Across Boston, Residents Agree: Build More Homes
Boston renters and homeowners overwhelmingly back policies that address housing shortage and build more homes.
The poll results may be downloaded here:
A new poll from the MassInc Polling Group, commissioned by Abundant Housing MA, found that overwhelming majorities of Boston residents want the city to take stronger action to address the housing shortage. This support cuts across surveyed demographics, including renters and owners, neighborhood, and income.
These results align with surveyed attitudes on efforts to improve housing affordability. Three-quarters of residents say the City government is doing only a fair or poor job on efforts to make Boston more affordable.
Given the desire for more action and dissatisfaction with current approaches, Boston residents showed broad support for a variety of policies that would make it easier to build more homes and increase housing choices across the city. Support for these policies was strongest among renters and younger households.
Key Findings the 2025 Poll
-
An overwhelming majority of residents say city officials need to take action in order to address this crisis – 81% overall, with 78% of owners and 84% of renters agreeing.
-
81% of residents also say they support the goal of building 30,000 more homes in Boston – broken down, it’s supported by 86% of those who rent and 77% of those who own.
-
Three-quarters of residents say city government is doing only a fair (31%) or poor (43%) job on housing affordability.
-
78% of residents support a comprehensive update of the city’s outdated zoning code. A 2023 report by nationally recognized zoning expert Sara C. Bronin found that Boston’s zoning code is “bloated, outdated, inconsistent, and inequitable,” and laid out a roadmap to reforming the code.
-
66% of residents prioritize building more housing over addressing the concerns of neighborhood associations, with 55% of owners and 78% of renters agreeing.
-
80% of residents want to join the rest of the state in allowing ADUs by right, after the Affordable Homes Act legalized ADUs in every other municipality in Massachusetts except Boston.
-
77% of city residents support allowing six-story residential buildings throughout the city, and 71% support going up to 12 stories near MBTA stops.
-
70% of residents support more flexibility in parking requirements to facilitate more housing.
Faced with some of the highest home prices in the nation, Boston residents are strongly supportive of City Hall taking meaningful action to tackle the housing shortage. Furthermore, a diverse cross section of City residents support a number of bold measures designed to build a greater variety of homes in neighborhoods throughout Boston. These findings present a clear opportunity to local leaders committed to addressing Boston’s housing shortage.
About the Poll:
Abundant Housing Massachusetts commissioned the MassInc Polling Group to conduct a poll of Boston residents assessing their views on housing related goals and policies. The survey was conducted from August 12-28 via online survey panel, text message, and live telephone interviews in English and Spanish. The results are based on responses from 550 Boston residents and the credibility interval for this sample is +/- 4.7 percentage points.
