Outcomes for June 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: 2024-06-01 Search Period End: 2024-06-30 Earliest Case: 2024-06-03 Latest Case: 2024-06-28 Total Cases: 2660 Total Transfers: 60 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 25.3% Of those, percentage pro se: 45.1% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Berlin Least stable with 10+ filings: Spencer Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 91 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 487 18.3% northeast 434 16.3% central 401 15.1% western 339 12.7% southeast 309 11.6% metro_south 239 9.0% lynn district 44 1.7% quincy district 38 1.4% malden district 35 1.3% lawrence district 26 1.0% fall river district 24 0.9% chelsea district 18 0.7% northern berkshire district 17 0.6% waltham district 15 0.6% bmc west roxbury 14 0.5% lowell district 14 0.5% somerville district 14 0.5% bmc east boston 12 0.5% pittsfield district 12 0.5% bmc dorchester 11 0.4% brockton district 11 0.4% cambridge district 10 0.4% woburn district 10 0.4% attleboro district 8 0.3% ayer district 8 0.3% framingham district 8 0.3% springfield district 8 0.3% salem district 7 0.3% fallmouth district 6 0.2% haverhill district 6 0.2% barnstable district 5 0.2% dedham district 5 0.2% worcester district 5 0.2% concord district 4 0.2% nantucket district 4 0.2% peabody district 4 0.2% plymouth district 4 0.2% wrentham district 4 0.2% gloucester district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% newton district 3 0.1% orleans district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% westfield district 3 0.1% brookline district 2 0.1% fitchburg district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% wareham district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% chicopee district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% greenfield district 1 0.0% holyoke district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% stoughton district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1986 9 Natural Person 674 2651 Total 2660 2660 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 74.7% 0.3% Natural Person 25.3% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1965 21 1986 Optional 370 304 674 Total 2335 325 2660 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 73.9% 0.8% 74.7% Optional 13.9% 11.4% 25.3% Total 87.8% 12.2% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2 7 9 Optional 155 2496 2651 Total 157 2503 2660 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.3% 0.3% Optional 5.8% 93.8% 99.7% Total 5.9% 94.1% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 94 3.5% 1 1907 71.7% 2 535 20.1% 3 91 3.4% 4 20 0.8% 5 11 0.4% 6 1 0.0% 8 1 0.0% Total 2660 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 1846 69.4% Cause 425 16.0% No Fault 358 13.5% Foreclosure 29 1.1% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Berlin 279 8 Florence 210 2 Buzzards Bay 145 5 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Spencer 136 16 West Yarmouth 132 7 Williamsburg 120 3 North Adams 109 15 Fall River 102 91 Lynn 100 91 Randolph 99 32 Mattapan 95 35 Adams 94 8 Auburn 92 15 Ware 91 9 Chelsea 90 32 New Bedford 88 84 Holyoke 87 35 East Falmouth 86 5 Gilbertville 86 1 Springfield 86 132 Fitchburg 84 34 Southbridge 83 14 Salem 82 34 Chicopee 81 45 Lawrence 81 62 Petersham 81 1 Royalston 79 1 Pittsfield 78 35 Norwood 76 22 Worcester 75 136 Gardner 74 15 Turners Falls 73 3 Plainville 72 6 Roxbury 72 43 Lowell 71 76 Hyannis 70 10 Dorchester 