Outcomes For May 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: 2024-05-01 Search Period End: 2024-05-31 Earliest Case: 2024-05-01 Latest Case: 2024-05-31 Total Cases: 2938 Total Transfers: 54 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 24.3% Of those, percentage pro se: 51.8% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Woronoco Least stable with 10+ filings: Ware Least stable with 100+ filings: Worcester Least stable county: Plymouth Cases per day: 97 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 625 21.3% northeast 508 17.3% central 457 15.6% southeast 336 11.4% western 330 11.2% metro_south 287 9.8% lynn district 35 1.2% malden district 33 1.1% quincy district 27 0.9% lawrence district 21 0.7% fall river district 20 0.7% cambridge district 19 0.6% chelsea district 17 0.6% brockton district 14 0.5% lowell district 13 0.4% northern berkshire district 13 0.4% pittsfield district 12 0.4% haverhill district 11 0.4% waltham district 11 0.4% somerville district 10 0.3% springfield district 10 0.3% bmc west roxbury 8 0.3% chicopee district 8 0.3% dedham district 8 0.3% salem district 8 0.3% fallmouth district 7 0.2% newburyport district 7 0.2% woburn district 7 0.2% bmc dorchester 6 0.2% bmc east boston 5 0.2% eastern hampshire district 5 0.2% orleans district 5 0.2% worcester district 5 0.2% ayer district 4 0.1% wrentham district 4 0.1% barnstable district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% stoughton district 3 0.1% attleboro district 2 0.1% bmc brighton 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% framingham district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% peabody district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% taunton district 2 0.1% wareham district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% fitchburg district 1 0.0% leominster district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% new bedford district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2224 8 Natural Person 714 2930 Total 2938 2938 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 75.7% 0.3% Natural Person 24.3% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2206 18 2224 Optional 344 370 714 Total 2550 388 2938 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 75.1% 0.6% 75.7% Optional 11.7% 12.6% 24.3% Total 86.8% 13.2% 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 4 4 8 Optional 191 2739 2930 Total 195 2743 2938 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.3% Optional 6.5% 93.2% 99.7% Total 6.6% 93.4% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 95 3.2% 1 2038 69.4% 2 646 22.0% 3 117 4.0% 4 26 0.9% 5 12 0.4% 6 2 0.1% 7 2 0.1% Total 2938 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 2095 71.3% Cause 448 15.2% No Fault 366 12.5% Foreclosure 28 1.0% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Woronoco 1801 2 Ware 172 17 Baldwinville 158 3 Truro 149 3 Three Rivers 136 4 Randolph 121 39 Buzzards Bay 116 4 Fitchburg 114 46 Marlborough 114 44 Roxbury 114 68 Mattapan 112 41 North Adams 109 15 Florence 105 1 East Falmouth 103 6 Chelsea 99 35 Leeds 98 1 New Bedford 97 93 Warren 97 5 Fall River 93 83 West Boylston 91 7 Chicopee 90 50 Webster 89 15 Cataumet 88 1 Lynn 88 80 Pittsfield 87 39 Athol 86 10 Dorchester 86 80 Gilbertville 86 1 Roslindale 86 25 Gardner 84 17 North Andover 84 24 Worcester 83 151 Salem 82 34 Brockton 81 76 South Dennis 81 