There are four commonwealths among the 50 states.
In terms of rights, taxes, and representation there is zero difference between a commonwealth and a state.
However, the four states that call themselves commonwealths, originally had a philosophical reason for it.
The word goes back to the 1600s in England and meant a government for the common good, not a king.
In 1776, Virginia, led by Patrick Henry and George Mason, wanted to reject monarchy and honor the English republican tradition.
In Pennsylvania, the Quakers wanted to indicate shared prosperity.
John Adams wrote the constitution of Massachusetts and used, commonwealth' to mean government by consent, not king.
Kentucky meant to honor revolutionary ideals.