69 64 Maynard 69 7 Three Rivers 68 2 Marlborough 67 26 Quincy 66 61 Taunton 64 36 Framingham 61 42 Groveland 61 4 Malden 60 36 Westborough 60 11 Feeding Hills 59 7 Indian Orchard 59 6 West Springfield 59 17 Rockport 57 4 Brockton 56 53 Revere 56 29 Roslindale 55 16 Shirley 55 4 Haverhill 54 33 Waltham 54 33 Hyde Park 53 18 Baldwinville 52 1 Danvers 52 14 Ludlow 52 11 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Canton 51 11 Newton Center 51 2 Hopedale 50 3 East Boston 49 20 Lunenburg 49 5 Woburn 49 19 Hanscom Afb 48 1 North Billerica 46 5 West Wareham 46 1 East Wareham 45 10 North Andover 45 13 North Brookfield 42 2 Northborough 42 6 Webster 41 7 Everett 40 17 Greenfield 40 7 Stoughton 40 11 Cohasset 39 3 Nantucket 39 4 West Roxbury 39 12 Dorchester Center 38 35 Newtonville 38 2 Warren 38 2 Winchendon 38 4 Barre 37 2 Medford 37 21 Acton 36 8 Bellingham 36 6 Wellfleet 36 1 West Tisbury 36 1 Wrentham 36 4 Charlestown 35 6 Monson 35 3 Pepperell 34 4 Whitman 34 5 Bridgewater 33 9 Billerica 32 13 Abington 31 5 Dennis Port 31 1 Kingston 31 4 Millville 31 1 Somerville 31 24 Amesbury 30 5 Brewster 30 3 Cheshire 30 1 Cotuit 30 1 Ipswich 30 4 Plymouth 30 17 Sheffield 30 1 Brighton 29 13 Raynham 29 4 South Easton 29 3 Agawam 28 8 Burlington 28 7 Franklin 28 9 Whitinsville 28 2 Braintree 27 10 Holbrook 27 3 Peabody 27 14 Sunderland 27 1 Cambridge 26 28 Dudley 26 3 West Boylston 26 2 Wilmington 26 6 Attleborough 25 11 Lynnfield 25 3 Melrose 25 7 Milford 25 7 Millis 25 2 North Grafton 25 2 Orange 25 2 Roxbury Crossing 25 15 Rutland 25 2 Shrewsbury 25 9 South Yarmouth 25 3 Swansea 25 4 Andover 24 8 Georgetown 24 2 Gloucester 24 7 Jamaica Plain 24 9 Medway 23 3 West Newbury 23 1 Hubbardston 22 1 Rockland 22 4 Saugus 22 6 Sharon 22 4 South Hadley 22 4 Hanover 21 3 Middleborough 21 5 North Chelmsford 21 2 Northampton 21 6 Oxford 21 3 Southwick 21 2 Sturbridge 21 2 Watertown 21 7 Allston 20 6 Boxborough 20 1 Marion 20 1 Marstons Mills 20 1 Southborough 20 2 Acushnet 19 2 East Longmeadow 19 3 Hampden 19 1 Hull 19 2 Methuen 19 9 Westfield 19 8 Westport 19 3 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Fairhaven 18 3 Lakeville 18 2 Weymouth 18 10 Beverly 17 7 Foxborough 17 3 North Attleborough 17 5 Southampton 17 1 Boston 16 102 Dedham 16 4 Lee 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Palmer 16 2 Berkley 15 1 Bourne 15 3 Hudson 15 3 Marshfield 15 4 Norton 15 3 Centerville 14 2 Clinton 14 2 Dighton 14 1 Leominster 14 6 Seekonk 14 2 South Boston 14 5 Ayer 13 1 Brookline 13 8 Dracut 13 4 Hopkinton 13 2 Stoneham 13 3 Tewksbury 13 4 Wareham 13 3 Ashland 12 2 Salisbury 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Arlington 11 5 Blackstone 11 1 Chelmsford 11 4 Concord 11 2 Douglas 11 1 Milton 11 3 Sudbury 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Winthrop 11 2 Auburndale 10 1 Cherry Valley 9 1 Hingham 9 2 Lexington 9 3 Natick 9 3 South Weymouth 9 5 Athol 8 1 Harwich 8 1 Reading 8 2 Wakefield 8 2 Amherst 7 3 Bedford 7 1 Dennis 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 East Weymouth 7 4 Holliston 7 1 Mashpee 7 1 Millbury 7 1 North Easton 7 1 Swampscott 7 1 Wayland 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Easthampton 6 1 Wellesley Hills 6 2 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Pembroke 5 1 Scituate 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Belmont 4 1 Mansfield 4 1 Needham 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Newton 3 3 Dartmouth 2 1 (not given) 0 27 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 