The U.S. today is a melting pot of cultures, thanks to increasing ethnic and racial diversification. If the trend continues, America will be more colorful than ever by 2045, at which point no single ethnic group will constitute the majority in the U.S. for the first time.
But with immigration reform still a hot-button issue, the U.S. ethnic landscape may change again in the near future. In light of this and the discussions of racial and ethnic equality that have been prominent in the past year, WalletHub took a snapshot of America’s current cultural profile, comparing more than 500 of the largest U.S. cities across three key indicators of ethnic diversity. We examined each city based on ethnicity and race, language and birthplace.
Main Findings
Most Culturally Diverse Cities in the U.S.
| Overall Rank | City | Ethnic Diversity Score | Ethnoracial Diversity | Linguistic Diversity | Birthplace Diversity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City, NJ | 72.62 | 2 | 2 | 158 |
| 2 | Gaithersburg, MD | 71.93 | 5 | 4 | 63 |
| 3 | Germantown, MD | 71.93 | 3 | 6 | 65 |
| 4 | Spring Valley, NV | 70.41 | 7 | 16 | 17 |
| 5 | Silver Spring, MD | 69.86 | 9 | 11 | 37 |
| 6 | New York, NY | 69.39 | 6 | 5 | 261 |
| 7 | Rockville, MD | 68.87 | 30 | 9 | 29 |
| 8 | Kent, WA | 68.74 | 8 | 14 | 112 |
| 9 | San Jose, CA | 68.64 | 21 | 1 | 268 |
| 10 | Oakland, CA | 68.58 | 1 | 30 | 199 |
| 11 | Paradise, NV | 66.53 | 22 | 46 | 14 |
| 12 | Bridgeport, CT | 66.32 | 35 | 17 | 146 |
| 13 | Renton, WA | 66.25 | 17 | 35 | 96 |
| 14 | San Francisco, CA | 66.25 | 29 | 22 | 119 |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | 66.14 | 23 | 51 | 21 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | 66.1 | 4 | 37 | 331 |
| 17 | Providence, RI | 66 | 49 | 19 | 98 |
| 18 | North Las Vegas, NV | 65.99 | 14 | 65 | 16 |
| 19 | Enterprise, NV | 65.94 | 11 | 78 | 11 |
| 20 | Federal Way, WA | 65.77 | 10 | 57 | 97 |
| 21 | Boston, MA | 65.73 | 24 | 34 | 120 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | 65.6 | 28 | 29 | 137 |
| 23 | Los Angeles, CA | 65.18 | 65 | 8 | 236 |
| 24 | Clifton, NJ | 64.63 | 95 | 3 | 271 |
| 25 | New Haven, CT | 64.62 | 13 | 69 | 135 |
| 26 | Stamford, CT | 64.54 | 68 | 23 | 129 |
| 27 | Long Beach, CA | 64.48 | 19 | 25 | 328 |
| 28 | Lynn, MA | 64.44 | 59 | 10 | 315 |
| 29 | Yonkers, NY | 64.37 | 34 | 13 | 343 |
| 30 | Pawtucket, RI | 64.34 | 54 | 24 | 191 |
Note: With the exception of “Ethnic Diversity Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
Ratio – Over Time
Birthplaces of Population as of 2019
|
State |
In State |
Northeast Region |
Midwest Region |
South Region |
West Region |
U.S. Territory* |
Foreign Nation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 69.24% | 2.65% | 5.04% | 16.07% | 2.60% | 0.86% | 3.55% |
| Alaska | 42.89% | 5.98% | 10.57% | 11.45% | 18.65% | 2.42% | 8.05% |
| Arizona | 39.86% | 6.71% | 14.88% | 6.83% | 16.93% | 1.38% | 13.41% |
| Arkansas | 60.53% | 1.87% | 10.06% | 15.37% | 6.34% | 0.73% | 5.11% |
| California | 56.11% | 3.67% | 4.52% | 4.24% | 3.30% | 1.41% | 26.76% |
| Colorado | 42.22% | 6.68% | 15.77% | 11.00% | 13.05% | 1.61% | 9.67% |
| Connecticut | 53.77% | 18.61% | 2.67% | 4.36% | 1.84% | 3.91% | 14.85% |
