The living wage thing, may be based on the cost of living, which is high in Mass.
I’m sure it’s quite difficult to buy a house in the Boston area with a $70k salary, and to get a mortgage. for example.
Years ago I looked at a website that told you how much you would have to make in any given location to have the same standard of living where you are.
I keyed in Boston and my salary would have to be close to $300k to match my salary in the ghetto where I live.
Yes, an average house in the suburbs of Boston is $700K.
So, making $70K in Boston would be like making $40K in OKC.
My son lives in Acton, MA. About 25 miles NW of Boston. He rents a bedroom in a three bedroom house for $900/month.
Here is the Realtor listing for that town:
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Acton_MA
As in many states some areas are a lot higher cost than others.
Anything within commuting distance of Boston is very expensive—while central and western MA is much more reasonable.
“One size fits all” legislation makes no sense—even in a “small” state like MA.