398 283 Berkshire 377 61 Bristol 312 257 Plymouth 308 133 Worcester 302 337 Essex 294 324 Norfolk 273 233 Barnstable 238 46 Suffolk 234 462 Middlesex 192 449 Hampshire 157 29 Franklin 123 13 Nantucket 113 4 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 2317 87.1% Ongoing/Error 343 12.9% 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 1028 44.4% Dismissed 682 29.4% Defaulted 501 21.6% Heard 101 4.4% Other 5 0.2% Total 2317 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 76 77 172 28 0 Foreclosure 2 8 16 3 0 No Fault 77 79 180 13 0 Non-payment 527 337 659 57 5 Unknown/Other 0 0 1 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 3.3% 3.3% 7.4% 1.2% 0.0% Foreclosure 0.1% 0.3% 0.7% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 3.3% 3.4% 7.8% 0.6% 0.0% Non-payment 22.7% 14.5% 28.4% 2.5% 0.2% 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 1228 53.0% 46.2% Judgment inferred 146 6.3% 5.5% No judgment 943 40.7% 35.5% Total 2317 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 183 7.9% 0 25,032 2,818 4,548 515,832 Foreclosure 16 0.7% 0 75,716 9,318 22,296 149,093 No fault 182 7.9% 0 20,344 4,340 4,654 790,045 Non-payment 846 36.5% 0 55,617 7,235 7,388 6,121,488 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 29,090 29,090 29,090 0 29,090 Subtotal 1228 53.0% 0 75,716 6,193 7,340 7,605,550 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 109 4.7% 0 34,476 3,934 4,517 428,845 Defaulted 456 19.7% 0 59,110 6,249 7,008 2,849,701 Mediated 628 27.1% 0 75,716 6,444 7,716 4,047,212 Heard 31 1.3% 0 47,158 7,978 10,312 247,321 Other 4 0.2% 2,377 17,592 8,117 6,013 32,470 Subtotal 1228 53.0% 0 75,716 6,193 7,340 7,605,550 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 1339 97.5% 57.8% 50.3% unknown 32 2.3% 1.4% 1.2% Total 1374 100.0% 59.3% 51.7% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1228 Range: 0.000 - 75716.630; Mean: 6193.445; Median: 4100.065; Stddev: 7343.745 Percentiles: 90th: 14093.240; 95th: 18402.170; 99th: 37143.150 0.000 - 284.811: 87 ################## 284.811 - 530.269: 80 ################ 530.269 - 986.528: 52 ########### 986.528 - 1834.629: 97 #################### 1834.629 - 3411.088: 185 ###################################### 3411.088 - 6341.428: 256 #################################################### 6341.428 - 11788.379: 260 ##################################################### 11788.379 - 21913.233: 130 ########################### 21913.233 - 40733.430: 35 ####### 40733.430 - 75716.630: 8 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 183 Range: 0.000 - 25032.910; Mean: 2818.756; Median: 369.130; Stddev: 4560.697 Percentiles: 90th: 7722.140; 95th: 11741.960; 99th: 22263.260 0.000 - 275.414: 32 ########################################## 275.414 - 455.037: 40 ##################################################### 455.037 - 751.387: 7 ######### 751.387 - 1240.317: 12 ################ 1240.317 - 2046.970: 8 ########### 2046.970 - 3377.817: 14 ################### 3377.817 - 5573.496: 16 ##################### 5573.496 - 9196.010: 20 ########################### 9196.010 - 15172.566: 7 ######### 15172.566 - 25032.910: 7 ######### Foreclosure: Count: 16 Range: 0.000 - 75716.630; Mean: 9318.353; Median: 300.090; Stddev: 23027.478 Percentiles: 90th: 59110.720; 95th: 75716.630; 99th: 75716.630 0.000 - 406.695: 8 ##################################################### 406.695 - 727.502: 2 ############# 727.502 - 13270.187: 1 ####### 13270.187 - 75716.630: 2 ############# No Fault: Count: 