A bipartisan majority of Massachusetts voters value creating more affordable housing over preserving neighborhood character or maintaining local control, according to a new poll from MassINC Polling Group.

The poll, conducted on behalf of Abundant Housing Massachusetts, surveyed 803 registered Massachusetts voters. Results showed that 71% believed protecting traditional neighborhood character to be less important than building more affordable homes. Likewise, 63% valued the creation of more affordable housing over local control regarding the type of housing constructed.

More than one in five voters expressed support for legislation that would permit more types of housing and remove barriers to new home construction. Pro-housing solutions were most popular among renters, non-white voters, parents, and voters under age 45.

“Polls have shown for a couple years that housing is a top issue facing the state as a whole. What this poll shows is that there is support for doing something about that at the local level as well,” said Richard Parr, senior research director at The MassINC Polling Group. “This survey shows that the loud opposition that often show up at local planning meetings are actually a minority. Most people, when presented with practical solutions, seem ready to say yes to more housing.”