Survey Methodology
The survey of Nantucket residents conducted by Emerson College Polling and commissioned by ACKNow has a sample size of n=250. The credibility interval, similar to a poll’s margin of error, for the sample is +/- 6.1% at the 95% confidence level. Survey results should be understood within the poll’s range of scores, and know with a confidence interval of 95% a poll will fall outside the range of scores 1 in 20 times. It is important to remember that subsets based on demographics, such as gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity, carry with them higher credibility intervals, as the sample size is reduced.
The survey was administered utilizing a mixed-mode methodology, consisting of contacting residents’ cell phones via MMS-to-web and email, along with an online panel provided by CINT. Data was collected between July 31-August 1, 2024.
Survey Results
A majority of Nantucket residents (70%) think short-term rentals should be restricted in some way on Nantucket. A quarter (25%) think they should not be restricted.
- Younger Nantucket residents are more likely to think short-term rentals should be restricted:
- 18-39: 90% believe they should be restricted, 8% think they should not.
- 40-49: 69% restricted, 25% not restricted
- 50-59: 35% restricted, 62% not restricted
- 60-69: 64% restricted, 25% not restricted
- 70+: 75% restricted, 18% not restricted
- As the level of household income increases, the number of people who think short-term rentals should be unrestricted increases:
- $25,000 to $74,999: 90% restricted, 9% not restricted
- $75,000-$149,999: 79% restricted, 18% not restricted
- Over $150,000: 53% restricted, 40% not restricted
- There is a slight gender split:
- Male: 68% restricted, 30% not restricted
- Female: 77% restricted, 18% not restricted
- By likelihood to attend the Special Town Meeting on September 17, 2024:
- Absolutely certain: 74% restricted, 23% unrestricted
- Probably will attend: 80% restricted, 17% unrestricted
- Chances are 50-50: 65% restricted, 24% unrestricted
- Not likely to at all: 67% restricted, 28% unrestricted
- By people who short-term rent:
- Renters: 76% restricted, 24% not restricted
- Non-renters: 69% restricted, 25% unrestricted
A majority of residents (87%) do not short-term rent their home on Nantucket; 13% do. Eighty-two percent live in their home more than they rent it; 18% rent more than they live in it.
- 80% of Nantucket renters are “absolutely certain” (46%) or “will probably attend” (34%) the Special Town Meeting in September
- Income and renting:
- $75,000-$149,999: 20% renting out their home, 80% not renting
- Over $150,000: 9% renting out their home, 91% not renting
Ninety-two percent believe that Nantucket homeowners have a right to rent their home; 6% do not think they have a right to rent their home.
- By likelihood to attend Special Town Meeting:
- Absolutely certain: 81% believe in a right to rent, 18% do not believe in a right to rent
- Probably will attend: 93% believe in right to rent
- Chances are 50-50: 96% believe in right to rent
- Not likely to at all: 98% believe in right to rent
Around 4 in 5 Nantucket residents (81%) do not believe that investors should have the right to run unrestricted short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods. Sixteen percent think they should have the right.
- By age:
- 18-39: 10% support the right to run unrestricted rentals, 87% do not support
- 40-49: 19% support, 79% do not support
- 50-59: 39% support, 59% do not support
- 60-69: 8% support, 91% do not support
- 70+: 4% support, 90% do not support
- By race:
- Hispanic or Latino: 38% support, 63% do not support
- White: 14% support, 82% do not support
- Black: 9% support, 88% do not support
Over half (54%) are bothered or know someone who is bothered by an investor short-term rental in the neighborhood.
- Among those with a household income of $25,000-$74,999, 68% know someone bothered by an investor short-term rental in the neighborhood, compared to 64% of those with a household income of $75,000-$149,000, and 40% of those with household incomes over $150,000.
One in two Nantucket residents (51%) are aware that more than 80% of investor STRs are owned by off-islanders. Forty-one percent were not aware.
A majority of Nantucket residents (83%) think there is a housing crisis on Nantucket; 14% do not and 3% are unsure.
- 95% of women think there is a housing crisis on Nantucket, compared to 74% of men who say the same.
Eighty-three percent know someone looking for housing on Nantucket, while 16% do not.
