A new study by the Public Religion Research Institute has found that Suffolk County in Massachusetts is among the most religiously diverse in the U.S. The study, released on Aug. 28, looked at the religious landscape in the country in 2023 and found that the percentage of Americans who identify as white Christians has decreased, while the number of religiously unaffiliated Americans has grown.
Suffolk County ranked sixth in terms of religious diversity, based on nine overall religious categories including Protestants, Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, the unaffiliated, and other religions. The county was also among the top 10 where Buddhists and Unitarian Universalists live, although these groups each make up less than 3% and 1% of the population, respectively.
Other counties in Massachusetts were also highlighted in the study. Dukes County, which includes Martha’s Vineyard, has some of the highest numbers of Catholics, while Middlesex County has significant populations of Jewish Americans and Hindus. Middlesex County tied for first place with counties in California and Maryland for the highest population of Hindus.
Overall, the study shows a shift in the religious landscape in the U.S., with white Christians decreasing and the religiously unaffiliated growing. Suffolk County’s high ranking in religious diversity highlights the changing demographics of the county and the increasing presence of a variety of religious groups within its population.
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