Some homeowners are going without insurance but choosing to stay put

More than 1 in 5 California homeowners have dropped their home insurance because their policies were canceled or premiums have become unaffordable.

Yet despite a greater financial risk from wildfire and other threats, more than 9 in 10 of these uninsured households would rather stay in their communities than relocate.

This snapshot of the state's high insurance burden is one of many findings from the inaugural UCLA Luskin California Poll, which measures residents' viewpoints on some of the most pressing issues of our time.

Directed by UCLA Luskin scholar Martin Gilens, the 2025 poll also took the temperature of Californians on issues including household financial stability, efforts to lower the voting age, air conditioning access at home and in schools, and concerns about climate change.

"Policymakers need a clear understanding of the challenges Californians face," said Gilens, a professor of public policy, political science and social welfare. "The UCLA Luskin California Poll supports more effective policymaking by systematically documenting Californians' lived experiences with the urgent economic, environmental and political issues of our times."

Here are some insights from the poll of 2,419 adults in the state, conducted in English and Spanish from March 5 to May 25, 2025:

• Financial well-being: One section of the poll set out to identify residents' economic vulnerabilities using metrics that are more expansive than mere income level. For example, 22% of respondents reported that, faced with an emergency, they would not be able to come up with $2,000 in 30 days. The poll also showed frequent use of financial services outside of mainstream banking, including payday loans (used by 31% of respondents), auto title loans (25%), and pawn shops (22%). Read the policy brief.

• Ballot access: With growing interest in lowering the voting age in the U.S. and internationally, the survey set out to understand the level of support among Californians from different regions and demographic groups. For national elections, about 60% opposed lowering the age to 16 or 17. For school board and local elections, respondents were more evenly split, with about 52% in opposition. Age was a strong determinant of public opinion, with people age 18 to 34 showing robust support while those 55 and older were strongly opposed. Read the policy brief.

• Access to air conditioning: With temperatures rising across the state, access to cooling relief from air conditioning is a public safety issue. While nearly 85% of respondents reported having access to air conditioning in at least part of their homes, almost half said they have at times chosen not to use it due to cost. For those with a child enrolled in a K-12 school, 56% indicated that they have kept their student home due to concerns that the indoor temperatures at school are too hot. Read the policy brief.

• Climate hazards: California has unusually high exposure to climate change hazards, which contribute directly and indirectly to economic losses, social dislocation, illnesses and injuries, and premature death. The poll found that respondents' No. 1 climate-driven concern is wildfire, followed by heat and drought. Flooding and sea level rise were named by less than 10% of respondents. The poll also found mixed attitudes on whether preparing for different hazards is a matter of personal responsibility or government action. Read the policy brief.

• Homeowners insurance: The poll section on Californians' ability to insure their homes highlighted rising costs over the past three years. Homeowners whose policies have been canceled or who cannot afford the expense of insurance are acutely vulnerable to future financial risks from environmental hazards. Read the policy brief.