Languages Spoken in Illinois
Linguistic diversity, English proficiency, and languages spoken at home across Illinois cities
Language Overview
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACSCities with Data
50
of top 50 by population
Most Multilingual City
Cicero
18.2% English only
Avg. Limited English
10.8%
across reported cities
Across the top 50 cities in Illinois with language data, Cicero stands out as the most linguistically diverse, with only 18.2% of residents speaking English exclusively at home. On average, 10.8% of residents across these cities have limited English proficiency, meaning they speak English less than "very well."
Most Multilingual Cities in Illinois
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS| # | City | Population | English Only % | Spanish % | Asian/Pacific % | Limited English % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cicero | 83,223 | 18.2% | 80.3% | 0.6% | 32.7% |
| 2 | Wheeling | 38,495 | 37.0% | 29.2% | 9.9% | 28.3% |
| 3 | Carpentersville | 37,544 | 44.5% | 47.9% | 2.0% | 22.9% |
| 4 | Hanover Park | 36,850 | 44.6% | 33.1% | 5.0% | 22.6% |
| 5 | Waukegan | 88,919 | 44.9% | 48.0% | 4.0% | 23.4% |
| 6 | Berwyn | 55,888 | 46.4% | 47.5% | 2.6% | 16.3% |
| 7 | Streamwood | 39,055 | 47.6% | 32.1% | 6.3% | 18.1% |
| 8 | Skokie | 66,427 | 50.2% | 8.3% | 10.5% | 16.1% |
| 9 | Elgin | 114,106 | 51.4% | 40.7% | 3.3% | 19.3% |
| 10 | Aurora | 179,867 | 53.3% | 34.3% | 4.9% | 15.7% |
| 11 | Hoffman Estates | 51,186 | 53.3% | 15.6% | 12.2% | 16.9% |
| 12 | Des Plaines | 59,408 | 53.8% | 17.0% | 7.1% | 17.1% |
| 13 | Buffalo Grove | 42,824 | 54.4% | 5.2% | 15.2% | 14.9% |
| 14 | Mount Prospect | 55,648 | 57.6% | 12.5% | 8.3% | 16.6% |
| 15 | Schaumburg | 76,780 | 59.5% | 7.2% | 11.4% | 12.5% |
| 16 | Carol Stream | 39,427 | 60.0% | 15.2% | 5.8% | 16.3% |
| 17 | Romeoville | 40,996 | 61.6% | 26.0% | 3.1% | 14.6% |
| 18 | Palatine | 66,548 | 64.1% | 16.2% | 6.5% | 14.2% |
| 19 | Bolingbrook | 73,813 | 64.2% | 21.7% | 5.4% | 13.5% |
| 20 | Chicago | 2,707,648 | 64.5% | 23.8% | 4.2% | 14.6% |
| 21 | Glenview | 47,682 | 70.0% | 6.2% | 9.1% | 10.0% |
| 22 | Oak Lawn | 57,098 | 70.3% | 16.7% | 1.2% | 11.0% |
| 23 | Joliet | 149,785 | 70.7% | 25.2% | 1.0% | 12.1% |
| 24 | Bartlett | 40,531 | 70.9% | 8.7% | 5.1% | 10.2% |
| 25 | Arlington Heights | 76,220 | 71.0% | 5.8% | 5.2% | 9.4% |
| 26 | Naperville | 149,424 | 72.8% | 4.4% | 11.1% | 6.7% |
| 27 | Orland Park | 57,961 | 74.6% | 5.2% | 2.1% | 7.8% |
| 28 | Urbana | 38,447 | 75.7% | 6.6% | 9.5% | 9.0% |
| 29 | Lombard | 43,722 | 76.2% | 8.3% | 3.0% | 6.6% |
| 30 | Champaign | 88,822 | 76.7% | 5.5% | 10.1% | 8.3% |
| 31 | Park Ridge | 39,241 | 77.7% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 5.9% |
| 32 | Evanston | 76,552 | 77.8% | 7.5% | 5.6% | 4.8% |
| 33 | Rockford | 147,649 | 78.6% | 15.0% | 2.3% | 6.8% |
| 34 | DeKalb | 40,464 | 81.8% | 10.8% | 2.1% | 5.8% |
| 35 | Plainfield | 45,705 | 82.0% | 5.9% | 3.8% | 5.9% |
| 36 | Moline | 42,235 | 82.6% | 11.1% | 1.4% | 7.2% |
| 37 | Elmhurst | 45,538 | 83.7% | 5.8% | 3.1% | 4.2% |
| 38 | Tinley Park | 55,007 | 84.4% | 4.4% | 1.8% | 4.5% |
| 39 | Crystal Lake | 40,436 | 85.7% | 8.7% | 1.3% | 5.1% |
| 40 | Wheaton | 53,453 | 86.1% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 4.3% |
| 41 | Rock Island | 36,758 | 86.6% | 7.2% | 2.5% | 4.6% |
| 42 | Downers Grove | 49,867 | 86.7% | 3.0% | 2.8% | 4.3% |
| 43 | Oak Park | 53,315 | 86.9% | 5.7% | 2.5% | 2.8% |
| 44 | Peoria | 112,126 | 87.4% | 4.5% | 3.4% | 3.7% |
| 45 | Bloomington | 78,703 | 87.9% | 4.2% | 4.2% | 3.6% |
| 46 | Normal | 52,908 | 90.7% | 4.0% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| 47 | Springfield | 113,714 | 94.0% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.9% |
| 48 | Decatur | 70,368 | 95.3% | 2.2% | 0.7% | 1.2% |
| 49 | Belleville | 41,722 | 96.2% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 1.3% |
| 50 | Quincy | 39,188 | 96.7% | 1.6% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
This table ranks Illinois cities by linguistic diversity, ordered from the lowest percentage of English-only speakers to the highest. Cities at the top have the greatest share of residents who speak a language other than English at home. Spanish is the most common non-English language in most Illinois cities, though Asian and Pacific Island languages are also significant in many communities.