Local News
The latest UMass/WCVB survey shows financial confidence at its lowest point since tracking began in 2021.
(Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe)
Massachusetts residents are feeling the financial pinch. A new UMass Amherst/WCVB poll finds record levels of concern over personal finances, with housing, the economy, and the cost of living topping the list of worries.
The survey, conducted between Oct. 21 and Oct. 29 with 800 respondents and a 4.1% margin of error, shows growing financial strain among Massachusetts residents.
Since February, the share of people rating their own finances as “poor” has risen from 15% to 21%—the highest level since the survey began in 2021. Those describing their finances as “fair” dropped from 44% in February to 37% in October.
Only 4% of respondents said their finances were “excellent,” while 38% described them as “good.”
“In the state, people’s minds are on their money and their money is on their minds,” said Tatishe Nteta, Provost Professor of Political Science and director of UMass Polls.
The results make sense, Nteta said, due to rising grocery and utility costs, affects from tariffs, stock market volatility, and job market instability.
However, he said, the biggest issue on people’s minds is the state’s housing crisis.
According to this poll, Nteta said, Massachusetts residents want to see this problem addressed — whether it’s at the state or national level. He noted it will definitely be a central issue in the 2026 midterm elections.
“When the economy is so front and center in people’s assessments, incumbents both at the national level and at the state and local level should be on notice,” said Nteta.
Typically, when the economy is in flux, it foretells a change in leadership — as seen in the most recent elections across the country.
It was also seen during the November 2024 election that there was a swing towards the Republican Party because people were concerned about the Democratic Party’s ability to shepherd the economy and were willing to give them a chance.
But now, Nteta said, “the pendulum may have swung back to the Democratic party.”
Cellphones and state flag debates
Also on the survey was the debate over cellphones in schools.
The polling finds that an overwhelming majority of residents in this state support restrictions on cell phones in K-12 schools. That majority, Ntetda also noted, crosses political and economic spectrums.
The overwhelming support will likely give a clear sign to legislators that it is time to enact legislation on this, Nteta said.
The survey also showed that 64% of residents support keeping the state’s current flag, despite the state having rolled out finalists for a new flag and seal.
Nteta said there is a status quo bias for keeping the flag the same, showing that there needs to be a stronger argument from those who say the state flag is not an accurate reflection of the state’s history and may be offensive to Native Americans.
Although Nteta does not believe changes will come anytime soon — since the flag issue is low on most people’s priority list — he is “looking forward to seeing that debate.”
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