Outcomes for March 2024

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: 2024-03-01 Search Period End: 2024-03-31 Earliest Case: 2024-03-01 Latest Case: 2024-03-29 Total Cases: 3271 Total Transfers: 62 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 22.5% Of those, percentage pro se: 44.0% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Florence Least stable with 100+ filings: Dorchester Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 109 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 689 21.1% northeast 562 17.2% western 496 15.2% central 431 13.2% southeast 339 10.4% metro_south 313 9.6% malden district 37 1.1% bmc west roxbury 29 0.9% lawrence district 29 0.9% quincy district 27 0.8% fall river district 24 0.7% waltham district 21 0.6% brockton district 17 0.5% lowell district 15 0.5% lynn district 14 0.4% woburn district 14 0.4% pittsfield district 13 0.4% attleboro district 12 0.4% cambridge district 12 0.4% chelsea district 12 0.4% haverhill district 12 0.4% salem district 11 0.3% springfield district 11 0.3% bmc dorchester 10 0.3% chicopee district 10 0.3% framingham district 9 0.3% new bedford district 9 0.3% bmc brighton 8 0.2% northern berkshire district 8 0.2% worcester district 8 0.2% somerville district 7 0.2% wrentham district 7 0.2% barnstable district 6 0.2% dedham district 5 0.2% fallmouth district 5 0.2% newburyport district 5 0.2% bmc east boston 4 0.1% orleans district 4 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% bmc central 2 0.1% bmc south boston 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% milford district 2 0.1% palmer district 2 0.1% stoughton district 2 0.1% westfield district 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% gardner district court 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% newton district 1 0.0% peabody district 1 0.0% plymouth district 1 0.0% taunton district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2534 11 Natural Person 737 3260 Total 3271 3271 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 77.5% 0.3% Natural Person 22.5% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2519 15 2534 Optional 413 324 737 Total 2932 339 3271 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 77.0% 0.5% 77.5% Optional 12.6% 9.9% 22.5% Total 89.6% 10.4% 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 10 11 Optional 206 3054 3260 Total 207 3064 3271 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.3% 0.3% Optional 6.3% 93.4% 99.7% Total 6.3% 93.7% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 86 2.6% 1 2316 70.8% 2 717 21.9% 3 108 3.3% 4 31 0.9% 5 11 0.3% 7 1 0.0% 8 1 0.0% Total 3271 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 2399 73.3% Cause 445 13.6% No Fault 390 11.9% Foreclosure 36 1.1% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 1160 11 Dennis Port 158 5 Holyoke 155 62 Indian Orchard 148 15 Mattapan 142 52 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Three Rivers 136 4 Hyannis 134 19 Florida 132 1 Framingham 131 90 Chicopee 115 64 Dorchester 114 105 Salem 113 47 Great Barrington 112 8 Roslindale 110 32 Fall River 109 97 Marlborough 109 42 Pittsfield 109 49 Lawrence 107 82 Springfield 106 163 Randolph 105 34 Brockton 99 93 Chelsea 96 34 Southbridge 95 16 Allston 92 27 Haydenville 88 1 Norwood 87 25 East Sandwich 86 3 Greenfield 85 15 Revere 83 43 Bridgewater 82 22 Lowell 82 88 Roxbury 82 49 Wrentham 82 9 Chesterfield 81 1 Sunderland 81 3 West Springfield 81 23 Braintree 78 28 Charlemont 78 1 Taunton 78 