2016’s States with the Most Integrated Hispanics

From Wallet Hub, Sep 21, 2016

Coming to America can be a challenge for immigrants. Adapting to a new way of life is another — and sometimes more painful. The process involves far more than learning the dominant language and counting money in the local currency. But subsequent generations often are able to skip those difficult steps. “Full integration into U.S. society and economy generally takes more than one generation, with children of immigrants reliably outperforming their parents in educational attainment, occupational status, wealth, and home ownership,” according to the Migration Policy Institute.

Today, Hispanics are the third fastest-growing minority group behind individuals claiming two or more races. And much of their growth in the past decade-plus has been fueled by natural U.S. births. Assuming the MPI’s observation is correct, areas reporting the greatest numbers of U.S. births among Hispanics theoretically should reflect the group’s successful integration.

Integration, however, can be both positive and negative. Although it allows children of immigrants to more easily navigate U.S. bureaucracy, education and financial systems, many would argue that integration also can lead to a loss of cultural heritage.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia to measure how well Hispanics have adapted to mainstream American society relative to where they live. In making such a comparison, they examined each state and the District according to 17 key indicators of integration, ranging from “English proficiency” to “educational attainment” to “Hispanic homeownership rate.”

Link: Full Report

SPANISH HAWAII:

• 3rd – English Proficiency of Hispanics
• 11th – Math & Reading Test Scores of Hispanic Students
• 3rd – Median Annual Income of Hispanics (Adjusted for Cost of Living)
• 2nd – Hispanic Homeownership Rate
• 3rd – Hispanic Poverty Rate
• 4th – Public High School Graduation Rate of Hispanic Students
• 30th – Average SAT & ACT Test Scores of Hispanic Students