Ability to speak English among different language groups spoken at home. New Bedford 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
87,592
100.0%
Speak only English
54,487
62.2%
Speak a language other than English
33,105
37.8%
Spanish
6,925
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
3,141
45.4%
Speak English "well"
1,592
23.0%
Speak English "not well"
1,312
18.9%
Speak English "not at all"
880
12.7%
Other Indo-European languages
25,349
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
14,434
56.9%
Speak English "well"
4,651
18.3%
Speak English "not well"
4,217
16.6%
Speak English "not at all"
2,047
8.1%
Asian and Pacific Island languages
555
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
158
28.5%
Speak English "well"
235
42.3%
Speak English "not well"
120
21.6%
Speak English "not at all"
42
7.6%
All other languages
276
100.0%
Speak English "very well"
192
69.6%
Speak English "well"
68
24.6%
Speak English "not well"
4
1.4%
Speak English "not at all"
12
4.3%
Ability to speak English by age
Persons
Percent
Population 5 years and over
87,592
100.0%
Speak a language other than English
33,105
37.8%
5 to 17 years
5,420
6.2%
18 to 64 years
21,509
24.6%
65 years and over
6,176
7.1%
Speak English less than "very well"
15,180
17.3%
5 to 17 years
1,348
1.5%
18 to 64 years
10,622
12.1%
65 years and over
3,210
3.7%
Linguistically isolated households*
4,316
Population 5 years and over in households*
85,631
100.0%
In linguistically isolated households
8,539
10.0%
5 to 17 years
1,237
1.4%
18 to 64 years
5,018
5.9%
65 years and over
2,284
2.7%
* No member 14 years or older speaks English only or "very well"
