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Survey says young people are leaving the state in ‘distressing’ numbers
The Boston Chamber of Commerce survey indicates that approximately one-quarter of young residents plan to leave Greater Boston within the next five years.
Affordability issues are prompting young residents to leave Massachusetts, with many being drawn instead to the Southeast and Southwest, according to a new survey from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.
The 2026 Young Residents Survey, conducted by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce from February to March 2026, aimed to understand how employers and policymakers could retain 20- to 30-year-olds in Greater Boston.
The survey, which included 600 respondents aged 20 to 30 living in Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties, explored key issues such as affordability, quality of life, professional goals, and community building.
Chamber President James Rooney shared in a statement that the results of the survey would help inform efforts to better serve this demographic.
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“The survey data illustrates how certain priorities and opportunities can help more young residents make Greater Boston their home,” he said. “As young residents continue to lead and shape our city, the Chamber Foundation will continue to elevate opportunities for young residents to strengthen and deepen their roots in Greater Boston.”
The first Young Residents Survey was carried out in 2023, according to Executive Director Amber Haskell. The 2026 survey’s findings echoed those of 2023, revealing that affordable housing continues to be the main concern among young residents. While overall satisfaction remains high, there was still a decline from 2023, while community building continues to become easier.
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The 2026 survey indicates a “distressing number” of young residents are planning to leave Greater Boston within the next five years: approximately one-quarter (26%), consistent with the 2023 results. Of those planning to relocate, the majority are interested in moving to the Southwest or Southeast regions of the country, while half intend to remain within Massachusetts.
The decision to leave Greater Boston among young residents was heavily influenced by four key factors: job availability, cost of rent, safety, and the ability to buy a home.
In terms of importance, job availability and safety were cited as the most crucial, with 79% of young residents noting each as important. Cost of rent was nearly as important at 78%, followed closely by the ability to buy a home at 72%.
As the state struggles with a housing crisis, young residents noted concerns regarding housing availability and affordability.
Housing affordability was identified as the most urgent issue for local leaders by 50% of young residents surveyed. Other top priorities included health care accessibility (37%) and the availability of quality jobs (34%).
During an “Ask the Governor” segment on GBH News last month, Gov. Maura Healey addressed Massachusetts’ out-migration, identifying housing affordability as the primary cause — a problem she noted is also seen in California and New York.
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“That’s why every day I’m focused on how do we drive down costs,” the govenor said. “I’m looking to build more homes. I’ve brought 100,000 homes — online, built, permitted, under development — because of the work we’ve done over the last three years. We need to continue to do that to lower rents.”
Healey said that when she took office, the state faced an estimated deficit of 220,000 homes. Experts projected that 220,000 homes would need to be built by 2035 to increase supply enough to lower costs, she said.
“Over the last three-and-a-half years, we’ve got 100,000 homes in the pipeline. Is it enough? No,” she said. “I need every community in the state to understand that housing is fundamental to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods.”
The Chamber of Commerce reported a “concerning decline” in day-to-day life satisfaction among young residents. Satisfaction with daily life has dropped significantly by 10% since 2023, with 79% of young residents now reporting they are satisfied.
Despite the decline in overall satisfaction, the ease of community building has improved, increasing by 17% since 2023, with 64% of young residents now reporting ease in building a community.
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Furthermore, young residents showed a strong interest in career and professional development opportunities.
Sixty-six percent expressed a willingness to participate in on-the-job training to advance in their current field. Sixty-seven percent reported that they would pursue certificate courses or other education outside of work hours, paid for by the employee. And fifty-five percent indicated they would participate in paid apprenticeships or internships to move into a new field of work.
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