182 Range: 0.000 - 20344.320; Mean: 4340.910; Median: 3275.495; Stddev: 4667.264 Percentiles: 90th: 10830.710; 95th: 14767.700; 99th: 19442.840 0.000 - 249.614: 17 ###################### 249.614 - 407.477: 37 ################################################ 407.477 - 664.778: 2 ### 664.778 - 1084.155: 5 ###### 1084.155 - 1767.699: 5 ###### 1767.699 - 2881.810: 16 ##################### 2881.810 - 4697.705: 21 ########################### 4697.705 - 7657.440: 41 ##################################################### 7657.440 - 12481.524: 18 ####################### 12481.524 - 20344.320: 14 ################## Non-payment: Count: 846 Range: 0.000 - 55617.480; Mean: 7235.802; Median: 5096.015; Stddev: 7392.792 Percentiles: 90th: 15275.470; 95th: 20600.000; 99th: 37873.480 0.000 - 359.581: 17 ##### 359.581 - 630.157: 15 #### 630.157 - 1103.772: 45 ############# 1103.772 - 1932.784: 70 #################### 1932.784 - 3383.879: 137 ####################################### 3383.879 - 5923.864: 181 #################################################### 5923.864 - 10369.831: 185 ##################################################### 10369.831 - 18152.014: 132 ###################################### 18152.014 - 31773.881: 36 ########## 31773.881 - 55617.480: 19 ##### Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 109 Range: 0.000 - 34476.530; Mean: 3934.360; Median: 2731.860; Stddev: 4538.478 Percentiles: 90th: 9721.620; 95th: 11627.210; 99th: 16133.410 0.000 - 348.280: 16 ######################################## 348.280 - 580.794: 2 ##### 580.794 - 968.093: 12 ############################## 968.093 - 1613.214: 7 ################## 1613.214 - 2687.790: 16 ######################################## 2687.790 - 4477.708: 21 ##################################################### 4477.708 - 7459.168: 19 ################################################ 7459.168 - 12425.375: 12 ############################## 12425.375 - 20697.568: 2 ##### 20697.568 - 34476.530: 1 ### Defaulted: Count: 456 Range: 0.000 - 59110.720; Mean: 6249.345; Median: 4465.240; Stddev: 7016.111 Percentiles: 90th: 14139.180; 95th: 19045.240; 99th: 34892.440 0.000 - 301.540: 50 ########################## 301.540 - 542.658: 24 ############ 542.658 - 975.943: 17 ######### 975.943 - 1754.548: 28 ############## 1754.548 - 3153.687: 56 ############################# 3153.687 - 5667.912: 88 ############################################# 5667.912 - 10185.927: 103 ##################################################### 10185.927 - 18304.713: 58 ############################## 18304.713 - 32894.018: 20 ########## 32894.018 - 59110.720: 5 ### Mediated: Count: 628 Range: 0.000 - 75716.630; Mean: 6444.605; Median: 4205.305; Stddev: 7723.117 Percentiles: 90th: 14291.100; 95th: 19361.450; 99th: 37306.650 0.000 - 284.811: 34 ############## 284.811 - 530.269: 39 ################ 530.269 - 986.528: 23 ######### 986.528 - 1834.629: 58 ######################## 1834.629 - 3411.088: 96 ####################################### 3411.088 - 6341.428: 129 ##################################################### 6341.428 - 11788.379: 129 ##################################################### 11788.379 - 21913.233: 74 ############################## 21913.233 - 40733.430: 20 ######## 40733.430 - 75716.630: 4 ## Heard: Count: 31 Range: 0.000 - 47158.350; Mean: 7978.116; Median: 4589.240; Stddev: 10482.736 Percentiles: 90th: 20600.000; 95th: 25032.910; 99th: 47158.350 0.000 - 419.102: 2 ################## 419.102 - 1198.383: 1 ######### 1198.383 - 3423.212: 2 ################## 3423.212 - 5784.782: 6 ##################################################### 5784.782 - 9775.053: 4 ################################### 9775.053 - 16517.285: 1 ######### 16517.285 - 27909.421: 6 ##################################################### 27909.421 - 47158.350: 1 ######### Other Outcome: Count: 4 Range: 2377.000 - 17592.650; Mean: 8117.523; Median: 6250.220; Stddev: 6944.050 Percentiles: 90th: 17592.650; 95th: 17592.650; 99th: 17592.650 2377.000 - 2903.867: 1 ##################################################### 2903.867 - 3547.466: 1 ##################################################### 3547.466 - 9650.898: 1 ##################################################### 9650.898 - 17592.650: 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 1085 79.0% 46.8% 40.8% Issued 844 61.4% 36.4% 31.7% Levied 194 14.1% 8.4% 7.3% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 28 14.4% 2.0% 1.2% 1.1% Foreclosure 7 3.6% 0.5% 0.3% 0.3% No Fault 22 11.3% 1.6% 0.9% 0.8% Non-payment 137 70.6% 10.0% 5.9% 5.2% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 194 100.0% 14.1% 8.4% 7.3% 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 28 14.4% 2.0% 1.2% 1.1% Defaulted 71 36.6% 5.2% 3.1% 2.7% Mediated 92 47.4% 6.7% 4.0% 3.5% Heard 3 1.5% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 194 100.0% 14.1% 8.4% 7.3% 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 29 24.1% Non-payment 137 1846 7.4% Cause 28 425 6.6% No Fault 22 358 6.1% 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 71 501 14.2% Mediated 92 1028 8.9% Dismissed 28 682 4.1% Heard 3 101 3.0% Other 0 5 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 1 610 89 100 Non-payment 0 617 84 98 No Fault 7 563 76 82 Foreclosure 32 324 87 76 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 617 84 96 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 533 75 96 Defaulted 12 573 77 80 Mediated 15 617 91 102 Heard 1 518 101 105 Other 31 253 131 81 All Outcomes 0 617 84 96 All Cases: Count: 2317 Range: 0.000 - 617.000; Mean: 84.302; Median: 46.000; Stddev: 96.548 Percentiles: 90th: 204.000; 95th: 299.000; 99th: 508.000 0.000 - 2.548: 6 | 2.548 - 5.295: 14 # 5.295 - 10.169: 29 # 10.169 - 18.816: 44 ## 18.816 - 34.157: 182 ######## 34.157 - 61.374: 1254 ##################################################### 61.374 - 109.663: 379 ################ 109.663 - 195.335: 172 ####### 195.335 - 347.331: 146 ###### 347.331 - 617.000: 90 #### By Reason Cause: Count: 353 Range: 1.000 - 610.000; Mean: 89.195; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 100.742 Percentiles: 90th: 205.000; 95th: 345.000; 99th: 533.000 1.000 - 2.544: 4 # 2.544 - 10.131: 3 # 10.131 - 18.726: 1 | 18.726 - 33.957: 15 #### 33.957 - 60.949: 202 ##################################################### 60.949 - 108.784: 57 ############### 108.784 - 193.553: 35 ######### 193.553 - 343.778: 18 ##### 343.778 - 610.000: 18 ##### Non-payment: Count: 1585 Range: 0.000 - 617.000; Mean: 84.844; Median: 45.000; Stddev: 98.813 Percentiles: 90th: 214.000; 95th: 316.000; 99th: 504.000 0.000 - 2.548: 2 | 2.548 - 5.295: 14 # 5.295 - 10.169: 24 ## 10.169 - 18.816: 42 ### 18.816 - 34.157: 142 ######### 34.157 - 61.374: 827 ##################################################### 61.374 - 109.663: 253 ################ 109.663 - 195.335: 112 ####### 195.335 - 347.331: 101 ###### 347.331 - 617.000: 67 #### No Fault: Count: 349 Range: 7.000 - 563.000; Mean: 76.628; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 82.300 Percentiles: 