3. Young adults increasingly are leaving Massachusetts for housing that is more affordable, including tens of thousands who now live in adjacent states to afford working here. What specific changes would you support at the state level to stem this tide?

Bill Humphrey

My peers and I face increasingly difficult housing choices, which risk unraveling our social fabric and economic competitiveness: live with relatives, pay through the nose and defer starting or growing new families to live independently, or move away. This problem mostly comes down to lack of supply. Empty-nest seniors ready to down-size within their communities cannot find smaller ownership units to buy and release their large homes to young families, the wealthiest buyers and renters are competing with middle-income folks for the same units due to undersupplied high-end demand, insufficient affordable lottery inventory pushes low-income residents into cost-burdened competition with middle-income adults, and zoning is not geared toward production of modest middle-income units (e.g. triple-decker apartments or modest starter homes). The state could reduce this competition with policies that promote new supply, especially regulations encouraging more modest rental apartments and financing or regulations promoting small senior ownership unit production. 

Rick Lipof

The lack of supply is directly related to appreciation in prices. Increasing supply will help stabilize prices. In theory, building more units should help create more options and thus less competition for product. The housing bill presently in front of legislature and the Governor is full of policies that I believe can help create all types of housing, affordable, mid-market and so much more. Increasing the number of ADU’s, allowing for conversion of mills and malls to residential housing, and then encouragement to build all levels of housing is the start that we need. The Governor proposed $4.12 Billion bond bill. The House bill is over $6 Billion. This is a good faith plan to make real change in housing in Massachusetts. Business owners report to me that the number one reason they are having trouble hiring is due to the cost and lack of reasonable housing options.  

Alex Jablon

Every day on the campaign trail, I hear from parents who want their kids to be able to move back to Newton, or elsewhere in MA, but cannot afford to. This is unacceptable. Expanding first time home buyer programs, passing the affordable homes act, enhancing zoning reforms to increase density and make it easier to build mixed use and multi family projects, increasing incentives for municipalities and developers to change zoning and build affordable housing and streamlining the 40b appeals process to reduce delays from NIMBYs that oppose a housing project are just a few ways we can do this.

Amy Sangiolo

Two recent reports suggest that the biggest decline in population leaving MA are those between the ages of 25 and 44. The Boston Indicator’s report suggests that the majority who have left between 2006 and 2022 were white and middle- or high-income. Work in specialized fields, retirement, or the search for a new home somewhere cheaper may be the causes for this trend. The Questrom School of Business’ study on outmigration agreed that the largest group leaving is individuals ages 26-34, but that most of the lost income to the State was from those aged 55-64 and more than half were higher income earners. Income tax, healthcare costs, and housing costs are the largest drivers of outmigration. Policymakers should:

1. Review MA’s income tax structure

2. Incentivize businesses to locate and stay

3. Encourage partnerships between businesses and higher education institutions, vocational schools, and technical schools to create a pipeline for job opportunities for their graduates

4. Review healthcare costs

5. Create more mixed income housing opportunities

Additional Information for Voters

For a story on young adults leaving Massachusetts for more affordable housing, see  “People are leaving Massachusetts in droves. Who are they?” Also, ‘Alarming’: One in four young people plans to leave Greater Boston in the next five years, report finds, is based on a survey conducted in late 2023 by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.