| Delaware | 43.99% | 25.43% | 3.13% | 13.59% | 1.89% | 1.88% | 10.08% |
| District of Columbia | 37.21% | 14.32% | 7.77% | 20.90% | 5.64% | 2.00% | 12.17% |
| Florida | 35.80% | 16.31% | 10.18% | 10.00% | 2.72% | 3.85% | 21.13% |
| Georgia | 54.41% | 6.85% | 6.71% | 17.26% | 3.06% | 1.40% | 10.31% |
| Hawaii | 52.33% | 3.78% | 4.30% | 6.04% | 10.86% | 3.45% | 19.23% |
| Idaho | 46.08% | 2.69% | 6.68% | 5.29% | 32.33% | 0.99% | 5.95% |
| Illinois | 67.42% | 2.14% | 8.13% | 4.98% | 2.20% | 1.15% | 13.99% |
| Indiana | 67.72% | 2.31% | 13.01% | 8.42% | 2.46% | 0.70% | 5.38% |
| Iowa | 69.71% | 1.44% | 14.94% | 3.68% | 3.90% | 0.64% | 5.69% |
| Kansas | 59.15% | 2.03% | 15.52% | 8.89% | 6.24% | 1.02% | 7.15% |
| Kentucky | 68.25% | 2.49% | 12.99% | 8.90% | 2.19% | 0.71% | 4.47% |
| Louisiana | 77.60% | 1.65% | 2.91% | 10.48% | 2.34% | 0.68% | 4.34% |
| Maine | 61.61% | 22.08% | 3.36% | 5.17% | 2.79% | 1.11% | 3.87% |
| Maryland | 47.38% | 10.83% | 3.93% | 18.46% | 2.44% | 1.54% | 15.41% |
| Massachusetts | 59.37% | 11.98% | 2.62% | 3.60% | 2.09% | 3.08% | 17.25% |
| Michigan | 76.24% | 2.13% | 6.59% | 5.15% | 2.05% | 0.79% | 7.06% |
| Minnesota | 67.73% | 1.89% | 14.47% | 3.23% | 3.67% | 0.74% | 8.28% |
| Mississippi | 71.49% | 1.62% | 4.53% | 17.27% | 2.27% | 0.69% | 2.14% |
| Missouri | 65.85% | 2.17% | 13.67% | 8.46% | 4.75% | 0.83% | 4.28% |
| Montana | 53.44% | 3.65% | 13.41% | 5.41% | 20.84% | 0.85% | 2.40% |
| Nebraska | 64.72% | 1.74% | 13.63% | 4.52% | 7.19% | 0.85% | 7.35% |
| Nevada | 27.24% | 6.08% | 9.48% | 6.73% | 28.86% | 1.78% | 19.84% |
| New Hampshire | 40.62% | 40.49% | 3.80% | 4.47% | 2.86% | 1.30% | 6.47% |
| New Jersey | 51.46% | 16.50% | 1.51% | 3.65% | 1.13% | 2.27% | 23.48% |
| New Mexico | 53.81% | 4.10% | 6.85% | 11.93% | 12.54% | 1.11% | 9.66% |
| New York | 63.08% | 4.76% | 1.93% | 3.63% | 1.58% | 2.57% | 22.45% |
| North Carolina | 55.96% | 10.61% | 5.99% | 14.54% | 3.28% | 1.20% | 8.42% |
| North Dakota | 61.79% | 1.64% | 17.02% | 5.10% | 9.50% | 0.96% | 3.99% |
| Ohio | 74.73% | 4.30% | 4.89% | 8.51% | 1.93% | 0.85% | 4.80% |
| Oklahoma | 60.59% | 2.00% | 9.08% | 13.59% | 7.65% | 0.99% | 6.12% |
| Oregon | 45.61% | 3.82% | 8.08% | 5.39% | 26.12% | 1.18% | 9.80% |
| Pennsylvania | 71.37% | 8.86% | 2.87% | 6.31% | 1.54% | 1.97% | 7.08% |
| Rhode Island | 56.65% | 19.11% | 2.08% | 3.48% | 2.15% | 2.56% | 13.98% |
| South Carolina | 54.98% | 10.36% | 6.21% | 18.88% | 2.75% | 1.12% | 5.70% |
| South Dakota | 63.63% | 1.22% | 19.94% | 3.47% | 7.06% | 0.62% | 4.06% |
| Tennessee | 59.11% | 4.09% | 9.51% | 17.39% | 3.60% | 0.82% | 5.47% |
| Texas | 59.46% | 2.75% | 5.70% | 7.81% | 5.59% | 1.55% | 17.15% |
| Utah | 61.69% | 2.24% | 4.17% | 4.51% | 17.82% | 1.06% | 8.50% |
| Vermont | 48.80% | 32.00% | 4.03% | 5.53% | 3.86% | 0.96% | 4.82% |
| Virginia | 49.47% | 10.72% | 5.70% | 15.47% | 4.06% | 1.90% | 12.69% |
| Washington | 46.40% | 3.83% | 7.52% | 6.32% | 19.31% | 1.78% | 14.85% |
| West Virginia | 68.54% | 5.32% | 7.13% | 15.10% | 1.61% | 0.60% | 1.71% |
| Wisconsin | 70.93% | 1.75% | 15.36% | 3.39% | 2.58% | 0.95% | 5.05% |
| Wyoming | 43.03% | 4.26% | 17.20% | 7.29% | 24.49% | 0.71% | 3.03% |
*Also includes persons born abroad to American parents.