44 Chester 74 1 Rockland 74 13 North Adams 72 10 Plainville 72 6 Worcester 72 132 Lynn 71 65 Pocasset 69 2 Haverhill 68 42 Ayer 67 5 Richmond 67 1 New Bedford 66 63 Hyde Park 65 22 Granby 64 4 South Hadley 62 11 Woburn 62 24 Malden 60 36 Northampton 59 17 Webster 59 10 Adams 58 5 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Fitchburg 57 23 Holbrook 55 6 Kingston 55 7 Brighton 54 24 Quincy 53 49 Baldwinville 52 1 Dorchester Center 52 48 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Rowley 51 3 Stockbridge 51 1 Stoughton 51 14 Dracut 50 15 Jamaica Plain 50 19 Ware 50 5 East Boston 49 20 Hinsdale 49 1 Hanscom Afb 48 1 South Easton 48 5 North Reading 47 7 Monson 46 4 West Wareham 46 1 Huntington 45 1 Bradford 44 6 Gardner 44 9 Littleton 44 4 Medford 44 25 Waltham 44 27 Abington 43 7 Attleborough 43 19 Carver 43 5 North Chelmsford 43 4 Westborough 43 8 Peabody 42 22 Spencer 42 5 Danvers 41 11 Marion 40 2 Winthrop 40 7 Lenox 39 2 Maynard 39 4 Natick 39 13 Sudbury 39 7 Chelmsford 38 13 East Dennis 38 1 Everett 38 16 Hull 38 4 North Andover 38 11 South Boston 38 13 Bedford 37 5 Beverly 37 15 North Falmouth 37 1 Watertown 37 12 West Yarmouth 37 2 Amesbury 36 6 Clinton 36 5 Hudson 36 7 Salisbury 36 3 Wellfleet 36 1 Berlin 34 1 Cambridge 34 36 East Falmouth 34 2 Medfield 33 4 Melrose 33 9 Methuen 33 16 Townsend 33 3 East Wareham 32 7 Fiskdale 32 1 Milford 32 9 West Roxbury 32 10 Westport 32 5 Leominster 31 13 Arlington 30 13 Ashland 30 5 Cheshire 30 1 Billerica 29 12 Charlestown 29 5 Dalton 29 2 Nahant 29 1 Somerville 29 22 Westfield 29 12 Belmont 28 7 Lakeville 28 3 Mashpee 28 4 Northborough 28 4 Pembroke 28 5 Wakefield 28 7 Canton 27 6 Gloucester 27 8 West Brookfield 27 1 Westminster 27 2 Hopkinton 26 4 West Boylston 26 2 Boxford 25 2 Feeding Hills 25 3 Shrewsbury 25 9 Palmer 24 3 Tewksbury 24 7 Turners Falls 24 1 Weymouth 24 13 Foxborough 23 4 Holden 23 4 Medway 23 3 Montague 23 2 Acton 22 5 Avon 22 1 Blackstone 22 2 Forestdale 22 1 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Sharon 22 4 South Grafton 22 1 Boston 21 134 North Brookfield 21 1 Seekonk 21 3 Swampscott 21 3 Belchertown 20 3 Brewster 20 2 Reading 20 5 Deerfield 19 1 Hampden 19 1 Hanson 19 2 Marshfield 19 5 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Winchendon 19 2 Franklin 18 6 Ludlow 18 4 Milton 18 5 North Billerica 18 2 Stoneham 18 4 Wareham 18 4 Agawam 17 5 Athol 17 2 Dudley 17 2 Lynnfield 17 2 Mansfield 17 4 Mendon 17 1 Middleborough 17 4 Newburyport 17 3 Plymouth 17 10 Tyngsborough 17 2 Orleans 16 1 South Lee 16 1 Walpole 16 4 Andover 15 5 Groveland 15 1 Lexington 15 5 Lincoln 15 1 Marblehead 15 3 Norton 15 3 Saugus 15 4 Stow 15 1 Centerville 14 2 East Bridgewater 14 2 Hanover 14 2 Oxford 14 2 Raynham 14 2 East Weymouth 13 7 Halifax 13 1 Hingham 13 3 North Attleborough 13 4 Westford 13 3 Bellingham 12 2 Dedham 12 3 Lancaster 12 1 Longmeadow 12 2 Millis 12 1 North Dartmouth 12 3 Sterling 12 1 Williamstown 12 1 Concord 11 2 Douglas 11 1 Middleton 11 1 Scituate 11 2 Somerset 11 2 Roxbury Crossing 10 6 Southborough 10 1 Southwick 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Acushnet 9 1 Falmouth 9 3 Sandwich 9 2 Brookline 8 5 Groton 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 South Yarmouth 8 1 Wilmington 8 2 Dennis 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Millbury 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Auburn 6 1 Easthampton 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Needham 6 2 Needham Heights 6 2 Northbridge 