What is the eviction risk score for Somerville?

The landlord eviction risk score for Somerville, MA is 6.2 out of 10, rated Elevated risk.

Does Somerville have rent control?

The rent-control risk score for Somerville is 4.2 out of 10.

How long does an eviction take in Somerville?

Typical eviction timeline is about 190 days from notice to writ of possession.

Somerville, MA Eviction Risk Score Suffolk County · Massachusetts · Population 81,036

6.2 Elevated ★★★ High confidence

62.5%Tenant-law probabilityi

$11,999–29,210Typical eviction costi

190 daysTypical timelinei

3.44%Eviction filing ratei

$2,837HUD 2BR FMR 2025i

$2,517Median gross renti

24.9%Rent burdeni

65.8%Rentersi

Sub-score breakdown

Local political climate

8.3

Dem margin +63.2% in 2020

Regional political climate

8.3

Dem margin +63.2% in 2020

State political climate

6.2

Economic stress

5.0

10.2% poverty · 2.9% unemployed

Supply constraint

9.7

$2,517 median rent · 65.8% renters

Rent-control risk

4.2

24.9% rent burden

Eviction process difficulty

6.3

Tenant organizing strength

9.7

65.8% renters

Housing court bias

4.7

Eviction filing rate (ground truth)

5.5

3.44 filings per 100 renter households (county, latest year)

Voucher gap (market vs HUD FMR)

0.0

Market rent -11.3% vs HUD 2BR FMR ($2,837)

Sub-scores are national percentile rankings (1 = most landlord-friendly, 10 = most tenant-protective) derived from ACS 2023 5-year data, 2020 county presidential margin, and state law weighting. Source: ACS 2023 5-year + Gazetteer 2024.

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About eviction risk in Somerville, MA

Somerville, MA has an eviction risk score of 6.2 out of 10, placing it in the elevated-risk tier for landlords operating in Suffolk County and the state of Massachusetts. The score combines local political climate, court disposition patterns, cost-of-eviction estimates, tenant organizing strength, and the likelihood of new tenant-protective legislation in the next legislative cycle.

Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates show median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 24.9% — a core driver of eviction filings, because households above 30% of income on rent are statistically more likely to miss a payment after any income shock. Median gross rent in Somerville is $2,517/month. About 65.8% of occupied units here are renter-occupied.

Economic stress: poverty rate 10.2%, unemployment 2.9%. Higher values correlate with higher eviction filing rates and longer court timelines.

Political climate: In 2020, Suffolk County voted Democratic by 63.2 points — classified as strongly tenant-leaning for purposes of rent-control or just-cause expansion risk.

What this score means for landlords

At 6.2/10, Somerville is an elevated-risk environment. Tenant protections are stronger than the national median. Use proactive screening, document notices in writing, and understand your specific just-cause and rent-cap exposure before raising rent or terminating a tenancy.