Concentrations by Category
|
Metric |
Cities with Highest Concentration |
Cities with Lowest Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnoracial Diversity | ||
| Hispanic or Latino | Hialeah, FL (95.91%) | Greenville, MS (0.58%) |
| White (Not Hispanic or Latino) | Saco, ME (94.79%) | Hialeah, FL (2.68%) |
| Black or African American (Not Hispanic or Latino) | Jackson, MS (81.97%) | Green River, WY (<0.01%) |
| Asian (Not Hispanic or Latino) | Waipahu, HI (66.05%) | Pierre, SD (0.02%) |
| All Others (American Indian and Alaska native, native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander; some other race alone; two or more races) (not Hispanic or Latino) | Hilo, HI (38.59%) | Hialeah, FL (0.19%) |
| Linguistic Diversity | ||
| English | Clarksburg, WV (99.05%) | Hialeah, FL (6.24%) |
| Spanish | Hialeah, FL (93.03%) | Waipahu, HI (0.28%) |
| Other Indo-European Languages | Brockton, MA (35.36%) | Gillette, WY (0.10%) |
| Asian & Pacific Islander Languages | Waipahu, HI (52.71%) | Pierre, SD (<0.01%) |
| Other Languages | Dearborn, MI (46.10%) | Smyrna, DE (<0.01%) |
| Birthplace Diversity | ||
| In State of Residence | Greenville, MS (86.76%) | Hilton Head Island, SC (17.95%) |
| Northeast Region | Derry, NH (57.64%) | Greenville, MS (0.39%) |
| Midwest Region | Wahpeton, ND (49.31%) | Hialeah, FL (0.28%) |
| South Region | Olive Branch, MS (54.56%) | Hialeah, FL (0.43%) |
| West Region | Post Falls, ID (47.20%) | Paterson, NJ (0.21%) |
| U.S. Territory & Abroad (if born to American parent(s)) | Reading, PA (17.29%) | Barre, VT (0.14%) |
| Foreign Nation | Hialeah, FL (74.41%) | Clarksburg, WV (0.39%) |
Ranking by City Size
|
Rank* |
Large City Name |
Rank |
Midsize City Name |
Rank |
Small City Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY (69.39) | 1 | Jersey City, NJ (72.62) | 1 | Gaithersburg, MD (71.93) |
| 2 | San Jose, CA (68.64) | 2 | Spring Valley, NV (70.41) | 2 | Germantown, MD (71.93) |
| 3 | Oakland, CA (68.58) | 3 | Kent, WA (68.74) | 3 | Silver Spring, MD (69.86) |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA (66.25) | 4 | Paradise, NV (66.53) | 4 | Rockville, MD (68.87) |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA (66.10) | 5 | Bridgeport, CT (66.32) | 5 | Federal Way, WA (65.77) |
| 6 | Boston, MA (65.73) | 6 | Renton, WA (66.25) | 6 | Clifton, NJ (64.63) |
| 7 | San Diego, CA (65.60) | 7 | Orlando, FL (66.14) | 7 | Lynn, MA (64.44) |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA (65.18) | 8 | Providence, RI (66.00) | 8 | Pawtucket, RI (64.34) |
| 9 | Long Beach, CA (64.48) | 9 | North Las Vegas, NV (65.99) | 9 | Danbury, CT (63.96) |
| 10 | Houston, TX (64.28) | 10 | Enterprise, NV (65.94) | 10 | Johns Creek, GA (63.71) |
| 11 | Aurora, CO (63.68) | 11 | New Haven, CT (64.62) | 11 | New Britain, CT (63.43) |
| 12 | Las Vegas, NV (63.63) | 12 | Stamford, CT (64.54) | 12 | Brockton, MA (63.32) |
| 13 | Arlington, TX (63.48) | 13 | Yonkers, NY (64.37) | 13 | New Rochelle, NY (62.95) |
| 14 | Chicago, IL (63.32) | 14 | Lowell, MA (63.96) | 14 | Norwalk, CT (61.86) |
| 15 | Dallas, TX (62.60) | 15 | Alexandria, VA (63.57) | 15 | Springdale, AR (60.83) |
| 16 | Anaheim, CA (62.12) | 16 | Plano, TX (63.11) | 16 | Lancaster, PA (60.54) |
| 17 | Tampa, FL (61.13) | 17 | Bellevue, WA (63.02) | 17 | Bear, DE (60.51) |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ (60.95) | 18 | Sunrise Manor, NV (62.89) | 18 | Ewa Gentry, HI (60.42) |
| 19 | Fort Worth, TX (60.75) | 19 | Hartford, CT (62.82) | 19 | Brooklyn Park, MN (60.14) |
| 20 | Fresno, CA (60.43) | 20 | Waterbury, CT (62.44) | 20 | Waukegan, IL (59.61) |
| 21 | St. Paul, MN (59.75) | 21 | Aurora, IL (62.32) | 21 | Kahului, HI (59.02) |
| 22 | Honolulu, HI (59.65) | 22 | Newark, NJ (62.28) | 22 | Ellicott City, MD (58.96) |
| 23 | Austin, TX (59.33) | 23 | Kansas City, KS (61.36) | 23 | Frederick, MD (58.40) |
| 24 | Charlotte, NC (58.90) | 24 | Springfield, MA (61.17) | 24 | Hammond, IN (58.35) |
| 25 | Tucson, AZ (58.83) | 25 | Allentown, PA (61.02) | 25 | Trenton, NJ (58.15) |
| 26 | Bakersfield, CA (57.85) | 26 | Fort Lauderdale, FL (60.80) | 26 | Farmington, NM (56.59) |
| 27 | Denver, CO (56.72) | 27 | Cambridge, MA (60.34) | 27 | Camden, NJ (56.57) |
| 28 | Philadelphia, PA (56.48) | 28 | Columbia, MD (60.31) | 28 | Quincy, MA (56.40) |
| 29 | Albuquerque, NM (55.55) | 29 | Glendale, AZ (60.02) | 29 | Kenner, LA (56.21) |
| 30 | Washington, DC (55.29) | 30 | West Valley City, UT (59.68) | 30 | Central Falls, RI (55.71) |
| 31 | Milwaukee, WI (54.93) | 31 | Worcester, MA (59.58) | 31 | New Bedford, MA (55.70) |
| 32 | Oklahoma City, OK (54.14) | 32 | Hillsboro, OR (59.22) | 32 | Clovis, NM (55.68) |
| 33 | Tulsa, OK (53.58) | 33 | Elgin, IL (58.61) | 33 | Santa Fe, NM (55.05) |
| 34 | Raleigh, NC (53.32) | 34 | Arlington, VA (58.47) | 34 | Harrisburg, PA (55.04) |
| 35 | Minneapolis, MN (53.12) | 35 | Tempe, AZ (57.93) | 35 | Beaverton, OR (54.84) |
| 36 | Seattle, WA (52.99) | 36 | Durham, NC (56.99) | 36 | Roswell, GA (54.65) |