3 Ayer 80 6 Winthrop 80 14 Indian Orchard 79 8 Springfield 79 122 South Easton 78 8 South Boston 77 26 North Falmouth 74 2 Amesbury 73 12 Lawrence 73 56 Allston 71 21 Bridgewater 71 19 Hyde Park 71 24 Southbridge 71 12 Tyngsborough 70 8 Taunton 68 38 Danvers 64 17 Stoughton 63 17 Holyoke 62 25 Norwood 62 18 Whitman 62 9 Lowell 61 65 South Lancaster 61 1 Milford 60 17 Everett 59 25 West Springfield 59 17 Braintree 58 21 Rockland 57 10 Dorchester Center 56 52 Littleton 56 5 Russell 56 1 Waltham 56 34 Erving 55 1 Holbrook 55 6 Foxborough 53 9 Haverhill 52 32 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Stockbridge 51 1 Malden 50 30 Framingham 49 34 Jamaica Plain 48 18 South Deerfield 48 1 Tewksbury 48 14 Turners Falls 48 2 Adams 47 4 Cambridge 47 50 Chestnut Hill 47 1 West Townsend 47 1 Woburn 47 18 Canton 46 10 Methuen 46 22 Quincy 46 43 Gloucester 45 13 Greenfield 45 8 Clinton 44 6 Revere 44 23 Abington 43 7 Middleborough 43 10 Eastham 40 2 Marion 40 2 Peabody 40 21 Cohasset 39 3 Brighton 38 17 Westborough 38 7 Bradford 37 5 Ipswich 37 5 Dedham 36 9 Hudson 36 7 Somerville 35 27 Attleborough 34 15 Berlin 34 1 East Boston 34 14 Spencer 34 4 Hopkinton 33 5 Provincetown 33 1 Saugus 33 9 Auburndale 32 3 West Roxbury 32 10 Leominster 31 13 North Attleborough 31 9 Watertown 31 10 Ashland 30 5 Beverly 30 12 Cheshire 30 1 Sheffield 30 1 Wayland 30 4 Nahant 29 1 Oxford 29 4 Raynham 29 4 Westfield 29 12 Burlington 28 7 East Sandwich 28 1 Essex 28 1 Hyannis 28 4 Lakeville 28 3 Ludlow 28 6 Newburyport 28 5 Whitinsville 28 2 Andover 27 9 Sagamore 27 1 Wrentham 27 3 East Weymouth 26 14 North Reading 26 4 Feeding Hills 25 3 Melrose 25 7 Newton Center 25 1 North Grafton 25 2 Orange 25 2 Sterling 25 2 Bellingham 24 4 Harwich 24 3 Natick 24 8 Palmer 24 3 Salisbury 24 2 Charlestown 23 4 North Dighton 23 1 Bedford 22 3 Blackstone 22 2 Forestdale 22 1 Oak Bluffs 22 1 South Hadley 22 4 Westford 22 5 Mansfield 21 5 North Brookfield 21 1 Northampton 21 6 Roxbury Crossing 21 13 Seekonk 21 3 Swampscott 21 3 Belchertown 20 3 Southborough 20 2 Acushnet 19 2 Billerica 19 8 Hull 19 2 Lenox 19 1 Manchester 19 1 Maynard 19 2 Northbridge 19 3 Shrewsbury 19 7 Acton 18 4 Brookline 18 11 Easthampton 18 3 Hingham 18 4 Swansea 18 3 West Yarmouth 18 1 Pepperell 17 2 Plymouth 17 10 Chatham 16 1 Hopedale 16 1 Lee 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Reading 16 4 Scituate 16 3 Sudbury 16 3 Charlton 15 2 Groveland 15 1 Kingston 15 2 Marblehead 15 3 Marshfield 15 4 Merrimac 15 1 Agawam 14 4 Boston 14 88 Centerville 14 2 Great Barrington 14 1 Hanover 14 2 Mashpee 14 2 Medford 14 8 Northborough 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Weymouth 14 8 Duxbury 13 2 Wareham 13 3 Wilmington 13 3 Belmont 12 3 Boxford 12 1 East Longmeadow 12 2 Lancaster 12 1 Longmeadow 12 2 Millis 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Wakefield 12 3 Williamstown 12 1 Douglas 11 1 Pembroke 11 2 Sharon 11 2 Amherst 10 4 Brewster 10 1 Dracut 10 3 Southwick 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Arlington 9 4 East Wareham 9 2 Lunenburg 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Winchendon 9 1 Carver 8 1 Chelmsford 8 3 Dudley 8 1 Groton 8 1 Norfolk 8 1 North Dartmouth 8 2 South Yarmouth 8 1 Walpole 8 2 Weston 8 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Holliston 7 1 Millbury 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Uxbridge 