How Many Melrosians Don't Speak English at Home?

How many Melrose residents speak a language other than English at home?

We looked at Census data for communities throughout the region to see how our city compares.

The numbers vary widely. Across the state, 21 percent of people who are at least 5 years old speak a language other than English at home, according to Census data.

Some communities in the area have much higher percentages. In Chelsea, for instance, 65.9 percent of people speak a language other than English at home.

Meanwhile, in communities like Wakefield and Reading, you're unlikely to hear anything other than the queen's tongue—perhaps with a few missing Rs.

In Melrose, 15.6 percent of residents speak a language other than English at home. This is below the state average and lands Melrose where it is geographically, too—between cities like Malden and Medford, which have more residents speaking another language at home, and Wakefield and Reading.

Last summer, the Melrose School Committee unanimously approved (ELL) program, after the state's Coordinated Program Review found that the growing and straining and tighten procedures. Additional ELL staff time was also a part of this school year's budget.

Below is a chart of communities in the area and what percentage of residents who are 5 or older speak a language other than English at home. Again, the numbers are from the U.S. Census Bureau.