| 37 | San Antonio, TX (52.58) | 37 | Sandy Springs, GA (56.98) | 37 | Yakima, WA (54.37) |
| 38 | Jacksonville, FL (52.36) | 38 | Paterson, NJ (56.96) | 38 | Hobbs, NM (54.32) |
| 39 | Nashville, TN (52.29) | 39 | Port St. Lucie, FL (56.86) | 39 | Reading, PA (54.01) |
| 40 | Mesa, AZ (51.49) | 40 | Chandler, AZ (56.82) | 40 | Kailua, HI (54.00) |
| 41 | Henderson, NV (50.99) | 41 | High Point, NC (55.20) | 41 | Hilo, HI (53.34) |
| 42 | Columbus, OH (48.96) | 42 | Rochester, NY (55.12) | 42 | East Honolulu, HI (53.17) |
| 43 | Virginia Beach, VA (48.79) | 43 | Las Cruces, NM (54.89) | 43 | Woonsocket, RI (53.12) |
| 44 | Corpus Christi, TX (48.77) | 44 | Elizabeth, NJ (54.87) | 44 | Bethlehem, PA (52.90) |
| 45 | Kansas City, MO (48.57) | 45 | Cary, NC (54.81) | 45 | Rogers, AR (52.78) |
| 46 | Cleveland, OH (48.29) | 46 | Sparks, NV (54.79) | 46 | Fort Smith, AR (52.22) |
| 47 | Portland, OR (47.75) | 47 | Reno, NV (54.39) | 47 | Mililani Town, HI (52.00) |
| 48 | Indianapolis, IN (47.74) | 48 | Everett, WA (54.21) | 48 | Lawton, OK (51.93) |
| 49 | Wichita, KS (47.72) | 49 | Joliet, IL (54.11) | 49 | Pearl City, HI (51.81) |
| 50 | Atlanta, GA (46.76) | 50 | Anchorage, AK (54.03) | 50 | Waipahu, HI (51.78) |
| 51 | Miami, FL (46.48) | 51 | Fayetteville, NC (53.67) | 51 | Roswell, NM (51.77) |
| 52 | Omaha, NE (45.85) | 52 | Tacoma, WA (53.20) | 52 | Caldwell, ID (51.38) |
| 53 | Colorado Springs, CO (45.60) | 53 | Gresham, OR (52.98) | 53 | Kaneohe, HI (51.34) |
| 54 | St. Louis, MO (44.62) | 54 | Winston-Salem, NC (52.82) | 54 | Albany, NY (51.19) |
| 55 | Cincinnati, OH (42.79) | 55 | Thornton, CO (52.80) | 55 | Fairbanks, AK (51.06) |
| 56 | Baltimore, MD (41.95) | 56 | Salt Lake City, UT (52.56) | 56 | Alamogordo, NM (50.93) |
| 57 | Pittsburgh, PA (41.64) | 57 | Syracuse, NY (52.43) | 57 | Dover, DE (50.81) |
| 58 | Lexington-Fayette, KY (41.57) | 58 | Rockford, IL (52.31) | 58 | Brookside, DE (50.73) |
| 59 | El Paso, TX (41.33) | 59 | Buffalo, NY (51.98) | 59 | Rio Rancho, NM (50.61) |
| 60 | New Orleans, LA (40.92) | 60 | Greensboro, NC (51.32) | 60 | Mount Vernon, NY (50.57) |
| 61 | Memphis, TN (40.78) | 61 | North Charleston, SC (50.97) | 61 | Taylorsville, UT (49.42) |
| 62 | Louisville, KY (39.98) | 62 | Newport News, VA (50.36) | 62 | Racine, WI (49.39) |
| 63 | Detroit, MI (32.42) | 63 | South Bend, IN (50.23) | 63 | Middletown, DE (49.34) |
| Info | Info | 64 | Ann Arbor, MI (50.01) | 64 | Carson City, NV (49.09) |
| Info | Info | 65 | Athens, GA (50.00) | 65 | Ogden, UT (48.91) |
| Info | Info | 66 | Norfolk, VA (49.99) | 66 | Schenectady, NY (48.84) |
| Info | Info | 67 | Clarksville, TN (49.70) | 67 | Glasgow, DE (48.76) |
| Info | Info | 68 | Naperville, IL (49.17) | 68 | Grand Island, NE (48.19) |
| Info | Info | 69 | Tallahassee, FL (48.45) | 69 | Sitka and, AK (47.79) |
| Info | Info | 70 | Lansing, MI (48.00) | 70 | Glen Burnie, MD (47.53) |
| Info | Info | 71 | Salem, OR (47.88) | 71 | Jackson, WY (47.49) |
| Info | Info | 72 | St. Petersburg, FL (47.37) | 72 | Lorain, OH (46.82) |
| Info | Info | 73 | Cape Coral, FL (47.10) | 73 | Waldorf, MD (46.77) |
| Info | Info | 74 | Grand Rapids, MI (47.01) | 74 | Juneau, AK (46.68) |
| Info | Info | 75 | Vancouver, WA (46.94) | 75 | West Hartford, CT (46.52) |
| Info | Info | 76 | Columbus, GA (46.85) | 76 | Nashua, NH (46.45) |
| Info | Info | 77 | Little Rock, AR (46.40) | 77 | Biloxi, MS (46.33) |
| Info | Info | 78 | Des Moines, IA (46.35) | 78 | Goose Creek, SC (46.30) |
| Info | Info | 79 | Richmond, VA (46.24) | 79 | Winooski, VT (46.30) |
| Info | Info | 80 | Columbia, SC (46.09) | 80 | Cranston, RI (46.19) |
| Info | Info | 81 | Westminster, CO (46.00) | 81 | Passaic, NJ (46.16) |
| Info | Info | 82 | Savannah, GA (45.94) | 82 | College, AK (46.13) |
| Info | Info | 83 | Hampton, VA (45.80) | 83 | Huron, SD (45.86) |
| Info | Info | 84 | Peoria, AZ (45.67) | 84 | Fall River, MA (45.61) |
| Info | Info | 85 | Surprise, AZ (45.61) | 85 | Newark, DE (45.51) |
| Info | Info | 86 | Chesapeake, VA (45.47) | 86 | Rock Hill, SC (45.50) |
| Info | Info | 87 | Gilbert, AZ (45.23) | 87 | Kenosha, WI (45.26) |
| Info | Info | 88 | Provo, UT (44.94) | 88 | Wilmington, DE (45.03) |
| Info | Info | 89 | Huntsville, AL (44.82) | 89 | Horn Lake, MS (45.01) |
| Info | Info | 90 | Peoria, IL (44.78) | 90 | Bentonville, AR (44.87) |
| Info | Info | 91 | Lakewood, CO (44.72) | 91 | Sioux City, IA (44.57) |
| Info | Info | 92 | Pueblo, CO (44.54) | 92 | Youngstown, OH (44.46) |
| Info | Info | 93 | Chattanooga, TN (43.77) | 93 | Bowling Green, KY (44.18) |
| Info | Info | 94 | Warren, MI (43.71) | 94 | Bossier City, LA (44.10) |
| Info | Info | 95 | Green Bay, WI (43.18) | 95 | Decatur, AL (44.06) |
| Info | Info | 96 | Murfreesboro, TN (43.07) | 96 | Bellevue, NE (43.80) |
| Info | Info | 97 | Metairie, LA (43.01) | 97 | Pike Creek Valley, DE (43.63) |
| Info | Info | 98 | Manchester, NH (42.84) | 98 | Bloomington, MN (43.56) |
| Info | Info | 99 | Fort Wayne, IN (42.47) | 99 | Sumter, SC (43.50) |
