MassINC poll – A new MassINC survey finds widespread economic pessimism across Massachusetts, with many struggling to afford housing, healthcare, and basics.
A new statewide survey suggests a growing sense among Massachusetts residents that the middle-class dream is slipping further out of reach.
The MassINC Polling Group found what it called “deepening economic pessimism,” based on responses from 854 Massachusetts residents.. Many respondents reported widespread difficulty affording both everyday necessities and larger life purchases. a pattern that appears to be reshaping how people plan for the future.
Housing emerged as a central strain.. More than half of respondents overall said housing was unaffordable for their household. and the figure rises sharply among Bay Staters aged 35 to 44. with 65% reporting unaffordability.. Residents also pointed to other budget pressures, including healthcare costs, higher education expenses, and taxes.
Beyond major bills, the poll also captured day-to-day stress. Over a third of respondents said they had trouble affording groceries or childcare—cost categories that can be especially difficult to absorb when household budgets are already under pressure.
When asked how things have changed, the survey painted a bleak picture. Forty percent of respondents said their family’s quality of life had gotten worse over the past five years. Another 42% said they are worse off financially than they were a year ago.
The level of confidence about what comes next was similarly muted. Only 27% of respondents expected their finances to improve over the coming year, a share that reflects how pessimism may be influencing household decision-making rather than easing with time.
The survey also compared current sentiment with the past, noting a sharp drop in how many residents believe they are doing better than their parents. Less than a third said they are better off than their parents, down from 50% in 2011.
In a separate measure of financial reality, respondents estimated that families would need a household income between $97,000 and $112,000 simply to stay in the middle of the pack. MassINC characterized these findings as a sign that the cost of maintaining a middle-class lifestyle continues to rise.
These pressures are already affecting major milestones. The report stated that financial strain is reshaping, delaying, or in some cases preventing middle-class steps such as buying a home and planning for retirement.
Despite the widespread stress reflected in the survey, many residents say their priority—if they had the means—would be saving for the future. MassINC added that residents overwhelmingly identified saving more as the top priority when imagining additional financial capacity.
The poll also examined how much money households have left after paying their bills: only 15% said they have plenty left over. 42% said they have a little extra. and 29% said they have just enough to cover expenses.. Together, those figures suggest that even “manageable” budgets may still leave families with limited room for unexpected costs.
Finally, the survey found a striking divergence in how residents view the Commonwealth’s economic environment. A plurality of respondents said Massachusetts is a better place for wealthy people to live and a worse one for everyone else.
Pollsters said residents believe Massachusetts is not making it easier, even if the state is not alone in facing high costs. They also reported that many respondents feel state priorities favor either the very wealthy or the very poor, leaving the middle class to manage on its own.
MassINC poll Massachusetts economy quality of life housing unaffordability middle class financial pessimism