It’s Not Financial Worries Driving Massachusetts Residents Away

While many Massachusetts residents have issues and concerns, most are happy here and don't want to leave, according to a recent Suffolk University/Boston Globe Poll.

When I've asked callers to my program, most folks who say they want to move to another state cite the cost of living here. However, that doesn't appear to be reflected in the recent poll.

The poll asked: "In the last 12 months, have you considered leaving Massachusetts because of the cost of living here?" A large majority, 67.60 percent of respondents, said "no." Only 32.40 percent said they had considered leaving for greener pastures due to the cost of living.

What is interesting is that there were no "undecided" responses to the poll question.

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When asked about the "biggest strain" on their household budget at the moment, 21 percent cited utility costs, while 18.80 percent said there is "no real strain on my budget."

Other responses included healthcare (17.20 percent), housing (16.50 percent), groceries (14.80 percent), other (8.60 percent), and childcare (1.60 percent).

One percent were undecided, and 0.40 percent refused to answer the question.

CBS Boston reported in January, "United Van Lines has Massachusetts ranked No. 5 on its list of the 'most moved from states' in 2024." In 2023, Massachusetts was ranked No. 7 on the list.

The station said a United Van Lines survey found "a plurality of 24.5 percent left Massachusetts for a job opportunity in another state. Twenty-four percent moved out for family reasons, and 18 percent decided to spend their retirement elsewhere."

CBS Boston reported the survey found the New Bedford-Fall River area to be one of the most "moved from" metro areas in the country. "The percentage of inbound moves in the New Bedford-Fall River area was 33 percent compared to 67 percent for outbound moves, the study found," according to the station.

The United Van Lines survey found only four percent of those leaving Massachusetts cited cost as the reason.

Of those who chose to leave Massachusetts, 34 percent were 65 and older, while 19 percent were 34 years old and younger.