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Amherst 5 2 Bourne 5 1 South Weymouth 5 3 Burlington 4 1 Onset 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Yarmouth 4 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 Newton 2 2 Newton Highlands 1 1 (not given) 0 61 span 0 4 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Hampden 517 368 Berkshire 514 83 Plymouth 474 205 Essex 329 362 Suffolk 329 650 Bristol 312 257 Hampshire 309 57 Barnstable 300 58 Norfolk 294 251 Middlesex 262 612 Worcester 248 276 Franklin 218 23 Nantucket 56 2 Dukes 48 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 2902 88.7% Ongoing/Error 369 11.3% 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 1198 41.3% Dismissed 984 33.9% Defaulted 627 21.6% Heard 90 3.1% Other 3 0.1% Total 2902 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 101 86 174 11 0 Foreclosure 6 11 10 3 0 No Fault 103 66 193 8 0 Non-payment 774 464 820 68 3 Unknown/Other 0 0 1 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.5% 3.0% 6.0% 0.4% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.4% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 3.5% 2.3% 6.7% 0.3% 0.0% Non-payment 26.7% 16.0% 28.3% 2.3% 0.1% Unknown/Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. Amounts in excess of 100% of cases disposed indicate a judgment was inferred from the docket history but no dollar amount was entered and the case was not yet disposed. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1440 49.6% 44.0% Judgment inferred 183 6.3% 5.6% No judgment 1279 44.1% 39.1% Total 2902 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 186 6.4% 0 34,744 3,067 5,495 570,491 Foreclosure 14 0.5% 0 18,979 2,413 5,007 33,782 No fault 157 5.4% 0 56,980 4,818 6,785 756,487 Non-payment 1083 37.3% 0 66,266 8,236 8,039 8,919,620 Subtotal 1440 49.6% 0 66,266 7,139 7,850 10,280,380 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 95 3.3% 0 56,980 5,426 8,149 515,497 Defaulted 577 19.9% 0 65,470 6,942 7,786 4,006,044 Mediated 731 25.2% 0 66,266 7,429 7,698 5,431,114 Heard 35 1.2% 0 29,248 7,596 6,794 265,886 Other 2 0.1% 8,565 53,272 30,918 22,353 61,837 Subtotal 1440 49.6% 0 66,266 7,139 7,850 10,280,380 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 4 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1571 96.8% 54.1% 48.0% unknown 48 3.0% 1.7% 1.5% Total 1623 100.0% 55.9% 49.6% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1440 Range: 0.000 - 66266.400; Mean: 7139.153; Median: 5045.430; Stddev: 7852.751 Percentiles: 90th: 15559.760; 95th: 20994.350; 99th: 36355.810 0.000 - 152.114: 5 # 152.114 - 299.563: 131 #################### 299.563 - 589.006: 60 ######### 589.006 - 1157.182: 58 ######### 1157.182 - 2272.512: 129 #################### 2272.512 - 4461.907: 244 ###################################### 4461.907 - 8759.690: 340 ##################################################### 8759.690 - 17196.244: 324 ################################################### 17196.244 - 33757.209: 92 ############## 33757.209 - 66266.400: 17 ### Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 186 Range: 0.000 - 34744.100; Mean: 3067.157; Median: 311.305; Stddev: 5510.537 Percentiles: 90th: 8244.330; 95th: 12746.860; 99th: 31214.190 0.000 - 147.153: 2 ## 147.153 - 270.684: 33 ############################### 270.684 - 497.217: 56 ##################################################### 497.217 - 912.633: 7 ####### 912.633 - 1674.427: 9 ######### 1674.427 - 3071.410: 9 ######### 3071.410 - 5633.207: 13 ############ 5633.207 - 10331.047: 30 ############################ 10331.047 - 18945.979: 6 ###### 18945.979 - 34744.100: 5 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 14 Range: 0.000 - 18979.570; Mean: 2413.009; Median: 290.525; Stddev: 5196.686 Percentiles: 90th: 7083.930; 95th: 18979.570; 99th: 18979.570 0.000 - 306.168: 7 ##################################################### 306.168 - 484.701: 2 ############### 484.701 - 767.000: 1 ######## 767.000 - 4799.998: 1 ######## 4799.998 - 7590.438: 1 ######## 7590.438 - 18979.570: 1 ######## No Fault: Count: 157 Range: 0.000 - 56980.610; Mean: 4818.390; Median: 2888.990; Stddev: 6807.645 Percentiles: 90th: 11433.150; 95th: 16875.000; 99th: 29825.730 0.000 - 318.692: 41 ##################################################### 318.692 - 567.648: 7 ######### 567.648 - 1010.474: 3 #### 1010.474 - 1798.145: 8 ########## 1798.145 - 3199.204: 16 ##################### 3199.204 - 5691.317: 29 ##################################### 5691.317 - 10124.127: 28 #################################### 10124.127 - 18008.924: 13 ################# 18008.924 - 32033.895: 4 ##### 32033.895 - 56980.610: 1 # Non-payment: Count: 1083 Range: 0.000 - 66266.400; Mean: 8236.030; Median: 6200.000; Stddev: 8042.923 Percentiles: 90th: 16507.250; 95th: 21931.890; 99th: 38690.110 0.000 - 152.114: 3 # 152.114 - 299.563: 24 #### 299.563 - 589.006: 18 ### 589.006 - 1157.182: 46 ######## 1157.182 - 2272.512: 100 ################## 2272.512 - 4461.907: 216 ####################################### 4461.907 - 8759.690: 269 ################################################ 8759.690 - 17196.244: 296 ##################################################### 17196.244 - 33757.209: 80 ############## 33757.209 - 66266.400: 15 ### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 95 Range: 0.000 - 56980.610; Mean: 5426.286; Median: 2741.140; Stddev: 8193.059 Percentiles: 90th: 11467.940; 95th: 20000.000; 99th: 56980.610 0.000 - 318.692: 17 ##################################################### 318.692 - 567.648: 4 ############ 567.648 - 1010.474: 9 ############################ 1010.474 - 1798.145: 8 ######################### 1798.145 - 3199.204: 13 ######################################### 3199.204 - 5691.317: 14 ############################################ 5691.317 - 10124.127: 16 ################################################## 10124.127 - 18008.924: 8 ######################### 18008.924 - 32033.895: 4 ############ 32033.895 - 56980.610: 1 ### Defaulted: Count: 577 Range: 0.000 - 65470.360; Mean: 6942.885; Median: 5024.360; Stddev: 7793.159 Percentiles: 90th: 14902.030; 95th: 20057.320; 99th: 36403.740 0.000 - 346.656: 82 ################################### 346.656 - 621.181: 14 ###### 621.181 - 1112.483: 17 ####### 1112.483 - 1991.740: 41 ################## 1991.740 - 3565.296: 61 ########################## 3565.296 - 6381.402: 110 ############################################### 6381.402 - 11421.232: 124 ##################################################### 11421.232 - 20440.736: 88 ###################################### 20440.736 - 36582.442: 22 ######### 36582.442 - 65470.360: 5 ## Mediated: Count: 731 Range: 0.000 - 66266.400; Mean: 7429.706; Median: 5380.840; Stddev: 7704.157 Percentiles: 90th: 16196.580; 95th: 21735.510; 99th: 34744.100 0.000 - 152.114: 5 ## 152.114 - 299.563: 51 ################ 299.563 - 589.006: 24 ####### 589.006 - 1157.182: 26 ######## 1157.182 - 2272.512: 62 ################### 2272.512 - 4461.907: 139 ########################################## 4461.907 - 8759.690: 174 ##################################################### 8759.690 - 17196.244: 168 ################################################### 17196.244 - 33757.209: 52 ################ 33757.209 - 66266.400: 9 ### Heard: Count: 35 Range: 0.000 - 29248.290; Mean: 7596.749; Median: 6462.030; Stddev: 6894.087 Percentiles: 90th: 16631.970; 95th: 19571.030; 99th: 29248.290 0.000 - 404.794: 2 ############### 404.794 - 1687.791: 2 ############### 1687.791 - 2715.433: 2 ############### 2715.433 - 4368.405: 2 ############### 4368.405 - 7027.224: 6 ############################################# 7027.224 - 11303.955: 7 ##################################################### 11303.955 - 18183.111: 6 ############################################# 18183.111 - 29248.290: 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 1309 80.7% 45.1% 40.0% Issued 1017 62.7% 35.0% 31.1% Levied 209 12.9% 7.2% 6.4% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 31 14.8% 1.9% 1.1% 0.9% Foreclosure 7 3.3% 0.4% 0.2% 0.2% No Fault 27 12.9% 1.7% 0.9% 0.8% Non-payment 144 68.9% 8.9% 5.0% 4.4% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 209 100.0% 12.9% 7.2% 6.4% 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 13 6.2% 0.8% 0.4% 0.4% Defaulted 87 41.6% 5.4% 3.0% 2.7% Mediated 106 50.7% 6.5% 3.7% 3.2% Heard 3 1.4% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 209 100.0% 12.9% 7.2% 6.4% 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 36 19.4% Cause 31 445 7.0% No Fault 27 390 6.9% Non-payment 144 2399 6.0% 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 87 627 13.9% Mediated 106 1198 8.8% Heard 3 90 3.3% Dismissed 13 984 1.3% Other 0 3 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 1 533 88 92 Non-payment 0 556 79 84 No Fault 1 521 83 85 Foreclosure 24 412 98 87 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 556 81 85 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 556 71 87 Defaulted 0 554 75 70 Mediated 1 543 90 89 Heard 18 430 113 91 Other 25 112 78 46 All Outcomes 0 556 81 85 All Cases: Count: 2902 Range: 0.000 - 556.000; Mean: 81.519; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 85.568 Percentiles: 90th: 172.000; 95th: 262.000; 99th: 478.000 0.000 - 2.512: 11 | 2.512 - 5.166: 17 # 5.166 - 9.826: 39 ## 9.826 - 18.009: 93 #### 18.009 - 32.377: 187 ####### 32.377 - 57.604: 1346 ##################################################### 57.604 - 101.898: 628 ######################### 101.898 - 179.672: 306 ############ 179.672 - 316.229: 167 ####### 316.229 - 556.000: 107 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 372 Range: 1.000 - 533.000; Mean: 88.554; Median: 49.500; Stddev: 92.917 Percentiles: 90th: 204.000; 95th: 280.000; 99th: 501.000 1.000 - 2.497: 1 | 2.497 - 5.114: 3 # 5.114 - 9.690: 3 # 9.690 - 17.691: 9 ### 17.691 - 31.680: 21 ###### 31.680 - 56.140: 174 ##################################################### 56.140 - 98.905: 72 ###################### 98.905 - 173.678: 43 ############# 173.678 - 304.415: 31 ######### 304.415 - 533.000: 15 ##### Non-payment: Count: 2129 Range: 0.000 - 556.000; Mean: 79.685; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 84.255 Percentiles: 90th: 168.000; 95th: 260.000; 99th: 458.000 0.000 - 2.512: 9 | 2.512 - 5.166: 14 # 5.166 - 9.826: 34 ## 9.826 - 18.009: 75 #### 18.009 - 32.377: 143 ######## 32.377 - 57.604: 983 ##################################################### 57.604 - 101.898: 467 ######################### 101.898 - 179.672: 213 ########### 179.672 - 316.229: 113 ###### 