| Info | Info | 100 | Rochester, MN (42.23) | 100 | Roanoke, VA (43.35) |
| Info | Info | 101 | West Jordan, UT (42.15) | 101 | Nampa, ID (43.24) |
| Info | Info | 102 | Augusta, GA (41.90) | 102 | Gulfport, MS (43.00) |
| Info | Info | 103 | Madison, WI (41.78) | 103 | Iowa City, IA (42.93) |
| Info | Info | 104 | Sterling Heights, MI (41.51) | 104 | Enid, OK (42.89) |
| Info | Info | 105 | Norman, OK (41.36) | 105 | Madison, AL (42.85) |
| Info | Info | 106 | Olathe, KS (41.28) | 106 | Smyrna, DE (42.80) |
| Info | Info | 107 | Dayton, OH (41.24) | 107 | Auburn, AL (42.59) |
| Info | Info | 108 | Broken Arrow, OK (40.62) | 108 | Corvallis, OR (42.56) |
| Info | Info | 109 | Akron, OH (40.52) | 109 | Hoover, AL (42.48) |
| Info | Info | 110 | Overland Park, KS (40.43) | 110 | South Valley, NM (42.46) |
| Info | Info | 111 | Topeka, KS (40.38) | 111 | Greenville, NC (42.39) |
| Info | Info | 112 | Baton Rouge, LA (40.08) | 112 | Scranton, PA (41.82) |
| Info | Info | 113 | Toledo, OH (39.61) | 113 | Olive Branch, MS (41.74) |
| Info | Info | 114 | Montgomery, AL (38.67) | 114 | Union City, NJ (41.53) |
| Info | Info | 115 | Wilmington, NC (38.66) | 115 | Portsmouth, VA (41.38) |
| Info | Info | 116 | Scottsdale, AZ (38.54) | 116 | Southaven, MS (41.37) |
| Info | Info | 117 | Centennial, CO (38.41) | 117 | Orem, UT (41.25) |
| Info | Info | 118 | Columbia, MO (38.26) | 118 | Greenville, SC (41.17) |
| Info | Info | 119 | Lafayette, LA (38.16) | 119 | North Little Rock, AR (41.15) |
| Info | Info | 120 | Macon, GA (38.14) | 120 | Midwest City, OK (41.10) |
| Info | Info | 121 | Mobile, AL (37.91) | 121 | Tuscaloosa, AL (41.06) |
| Info | Info | 122 | Eugene, OR (37.68) | 122 | Riverton, WY (40.83) |
| Info | Info | 123 | Charleston, SC (37.52) | 123 | East Providence, RI (40.63) |
| Info | Info | 124 | Knoxville, TN (37.01) | 124 | Jackson, TN (40.23) |
| Info | Info | 125 | Fort Collins, CO (36.70) | 125 | Summerville, SC (40.23) |
| Info | Info | 126 | Davenport, IA (35.98) | 126 | Franklin, TN (39.96) |
| Info | Info | 127 | Shreveport, LA (35.68) | 127 | Stillwater, OK (39.88) |
| Info | Info | 128 | Lincoln, NE (34.28) | 128 | Bristol, CT (39.84) |
| Info | Info | 129 | Arvada, CO (33.79) | 129 | Erie, PA (39.67) |
| Info | Info | 130 | Independence, MO (33.61) | 130 | Lawrence, KS (39.59) |
| Info | Info | 131 | Springfield, IL (33.25) | 131 | Lake Charles, LA (39.56) |
| Info | Info | 132 | Sioux Falls, SD (33.16) | 132 | Plymouth, MN (39.40) |
| Info | Info | 133 | Boise, ID (32.81) | 133 | Newport, RI (39.16) |
| Info | Info | 134 | Birmingham, AL (32.73) | 134 | Dearborn, MI (39.10) |
| Info | Info | 135 | Spokane, WA (32.28) | 135 | Waterloo, IA (38.96) |
| Info | Info | 136 | Fargo, ND (31.98) | 136 | Bartlett, TN (38.95) |
| Info | Info | 137 | Cedar Rapids, IA (29.93) | 137 | Woodbury, MN (38.91) |
| Info | Info | 138 | Evansville, IN (28.79) | 138 | Williston, ND (38.90) |
| Info | Info | 139 | Meridian, ID (28.73) | 139 | Manhattan, KS (38.84) |
| Info | Info | 140 | Billings, MT (26.43) | 140 | Twin Falls, ID (38.73) |
| Info | Info | 141 | Springfield, MO (26.41) | 141 | Dothan, AL (38.69) |
| Info | Info | 142 | Jackson, MS (21.56) | 142 | Hattiesburg, MS (38.62) |
| Info | Info | 143 | Laredo, TX (19.08) | 143 | Medford, OR (38.61) |
| Info | Info | 144 | Hialeah, FL | 144 | Columbus, NE (38.59) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 145 | Moore, OK (38.44) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 146 | Bloomington, IN (38.17) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 147 | Tupelo, MS (38.14) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 148 | Hopkinsville, KY (38.08) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 149 | Middlebury, VT (38.00) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 150 | St. Cloud, MN (37.89) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 151 | Lafayette, IN (37.78) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 152 | Ames, IA (37.71) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 153 | Jonesboro, AR (37.68) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 154 | Wasilla, AK (37.61) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 155 | Hilton Head Island, SC (37.56) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 156 | Tanaina, AK (37.45) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 157 | Elizabethtown, KY (37.38) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 158 | Badger, AK (37.28) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 159 | Flint, MI (37.19) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 160 | Alexandria, LA (37.07) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 161 | Fayetteville, AR (37.05) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 162 | Westland, MI (37.00) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 163 | Edmond, OK (36.76) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 164 | Lenexa, KS (36.76) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 