People are leaving Massachusetts in droves. Who are they?

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by Iced_Coffee

It's funny you posted this in a thread literally titled "People are leaving Massachusetts in droves. Who are they?"

Well that's the thing...people are leaving in droves...but there are also people coming in in droves as well!

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

I already make well into the six figures w/my full time gig and still picked up a second side gig. Thanks to the great state of MA making it almost unbearable to live a normal life unless you're rolling in dough due to the high COL.

Things have changed as far as salaries go. Sadly if you're a single person making well into the 6 figures and have another job it can still be difficult in MA. I'm not sure it's ever been 'easy' for a single person on one salary to buy a home in MA.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

Well that's the thing...people are leaving in droves...but there are also people coming in in droves as well!

It seems like the people coming here in droves are either poor migrants with nothing...or people with a ton of money to spend on a SFH. Not a good outcome for our state.

[newenglandgal123]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Things have changed as far as salaries go. Sadly if you're a single person making well into the 6 figures and have another job it can still be difficult in MA. I'm not sure it's ever been 'easy' for a single person on one salary to buy a home in MA.

I already have a home and can live comfortably here without the side gig. However, I'd like to be able to move to a new location and buy something else. Since I bought during the pandemic and have 3% rate...things are now a lot more....my housing costs will basically be tripling if/when I move due to rate increase and housing price increases! My primary employer doesn't give cost of living raises to keep up with this inflation as I'm sure not many do, hence reason I picked up a side gig to stash away some extra cash!

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by newenglandgal123

I already have a home and can live comfortably here without the side gig. However, I'd like to be able to move to a new location and buy something else. Since I bought during the pandemic and have 3% rate...things are now a lot more....my housing costs will basically be tripling if/when I move due to rate increase and housing price increases! My primary employer doesn't give cost of living raises to keep up with this inflation as I'm sure not many do, hence reason I picked up a side gig to stash away some extra cash!

Good for you!

[Southshorebound]

Originally Posted by msRB311

It seems like the people coming here in droves are either poor migrants with nothing...or people with a ton of money to spend on a SFH. Not a good outcome for our state.

Bleak future if this keeps up. I think the statistics show far more of the first category and far less of the second. We have friends who live in a small condo in the city who recently had a baby and need a bigger space - I just know they will end up leaving the state.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by Southshorebound

Bleak future if this keeps up. I think the statistics show far more of the first category and far less of the second. We have friends who live in a small condo in the city who recently had a baby and need a bigger space - I just know they will end up leaving the state.

Which is also why i dont think these multi family buildings or whatever are going to help. Most people with a family want a SFH...not a condo or an apt. I'm not saying NO ONE wants this...but the majority do. They want a yard, etc. It may be that great boston, MA is no longer a place to achieve this for many unless they are willing to make adjustments.

I also think MA and people are super snobby about towns. People will leave if they can't get into a place like Hingham, Milton or Wellesley...before going to town like Hanover, Pembroke or Braintree. A lot of this has to do with schools but theres again some snobbery there. Kids aren't going to get a bad education in most MA towns...but people seem to have it in their head that they need to get their precious offspring into an A+ rated on niche school or theyve failed at life. this way of thinking needs to change.

[MtPleasantDream]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Which is also why i dont think these multi family buildings or whatever are going to help. Most people with a family want a SFH...not a condo or an apt. I'm not saying NO ONE wants this...but the majority do. They want a yard, etc. It may be that MA is no longer a place to achieve this.

I also think MA and people are super snobby about towns. People will leave if they can't get into a place like Hingham, Milton or Wellesley...before going to town like Hanover, Pembroke or Braintree. A lot of this has to do with schools but theres again some snobbery there. Kids aren't going to get a bad education in most MA towns...but people seem to have it in their head that they need to get their precious offspring into an A+ rated on niche school or theyve failed at life. this way of thinking needs to change.

I think the new residents (immigrants and people from other parts of the country) don't perceive the same hierarchy of towns. Gradually things will change.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by MtPleasantDream

I think the new residents (immigrants and people from other parts of the country) don't perceive the same hierarchy of towns. Gradually things will change.

I'm not so sure...those people seem to be the ones who move here because of the schools. They seem obsessed with the ratings and rankings.

lower income migrants might not care.

[charolastra00]

I still haven't adjusted to the reality that I can make as much money as I do but, as a first time homebuyer hoping to buy a home large enough for two people to WFH on a hybrid basis and space for at least one child, I will feel pinched buying a 3 bed/1 bath 60s ranch in Framingham with a 2 1/2 hour round trip commute.

I never expected a McMansion, but definitely thought that I would be able to afford a decent middle class home. And yet when a 2 bed/1 bath condo down the street from me sold over asking at 750K in Waltham, it's no shock people who can leave are leaving.