Data / Rankings / Population speaking a language other than English at home / Cities in Massachusetts

Cities in Massachusetts by population speaking a language other than English at home

Lawrence, MA had the highest population speaking a language other than English at home of 54 cities in 2023, at 78.5%. Palmer Town, MA had the lowest, at 4.9%. The median was 26.6% and the figure for Massachusetts was 24.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest78.5Lawrence, MA
Lowest4.9Palmer Town, MA
Median26.654 cities
Massachusetts24.8History

All cities, 2023

Lawrence, MA: 78.5 %Lawrence, MA78.5Chelsea, MA: 70.4 %Chelsea, MA70.4Everett, MA: 62.9 %Everett, MA62.9Revere, MA: 56.6 %Revere, MA56.6Lynn, MA: 51.3 %Lynn, MA51.3Malden, MA: 49.1 %Malden, MA49.1Brockton, MA: 46.4 %Brockton, MA46.4Randolph Town, MA: 45.3 %Randolph Town, MA45.3Framingham, MA: 43.9 %Framingham, MA43.9Holyoke, MA: 42.3 %Holyoke, MA42.3Lowell, MA: 42.1 %Lowell, MA42.1Marlborough, MA: 40.3 %Marlborough, MA40.3Springfield, MA: 39.7 %Springfield, MA39.7Worcester, MA: 38.9 %Worcester, MA38.9Fall River, MA: 38.6 %Fall River, MA38.6Quincy, MA: 38.3 %Quincy, MA38.3New Bedford, MA: 37.6 %New Bedford, MA37.6Boston, MA: 35.2 %Boston, MA35.2Southbridge Town, MA: 35.1 %Southbridge Town, MA35.1Cambridge, MA: 34.2 %Cambridge, MA34.2Waltham, MA: 33.5 %Waltham, MA33.5Winthrop Town, MA: 30.2 %Winthrop Town, MA30.2Medford, MA: 30 %Medford, MA30Somerville, MA: 28.8 %Somerville, MA28.8Fitchburg, MA: 28.6 %Fitchburg, MA28.6Newton, MA: 27.5 %Newton, MA27.5West Springfield Town, MA: 27.4 %West Springfield Town, MA27.4Braintree Town, MA: 25.8 %Braintree Town, MA25.8Haverhill, MA: 25.5 %Haverhill, MA25.5Leominster, MA: 24.4 %Leominster, MA24.4Chicopee, MA: 24.2 %Chicopee, MA24.2Woburn, MA: 23.9 %Woburn, MA23.9Peabody, MA: 23.8 %Peabody, MA23.8Salem, MA: 22.6 %Salem, MA22.6Amherst Town, MA: 22 %Amherst Town, MA22Taunton, MA: 21.7 %Taunton, MA21.7Melrose, MA: 21.2 %Melrose, MA21.2Barnstable Town, MA: 19.9 %Barnstable Town, MA19.9Attleboro, MA: 17.6 %Attleboro, MA17.6Westfield, MA: 16.1 %Westfield, MA16.1Weymouth Town, MA: 14.6 %Weymouth Town, MA14.6Gardner, MA: 13.7 %Gardner, MA13.7Northampton, MA: 13.3 %Northampton, MA13.3Agawam Town, MA: 12.7 %Agawam Town, MA12.7Beverly, MA: 11.9 %Beverly, MA11.9Franklin Town, MA: 11.8 %Franklin Town, MA11.8Gloucester, MA: 11.6 %Gloucester, MA11.6North Attleborough Town, MA: 10.4 %North Attleborough Town, MA10.4Bridgewater Town, MA: 10.3 %Bridgewater Town, MA10.3Pittsfield, MA: 10.2 %Pittsfield, MA10.2Greenfield, MA: 8.4 %Greenfield, MA8.4Newburyport, MA: 6.7 %Newburyport, MA6.7North Adams, MA: 6.1 %North Adams, MA6.1Palmer Town, MA: 4.9 %Palmer Town, MA4.9Lawrence, MA: 78.5 %Lawrence, MA78.5Chelsea, MA: 70.4 %Chelsea, MA70.4Everett, MA: 62.9 %Everett, MA62.9Revere, MA: 56.6 %Revere, MA56.6Lynn, MA: 51.3 %Lynn, MA51.3Malden, MA: 49.1 %Malden, MA49.1Brockton, MA: 46.4 %Brockton, MA46.4Randolph Town, MA: 45.3 %Randolph Town, MA45.3Framingham, MA: 43.9 %Framingham, MA43.9Holyoke, MA: 42.3 %Holyoke, MA42.3Lowell, MA: 42.1 %Lowell, MA42.1Marlborough, MA: 40.3 %Marlborough, MA40.3Springfield, MA: 39.7 %Springfield, MA39.7Worcester, MA: 38.9 %Worcester, MA38.9Fall River, MA: 38.6 %Fall River, MA38.6Quincy, MA: 38.3 %Quincy, MA38.3New Bedford, MA: 37.6 %New Bedford, MA37.6Boston, MA: 35.2 %Boston, MA35.2Southbridge Town, MA: 35.1 %Southbridge Town, MA35.1Cambridge, MA: 34.2 %Cambridge, MA34.2Waltham, MA: 33.5 %Waltham, MA33.5Winthrop Town, MA: 30.2 %Winthrop Town, MA30.2Medford, MA: 30 %Medford, MA30Somerville, MA: 28.8 %Somerville, MA28.8Fitchburg, MA: 28.6 %Fitchburg, MA28.6Newton, MA: 27.5 %Newton, MA27.5West Springfield Town, MA: 27.4 %West Springfield Town, MA27.4Braintree Town, MA: 25.8 %Braintree Town, MA25.8Haverhill, MA: 25.5 %Haverhill, MA25.5Leominster, MA: 24.4 %Leominster, MA24.4Chicopee, MA: 24.2 %Chicopee, MA24.2Woburn, MA: 23.9 %Woburn, MA23.9Peabody, MA: 23.8 %Peabody, MA23.8Salem, MA: 22.6 %Salem, MA22.6Amherst Town, MA: 22 %Amherst Town, MA22Taunton, MA: 21.7 %Taunton, MA21.7Melrose, MA: 21.2 %Melrose, MA21.2Barnstable Town, MA: 19.9 %Barnstable Town, MA19.9Attleboro, MA: 17.6 %Attleboro, MA17.6Westfield, MA: 16.1 %Westfield, MA16.1Weymouth Town, MA: 14.6 %Weymouth Town, MA14.6Gardner, MA: 13.7 %Gardner, MA13.7Northampton, MA: 13.3 %Northampton, MA13.3Agawam Town, MA: 12.7 %Agawam Town, MA12.7Beverly, MA: 11.9 %Beverly, MA11.9Franklin Town, MA: 11.8 %Franklin Town, MA11.8Gloucester, MA: 11.6 %Gloucester, MA11.6North Attleborough Town, MA: 10.4 %North Attleborough Town, MA10.4Bridgewater Town, MA: 10.3 %Bridgewater Town, MA10.3Pittsfield, MA: 10.2 %Pittsfield, MA10.2Greenfield, MA: 8.4 %Greenfield, MA8.4Newburyport, MA: 6.7 %Newburyport, MA6.7North Adams, MA: 6.1 %North Adams, MA6.1Palmer Town, MA: 4.9 %Palmer Town, MA4.9