316.229 - 556.000: 77 #### No Fault: Count: 370 Range: 1.000 - 521.000; Mean: 83.619; Median: 51.500; Stddev: 85.142 Percentiles: 90th: 177.000; 95th: 261.000; 99th: 495.000 1.000 - 2.489: 1 | 2.489 - 9.617: 2 # 9.617 - 17.522: 8 ## 17.522 - 31.311: 14 #### 31.311 - 55.366: 173 ##################################################### 55.366 - 97.328: 88 ########################### 97.328 - 170.531: 45 ############## 170.531 - 298.231: 24 ####### 298.231 - 521.000: 15 ##### Foreclosure: Count: 30 Range: 24.000 - 412.000; Mean: 98.100; Median: 68.000; Stddev: 87.211 Percentiles: 90th: 238.000; 95th: 260.000; 99th: 412.000 24.000 - 32.093: 1 ######## 32.093 - 42.807: 7 ##################################################### 42.807 - 56.989: 5 ###################################### 56.989 - 75.762: 4 ############################## 75.762 - 100.612: 4 ############################## 100.612 - 133.507: 3 ####################### 133.507 - 177.052: 2 ############### 177.052 - 310.996: 3 ####################### 310.996 - 412.000: 1 ######## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 984 Range: 1.000 - 556.000; Mean: 71.660; Median: 42.000; Stddev: 87.586 Percentiles: 90th: 161.000; 95th: 260.000; 99th: 500.000 1.000 - 2.512: 9 # 2.512 - 5.166: 16 ## 5.166 - 9.826: 39 ###### 9.826 - 18.009: 80 ########### 18.009 - 32.377: 135 ################### 32.377 - 57.604: 369 ##################################################### 57.604 - 101.898: 177 ######################### 101.898 - 179.672: 79 ########### 179.672 - 316.229: 43 ###### 316.229 - 556.000: 37 ##### Defaulted: Count: 627 Range: 0.000 - 554.000; Mean: 75.914; Median: 51.000; Stddev: 70.808 Percentiles: 90th: 146.000; 95th: 185.000; 99th: 478.000 0.000 - 28.136: 4 # 28.136 - 39.424: 104 ####################### 39.424 - 55.084: 235 ##################################################### 55.084 - 76.812: 126 ############################ 76.812 - 106.958: 61 ############## 106.958 - 148.783: 36 ######## 148.783 - 206.812: 33 ####### 206.812 - 287.322: 11 ## 287.322 - 399.024: 8 ## 399.024 - 554.000: 8 ## Mediated: Count: 1198 Range: 1.000 - 543.000; Mean: 90.148; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 89.149 Percentiles: 90th: 194.000; 95th: 280.000; 99th: 474.000 1.000 - 2.503: 2 | 2.503 - 5.137: 1 | 5.137 - 17.830: 9 # 17.830 - 31.985: 26 ## 31.985 - 56.779: 592 ##################################################### 56.779 - 100.211: 279 ######################### 100.211 - 176.290: 149 ############# 176.290 - 309.557: 87 ######## 309.557 - 543.000: 53 ##### Heard: Count: 90 Range: 18.000 - 430.000; Mean: 113.611; Median: 78.000; Stddev: 91.576 Percentiles: 90th: 232.000; 95th: 309.000; 99th: 430.000 18.000 - 24.961: 2 ###### 24.961 - 34.473: 2 ###### 34.473 - 47.470: 18 ##################################################### 47.470 - 65.228: 15 ############################################ 65.228 - 89.493: 13 ###################################### 89.493 - 122.648: 10 ############################# 122.648 - 167.951: 12 ################################### 167.951 - 229.851: 8 ######################## 229.851 - 314.431: 6 ################## 314.431 - 430.000: 4 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 3 Range: 25.000 - 112.000; Mean: 78.333; Median: 98.000; Stddev: 46.715 Percentiles: 90th: 112.000; 95th: 112.000; 99th: 112.000 25.000 - 29.115: 1 ########################### 29.115 - 112.000: 2 ##################################################### -- 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/.