This survey is being conducted by GEO to collect data on what UMass Amherst Graduate students are paying in rent. Our objective is to understand how the cost of housing has changed over the past several years for our members. There will be sections for multiple years, this is to show not only how unsustainable living in the area is now, but how this has been a problem years in the making, with housing prices skyrocketing. In order to be thorough, information such as annual rent cost, gross income, and number of roommates will be collected. This survey is entirely anonymous.

If you need help locating the amount you paid in rent in a given year, you can find this information on your state tax return if you filed state taxes in Massachusetts for a given year.

On the Massachusetts state tax return, your gross annual income is at the top of the return listed as a. and b., in addition, Box 3 will once again list your gross annual income, and Box 14 will show what you declared in rent on your taxes.

The info this is collecting will go back to 2018, divided into sections. If you were not living in Western Massachusetts during a year, you do not need to (and should not) fill out the info in that section.

If you have any questions about the survey, feel free to reach out to umasscola@googlegroups.com.