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Lawrence, MA78.5+0.6 pts
2Chelsea, MA70.4-0.6 pts
3Everett, MA62.9+1.3 pts
4Revere, MA56.6-1.1 pts
5Lynn, MA51.3-1 pts
6Malden, MA49.1-0.9 pts
7Brockton, MA46.4+0.4 pts
8Randolph Town, MA45.3+1.4 pts
9Framingham, MA43.9+2.3 pts
10Holyoke, MA42.3-0.4 pts
11Lowell, MA42.1+0.8 pts
12Marlborough, MA40.3+1.6 pts
13Springfield, MA39.7-1.5 pts
14Worcester, MA38.9+0.5 pts
15Fall River, MA38.6+0.6 pts
16Quincy, MA38.30 pts
17New Bedford, MA37.6-0.3 pts
18Boston, MA35.2-0.8 pts
19Southbridge Town, MA35.1+1.2 pts
20Cambridge, MA34.2-0.3 pts
21Waltham, MA33.5+2 pts
22Winthrop Town, MA30.2+1.1 pts
23Medford, MA30+0.6 pts
24Somerville, MA28.8+0.8 pts
25Fitchburg, MA28.6-0.1 pts
26Newton, MA27.5+2.2 pts
27West Springfield Town, MA27.4+1.3 pts
28Braintree Town, MA25.8+0.4 pts
29Haverhill, MA25.5+1.8 pts
30Leominster, MA24.4+2.8 pts
31Chicopee, MA24.2+0.8 pts
32Woburn, MA23.90 pts
33Peabody, MA23.8+1.3 pts
34Salem, MA22.6+0.9 pts
35Amherst Town, MA22+1.2 pts
36Taunton, MA21.7-0.4 pts
37Melrose, MA21.2+1.1 pts
38Barnstable Town, MA19.9-1.1 pts
39Attleboro, MA17.6+3.5 pts
40Westfield, MA16.1-2.4 pts
41Weymouth Town, MA14.6-0.9 pts
42Gardner, MA13.7+1.8 pts
43Northampton, MA13.30 pts
44Agawam Town, MA12.7+1.2 pts
45Beverly, MA11.9-0.1 pts
46Franklin Town, MA11.8+1.2 pts
47Gloucester, MA11.6+0.4 pts
48North Attleborough Town, MA10.4+0.2 pts
49Bridgewater Town, MA10.3+1 pts
50Pittsfield, MA10.2+0.9 pts
51Greenfield, MA8.4+0.1 pts
52Newburyport, MA6.7+0.2 pts
53North Adams, MA6.1-2.1 pts
54Palmer Town, MA4.9-2.4 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of all people aged 5 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

Measures the language used at home, not English ability: most people in this group also speak English. Spanish speakers are shown separately in spanish_at_home_share.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. 4 cities with data in other periods have no value for 2023 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Massachusetts by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Massachusetts by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/massachusetts-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Massachusetts by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/massachusetts-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Massachusetts by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/massachusetts-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_massachusetts_by_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Massachusetts by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/massachusetts-cities?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Massachusetts by population speaking a language other than English at home, 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/massachusetts-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/language-other-than-english-at-home/massachusetts-cities?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-c16001.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Massachusetts by population speaking a language other than English at home using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"language_other_than_english_share","level":"municipality","within":"Massachusetts","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest population speaking a language other than English at home?

Lawrence, MA, with 78.5% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest population speaking a language other than English at home?

Palmer Town, MA, with 4.9% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table C16001: people aged 5 and over who speak a language other than English at home, as a percentage of the population aged 5 and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12. 4 cities have no value for 2023 and are not ranked.

Population speaking a language other than English at home: other rankings

Cities in Massachusetts: more rankings