Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has positioned herself as a national progressive leader, particularly on issues affecting women and working families. But public data, budget outcomes, and business equity metrics suggest that symbolism has far outpaced material change.
Massachusetts remains one of the most expensive states in the country for families and working women. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the state consistently ranks in the top five nationally for housing costs, childcare expenses, and overall cost of living. Median rents have continued to rise faster than wages, and childcare costs routinely exceed $20,000 per year for a single child—placing Massachusetts among the most expensive states in the nation for early childhood care.
These conditions have not meaningfully improved during Healey’s tenure. While the administration has announced task forces, pilot programs, and incremental funding increases, the underlying economic pressures facing women—especially single mothers and caregivers—remain largely unchanged.
Workforce data underscores the imbalance. Women remain overrepresented in lower-wage sectors such as education, health care support, and service work, where wage growth has lagged inflation. Federal labor data shows that once housing, utilities, and transportation costs are factored in, real wages for many workers have stagnated or declined. For middle-class households, incremental tax credits and modest relief measures have not kept pace with rising expenses…