165 | West Des Moines, IA (36.70) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 166 | Laramie, WY (36.51) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 167 | Essex Junction, VT (36.23) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 168 | Carmel, IN (36.21) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 169 | Hockessin, DE (35.88) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 170 | Conway, AR (35.73) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 171 | Burlington, VT (35.70) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 172 | Green River, WY (35.68) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 173 | Layton, UT (35.15) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 174 | Portland, ME (35.13) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 175 | St. George, UT (34.73) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 176 | Canton, OH (34.60) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 177 | Fishers, IN (34.50) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 178 | Martinsburg, WV (34.33) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 179 | Idaho Falls, ID (34.23) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 180 | Cheyenne, WY (34.07) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 181 | Lakes, AK (33.85) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 182 | Salina, KS (33.76) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 183 | Valley Falls, RI (33.69) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 184 | Springfield, OR (33.68) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 185 | Knik-Fairview, AK (33.54) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 186 | Monroe, LA (33.19) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 187 | Meridian, MS (32.98) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 188 | Waukesha, WI (32.96) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 189 | Shawnee, KS (32.81) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 190 | Lebanon, NH (32.72) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 191 | Fremont, NE (32.54) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 192 | Rapid City, SD (32.47) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 193 | Norfolk, NE (32.41) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 194 | Toms River, NJ (32.27) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 195 | Minot, ND (32.02) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 196 | Maple Grove, MN (31.99) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 197 | Sandy, UT (31.87) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 198 | Lewiston, ME (31.81) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 199 | Covington, KY (31.71) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 200 | Appleton, WI (31.43) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 201 | Johnson City, TN (31.34) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 202 | Morgantown, WV (31.31) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 203 | Gary, IN (31.30) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 204 | Beckley, WV (31.26) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 205 | Rock Springs, WY (31.20) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 206 | Grand Forks, ND (31.06) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 207 | St. Charles, MO (30.80) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 208 | Florence, KY (30.56) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 209 | Gillette, WY (30.54) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 210 | South Burlington, VT (30.43) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 211 | Council Bluffs, IA (30.22) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 212 | Concord, NH (30.11) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 213 | Bend, OR (30.06) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 214 | Charleston, WV (29.60) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 215 | Lee's Summit, MO (29.58) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 216 | Evanston, WY (29.42) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 217 | Hastings, NE (29.29) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 218 | Pocatello, ID (29.27) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 219 | Portsmouth, NH (29.02) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 220 | Cicero, IL (28.96) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 221 | St. Joseph, MO (28.74) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 222 | Albany, GA (28.56) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 223 | Biddeford, ME (28.38) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 224 | South Portland, ME (28.22) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 225 | Parma, OH (27.83) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 226 | Dover, NH (27.60) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 227 | Dickinson, ND (27.58) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 228 | Aberdeen, SD (27.54) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 229 | Casper, WY (27.47) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 230 | Mount Pleasant, SC (26.84) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 231 | Pierre, SD (26.83) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 232 | Cheektowaga, NY (26.69) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 233 | Pine Bluff, AR (26.56) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 234 | Levittown, PA (26.48) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 235 | Brookings, SD (26.31) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 236 | Owensboro, KY (26.26) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 237 | Georgetown, KY (26.03) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 238 | Great Falls, MT (25.75) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 239 | Bozeman, MT (25.75) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 240 | Missoula, MT (25.70) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 241 | North Platte, NE (25.68) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 242 | Westerly, RI (25.62) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 243 | Havre, MT (25.60) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 244 | Kearney, NE (25.48) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 245 | Wahpeton, ND (25.34) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 246 | Warwick, RI (25.32) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 247 | Coeur d'Alene, ID (24.68) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 248 | St. Peters, MO (24.46) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 249 | O'Fallon, MO (24.41) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 250 | Eau Claire, WI (24.32) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 251 | Richmond, KY (24.13) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 252 | Westbrook, ME (24.08) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 253 | Huntington, WV (24.00) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 254 | West Fargo, ND (23.92) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 255 | Livonia, MI (23.59) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 256 | Sanford, ME (23.47) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 257 | Auburn, ME (23.01) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 258 | Yankton, SD (22.91) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 259 | Sheridan, WY (22.84) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 260 | Dubuque, IA (22.76) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 261 | Bangor, ME (22.45) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 262 | Mandan, ND (22.39) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 263 | Oshkosh, WI (22.37) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 264 | Keene, NH (22.16) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 265 | Bismarck, ND (22.03) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 266 | Montpelier, VT (21.83) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 267 | Helena, MT (21.69) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 268 | Janesville, WI (21.46) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 269 | Anaconda, MT (21.39) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 270 | Derry, NH (21.21) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 271 | Kalispell, MT (21.19) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 272 | Weirton, WV (21.12) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 273 | Duluth, MN (21.08) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 274 | Post Falls, ID (21.05) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 275 | Greenville, MS (21.03) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 276 | Rochester, NH (20.94) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 277 | Lewiston, ID (20.92) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 278 | Mitchell, SD (20.83) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 279 | Brattleboro, VT (20.75) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 280 | Spearfish, SD (20.68) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 281 | Fairmont, WV (19.88) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 282 | Butte-Silver Bow, MT (19.71) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 283 | Jamestown, ND (19.65) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 284 | Saco, ME (19.30) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 285 | Augusta, ME (19.11) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 286 | Rutland, VT (19.04) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 287 | Wheeling, WV (18.54) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 288 | Bennington, VT (18.36) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 289 | Miles City, MT (18.33) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 290 | Laconia, NH (17.92) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 291 | Watertown, SD (17.39) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 292 | Barre, VT (16.71) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 293 | Clarksburg, WV (16.26) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 294 | Parkersburg, WV (14.18) |
