Residents Cite Inequality and Tech Power as Major Concerns
Silicon Valley, CA – October 5, 2026. Concern about Silicon Valley’s future is growing: 60% of residents now say the region is on the wrong track, up from 53% last year. Many have concerns about quality of life, and 46% say they are likely to move out of the region.
These findings come from the 2026 Silicon Valley Poll, an annual survey of 1,801 adults across five Bay Area counties conducted by Joint Venture Silicon Valley in partnership with the Bay Area News Group.
Affordability tops the list of challenges: More than nine in ten residents describe housing and the cost of living as “serious problems,” while nearly half struggle to cover monthly expenses and set money aside. Among families earning less than $150,000, 83% say they have cut back on groceries or other necessities to make ends meet.
Many question whether the Silicon Valley dream is still alive. Nearly four in five (79%) say the Bay Area is becoming a place where only the wealthy can thrive, while 53% say it takes more than hard work to build a good life here. Nearly two-thirds (63%) support higher taxes on California’s wealthiest residents, one of the poll’s most politically polarizing issues.
Residents also express concern about the power of leading technology companies: 77% say they have too much power and influence, including 69% of tech employees. On AI, at least three in four residents are most concerned that it is advancing faster than it can be regulated and could cause societal disruptions.
Russell Hancock, Joint Venture President and CEO, will moderate a briefing on the poll Wednesday, October 7, at 9 AM PDT, at Santa Clara University’s Locatelli Center. Registration is $25. A limited number of media credentials are available from Melinda Chacon at .
Key findings:
- A majority of residents believe the Bay Area is on the wrong track. Forty percent of residents say the region is headed in the right direction — down from 47% last year but well above the 29% recorded in 2023. Many have concerns about quality of life. 57% of residents feel the quality of life in the Bay Area has deteriorated, and 46% say they are likely to move out of the region.
- Housing and affordability rank as the most pressing challenges. These topics dwarf all others mentioned, and are considered serious issues by 95% of residents.
- Nearly half of residents are struggling financially. Many report significant sacrifices to make ends meet: 59% have cut back on groceries; 47% have taken on debt, and 43% have skipped or delayed medical care.
- The region presents unique challenges for families — and their formation. The top reason Bay Area residents give for delaying or not having children is cost (in contrast to national surveys which surface a declining interest in children).
- Many question whether the Silicon Valley dream is still alive. Nearly four in five (79%) say the Bay Area is becoming a place where only the wealthy can thrive. A majority (53%) feel that it takes more than just hard work to build a good life here.
- Residents are highly attuned to inequality and want the wealthiest to pay more taxes. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of likely voters support higher taxes on California’s richest — at cutoffs much lower than $1 billion in wealth.
- Negativity toward the tech sector runs deep – including even among its workers. Supermajorities say tech’s leading companies have too much power, or have lost their moral compass — as do two-thirds of tech employees themselves.
- Residents are anxious about AI and what it means for the region. Nearly two-thirds (65%) believe the development of AI is moving too quickly. Residents fear the long-term impact of AI on the Bay Area will be more negative than positive, and 78% percent are concerned it will exacerbate economic inequality.
- The region is split on its own future. Only a slim majority of residents (51%) believe the region’s best days are still ahead, despite its challenges. The divide is generational: two-thirds of Gen Z (66%) and a majority of Millennials (53%) are optimistic, while majorities of older generations are not.
For more detailed insights and to explore the full results of the 2026 Silicon Valley Poll, please visit jointventure.org/svpoll.
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About Joint Venture Silicon Valley
Established in 1993, Joint Venture Silicon Valley is a platform for analysis created and supported by the major sectors (business, government, labor, academia). The analysis emanates from the organization’s research arm, the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies. For more information, visit jointventure.org.
About the Silicon Valley Poll
The Silicon Valley Poll is a public opinion survey placed in the field by Joint Venture Silicon Valley’s research arm, the Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies, in partnership with the Bay Area News Group. Polling was conducted by Embold Research, a division of Change Research, Inc. Embold surveyed 1,801 adults in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara Counties, CA. The modeled margin of error is 2.6%.
