In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. introduced the world to his dream of a society that focuses on character, not on complexion. America has certainly come closer to realizing Dr. King’s vision. However, segregation and discrimination continue to persist.
In 2022, conversations on race have remained prevalent, with high-profile police brutality trials ending in convictions for officers. Unfortunately, only 40% of all adults and only 30% of black adults think the recent increased focus on racial equality has actually led to changes that have improved the lives of black people. This makes it clear that we have a lot of work to do.
As we think about future improvement, though, we can also recognize the steps toward racial harmony we’ve already achieved — in our workplaces, in our schools and in our voting booths. To that end, WalletHub measured the gaps between black people and white people across 21 key indicators of equality and integration in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Our data set ranges from median annual household income to standardized-test scores to voter turnout.
Racial Integration Ranking
This ranking measures the current integration levels of white people and black people. We also have constructed a separate ranking of the states’ racial progress levels achieved over time.
States with the Most Racial Integration
|
Overall Rank |
State |
Total Score |
Employment & Wealth |
Education |
Social & Civic Engagement |
Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | 78.60 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | Alaska | 77.27 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 5 |
| 3 | New Mexico | 76.28 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 43 |
| 4 | Delaware | 75.02 | 9 | 10 | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | Arizona | 73.90 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 37 |
| 6 | Washington | 72.81 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 9 |
| 7 | Texas | 72.73 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 15 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 72.15 | 11 | 5 | 19 | 18 |
| 9 | Maryland | 71.56 | 7 | 25 | 11 | 11 |
| 10 | Montana | 71.25 | 6 | 22 | 3 | 47 |
| 11 | Georgia | 70.95 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 24 |
| 12 | Idaho | 69.33 | 17 | 4 | 14 | 34 |
| 13 | West Virginia | 69.04 | 23 | 3 | 30 | 23 |
| 14 | Florida | 69.01 | 10 | 28 | 28 | 8 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 68.90 | 15 | 12 | 21 | 26 |
| 16 | Wyoming | 68.61 | 34 | 1 | 4 | 48 |
| 17 | Virginia | 67.92 | 12 | 30 | 13 | 31 |
| 18 | Colorado | 66.98 | 13 | 34 | 23 | 22 |
| 19 | California | 66.93 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 29 |
| 20 | North Carolina | 66.16 | 16 | 24 | 10 | 46 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 65.83 | 27 | 13 | 15 | 35 |
| 22 | New Jersey | 64.94 | 29 | 23 | 24 | 19 |
| 23 | Nevada | 64.30 | 28 | 31 | 26 | 13 |
| 24 | Missouri | 64.30 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 30 |
| 25 | Vermont | 63.47 | 25 | 19 | 41 | 10 |
| 26 | Indiana | 63.10 | 39 | 17 | 20 | 25 |
| 27 | Alabama | 62.87 | 31 | 20 | 29 | 38 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | 62.83 | 21 | 37 | 45 | 2 |
| 29 | Maine | 62.04 | 35 | 44 | 27 | 1 |
| 30 | South Carolina | 61.87 | 20 | 33 | 33 | 40 |
| 31 | Connecticut | 61.51 | 32 | 35 | 31 | 32 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | 61.32 | 18 | 47 | 37 | 14 |
| 33 | New York | 60.47 | 37 | 41 | 36 | 16 |
| 34 | Kansas | 60.43 | 36 | 43 | 17 | 33 |
| 35 | Ohio | 59.88 | 44 | 27 | 32 | 17 |
