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MassInc poll: 1 in 5 say they want to move out of Mass.
High housing and transportation costs are the leading causes of wanting to leave the Bay State.
According to a new poll, one in five Massachusetts residents wants to move out of the state, citing high housing and transportation costs.
The results are part of a survey of close to 1,500 Bay State residents conducted by the MassINC Polling Group on behalf of Transportation for Massachusetts, with support from The Barr Foundation.
“This survey confirms that housing and transportation are not separate issues; they are deeply interconnected,” Reggie Ramos, executive director of transportation for Massachusetts, said in a statement.
Ramos said that residents are experiencing a combined, intersecting crisis, impacting quality of life and exacerbating inequality.
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“Our public officials must take steps to solve them jointly and immediately,” Ramos said.
The poll follows the trend of a March survey that found 25% of those between 20 and 30 in the region say they plan to leave the Boston area in the next five years.
The MassInc poll found that the financial toll of housing and transportation is unequal.
Women make up 59% of the most burdened slice of the population. Only 26% of these residents have a bachelor’s degree or more education, compared to 41% overall. Nearly half make $50,000 or less in household income, compared to 30% overall.
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The poll found that those most burdened are more likely to rent their homes, less likely to drive alone, and more likely to take the subway or public bus.
Close to 40% of the double-burdened residents, affected by high housing and transportation costs, see themselves moving out of the state in the next five years, far higher than the 21% who think of leaving overall.
“This survey shows how the high cost of housing and transportation is forcing working people out of Massachusetts and threatening our state’s entire economy,” said Mimi Ramos, executive director of New England United 4 Justice and co-anchor of Homes for All Massachusetts, in a statement.
Finding a home one can afford is a top priority for 84% of the respondents. A majority of them wanted a safe place to walk or bike nearby, with 57% saying they were looking for a home with enough space for family.
“The high cost of housing is the biggest crisis facing Massachusetts families — especially renters who are struggling to get by amid skyrocketing rents and high transportation costs,” said Rose Webster-Smith, executive director of Springfield No One Leaves and co-anchor of Homes for All Massachusetts.
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“Our state’s housing and transportation systems are failing to meet the basic needs of Massachusetts families, and status quo solutions won’t fix them,” she continued.
Not only is transportation creating a cost burden on many residents, but a third report they have difficulty leaving their house due to transportation challenges. The challenges are more acutely felt by younger residents, residents of color, and those with lower education and income levels.
In addition, three-quarters of respondents support free Regional Transit Authority services, which help provide transportation for older adults and people with disabilities.
The results are based on the survey of 1,408 Massachusetts residents, including oversamples of 300 residents from selected “Gateway Cities” and 100 from Mattapan and Hyde Park in Boston.
Researchers collected responses through an online survey, text invitations, and phone calls from June 12 to June 30.
The sample has a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
Established in 2010, Transportation for Massachusetts is a statewide coalition focused on improving transportation systems.
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