Boston's too expensive, so "alarming" number of young adults plan to leave, survey says
BOSTON – A new survey shows a large number of young people are planning to move out of the Greater Boston area.
"I am paying a lot of money. It's really hard to find places," Christine Koehler, of Chinatown, said.
25% plan to leave Boston area
According to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation, 25% of people ages 20 to 30 years old intend to move somewhere else over the next five years. The survey shows high rent costs, the ability to buy a home and career prospects all play a role.
"Certainly, the housing and cost to rent - that screamed at you as you read the survey results. Not surprisingly, tansportation issues," President and CEO of Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Jim Rooney said.
A total of 823 people took the survey. And while a majority say they are satisfied with their day-to-day lives in Greater Boston, 25% say they don't plan to stay here long term because they are still struggling to afford it.
Nico George just moved to Boston with his girlfriend. Their rent is $3,000 a month. "It's tough though financially. I want to go to medical school, so it depends on where I go for that," he said.
Maddie Hall is a travel nurse who pays $2,200 a month with a roommate. Right now she's lives in a Southie residence that took her three months to find. She says she does not intend to stay in Boston. "Probably just a few years. Then, I have to move out."
Why are they leaving?
The chamber says young people are prioritizing mental health and personal relationships more than their careers.
The foundation said in order to ensure young people want and choose to remain in greater Boston, public officials must address important issues, including available jobs, home ownership and rent costs.
"This survey says that it's very important to maintaining and keeping young people in Greater Boston, which, by the way, is our competitive advantage We can't lose people at a high rate," Rooney said.
Twenty-seven-year-old Koehler, who lives in Chinatown, said she pays $1,900 a month. "Needless to say, I am moving." Koehler said a healthy work-life balance is hard to maintain. "It's just too expensive to have a social life, and it's too bad because it's a great city."