Outcomes for April 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: 2024-04-01 Search Period End: 2024-04-30 Earliest Case: 2024-04-01 Latest Case: 2024-04-30 Total Cases: 3276 Total Transfers: 75 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 22.9% Of those, percentage pro se: 41.8% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Framingham Least stable with 10+ filings: Framingham Least stable with 100+ filings: Framingham Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 112 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 645 19.7% northeast 577 17.6% central 490 15.0% western 453 13.8% southeast 364 11.1% metro_south 251 7.7% malden district 52 1.6% lawrence district 37 1.1% quincy district 31 0.9% lowell district 30 0.9% pittsfield district 28 0.9% lynn district 27 0.8% fall river district 24 0.7% springfield district 24 0.7% chelsea district 21 0.6% haverhill district 18 0.5% brockton district 15 0.5% cambridge district 15 0.5% somerville district 15 0.5% bmc west roxbury 13 0.4% chicopee district 10 0.3% waltham district 10 0.3% framingham district 8 0.2% holyoke district 8 0.2% woburn district 8 0.2% attleboro district 7 0.2% fallmouth district 7 0.2% dedham district 6 0.2% peabody district 6 0.2% salem district 6 0.2% wrentham district 6 0.2% palmer district 5 0.2% barnstable district 4 0.1% bmc dorchester 4 0.1% edgartown district 4 0.1% new bedford district 4 0.1% bmc brighton 3 0.1% bmc central 3 0.1% bmc roxbury 3 0.1% newburyport district 3 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% northern berkshire district 3 0.1% orleans district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% bmc east boston 2 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% milford district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% concord district 1 0.0% eastern hampshire district 1 0.0% fitchburg district 1 0.0% ipswich district 1 0.0% wareham district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2527 25 Natural Person 749 3251 Total 3276 3276 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 77.1% 0.8% Natural Person 22.9% 99.2% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2508 19 2527 Optional 436 313 749 Total 2944 332 3276 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 76.6% 0.6% 77.1% Optional 13.3% 9.6% 22.9% Total 89.9% 10.1% 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 13 12 25 Optional 182 3069 3251 Total 195 3081 3276 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.4% 0.4% 0.8% Optional 5.6% 93.7% 99.2% Total 6.0% 94.0% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 66 2.0% 1 2335 71.3% 2 699 21.3% 3 140 4.3% 4 27 0.8% 5 5 0.2% 6 2 0.1% 7 1 0.0% 10 1 0.0% Total 3276 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 2400 73.3% Cause 466 14.2% No Fault 386 11.8% Foreclosure 23 0.7% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Framingham 213 146 Buzzards Bay 204 7 Holyoke 180 72 Greenfield 171 30 Chestnut Hill 141 3 West Wareham 138 3 Fall River 137 122 Warwick 128 1 Chelsea 122 43 Springfield 114 176 North Adams 109 15 Pittsfield 109 49 Ashland 108 18 Dorchester 108 100 Lynn 107 97 Florence 105 1 Lawrence 102 78 Mattapan 101 37 Chicopee 99 55 Lowell 97 104 Revere 96 50 Haverhill 93 57 East Boston 88 36 Norwood 87 25 Worcester 87 158 East Sandwich 86 3 Gilbertville 86 1 Hyde Park 86 29 South Yarmouth 86 10 Gardner 84 17 Everett 83 35 New Bedford 83 79 Ware 81 8 Charlemont 78 1 Athol 77 9 Millers Falls 77 1 Roxbury 77 46 Salem 77 32 Fitchburg 76 31 Malden 75 45 West Yarmouth 75 4 Rockland 74 13 Georgetown 73 6 Taunton 73 41 Turners Falls 73 3 Salisbury 72 6 West Tisbury 72 2 Stoughton 70 19 Indian Orchard 69 7 Roslindale 69 20 Brockton 66 62 Palmer 65 8 Lincoln 62 4 Tewksbury 62 18 Colrain 59 1 Lenox 59 3 Waltham 59 36 Hadley 57 3 North Billerica 56 6 Braintree 55 20 Canton 55 12 Cambridge 54 57 Marlborough 54 21 Peabody 54 28 South Dennis 54 2 Weymouth 53 29 Baldwinville 52 1 Woburn 52 20 East Falmouth 51 3 Stockbridge 51 1 Dorchester Center 50 46 Milford 50 14 Quincy 50 47 Devens 49 1 Hinsdale 49 1 Granby 48 3 South Deerfield 48 1 Adams 47 4 Foxborough 47 8 Westfield 46 19 Northampton 45 13 Saugus 45 12 West Dennis 45 1 Rockport 43 3 Somerville 43 33 Hyannis 42 6 North Andover 42 12 Southwick 42 4 Charlestown 41 7 Webster 41 7 Belchertown 40 6 Andover 39 13 Gloucester 38 11 Orange 38 3 Holbrook 37 4 Amesbury 36 6 Burlington 36 9 Wakefield 36 9 Wrentham 36 4 Beverly 35 14 Southbridge 35 6 Berlin 34 1 Feeding Hills 34 4 North Attleborough 34 10 Pocasset 34 1 Spencer 34 4 Three Rivers 34 1 Whitman 34 5 Medfield 33 4 Medford 33 19 Belmont 32 8 Fiskdale 32 1 Jamaica Plain 32 12 North Chelmsford 32 3 Sturbridge 32 3 Wareham 32 7 Fairhaven 31 5 Hudson 31 6 Bellingham 30 5 Hull 29 3 West Roxbury 29 9 Winchendon 29 3 Essex 28 1 Northborough 28 4 Osterville 28 1 Randolph 28 9 West Springfield 28 8 Brighton 27 12 Methuen 27 13 Sagamore Beach 27 1 Cohasset 26 2 Halifax 26 2 Tyngsborough 26 3 Lynnfield 25 3 Millis 25 2 North Dartmouth 25 6 Williamstown 25 2 Edgartown 24 1 Leominster 24 10 Plymouth 24 14 Kingston 23 3 Ludlow 23 5 Monson 23 2 Bradford 22 3 Bridgewater 22 6 Danvers 22 6 Forestdale 22 1 Hubbardston 22 1 Ipswich 22 3 Melrose 22 6 Oak Bluffs 22 1 South Hadley 22 4 Sudbury 22 4 Wilmington 22 5 North Brookfield 21 1 Swampscott 21 3 Westborough 21 4 Boxborough 20 1 Dracut 20 6 Marblehead 20 4 Marstons Mills 20 1 Nantucket 19 2 Norwell 19 2 Sandwich 19 4 South Easton 19 2 Warren 19 1 Westport 19 3 Acton 18 4 Arlington 18 8 Easthampton 18 3 Hingham 18 4 South Barre 18 1 Watertown 18 6 Westford 18 4 Allston 17 5 Billerica 17 7 Middleborough 17 4 Rehoboth 17 2 Southampton 17 1 Winthrop 17 3 East Weymouth 16 9 Lee 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Orleans 16 1 Walpole 16 4 Bedford 15 2 Boston 15 95 Brookline 15 9 Harvard 15 1 Marshfield 15 4 Medway 15 2 Newbury 15 1 Norton 15 3 Roxbury Crossing 15 9 Stow 15 1 Centerville 14 2 Clinton 14 2 Dighton 14 1 Great Barrington 14 1 Raynham 14 2 Shrewsbury 14 5 West Newton 14 2 Attleborough 13 6 North Reading 13 2 Stoneham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Westminster 13 1 Abington 12 2 Dedham 12 3 East Longmeadow 12 2 Franklin 12 4 Lancaster 12 1 Longmeadow 12 2 Mansfield 12 3 North Grafton 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 South Attleboro 12 1 South Hamilton 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Assonet 11 1 Chelmsford 11 4 Littleton 11 1 Scituate 11 2 Somerset 11 2 South Boston 11 4 South Dartmouth 11 4 Wellesley Hills 10 3 Cherry Valley 9 1 East Wareham 9 2 Lakeville 9 1 Lunenburg 9 1 Natick 9 3 South Weymouth 9 5 Dudley 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Reading 8 2 Agawam 7 2 Hanover 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Mashpee 7 1 Millbury 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Seekonk 