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Auburn 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 Franklin 6 2 Lexington 6 2 Wellesley Hills 6 2 Westport 6 1 Westwood 6 1 Concord 5 1 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Norton 5 1 E. Boston 4 2 Newton Lower Falls 4 4 Stoneham 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Needham 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 North Weymouth 3 2 STOUGHTON 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 1 1 (not given) 0 29 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 Plymouth 405 175 Berkshire 402 65 Hampden 368 262 Essex 337 371 Bristol 327 269 Worcester 321 358 Suffolk 291 575 Norfolk 282 241 Barnstable 217 42 Middlesex 212 495 Hampshire 211 39 Franklin 132 14 Dukes 48 2 Nantucket 0 0 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 2599 88.5% Ongoing/Error 339 11.5% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 1134 43.6% Dismissed 810 31.2% Defaulted 564 21.7% Heard 90 3.5% Other 1 0.0% Total 2599 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 94 84 173 25 0 Foreclosure 3 12 11 1 0 No Fault 77 75 181 22 0 Non-payment 636 392 769 42 1 Unknown/Other 0 1 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.6% 3.2% 6.7% 1.0% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.5% 0.4% 0.0% 0.0% No Fault 3.0% 2.9% 7.0% 0.8% 0.0% Non-payment 24.5% 15.1% 29.6% 1.6% 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 52.2% 46.2% Judgment inferred 182 7.0% 6.2% No judgment 1060 40.8% 36.1% Total 2599 100.0% 52.4% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 196 7.5% 0 27,770 1,925 3,804 377,373 Foreclosure 15 0.6% 0 426 285 91 4,276 No fault 150 5.8% 0 25,256 4,405 5,635 660,803 Non-payment 995 38.3% 0 79,318 8,227 8,726 8,186,584 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 0 0 0 0 0 Subtotal 1357 52.2% 0 79,318 6,801 8,215 9,229,038 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 114 4.4% 0 35,967 4,796 6,234 546,774 Defaulted 527 20.3% 0 79,318 6,743 8,161 3,553,950 Mediated 691 26.6% 0 69,340 7,202 8,523 4,977,040 Heard 24 0.9% 0 27,770 6,122 7,291 146,947 Other 1 0.0% 4,326 4,326 4,326 0 4,326 Subtotal 1357 52.2% 0 79,318 6,801 8,215 9,229,038 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 5 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 1488 96.7% 57.3% 50.6% unknown 46 3.0% 1.8% 1.6% Total 1539 100.0% 59.2% 52.4% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1357 Range: 0.000 - 79318.660; Mean: 6801.060; Median: 4345.580; Stddev: 8218.881 Percentiles: 90th: 16174.000; 95th: 21877.030; 99th: 38446.750 0.000 - 45.377: 1 | 45.377 - 241.528: 31 ##### 241.528 - 553.617: 172 ########################### 553.617 - 1267.307: 79 ############ 1267.307 - 2899.385: 211 ################################# 2899.385 - 6631.648: 337 ##################################################### 6631.648 - 15166.649: 339 ##################################################### 15166.649 - 34684.627: 133 ##################### 34684.627 - 79318.660: 21 ### Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 196 Range: 0.000 - 27770.680; Mean: 1925.374; Median: 295.405; Stddev: 3814.510 Percentiles: 90th: 5964.010; 95th: 9291.900; 99th: 23739.000 0.000 - 271.431: 48 ################################################## 271.431 - 454.414: 51 ##################################################### 454.414 - 760.300: 7 ####### 760.300 - 1271.640: 7 ####### 1271.640 - 2126.428: 15 ################ 2126.428 - 3555.349: 15 ################ 3555.349 - 5944.027: 11 ########### 5944.027 - 9937.098: 13 ############## 9937.098 - 16612.177: 4 #### 16612.177 - 27770.680: 3 ### Foreclosure: Count: 15 Range: 0.000 - 426.540; Mean: 285.119; Median: 293.310; Stddev: 95.042 Percentiles: 90th: 394.120; 95th: 426.540; 99th: 426.540 0.000 - 251.596: 2 ##################### 251.596 - 266.807: 1 ########### 266.807 - 282.933: 2 ##################### 282.933 - 300.030: 5 ##################################################### 300.030 - 337.376: 1 ########### 337.376 - 379.354: 1 ########### 379.354 - 402.257: 1 ########### 402.257 - 426.540: 1 ########### No Fault: Count: 150 Range: 0.000 - 25256.840; Mean: 4405.358; Median: 2276.115; Stddev: 5654.615 Percentiles: 90th: 10920.860; 95th: 17450.920; 99th: 24453.240 0.000 - 275.660: 33 ##################################################### 275.660 - 455.850: 20 ################################ 455.850 - 753.400: 2 ### 753.400 - 1244.746: 4 ###### 1244.746 - 2056.109: 7 ########### 2056.109 - 3395.919: 16 ########################## 3395.919 - 5608.355: 15 ######################## 5608.355 - 9261.765: 25 ######################################## 9261.765 - 15294.668: 12 ################### 15294.668 - 25256.840: 10 ################ Non-payment: Count: 995 Range: 0.000 - 79318.660; Mean: 8227.724; Median: 5755.070; Stddev: 8730.685 Percentiles: 90th: 17467.400; 95th: 23495.860; 99th: 48641.780 0.000 - 45.377: 1 | 45.377 - 241.528: 4 # 241.528 - 553.617: 29 ##### 553.617 - 1267.307: 63 ########### 1267.307 - 2899.385: 171 ############################## 2899.385 - 6631.648: 284 ################################################## 6631.648 - 15166.649: 301 ##################################################### 15166.649 - 34684.627: 118 ##################### 34684.627 - 79318.660: 21 #### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 114 Range: 0.000 - 35967.720; Mean: 4796.269; Median: 2629.675; Stddev: 6261.611 Percentiles: 90th: 10241.590; 95th: 18952.610; 99th: 35262.460 0.000 - 370.695: 14 ################################### 370.695 - 616.767: 4 ########## 616.767 - 1025.744: 8 #################### 1025.744 - 1705.474: 11 ############################ 1705.474 - 2835.202: 21 ##################################################### 2835.202 - 4712.839: 17 ########################################### 4712.839 - 7833.519: 20 ################################################## 7833.519 - 13020.166: 9 ####################### 13020.166 - 21640.504: 4 ########## 21640.504 - 35967.720: 4 ########## Defaulted: Count: 527 Range: 0.000 - 79318.660; Mean: 6743.739; Median: 4201.040; Stddev: 8169.026 Percentiles: 90th: 16818.310; 95th: 20502.350; 99th: 37033.850 0.000 - 309.202: 78 ########################################## 309.202 - 573.343: 25 ############# 573.343 - 1062.401: 12 ###### 1062.401 - 1967.899: 37 #################### 1967.899 - 3644.438: 84 ############################################# 3644.438 - 6748.567: 99 ##################################################### 6748.567 - 12495.896: 99 ##################################################### 12495.896 - 23137.136: 66 ################################### 23137.136 - 42839.508: 16 ######### 42839.508 - 79318.660: 4 ## Mediated: Count: 691 Range: 0.000 - 69340.190; Mean: 7202.663; Median: 4912.000; Stddev: 8529.683 Percentiles: 90th: 16337.430; 