*1=Most Diverse
Ask the Experts
Ethnic diversity brings about both benefits and challenges. For more insight, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:
- What are the main benefits of living in an ethnically diverse city?
- What are some potential challenges of living in an ethnically diverse city?
- What does it mean for residents when a city’s ethnic composition changes rapidly?
- What are some tips for managing an ethnically diverse workplace?
- Younger generations in the US are the most ethnically diverse yet. What impact do you think the increasingly diverse demographic makeup will have on the economy?
- What kinds of programs should state and local governments develop in order to promote the benefits of ethnic diversity?
Ask the Experts
Rodney D. Coates
Professor, Global and Intercultural Studies; Sociology, Gerontology and Social Justice; Coordinator of Black World Studies – Miami University
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Professor, Global and Intercultural Studies; Sociology, Gerontology and Social Justice; Coordinator of Black World Studies – Miami University
Read More
Jennifer Hamer
Professor, Department of African American Studies; Senior Faculty Mentor, Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity – Pennsylvania State University
Read More
Professor, Department of African American Studies; Senior Faculty Mentor, Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity – Pennsylvania State University
Read More
Robert L. Peralta
Ph.D. – Professor, Sociology Department, Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences – The University of Akron
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Ph.D. – Professor, Sociology Department, Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences – The University of Akron
Read More
Lata Murti
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Sociology, Online Campus – Brandman University
Read More
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Sociology, Online Campus – Brandman University
Read More
Diane L. Swanson
Ph.D. – Professor of Management, The Edgerley Family Chair in Business Administration; Faculty of Distinction, Founding Chair, Business Ethics Education Initiative – Kansas State University
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Ph.D. – Professor of Management, The Edgerley Family Chair in Business Administration; Faculty of Distinction, Founding Chair, Business Ethics Education Initiative – Kansas State University
Read More
Jonathan Feingold
Associate Professor of Law – Boston University School of Law
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Associate Professor of Law – Boston University School of Law
Read More
More Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the most ethnically diverse places in America, WalletHub compared 501 of the most populated U.S. cities across three key metrics: 1) Ethnoracial Diversity, 2) Linguistic Diversity and 3) Birthplace Diversity. Our data set, each metric’s subcomponents and its corresponding weight are listed below. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most ethnic diversity.
We then determined city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its “Ethnic Diversity Score” and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Each city in our sample refers to city proper and excludes the surrounding metro area. We limited our sample to no more than 10 cities from each state and categorized them according to the following population sizes:
- Large city: More than 300,000 people
- Midsize city: 100,000 to 300,000 people
- Small city: Fewer than 100,000 people
This analysis was conducted using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index method, which is a commonly accepted measurement of market concentration that also works effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity.
Ethnoracial Diversity: Total Points - 50
- Hispanic or Latino
- White (not Hispanic or Latino)
- Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino)
- Asian (not Hispanic or Latino)
- All Others (American Indian and Alaska native; native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander; some other race alone; two or more races) (but not Hispanic or Latino)
Linguistic Diversity: Total Points - 33
- English
- Spanish
- Other Indo-European Languages
- Asian & Pacific Islander Languages
- Other Languages
Birthplace Diversity: Total Points - 17
- In State of Residence
- Northeast Region
- Midwest Region
- South Region
- West Region
- U.S. Territory & Abroad (if born to American parent(s))
- Foreign Nation
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau.