What does this second languages ranking show?

It orders states by Share who speak a language other than English at home. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Place

Lowest second languages by state

Share who speak a language other than English at home.

This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.

Residents aged five and over who speak a language other than English at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English — most also speak it well, and the Census publishes that separately. Published as the English-only share; this is its complement.

How to read this ranking

West Virginia has the lowest published second languages in this comparison, at 2.5%. The next states shown are Montana (4.2%) and Mississippi (4.3%).

The table orders 51 states by share who speak a language other than english at home. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Residents aged five and over who speak a language other than English at home. It says nothing about how well they speak English — most also speak it well, and the Census publishes that separately. Published as the English-only share; this is its complement.

1West Virginia2.5%
2Montana4.2%
3Mississippi4.3%
4Vermont5.5%
5Alabama6.1%
6Maine6.1%
7Missouri6.7%
8North Dakota6.7%
9Kentucky6.8%
10Wyoming6.8%
11South Dakota7.1%
12New Hampshire8.0%
13Ohio8.0%
14Arkansas8.3%
15South Carolina8.4%
16Louisiana8.5%
17Tennessee8.7%
18Wisconsin9.1%
19Iowa9.2%
20Indiana10.4%
21Michigan10.4%
22Idaho11.0%
23Oklahoma11.5%
24Kansas12.2%
25Pennsylvania12.4%
26Minnesota12.5%
27Nebraska12.8%
28North Carolina13.5%
29Alaska15.1%
30Delaware15.1%
31Oregon15.3%
32Georgia15.5%
33Utah15.9%
34Colorado16.2%
35Virginia17.5%
36District of Columbia19.1%
37Maryland21.1%
38Washington21.5%
39Rhode Island23.2%
40Connecticut23.4%
41Illinois24.1%
42Hawaii24.7%
43Massachusetts25.1%
44Arizona25.8%
45Nevada29.5%
46Florida30.7%
47New York30.9%
48New Mexico31.4%
49New Jersey33.2%
50Texas35.2%
51California44.4%

Related place rankings

Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Share who speak a language other than English at home. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau. · How this is built

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