95th: 22331.660; 99th: 48641.780 0.000 - 44.757: 1 | 44.757 - 231.940: 15 #### 231.940 - 524.578: 63 ################ 524.578 - 1184.850: 44 ########### 1184.850 - 2674.605: 97 ######################### 2674.605 - 6035.904: 148 ###################################### 6035.904 - 13619.926: 207 ##################################################### 13619.926 - 30731.575: 79 #################### 30731.575 - 69340.190: 17 #### Heard: Count: 24 Range: 0.000 - 27770.680; Mean: 6122.797; Median: 3392.680; Stddev: 7448.219 Percentiles: 90th: 14927.590; 95th: 21038.760; 99th: 27770.680 0.000 - 369.111: 3 ######################################## 369.111 - 1560.068: 4 ##################################################### 1560.068 - 4074.197: 2 ########################### 4074.197 - 6583.336: 3 ######################################## 6583.336 - 10637.377: 2 ########################### 10637.377 - 17187.531: 4 ##################################################### 17187.531 - 27770.680: 2 ########################### 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 1199 77.9% 46.1% 40.8% Issued 964 62.6% 37.1% 32.8% Levied 218 14.2% 8.4% 7.4% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 41 18.8% 2.7% 1.6% 1.4% Foreclosure 11 5.0% 0.7% 0.4% 0.4% No Fault 28 12.8% 1.8% 1.1% 1.0% Non-payment 138 63.3% 9.0% 5.3% 4.7% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 218 100.0% 14.2% 8.4% 7.4% 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 23 10.6% 1.5% 0.9% 0.8% Defaulted 102 46.8% 6.6% 3.9% 3.5% Mediated 92 42.2% 6.0% 3.5% 3.1% Heard 1 0.5% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 218 100.0% 14.2% 8.4% 7.4% 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 11 28 39.3% Cause 41 448 9.2% No Fault 28 366 7.7% Non-payment 138 2095 6.6% 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 102 564 18.1% Mediated 92 1134 8.1% Dismissed 23 810 2.8% Heard 1 90 1.1% 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 2 577 95 109 Non-payment 0 532 77 79 No Fault 7 441 79 75 Foreclosure 14 559 138 149 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 577 80 85 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 537 76 88 Defaulted 8 532 68 58 Mediated 4 577 88 93 Heard 4 450 96 92 Other 0 0 0 0 All Outcomes 0 577 80 85 All Cases: Count: 2599 Range: 0.000 - 577.000; Mean: 80.912; Median: 49.000; Stddev: 85.637 Percentiles: 90th: 168.000; 95th: 283.000; 99th: 450.000 0.000 - 2.525: 4 | 2.525 - 5.212: 8 | 5.212 - 9.947: 32 # 9.947 - 18.293: 59 ## 18.293 - 33.000: 194 ######## 33.000 - 58.920: 1303 ##################################################### 58.920 - 104.599: 512 ##################### 104.599 - 185.101: 258 ########## 185.101 - 326.973: 138 ###### 326.973 - 577.000: 90 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 376 Range: 2.000 - 577.000; Mean: 95.723; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 109.692 Percentiles: 90th: 226.000; 95th: 360.000; 99th: 542.000 2.000 - 4.077: 2 # 4.077 - 13.540: 3 # 13.540 - 23.606: 12 ##### 23.606 - 40.641: 108 ############################################### 40.641 - 69.470: 121 ##################################################### 69.470 - 118.258: 55 ######################## 118.258 - 200.821: 28 ############ 200.821 - 340.544: 27 ############ 340.544 - 577.000: 20 ######### Non-payment: Count: 1840 Range: 0.000 - 532.000; Mean: 77.349; Median: 48.000; Stddev: 79.928 Percentiles: 90th: 