7 1 Wayland 7 1 Auburn 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Needham 6 2 Needham Heights 6 2 Swansea 6 1 Tiverton 6 1 Amherst 5 2 Bourne 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Sharon 5 1 Newton 4 4 Winchester 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Lexington 3 1 Milton 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 (not given) 0 53 Beaufort 0 1 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 516 367 Berkshire 477 77 Franklin 388 41 Essex 375 413 Bristol 359 296 Plymouth 328 142 Middlesex 292 683 Suffolk 285 563 Norfolk 281 240 Worcester 267 298 Barnstable 259 50 Hampshire 238 44 Dukes 97 4 Nantucket 56 2 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2894 88.3% Ongoing/Error 382 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 1223 42.3% Dismissed 927 32.0% Defaulted 633 21.9% Heard 109 3.8% Other 2 0.1% Total 2894 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 84 87 170 26 0 Foreclosure 7 7 7 0 0 No Fault 83 64 204 13 0 Non-payment 753 475 842 70 2 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 2.9% 3.0% 5.9% 0.9% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 2.9% 2.2% 7.0% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 26.0% 16.4% 29.1% 2.4% 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 1454 50.2% 44.4% Judgment inferred 194 6.7% 5.9% No judgment 1246 43.1% 38.0% Total 2894 100.0% 50.3% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 177 6.1% 0 36,000 2,745 4,801 485,942 Foreclosure 10 0.3% 0 23,167 3,182 6,938 31,821 No fault 147 5.1% 0 35,105 4,638 5,551 681,792 Non-payment 1120 38.7% 0 176,627 8,334 9,658 9,334,296 Subtotal 1454 50.2% 0 176,627 7,244 9,071 10,533,853 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 106 3.7% 0 23,167 5,669 5,833 601,008 Defaulted 574 19.8% 0 176,627 6,876 9,836 3,947,218 Mediated 726 25.1% 0 114,207 7,798 8,784 5,661,937 Heard 47 1.6% 0 50,425 6,821 9,087 320,594 Other 1 0.0% 3,095 3,095 3,095 0 3,095 Subtotal 1454 50.2% 0 176,627 7,244 9,071 10,533,853 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 3 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1587 96.3% 54.8% 48.4% unknown 58 3.5% 2.0% 1.8% Total 1648 100.0% 56.9% 50.3% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1454 Range: 0.000 - 176627.630; Mean: 7244.741; Median: 4861.030; Stddev: 9074.434 Percentiles: 90th: 17208.500; 95th: 22557.290; 99th: 35251.050 0.000 - 274.314: 63 ######### 274.314 - 563.604: 107 ############### 563.604 - 1156.866: 69 ########## 1156.866 - 2373.505: 174 ######################### 2373.505 - 4868.537: 285 ######################################### 4868.537 - 9985.249: 371 ##################################################### 9985.249 - 20478.392: 259 ##################################### 20478.392 - 41997.303: 90 ############# 41997.303 - 86127.408: 5 # 86127.408 - 176627.630: 2 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 177 Range: 0.000 - 36000.000; Mean: 2745.438; Median: 335.420; Stddev: 4814.656 Percentiles: 90th: 7400.030; 95th: 11828.420; 99th: 27662.190 0.000 - 233.830: 8 ###### 233.830 - 409.766: 76 ##################################################### 409.766 - 717.513: 4 ### 717.513 - 1255.824: 8 ###### 1255.824 - 2197.439: 9 ###### 2197.439 - 3844.515: 19 ############# 3844.515 - 6725.583: 21 ############### 6725.583 - 11765.154: 12 ######## 11765.154 - 20580.382: 7 ##### 20580.382 - 36000.000: 2 # Foreclosure: Count: 10 Range: 0.000 - 23167.650; Mean: 3182.142; Median: 295.665; Stddev: 7313.662 Percentiles: 90th: 6729.050; 95th: 23167.650; 99th: 23167.650 0.000 - 383.901: 5 ##################################################### 383.901 - 605.844: 1 ########### 605.844 - 9319.620: 1 ########### 9319.620 - 23167.650: 1 ########### No Fault: Count: 147 Range: 0.000 - 35105.480; Mean: 4638.044; Median: 3030.600; Stddev: 5570.440 Percentiles: 90th: 12110.620; 95th: 16142.330; 99th: 23949.410 0.000 - 308.027: 31 ##################################################### 308.027 - 521.845: 8 ############## 521.845 - 883.606: 4 ####### 883.606 - 1495.672: 6 ########## 1495.672 - 2531.232: 12 ##################### 2531.232 - 4283.304: 20 ################################## 4283.304 - 7247.648: 22 ###################################### 7247.648 - 12263.046: 23 ####################################### 12263.046 - 20748.638: 11 ################### 20748.638 - 35105.480: 2 ### Non-payment: Count: 1120 Range: 0.000 - 176627.630; Mean: 8334.194; Median: 5961.470; Stddev: 9662.760 Percentiles: 90th: 18370.000; 95th: 23995.470; 99th: 35619.440 0.000 - 435.445: 25 ##### 435.445 - 849.375: 33 ###### 849.375 - 1655.883: 94 ################# 1655.883 - 3227.295: 190 ################################### 3227.295 - 6289.057: 238 ############################################ 6289.057 - 12254.636: 288 ##################################################### 12254.636 - 23878.057: 186 ################################## 23878.057 - 46525.296: 52 ########## 46525.296 - 90651.501: 4 # 90651.501 - 176627.630: 2 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 106 Range: 0.000 - 23167.650; Mean: 5669.887; Median: 3439.805; Stddev: 5861.616 Percentiles: 90th: 14946.080; 95th: 18370.000; 99th: 22557.290 0.000 - 379.471: 9 ########################### 379.471 - 599.632: 4 ############ 599.632 - 947.189: 5 ############### 947.189 - 1495.861: 13 ###################################### 1495.861 - 2362.023: 7 ##################### 2362.023 - 3729.392: 15 ############################################ 3729.392 - 5887.993: 12 ################################### 5887.993 - 9295.674: 18 ##################################################### 9295.674 - 14675.218: 10 ############################# 14675.218 - 23167.650: 11 ################################ Defaulted: Count: 574 Range: 0.000 - 176627.630; Mean: 6876.687; Median: 4432.420; Stddev: 9845.522 Percentiles: 90th: 16971.410; 95th: 21599.730; 99th: 30586.750 0.000 - 405.960: 84 ################################## 405.960 - 798.112: 14 ###### 798.112 - 1568.150: 40 ################ 1568.150 - 3080.209: 83 ################################## 3080.209 - 6049.313: 111 ############################################# 6049.313 - 11879.493: 131 ##################################################### 11879.493 - 23327.732: 77 ############################### 23327.732 - 45807.681: 23 ######### 45807.681 - 176627.630: 1 | Mediated: Count: 726 Range: 0.000 - 114207.330; Mean: 7798.811; Median: 5503.790; Stddev: 8790.753 Percentiles: 90th: 17696.480; 95th: 23949.410; 99th: 36954.940 0.000 - 262.568: 16 ##### 262.568 - 516.453: 42 ############# 516.453 - 1014.896: 21 ###### 1014.896 - 1993.471: 70 ##################### 1993.471 - 3914.670: 126 ###################################### 3914.670 - 7686.487: 176 ##################################################### 7686.487 - 15091.554: 164 ################################################# 15091.554 - 29629.644: 77 ####################### 29629.644 - 58171.728: 19 ###### 58171.728 - 114207.330: 1 | Heard: Count: 47 Range: 0.000 - 50425.530; Mean: 6821.160; Median: 3310.400; Stddev: 9185.919 Percentiles: 90th: 14711.940; 95th: 22510.480; 99th: 50425.530 0.000 - 319.423: 6 ################################### 319.423 - 561.118: 1 ###### 561.118 - 1728.958: 3 ################## 1728.958 - 3033.865: 7 ######################################### 3033.865 - 5323.065: 8 ############################################### 5323.065 - 9339.008: 6 ################################### 9339.008 - 16384.179: 9 ##################################################### 16384.179 - 28743.525: 3 ################## 28743.525 - 50425.530: 1 ###### 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 79.4% 45.2% 40.0% Issued 1036 62.9% 35.8% 31.6% Levied 231 14.0% 8.0% 7.1% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 34 14.7% 2.1% 1.2% 1.0% Foreclosure 4 1.7% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% No Fault 27 11.7% 1.6% 0.9% 0.8% Non-payment 166 71.9% 10.1% 5.7% 5.1% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 231 100.0% 14.0% 8.0% 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 19 8.2% 1.2% 0.7% 0.6% Defaulted 108 46.8% 6.6% 3.7% 3.3% Mediated 100 43.3% 6.1% 3.5% 3.1% Heard 4 1.7% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 231 100.0% 14.0% 8.0% 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 4 23 17.4% Cause 34 466 7.3% No Fault 27 386 7.0% Non-payment 166 2400 6.9% 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 108 633 17.1% Mediated 100 1223 8.2% Heard 4 109 3.7% Dismissed 19 927 2.0% Other 0 2 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 1 494 91 96 Non-payment 1 577 80 89 No Fault 5 504 78 76 Foreclosure 4 394 87 101 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 1 577 81 89 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 526 71 87 Defaulted 22 577 73 68 Mediated 2 570 92 98 Heard 1 442 90 74 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 1 577 81 89 All Cases: Count: 2894 Range: 1.000 - 577.000; Mean: 81.509; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 89.293 Percentiles: 90th: 167.000; 95th: 281.000; 99th: 479.000 1.000 - 2.525: 14 # 2.525 - 5.212: 24 # 5.212 - 9.947: 30 # 9.947 - 18.293: 94 #### 18.293 - 33.000: 259 ########### 33.000 - 58.920: 1294 ##################################################### 58.920 - 104.599: 611 ######################### 104.599 - 185.101: 321 ############# 185.101 - 326.973: 125 ##### 326.973 - 577.000: 122 ##### By Reason Cause: Count: 367 Range: 1.000 - 494.000; Mean: 91.809; Median: 53.000; Stddev: 96.583 Percentiles: 90th: 214.000; 95th: 343.000; 99th: 477.000 1.000 - 2.470: 3 # 2.470 - 5.022: 1 | 5.022 - 9.450: 5 ## 9.450 - 17.133: 4 # 17.133 - 30.464: 12 #### 30.464 - 53.598: 162 ##################################################### 53.598 - 93.740: 76 ######################### 93.740 - 163.396: 52 ################# 163.396 - 284.264: 29 ######### 284.264 - 494.000: 23 ######## Non-payment: Count: 2142 Range: 1.000 - 577.000; Mean: 80.215; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 89.897 Percentiles: 90th: 161.000; 95th: 277.000; 99th: 484.000 1.000 - 2.525: 11 # 2.525 - 5.212: 21 # 5.212 - 9.947: 23 # 9.947 - 18.293: 82 #### 18.293 - 33.000: 189 ########## 33.000 - 