New Year, New Address?

As we ring in the New Year, a growing share of Massachusetts residents are thinking less about resolutions and more about relocation. 

According to recent MOA polling, at least 1 in 3 Massachusetts voters say they are either personally considering moving out of the state next year or know someone who is considering leaving. That level of uncertainty isn’t a passing frustration. It’s a signal that economic anxiety is becoming deeply rooted in how residents think about their future in the Commonwealth.

Young People Are Most Likely to Consider Leaving Massachusetts 

Who is feeling this pressure most acutely? More than half (53%) of respondents ages 18 to 34 say they or someone they know are considering leaving Massachusetts next year. While this likely includes college students who are still determining their future career path, these are the workers Massachusetts depends on to fuel its economy for decades to come. When more than half of young professionals are already thinking about an exit, it suggests that the state is struggling to offer the opportunity and stability earlier generations took for granted.

Even in the state’s urban economic hubs, residents are feeling the strain. Nearly half of respondents in urban areas (46%) report they or someone they know is considering moving out, as soaring housing costs have left many families questioning whether there is still a realistic path to putting down roots in the Bay State.

That anxiety isn’t coming out of nowhere. Massachusetts has begun to show signs of economic strain even in industries long considered untouchable. Recent data show private-sector job losses extending into 2025, with slowdowns reaching biotech and life sciences, one of the Commonwealth’s longtime economic anchors. Hiring has cooled, and layoffs have left even highly educated workers struggling to find work. When opportunity narrows at the same time costs continue to rise, it creates a powerful incentive to look elsewhere.

Desire to Relocate Remains The Same Across Income Brackets 

Importantly, the desire to leave Massachusetts isn’t limited to any single income group. The polling shows consistent results across income brackets. Respondents earning under $50,000 were most likely to say they or someone they know are considering moving. This is not just an affordability crisis for lower-income residents or a tax complaint from higher earners. It’s a broad-based concern about whether Massachusetts still works for people trying to make a living.

When residents cite reasons for potentially leaving, the themes are familiar. High taxes continue to strain household budgets, cost of living remains high, and homeownership feels increasingly out of reach. At the same time, hiring feels sluggish and job security less certain than it used to be. Other states like neighboring New Hampshire, meanwhile, are offering lower costs and clearer paths to growth, making the decision to relocate easier to justify.

Conclusion 

Taken together, these pressures are reshaping how residents think about their future in Massachusetts. This isn’t a reaction to one bad year or a single disappointing job search. It reflects a growing sense that the state is becoming a harder place to build a life, raise a family, and plan for the long term.

In recent years, state leaders have taken steps to address some of the challenges residents cite, including efforts to expand housing supply and the creation of a competitiveness council focused on supporting long-term economic growth. Those efforts signal a recognition that affordability and opportunity matter to the state’s future.

Additionally, in 2026, voters will have the chance to consider two MOA-inspired ballot measures designed to deliver direct financial relief and restore the state’s economic competitiveness. Together, they would lower the income tax rate and put stronger limits on unchecked state revenue growth, returning money to taxpayers and easing the cost pressures that have pushed so many residents to consider leaving. 

Massachusetts still has enormous strengths, from its talent base to its institutions, but the polling is clear: confidence in the economic future is slipping. When residents begin planning their future elsewhere, it’s a warning policymakers shouldn’t ignore.