155.000; 95th: 254.000; 99th: 442.000 0.000 - 2.496: 3 | 2.496 - 5.112: 7 | 5.112 - 9.684: 29 ## 9.684 - 17.677: 39 ## 17.677 - 31.650: 116 ####### 31.650 - 56.075: 924 ##################################################### 56.075 - 98.774: 367 ##################### 98.774 - 173.417: 199 ########### 173.417 - 303.900: 85 ##### 303.900 - 532.000: 70 #### No Fault: Count: 355 Range: 7.000 - 441.000; Mean: 79.296; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 75.501 Percentiles: 90th: 162.000; 95th: 237.000; 99th: 428.000 7.000 - 10.949: 4 ## 10.949 - 16.847: 2 # 16.847 - 25.656: 2 # 25.656 - 38.813: 92 ########################################## 38.813 - 58.464: 117 ##################################################### 58.464 - 87.816: 51 ####################### 87.816 - 131.655: 37 ################# 131.655 - 197.133: 23 ########## 197.133 - 294.930: 13 ###### 294.930 - 441.000: 14 ###### Foreclosure: Count: 27 Range: 14.000 - 559.000; Mean: 138.259; Median: 66.000; Stddev: 149.161 Percentiles: 90th: 386.000; 95th: 411.000; 99th: 559.000 14.000 - 20.543: 2 ############# 20.543 - 43.434: 8 ##################################################### 43.434 - 62.816: 3 #################### 62.816 - 90.652: 4 ########################### 90.652 - 130.628: 1 ####### 130.628 - 188.042: 2 ############# 188.042 - 270.499: 1 ####### 270.499 - 388.923: 4 ########################### 388.923 - 559.000: 2 ############# By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 810 Range: 0.000 - 537.000; Mean: 76.528; Median: 42.000; Stddev: 88.616 Percentiles: 90th: 178.000; 95th: 290.000; 99th: 437.000 0.000 - 2.499: 4 # 2.499 - 5.123: 6 # 5.123 - 9.714: 24 #### 9.714 - 17.747: 40 ###### 17.747 - 31.802: 100 ############### 31.802 - 56.396: 352 ##################################################### 56.396 - 99.428: 122 ################## 99.428 - 174.724: 75 ########### 174.724 - 306.473: 50 ######## 306.473 - 537.000: 36 ##### Defaulted: Count: 564 Range: 8.000 - 532.000; Mean: 68.674; Median: 48.000; Stddev: 58.522 Percentiles: 90th: 120.000; 95th: 163.000; 99th: 335.000 8.000 - 12.536: 1 | 12.536 - 45.051: 263 ##################################################### 45.051 - 68.260: 133 ########################### 68.260 - 103.168: 94 ################### 103.168 - 155.669: 43 ######### 155.669 - 234.630: 16 ### 234.630 - 353.388: 9 ## 353.388 - 532.000: 5 # Mediated: Count: 1134 Range: 4.000 - 577.000; Mean: 88.924; Median: 52.000; Stddev: 93.109 Percentiles: 90th: 199.000; 95th: 304.000; 99th: 468.000 4.000 - 7.040: 5 # 7.040 - 11.929: 3 | 11.929 - 19.790: 9 # 19.790 - 32.431: 54 ###### 32.431 - 52.759: 503 ##################################################### 52.759 - 85.446: 245 ########################## 85.446 - 138.008: 144 ############### 138.008 - 222.530: 73 ######## 222.530 - 358.445: 57 ###### 358.445 - 577.000: 41 #### Heard: Count: 90 Range: 4.000 - 450.000; Mean: 96.267; Median: 66.500; Stddev: 92.112 Percentiles: 90th: 210.000; 95th: 325.000; 99th: 450.000 4.000 - 6.843: 1 ## 6.843 - 11.303: 1 ## 11.303 - 18.299: 3 ###### 18.299 - 46.487: 19 #################################### 46.487 - 73.489: 28 ##################################################### 73.489 - 115.846: 21 ######################################## 115.846 - 182.289: 6 ########### 182.289 - 286.512: 4 ######## 286.512 - 450.000: 7 ############# -- 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/.