90th: 144.000; 95th: 248.000; 99th: 518.000 7.000 - 11.244: 2 # 11.244 - 17.738: 1 | 17.738 - 27.678: 4 # 27.678 - 42.890: 144 ##################################################### 42.890 - 66.171: 94 ################################### 66.171 - 101.802: 49 ################## 101.802 - 156.334: 22 ######## 156.334 - 239.792: 15 ###### 239.792 - 367.519: 11 #### 367.519 - 563.000: 7 ### Foreclosure: Count: 29 Range: 32.000 - 324.000; Mean: 87.966; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 76.240 Percentiles: 90th: 211.000; 95th: 246.000; 99th: 324.000 32.000 - 40.481: 11 ##################################################### 40.481 - 51.142: 5 ######################## 51.142 - 64.543: 2 ########## 64.543 - 81.388: 2 ########## 81.388 - 102.562: 1 ##### 102.562 - 129.177: 2 ########## 129.177 - 162.634: 1 ##### 162.634 - 204.688: 1 ##### 204.688 - 257.551: 3 ############## 257.551 - 324.000: 1 ##### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 682 Range: 0.000 - 533.000; Mean: 75.623; Median: 40.000; Stddev: 96.628 Percentiles: 90th: 187.000; 95th: 302.000; 99th: 481.000 0.000 - 2.497: 3 | 2.497 - 5.114: 13 ## 5.114 - 9.690: 21 ### 9.690 - 17.691: 38 ###### 17.691 - 31.680: 74 ############ 31.680 - 56.140: 339 ##################################################### 56.140 - 98.905: 78 ############ 98.905 - 173.678: 40 ###### 173.678 - 304.415: 41 ###### 304.415 - 533.000: 34 ##### Defaulted: Count: 501 Range: 12.000 - 573.000; Mean: 77.741; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 80.090 Percentiles: 90th: 160.000; 95th: 273.000; 99th: 413.000 12.000 - 17.986: 1 | 17.986 - 26.729: 1 | 26.729 - 39.498: 124 ############################### 39.498 - 58.147: 209 ##################################################### 58.147 - 85.383: 68 ################# 85.383 - 125.161: 34 ######### 125.161 - 183.256: 21 ##### 183.256 - 268.103: 16 #### 268.103 - 392.020: 17 #### 392.020 - 573.000: 10 ### Mediated: Count: 1028 Range: 15.000 - 617.000; Mean: 91.354; Median: 50.000; Stddev: 102.128 Percentiles: 90th: 224.000; 95th: 322.000; 99th: 560.000 15.000 - 22.057: 4 # 22.057 - 32.227: 37 ##### 32.227 - 46.883: 420 ##################################################### 46.883 - 68.003: 232 ############################# 68.003 - 98.438: 109 ############## 98.438 - 142.298: 74 ######### 142.298 - 205.504: 42 ##### 205.504 - 296.588: 50 ###### 296.588 - 427.846: 37 ##### 427.846 - 617.000: 23 ### Heard: Count: 101 Range: 1.000 - 518.000; Mean: 101.366; Median: 65.000; Stddev: 105.850 Percentiles: 90th: 238.000; 95th: 324.000; 99th: 493.000 1.000 - 2.487: 3 ##### 2.487 - 5.079: 1 ## 5.079 - 9.599: 1 ## 9.599 - 17.479: 3 ##### 17.479 - 31.218: 7 ########### 31.218 - 55.171: 22 ################################# 55.171 - 96.932: 35 ##################################################### 96.932 - 169.742: 12 ################## 169.742 - 296.683: 10 ############### 296.683 - 518.000: 7 ########### Other Outcome: Count: 5 Range: 31.000 - 253.000; Mean: 131.000; Median: 123.000; Stddev: 81.080 Percentiles: 90th: 253.000; 95th: 253.000; 99th: 253.000 31.000 - 38.366: 1 ##################################################### 38.366 - 109.907: 1 ##################################################### 109.907 - 135.436: 1 ##################################################### 135.436 - 166.841: 1 ##################################################### 166.841 - 253.000: 1 ##################################################### -- 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/.