48 ########### 1151.537 - 2051.318: 90 #################### 2051.318 - 3653.555: 152 ################################## 3653.555 - 6506.653: 239 ##################################################### 6506.653 - 11587.151: 234 #################################################### 11587.151 - 20633.976: 189 ########################################## 20633.976 - 36743.620: 54 ############ 36743.620 - 65430.000: 8 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 113 Range: 0.000 - 68475.210; Mean: 5844.501; Median: 3129.790; Stddev: 9036.956 Percentiles: 90th: 13470.530; 95th: 18330.690; 99th: 52835.790 0.000 - 386.405: 8 ############### 386.405 - 687.451: 3 ##### 687.451 - 1222.437: 13 ######################## 1222.437 - 2173.151: 14 ########################## 2173.151 - 3862.653: 29 ##################################################### 3862.653 - 6865.042: 18 ################################# 6865.042 - 12200.543: 14 ########################## 12200.543 - 21682.185: 10 ################## 21682.185 - 38531.873: 1 ## 38531.873 - 68475.210: 2 #### Defaulted: Count: 528 Range: 0.000 - 56252.300; Mean: 7354.203; Median: 5366.455; Stddev: 7455.456 Percentiles: 90th: 15977.650; 95th: 21706.400; 99th: 34567.170 0.000 - 232.830: 13 ###### 232.830 - 429.014: 64 ############################# 429.014 - 789.799: 8 #### 789.799 - 1453.283: 21 ######### 1453.283 - 2673.436: 40 ################## 2673.436 - 4917.304: 91 ######################################### 4917.304 - 9043.791: 119 ##################################################### 9043.791 - 16632.425: 117 #################################################### 16632.425 - 30587.969: 36 ################ 30587.969 - 56252.300: 10 #### Mediated: Count: 731 Range: 0.000 - 65430.000; Mean: 7177.173; Median: 5311.540; Stddev: 6846.635 Percentiles: 90th: 15801.670; 95th: 20462.110; 99th: 27917.900 0.000 - 205.663: 5 ## 205.663 - 390.830: 54 ################# 390.830 - 741.906: 15 ##### 741.906 - 1407.540: 39 ############# 1407.540 - 2669.577: 82 ########################## 2669.577 - 5062.382: 141 ############################################# 5062.382 - 9599.115: 165 ##################################################### 9599.115 - 18200.708: 158 ################################################### 18200.708 - 34509.230: 49 ################ 34509.230 - 65430.000: 3 # Heard: Count: 35 Range: 0.000 - 23366.680; Mean: 5347.215; Median: 3219.280; Stddev: 6010.057 Percentiles: 90th: 14328.210; 95th: 19040.420; 99th: 23366.680 0.000 - 362.989: 5 ##################################################### 362.989 - 1456.464: 2 ##################### 1456.464 - 2313.377: 5 ##################################################### 2313.377 - 3674.110: 1 ########### 3674.110 - 5834.884: 5 ##################################################### 5834.884 - 9266.081: 4 ########################################## 9266.081 - 14714.645: 5 ##################################################### 14714.645 - 23366.680: 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 1276 80.3% 47.0% 41.5% Issued 982 61.8% 36.2% 31.9% Levied 219 13.8% 8.1% 7.1% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 31 14.2% 1.9% 1.1% 1.0% Foreclosure 18 8.2% 1.1% 0.7% 0.6% No Fault 30 13.7% 1.9% 1.1% 1.0% Non-payment 140 63.9% 8.8% 5.2% 4.5% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 219 100.0% 13.8% 8.1% 7.1% 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 10.5% 1.4% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 97 44.3% 6.1% 3.6% 3.2% Mediated 95 43.4% 6.0% 3.5% 3.1% Heard 4 1.8% 0.3% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 219 100.0% 13.8% 8.1% 7.1% 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 18 32 56.2% No Fault 30 393 7.6% Cause 31 441 7.0% Non-payment 140 2209 6.3% Unknown/Other 0 2 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 97 588 16.5% Mediated 95 1180 8.1% Heard 4 82 4.9% Dismissed 23 865 2.7% Other 0 1 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 6 581 95 92 Non-payment 0 572 93 92 No Fault 1 492 85 71 Foreclosure 11 505 129 143 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 581 92 90 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 553 84 93 Defaulted 0 501 84 71 Mediated 1 581 101 95 Heard 2 572 116 106 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 581 92 90 All Cases: Count: 2716 Range: 0.000 - 581.000; Mean: 92.708; Median: 61.000; Stddev: 90.977 Percentiles: 90th: 191.000; 95th: 291.000; 99th: 491.000 0.000 - 2.527: 7 | 2.527 - 5.220: 11 # 5.220 - 9.970: 20 # 9.970 - 18.346: 54 ### 18.346 - 