The University of Massachusetts Amherst

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Research

UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll Gauges Views on Numerous Issues Facing Bay State Residents

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The UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll published a series of findings from its recent survey of 700 Massachusetts residents, which gauged their views on issues ranging from Gov. Maura Healey’s job performance to the statewide housing crisis.

 

 Among the findings of the survey conducted May 17-30 were:

  • 54% approve of the job that Healey has done, only a 4-percentage point decline from last October and a 3-percentage point dip from April 2023.
     
  • 6 in 10 respondents indicate that Healey has handled the issue of housing in the commonwealth ‘not too well’ (31%) or ‘not well at all’ (29%)
     
  • Massachusetts residents view the housing crisis as the most important issue currently facing the Bay State, with 75% of those who tried to buy a new home and 83% who tried to rent a new home in the past year saying that they encountered challenges during the process.
     
  • More than one-third (37%) of Massachusetts residents – and almost 40% of those 18-29 – have considered leaving the state during the last year.
     
  • 53% say the state economy is good or excellent, about the same as last year, while the percentage of residents saying the national economy is good or excellent went up by 10 percentage points, from 27% to 37%.
     
  • More than 6 in 10 Massachusetts residents continue to support the “right to shelter” law, though respondents support limiting the capacity of the state shelter system and the maximum time during which individuals can reside in them.
     
  • Those saying Congressional Republicans are responsible for the deadlock on immigration have increased from 24% to 29% since the UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll surveyed the issue last October, while those blaming President Joe Biden have decreased from 29% to 27%.
     
  • 64% of respondents indicate that they would vote ‘yes’ to give the state auditor the authority to audit the Massachusetts State Legislature.
     
  • Roughly one-third of the poll’s respondents, 32%, support the protests on college campuses against Israel’s retaliation in Gaza for Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks, while 35% oppose them and 32% did not take any position.

Full details about the findings of the latest UMass Amherst/WCVB Poll can be found in the stories below. For complete topline results and crosstabs for the poll, as well as previous state and national polling results, visit www.umass.edu/poll.

maura healey

The governor sees a slight decrease in support since October, while the poll also finds comprehensive, bipartisan support for a ballot measure giving the auditor the authority to audit the Massachusetts State Legislature.

The belongings of a homeless person on a sidewalk. Credit: Getty Images

The new poll also finds tepid support for pro-Palestinian protests that have taken place on college campuses and the causes for which the protestors have lobbied.

Typical townhouses in the historic Charlestown district of Boston Massachusetts. Credit: Getty Images

The poll finds that 75% of those who tried to buy a new home and 83% who tried to rent a new home in the past year encountered issues.