Though of course we love to highlight all the amazing things Boston and Massachusetts have to offer, like any city there are some negatives — and unfortunately it seems like they’re causing residents to want to make the big move out-of-state.
The MassINC Polling Group, along with Transportation for Massachusetts, conducted a survey last month to gauge Massachusetts residents’ opinions on various living issues, and a lot involved housing and rising costs. Here are the major takeaways:
Housing in Massachusetts
- When asked the question: In the next 5 years, do see yourself moving, either within Massachusetts or to somewhere outside Massachusetts? 21% of residents answered “Yes, move out of Massachusetts”
- 37% of residents named the amount spent on housing in a month, including rent or mortgage, insurance, taxes is “A very big burden,” while 34% said “Somewhat of a burden.”
- In answer to, What do you think is the single biggest issue facing state government here in Massachusetts?, the biggest issue was Housing at 18%, tied with immigration at 18%. Inflation/cost of living came in at 14%.
The answers echo polls from March that found 25% of Greater Boston’s young professionals (age 20-30) said they plan to leave within the next five years as well.
Massachusetts Transportation
Of course, since they survey was conducted with Transportation for Massachusetts, there are also many transit-related questions. Results included:
- 41% gave a “Fair” rating for “the condition of transportation in Massachusetts, including roads, bridges, cycling and walking, and public transportation including buses, trains, subways, and ferries”
- 38% said the amount they spend on transportation, including car payments, gas and maintenance, bus fares, Uber, Lyft, and taxis, is “somewhat of a burden”
- 50% said the state should study congestion pricing around Boston, a program that was set to start in NYC last month but was put on an indefinite pause last-minute
Keep in mind that the poll surveyed 1,408 residents, so a small portion of the entire Mass. population. The interviews were conducted from June 12th through the 30th of this year.
