Demographics and Diversity
Language Diversity

Increasing


Language Diversity

What does this measure?

The share of people 5 and older in a geographic area who speak a language other than English at home. This includes both people who speak English well and those who do not.

Why is this important?

Language diversity can indicate a growing bilingual or multilingual population, and it may also indicate a need for language instruction or bilingual services and communication.

How is our region doing?

In 2018-22, 25% of MetroWest residents spoke a language other than English at home, up from 22% in 2008-12. This is on par with the state rate (25%), which increased 3 percentage points since 2008-12, and slightly higher than the national rate (22%), up 1 point.

Framingham, at 42%, has the most language diversity, followed by Lexington and Marlborough, both at 39%, Milford at 35%, and Westborough both at 34%. The four localities' rates increased by 7, 12, 10 and 6 points, respectively, since 2008-12.

Notes about the data

The multiyear figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined 5 years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Language Diversity
2008-122013-172018-22
United States21%21%22%
Massachusetts22%23%25%
Region22%23%25%
Middlesex County25%26%28%
Norfolk County19%21%23%
Worcester County18%19%21%
Acton town, Middlesex County26%29%33%
Ashland town, Middlesex County20%24%27%
Bedford town, Middlesex County17%20%25%
Bellingham town, Norfolk County9%*10%*11%*
Boxborough town, Middlesex County23%*24%25%*
Carlisle town, Middlesex County15%*18%*12%*
Concord town, Middlesex County11%14%15%
Dedham town, Norfolk County16%19%17%
Dover town, Norfolk County10%*17%*17%*
Framingham city, Middlesex County35%38%42%
Franklin town, Norfolk County10%10%11%*
Groton town, Middlesex County5%**6%*9%*
Harvard town, Worcester County13%*11%*19%**
Holliston town, Middlesex County9%*10%*13%*
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County8%*9%20%
Hudson town, Middlesex County20%25%23%
Lexington town, Middlesex County27%31%39%
Lincoln town, Middlesex County10%*19%*12%*
Littleton town, Middlesex County11%*8%*8%*
Marlborough city, Middlesex County27%33%39%
Maynard town, Middlesex County11%**12%**10%*
Medfield town, Norfolk County10%*11%*10%*
Medway town, Norfolk County11%*7%*9%*
Milford town, Worcester County25%27%35%
Millis town, Norfolk County12%**13%*10%**
Natick town, Middlesex County15%20%22%
Needham town, Norfolk County16%17%19%
Sherborn town, Middlesex County12%*9%**15%*
Southborough town, Worcester County16%16%*22%
Stow town, Middlesex County7%**7%**11%**
Sudbury town, Middlesex County13%14%13%*
Walpole town, Norfolk County11%11%14%
Waltham city, Middlesex County34%34%32%
Wayland town, Middlesex County14%18%18%
Wellesley town, Norfolk County17%20%19%
Westborough town, Worcester County28%28%34%
Westford town, Middlesex County14%17%24%
Weston town, Middlesex County20%*20%24%
Westwood town, Norfolk County12%16%16%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Number of People who Speak a Language Other Than English at Home
2008-122013-172018-22
United States59,384,76364,221,19367,860,565
Massachusetts1,344,8711,485,4971,627,903
Region604,816670,197755,728
Middlesex County351,610388,589427,024
Norfolk County119,351137,382155,782
Worcester County133,855144,226172,922
Acton town, Middlesex County5,3286,4347,542
Ashland town, Middlesex County3,1103,8604,848
Bedford town, Middlesex County2,1202,6463,397
Bellingham town, Norfolk County1,339*1,542*1,780*
Boxborough town, Middlesex County1,133*1,2981,312*
Carlisle town, Middlesex County720*905*613*
Concord town, Middlesex County1,9502,5032,593
Dedham town, Norfolk County3,8024,4054,126
Dover town, Norfolk County550*978*929*
Framingham city, Middlesex County22,36825,54828,130
Franklin town, Norfolk County2,8893,1083,327*
Groton town, Middlesex County530**648*949*
Harvard town, Worcester County842*683*1,197**
Holliston town, Middlesex County1,102*1,338*1,838*
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County1,094*1,4183,598
Hudson town, Middlesex County3,5704,6614,405
Lexington town, Middlesex County8,1919,86712,794
Lincoln town, Middlesex County610*1,192*757*
Littleton town, Middlesex County923*774*761*
Marlborough city, Middlesex County9,78512,07314,834
Maynard town, Middlesex County1,063**1,189**974*
Medfield town, Norfolk County1,119*1,287*1,227*
Medway town, Norfolk County1,263*915*1,099*
Milford town, Worcester County6,5977,2119,747
Millis town, Norfolk County914**987*797**
Natick town, Middlesex County4,6016,8157,831
Needham town, Norfolk County4,2984,7755,716
Sherborn town, Middlesex County482*378**625*
Southborough town, Worcester County1,4661,534*2,170
Stow town, Middlesex County418**454**715**
Sudbury town, Middlesex County2,0892,5342,224*
Walpole town, Norfolk County2,6302,6963,366
Waltham city, Middlesex County19,69920,42719,370
Wayland town, Middlesex County1,7392,3122,398
Wellesley town, Norfolk County4,5395,3895,442
Westborough town, Worcester County4,7884,9876,803
Westford town, Middlesex County2,9233,9805,655
Weston town, Middlesex County2,155*2,2732,718
Westwood town, Norfolk County1,5852,4622,476

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Decreasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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