A Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce survey of 600 residents aged 20–30 found that 26% expect to leave greater Boston within five years, largely due to high rent and safety concerns. Respondents prioritized affordable housing, access to health care, quality jobs and public safety. The chamber noted similar results in a 2023 poll, and the report situates Boston’s trends alongside population declines in cities such as New York and San Francisco. Broader data point to migration toward lower-cost, tax-friendlier states like Texas, Florida and the Carolinas.
Survey: 1-in-4 Young Adults Say High Rent and Safety Concerns Could Drive Them Out of Greater Boston
New York City lost more residents than those that moved in last year, according to a new study from the Citizens’ Budget Commission released Monday.(Getty Images)
A recent poll from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce suggests a significant share of young adults are weighing a move away from the Boston region, citing high housing costs and concerns about safety.
The chamber, which says it represents the collective voice of the business community, surveyed 600 residents aged 20–30 across Plymouth, Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties. The online poll was conducted between Feb. 27 and March 20.
Key Finding: 26% of respondents said they are likely to leave greater Boston within the next five years. Among those planning to relocate, most reported they are targeting states in the Southwest and Southeast as potential destinations.
South Carolina is the fastest-growing state in the nation, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The chamber noted the result echoes a similar survey it ran three years earlier: "Just like in 2023, about a quarter of young residents are planning to leave Massachusetts," the report said. Respondents ranked affordable housing, access to health care, availability of quality jobs and concerns about crime and public safety as their top priorities.
Wider Urban Migration Trends
The chamber’s findings are presented alongside broader population shifts reported in several large U.S. cities. For example, the Citizens’ Budget Commission reported an overall population decline in New York City in 2025, linking the drop to reduced inbound and international migration. San Francisco and Los Angeles have also reported population declines compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to local reporting and demographic analyses.
Those trends are part of a larger movement away from some high-cost, higher-tax states toward lower-cost, more tax-friendly regions. The U.S. Census Bureau recently identified South Carolina as the fastest-growing state, and analyses of IRS filings (most recently compiled by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation using 2022 data) show continued migration toward states such as Texas, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
What This Means For Boston
Local leaders, employers and policymakers may see the chamber’s results as a signal to prioritize affordable housing, improve public-safety perceptions, expand health-care access and support quality job creation if they want to retain younger residents. While one survey does not predict long-term population trends, it highlights the issues that matter most to young adults weighing whether to stay in the region.
Methodology: The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce polled 600 people aged 20–30 living in five surrounding counties between Feb. 27 and March 20.
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