Ability to speak English among different language groups spoken at home. Boston Population of the study includes all persons 5 years and over. Ability to speak English "very well" by age, and rate of linguistically isolated households* is shown in the second table.
Ability to speak English by language spoken at home
Persons
Percent
Population 5 years and over
557,376
100.0%
Speak only English
371,185
66.6%
Speak a language other than English
186,191
33.4%
Spanish
75,711
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
39,401
52.0%
Speak English "well"
17,027
22.5%
Speak English "not well"
13,499
17.8%
Speak English "not at all"
5,784
7.6%
Other Indo-European languages
67,706
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
38,024
56.2%
Speak English "well"
15,966
23.6%
Speak English "not well"
10,861
16.0%
Speak English "not at all"
2,855
4.2%
Asian and Pacific Island languages
34,765
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
12,608
36.3%
Speak English "well"
9,994
28.7%
Speak English "not well"
8,612
24.8%
Speak English "not at all"
3,551
10.2%
All other languages
8,009
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
5,096
63.6%
Speak English "well"
2,142
26.7%
Speak English "not well"
678
8.5%
Speak English "not at all"
93
1.2%
Ability to speak English by age
Persons
Percent
Population 5 years and over
557,376
100.0%
Speak a language other than English
186,191
33.4%
5 to 17 years
35,043
6.3%
18 to 64 years
134,267
24.1%
65 years and over
16,881
3.0%
Speak English less than "very well"
91,062
16.3%
5 to 17 years
11,988
2.2%
18 to 64 years
67,044
12.0%
65 years and over
12,030
2.2%
Linguistically isolated households*
25,660
Population 5 years and over in households*
522,385
100.0%
In linguistically isolated households
59,749
11.4%
5 to 17 years
12,161
2.3%
18 to 64 years
39,340
7.5%
65 years and over
8,248
1.6%
* No member 14 years or older speaks English only or "very well"