33.117: 254 ############## 33.117 - 59.168: 965 ##################################################### 59.168 - 105.110: 720 ######################################## 105.110 - 186.130: 405 ###################### 186.130 - 329.015: 180 ########## 329.015 - 581.000: 98 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 346 Range: 6.000 - 581.000; Mean: 95.850; Median: 63.500; Stddev: 92.613 Percentiles: 90th: 217.000; 95th: 297.000; 99th: 501.000 6.000 - 9.891: 4 ## 9.891 - 15.946: 4 ## 15.946 - 25.366: 15 ####### 25.366 - 40.023: 40 #################### 40.023 - 62.828: 107 ##################################################### 62.828 - 98.310: 81 ######################################## 98.310 - 153.517: 42 ##################### 153.517 - 239.413: 26 ############# 239.413 - 373.059: 17 ######## 373.059 - 581.000: 10 ##### Non-payment: Count: 1959 Range: 0.000 - 572.000; Mean: 93.017; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 92.941 Percentiles: 90th: 191.000; 95th: 296.000; 99th: 494.000 0.000 - 2.522: 5 | 2.522 - 5.201: 10 # 5.201 - 9.919: 14 # 9.919 - 18.226: 45 ### 18.226 - 32.853: 169 ############# 32.853 - 58.608: 689 ##################################################### 58.608 - 103.958: 517 ######################################## 103.958 - 183.812: 301 ####################### 183.812 - 324.418: 129 ########## 324.418 - 572.000: 78 ###### No Fault: Count: 383 Range: 1.000 - 492.000; Mean: 85.634; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 71.995 Percentiles: 90th: 168.000; 95th: 216.000; 99th: 421.000 1.000 - 2.469: 2 # 2.469 - 5.017: 1 | 5.017 - 9.437: 2 # 9.437 - 17.103: 3 # 17.103 - 30.401: 36 ################ 30.401 - 53.465: 109 ################################################# 53.465 - 93.472: 119 ##################################################### 93.472 - 162.864: 69 ############################### 162.864 - 283.227: 31 ############## 283.227 - 492.000: 11 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 28 Range: 11.000 - 505.000; Mean: 129.036; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 143.938 Percentiles: 90th: 425.000; 95th: 499.000; 99th: 505.000 11.000 - 16.445: 1 ###### 16.445 - 35.870: 1 ###### 35.870 - 52.601: 9 ##################################################### 52.601 - 76.923: 5 ############################# 76.923 - 112.282: 4 ######################## 112.282 - 163.687: 1 ###### 163.687 - 238.418: 3 ################## 238.418 - 505.000: 4 ######################## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 865 Range: 0.000 - 553.000; Mean: 84.866; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 93.072 Percentiles: 90th: 176.000; 95th: 280.000; 99th: 498.000 0.000 - 2.510: 5 # 2.510 - 5.159: 9 ## 5.159 - 9.809: 19 #### 9.809 - 17.968: 39 ######## 17.968 - 32.287: 121 ######################## 32.287 - 57.414: 268 ##################################################### 57.414 - 101.510: 200 ######################################## 101.510 - 178.893: 117 ####################### 178.893 - 314.691: 47 ######### 314.691 - 553.000: 39 ######## Defaulted: Count: 588 Range: 0.000 - 501.000; Mean: 84.063; Median: 60.000; Stddev: 71.473 Percentiles: 90th: 151.000; 95th: 241.000; 99th: 452.000 0.000 - 5.485: 1 | 5.485 - 26.639: 20 #### 26.639 - 43.811: 78 ############### 43.811 - 71.652: 272 ##################################################### 71.652 - 116.791: 127 ######################### 116.791 - 189.974: 43 ######## 189.974 - 308.627: 33 ###### 308.627 - 501.000: 13 ### Mediated: Count: 1180 Range: 1.000 - 581.000; Mean: 101.010; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 95.848 Percentiles: 90th: 200.000; 95th: 315.000; 99th: 503.000 1.000 - 2.527: 1 | 2.527 - 9.970: 1 | 9.970 - 18.346: 11 # 18.346 - 33.117: 86 ########### 33.117 - 59.168: 414 ##################################################### 59.168 - 105.110: 316 ######################################## 105.110 - 186.130: 214 ########################### 186.130 - 329.015: 84 ########### 329.015 - 581.000: 53 ####### Heard: Count: 82 Range: 2.000 - 572.000; Mean: 116.744; Median: 77.000; Stddev: 106.651 Percentiles: 90th: 291.000; 95th: 308.000; 99th: 572.000 2.000 - 4.073: 2 #### 4.073 - 40.461: 12 ########################### 40.461 - 69.104: 24 ##################################################### 69.104 - 117.534: 16 ################################### 117.534 - 199.423: 15 ################################# 199.423 - 337.884: 10 ###################### 337.884 - 572.000: 3 ####### -- 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/.