58.920: 977 ##################################################### 58.920 - 104.599: 434 ######################## 104.599 - 185.101: 226 ############ 185.101 - 326.973: 89 ##### 326.973 - 577.000: 90 ##### No Fault: Count: 364 Range: 5.000 - 504.000; Mean: 78.420; Median: 55.000; Stddev: 76.010 Percentiles: 90th: 144.000; 95th: 238.000; 99th: 463.000 5.000 - 8.347: 3 # 8.347 - 13.561: 1 | 13.561 - 21.683: 6 ### 21.683 - 34.335: 44 ################### 34.335 - 54.045: 124 ##################################################### 54.045 - 84.750: 98 ########################################## 84.750 - 132.582: 43 ################## 132.582 - 207.096: 23 ########## 207.096 - 323.173: 12 ##### 323.173 - 504.000: 10 #### Foreclosure: Count: 21 Range: 4.000 - 394.000; Mean: 87.048; Median: 62.000; Stddev: 101.498 Percentiles: 90th: 173.000; 95th: 342.000; 99th: 394.000 4.000 - 6.740: 1 ########### 6.740 - 17.546: 2 ##################### 17.546 - 27.709: 1 ########### 27.709 - 43.441: 5 ##################################################### 43.441 - 67.793: 4 ########################################## 67.793 - 105.490: 4 ########################################## 105.490 - 163.843: 1 ########### 163.843 - 254.173: 1 ########### 254.173 - 394.000: 2 ##################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 927 Range: 1.000 - 526.000; Mean: 71.246; Median: 42.000; Stddev: 87.359 Percentiles: 90th: 156.000; 95th: 265.000; 99th: 466.000 1.000 - 2.492: 3 | 2.492 - 5.098: 16 ## 5.098 - 9.648: 24 ### 9.648 - 17.593: 78 ########### 17.593 - 31.465: 102 ############## 31.465 - 55.689: 385 ##################################################### 55.689 - 97.987: 166 ####################### 97.987 - 171.844: 71 ########## 171.844 - 300.809: 42 ###### 300.809 - 526.000: 40 ###### Defaulted: Count: 633 Range: 22.000 - 577.000; Mean: 73.420; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 68.915 Percentiles: 90th: 134.000; 95th: 176.000; 99th: 441.000 22.000 - 30.750: 4 # 30.750 - 42.830: 208 ##################################################### 42.830 - 59.505: 181 ############################################## 59.505 - 82.523: 98 ######################### 82.523 - 114.300: 57 ############### 114.300 - 158.165: 42 ########### 158.165 - 218.719: 20 ##### 218.719 - 302.311: 9 ## 302.311 - 417.705: 5 # 417.705 - 577.000: 9 ## Mediated: Count: 1223 Range: 2.000 - 570.000; Mean: 92.300; Median: 54.000; Stddev: 98.867 Percentiles: 90th: 212.000; 95th: 345.000; 99th: 512.000 2.000 - 4.071: 8 # 4.071 - 7.571: 1 | 7.571 - 13.487: 3 | 13.487 - 23.487: 9 # 23.487 - 40.388: 332 ########################################## 40.388 - 68.957: 420 ##################################################### 68.957 - 117.245: 212 ########################### 117.245 - 198.863: 109 ############## 198.863 - 336.819: 64 ######## 336.819 - 570.000: 65 ######## Heard: Count: 109 Range: 1.000 - 442.000; Mean: 90.587; Median: 76.000; Stddev: 74.572 Percentiles: 90th: 170.000; 95th: 213.000; 99th: 402.000 1.000 - 2.432: 10 ################# 2.432 - 9.107: 5 ######### 9.107 - 16.345: 1 ## 16.345 - 28.766: 1 ## 28.766 - 50.080: 15 ########################## 50.080 - 86.658: 29 ################################################## 86.658 - 149.428: 31 ##################################################### 149.428 - 257.147: 14 ######################## 257.147 - 442.000: 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/.