Connecticut Is One of the Most Italian States in America, New Study Finds

According to new research from travel company Walks of Italy, Connecticut has one of the strongest Italian-American populations in the country, ranking second among all 50 states. And if you’ve spent any time around here, that probably doesn’t come as much of a shock.

The study looked at U.S. Census data to figure out where Italian ancestry is most common, and Connecticut came in with 14.93% of residents reporting Italian heritage. That works out to more than 538,000 people across the state. Not bad for a place where you can barely go five minutes without somebody bringing up their favorite pizza place, Sunday dinner, or whose family makes the best sauce.

As a proud Italian American myself, I can tell you I’m surrounded by plenty of people who feel the same way. Italian heritage is a big part of life around here, whether it’s family traditions, food, or the occasional spirited debate over who makes the best meatballs. We may not all agree on everything, but we can probably find common ground over a plate of pasta.

The research comes at a fitting time, with Italian American Heritage and Culture Month taking place in October. While Connecticut landed in second place, Rhode Island took the top spot, with 15.57% of its population reporting Italian ancestry. New Jersey came in third.

New York, meanwhile, has the largest number of Italian Americans on the list, with more than 2.1 million residents reporting Italian roots. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania also cracked the top five, showing just how strong Italian American communities are throughout the Northeast.

So, if you’re Italian American and live in Connecticut, you’re certainly not alone. We’re part of a pretty large club, and apparently, Rhode Island is the one state that beats us in the numbers. I guess we’ll have to let them have this one.

The 10 States with the Strongest Italian Heritage

1. Rhode Island — 15.57%

2. Connecticut — 14.93%

3. New Jersey — 13.74%

4. Massachusetts — 10.93%

5. Pennsylvania — 10.59%

6. New York — 10.42%

7. New Hampshire — 10.11%

8. Delaware — 9.76%

9. Vermont — 7.96%

10. Florida — 6.06%