Thirty-nine percent of residents are not aware that the occupancy of a short-term rental is five more people than a year-round or seasonal home, whereas 36% are aware.
- Awareness of the higher occupancy for short-term rentals varies by age, and is lower among older residents:
- 18-39: 48% aware, 39% unaware, 13% don’t know
- 40-49: 40% aware, 41% unaware, 20% don’t know
- 50-59: 34% aware, 32% unaware, 35% don’t know
- 60-69: 18% aware, 38% unaware, 44% don’t know
- 70 or older: 23% aware, 47% unaware, 30% don’t know
A majority of residents think that short-term rentals stress Nantucket’s infrastructure (64%), environment (63%) and public services (60%). Twenty-four percent do not think that they stress the island’s infrastructure, environment, or public services.
- Belief that short-term rentals stress infrastructure varies by household income:
- $25,000-$74,999: 87% yes, they stress infrastructure, 8% no
- $75,000-$149,999: 69% yes, 20% no
- $150,000 or more: 48% yes, 37% no
- Belief that short-term rentals stress the environment varies by race:
- Hispanic or Latino: 69% yes, they stress the environment, 31% no
- White: 61% yes, 24% no
- Black: 90% yes, 5% no
- Belief that short-term rentals stress public services varies by educational attainment:
- High school or less: 29% yes, they stress public services, 57% no
- Vocational or technical school: 77% yes, 5% no
- Associate’s degree or some college: 72% yes, 16% no
- College degree: 66% yes, 18% no
- Graduate or postgraduate degree: 54% yes, 29% no
A majority of residents (57%) think short-term rentals generate more trash than homes; 27% do not.
- Belief that short-term rentals generate more trash than homes varies by educational attainment.
- High school or less: 27% yes, they generate more trash, 59% no
- Vocational or technical school: 56% yes, 35% no
- Associate’s degree or some college: 57% yes, 24% no
- College degree: 74% yes, 18% no
- Graduate or postgraduate degree: 47% yes, 21% no
Fifty-eight percent of residents believe rental cars hired by short-term rental guests contribute to Nantucket’s traffic crisis, while 34% do not. Nine percent are unsure.
- 66% of men think rental cars hired by short-term rental guests contribute to Nantucket’s traffic crisis, compared to 50% of women.
Seven in ten Nantucket residents (70%) think short-term rentals have taken away long-term housing from locals, compared to 23% of residents who do not.
- The belief that short-term rentals have taken away long-term housing from locals varies by age
- 18-39: 91% yes, short-term rentals have taken away long-term housing, 7% no
- 40-49: 61% yes, 35% no
- 50-59: 50% yes, 48% no
- 60-69: 52% yes, 24% no
- 70+: 71% yes, 16% no
- By income level:
- $25,000 to $74,999: 87% yes, 10% no
- $75,000-$149,999: 78% yes, 18% no
- Over $150,000: 56% yes, 35% no
More than half (55%) of residents think that people who are in the business of serving short-term rental investors should recuse themselves from matters concerning possible restrictions to short-term rentals. Twenty-nine percent do not think so and 16% are unsure.
- By people who short-term rent:
- Renters: 62% yes, 35% no, 2% unsure
- Non-renters: 54% yes, 28% no, 18% unsure
Favorability:
- Nantucket Select Board: 23% favorable, 51% unfavorable, 26% neither/unsure
- Nantucket Zoning Board of Appeals: 23% favorable, 34% unfavorable, 43% neither/unsure
- Massachusetts Land Court: 32% favorable, 14% unfavorable, 54% neither/unsure
- ACKNow: 34% favorable, 20% unfavorable, 46% neither/unsure
- Short-Term Rental Working Group: 21% favorable, 36% unfavorable, 43% neither/unsure
Fourteen percent of Nantucket residents believe that the island’s current economic conditions are excellent; 34% think they are good, 29% think they are fair, and 16% think they are poor.
Thirty percent of residents are absolutely certain that they will attend the Special Town Meeting on September 17th; 13% say they probably will attend, 21% say the chances are 50-50, 29% are not likely to attend at all, and 7% don’t know.
Thirty-eight percent of residents attend every or most Town Meetings, while 22% attend occasionally and 10% only attend when there are issues that affect them.
