Massachusetts has long appealed to residents for its schools, health care, and overall quality of life. But a new reader poll suggests those advantages are being strained by a stubborn reality: Living in the state is becoming too expensive for many people.
What happened?
In a Boston.com poll of 512 respondents, 66% said Massachusetts taxes or day-to-day living expenses had made them consider leaving. Another 22% said they had already moved away, while 12% said they had not thought about moving. Boston.com said the poll was informal and should be treated as an unscientific snapshot of reader opinion.
Separately, the Mass Opportunity Alliance, a pro-business nonprofit launched in 2024, surveyed 1,151 people who voted in Massachusetts in the 2024 election and later relocated to New Hampshire, Florida, or North Carolina. According to Boston.com, that survey found that housing costs and taxes were among the top reasons respondents said they left.
That same frustration appeared in reader comments. MaryAnn M. of Amesbury said, "Our taxes keep going up and keep getting increases in fees and monthly costs. The cost of living is just too high in this state."
For some readers, the key issue was the cost of staying in Massachusetts, especially when it came to housing and taxes, a concern that surfaced among both families and people approaching retirement. Deb D. of Wayland wrote, "I am here for the schools. Once my kids are out of school, I intend to move so I have less of a tax burden."
Why does it matter?
Many residents still value the services their tax dollars help support, like quality schools and health care, but some are increasingly struggling with the overall cost.
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State income taxes, property taxes, utilities, and housing prices can add up to a steep monthly burden, particularly for older homeowners and people living on fixed incomes.
Some readers said they planned to leave once their children finished school, while others said retirement became the tipping point. Mark of Naples, Florida, summed up one reason people relocate: "I left for Florida for better taxes. No property tax and lower cost of living even near the water is so much nicer."
At the same time, not everyone sees lower-tax states as a better overall deal. Wayne C. of Englewood, Florida, who said he left in 2023 and planned to return to Massachusetts, pointed to tradeoffs including higher home prices, weaker health care, extreme heat, and hurricane risk.
If high costs continue to drive out families, retirees, and business owners, the effects could extend to local communities, the housing market, and the state's economic stability.
What are people saying?
The responses showed there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Cynthia K. of Amherst said, "Massachusetts excels in a high standard of living: education, and health care, to name a few, these are worth paying more in taxes."
Several readers said they were weighing property taxes, rent, utility bills, and retirement income years before making a decision. Others were comparing nearby states such as New Hampshire with southern destinations including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida.
The comments also suggest that moving to a lower-tax state is not automatically a win. A cheaper headline tax rate can come with higher home prices, weather risks, or less access to medical care.
"I don't plan to stay here in retirement. Taxes, especially property taxes (which have doubled on my home since the start of the pandemic), are way too high to survive on a fixed income," Alex of Roxbury said.
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