Readers Say

Taxes topped the list of concerns as Boston.com readers shared how the high cost of living is affecting them.

By Annie Jonas

May 14, 2026 | 2:25 PM

3 minutes to read

• ...

Send this article to your social connections.

A large portion of Massachusetts residents say their quality of life is declining, a MassINC poll found – and Boston.com readers say they are feeling the pinch.

Of the 854 Massachusetts residents MassINC polled, 42% reported being worse off financially than one year ago, the organization said in a news release. Over half of respondents said housing is unaffordable, according to the poll. Many residents also cite healthcare, higher education, child care, and taxes as some of their biggest economic concerns. 

Only 27% expect their finances to improve in the coming year. Respondents estimated that being middle class would require a household income of between $97,000 and $112,000 just to be maintained.

Massachusetts has the highest threshold to break out of the middle class in the country, according to a recent study by financial technology company SmartAsset. A household in Massachusetts needed income between $69,885 and $209,656 to be considered middle class, the study found.

When we asked Boston.com readers for their biggest financial challenges, we heard from 70 respondents. Among the chief complaints were taxes that overwhelm budgets, housing that has become increasingly unaffordable, and healthcare costs that have skyrocketed.

“Quality of life isn’t slipping – it’s plummeting,” reader Gwen G. from Brookline said.

Below, readers share their biggest financial challenges.

Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.

What’s the biggest financial challenge for you right now?

Taxes

“Wages aren’t keeping up with tax increases. Property tax is unrealistic and not affordable. Cities and towns need to figure out how to properly manage money.” — Rich, Haverhill

“Property taxes are out of control. I bought a house in 2014 and the tax on it is nearly triple, approaching 2K a month to live in ‘my’ house.” — Al, Belmont

“Property taxes are getting out of control, even more so than the relatively high levels compared to other states in New England and across the country.” — Tim S., Acton

“Everyday things in Massachusetts are so expensive and that’s just the start of the problem. Everywhere I turn there’s another tax, fee, surcharge that is bleeding us dry. And to top it off, our state leaders who are supposed to be running things here either a.) do nothing to help, b.) do something that makes it worse, or c.) lie to our faces to try and distract us from reality. I have had enough and I am finally leaving. My friends in other states (you can guess which ones) don’t live like this. We don’t have to either.” — Mike, Framingham

“I’ve owned my home for 28 years. The past 4 years, my property taxes have exploded with another prop 2 and a half threatening a minimum $800 more a year per home … Time to freshen my home up and sell for a lower cost state.” — Heather, Lunenburg

Housing

“[Housing] is by far my biggest expense. And rents are outrageously high, while the cost to buy here in Boston is unattainably high even on my six-figure income.” — Jeff G., Boston

“Because housing is a forever cost. Child care ends eventually. College ends eventually. Vacations, clothes, car ownership, transportation, and going out are all optional. Groceries are forever but they don’t and won’t cost as much as a home.” — Nick, Newton

Groceries

“The cost of groceries is just ridiculous. I can’t believe how much a pound of butter or a dozen eggs costs these days. We aren’t as bad off as some families, but it’s still a shock to see the total from a big grocery trip.” — Z.M., Salem

Public transportation

“The commute into and out of Boston  is insane now. Either the roads are bumper to bumper or the train is slow or late. The state needs to invest in every modality option possible.” — Dave S., Cambridge

Utilities

“It’s sickening the way the middle class are being fleeced by the state.” — Juan, Dorchester

“Have you looked at your electricity bills?” — Gus

Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.