| 36 | Oregon | 59.85 | 19 | 18 | 49 | 20 |
| 37 | Utah | 59.56 | 38 | 42 | 8 | 44 |
| 38 | Arkansas | 59.51 | 33 | 16 | 46 | 27 |
| 39 | Mississippi | 57.83 | 40 | 40 | 34 | 28 |
| 40 | New Hampshire | 57.66 | 30 | 29 | 40 | 51 |
| 41 | Louisiana | 57.23 | 43 | 32 | 38 | 39 |
| 42 | Illinois | 55.19 | 47 | 38 | 35 | 21 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | 55.03 | 42 | 26 | 44 | 36 |
| 44 | South Dakota | 54.83 | 23 | 46 | 50 | 42 |
| 45 | Michigan | 54.78 | 45 | 39 | 39 | 41 |
| 46 | Nebraska | 52.71 | 41 | 49 | 22 | 45 |
| 47 | North Dakota | 52.57 | 46 | 36 | 47 | 4 |
| 48 | Minnesota | 50.77 | 48 | 48 | 43 | 3 |
| 49 | Iowa | 48.97 | 49 | 45 | 48 | 12 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | 32.31 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 49 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 26.10 | 51 | 51 | 42 | 50 |
Note: *No. 1 = Most Integrated
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
- Lowest
- 1. Hawaii
- 2. Montana
- 3. Wyoming
- 4. New Mexico
- 5. Arizona
- Highest
- 47. Minnesota
- 48. Iowa
- 49. Louisiana
- 50. Wisconsin
- 51. District of Columbia
- Lowest
- T-1. Alaska
- T-1. Kentucky
- T-1. Hawaii
- 4. Arizona
- 5. Vermont
- Highest
- 47. Iowa
- 48. Illinois
- 49. Pennsylvania
- 50. Wisconsin
- 51. District of Columbia
- Lowest
- 1. South Dakota
- 2. Alaska
- 3. Maine
- 4. Vermont
- 5. New Mexico
- Highest
- 47. Iowa
- 48. Montana
- 49. Michigan
- 50. Illinois
- 51. District of Columbia
- Lowest
- 1. District of Columbia
- 2. South Carolina
- 3. California
- 4. Virginia
- 5. Mississippi
- Highest
- 47. Iowa
- 48. Minnesota
- 49. Vermont
- 50. South Dakota
- 51. North Dakota
- Lowest
- 1. Hawaii
- 2. Montana
- 3. Alaska
- 4. New Mexico
- 5. Texas
- Highest
- 47. North Dakota
- 48. Minnesota
- 49. Maine
- 50. Iowa
- 51. Wisconsin
- Lowest
- T-1. Texas
- T-1. California
- T-1. New Mexico
- T-1. Wyoming
- T-1. West Virginia
- Highest
- 47. Wisconsin
- 48. District of Columbia
- 49. Iowa
- 50. South Dakota
- 51. Minnesota
- Lowest
- 1. Wyoming
- 2. New Mexico
- 3. Montana
- 4. West Virginia
- 5. Idaho
- Highest
- 47. Wisconsin
- 48. New York
- 49. Massachusetts
- 50. Connecticut
- 51. District of Columbia
- Lowest
- 1. West Virginia
- 2. Vermont
- 3. New Mexico
- 4. Hawaii
- 5. New Hampshire
- Highest
- 43. Connecticut
- 44. Missouri
- 45. Ohio
- 46. Wisconsin
- 47. District of Columbia
- Lowest
- T-1. Mississippi
- T-1. Maryland
- T-1. Tennessee
- T-1. Missouri
- T-1. Pennsylvania
- Highest
- 32. Colorado
- 33. Oregon
- 34. Iowa
- 35. Wisconsin
- 36. Massachusetts
- Lowest
- 1. Minnesota
- 2. New York
- 3. Arkansas
- 4. Massachusetts
- 5. District of Columbia
- Highest
- 35. Oregon
- 36. Wisconsin
- 37 West Virginia
- 38. Kansas
- 39. Utah
Note: All of the above comparisons refer to the gaps between white people and black people, according to the most recent available data.
*“Adults” include the population aged 25 and older.
Racial Progress Ranking
This ranking measures the levels of racial progress achieved over time. We also have constructed a separate ranking of the states’ current racial integration levels.
States with the Most Racial Progress
|
Overall Rank |
State |
Total Score |
Employment & Wealth |
Education |
Social & Civic Engagement |
Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 69.69 | 14 | 1 | 2 | N/A |
| 2 | Texas | 65.62 | 17 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| 3 | Georgia | 64.01 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 24 |
| 4 | Mississippi | 63.96 | 1 | 14 | 27 | 6 |
| 5 | Idaho | 63.64 | 26 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 63.61 | 18 | 2 | 6 | 45 |
| 7 | Florida | 63.00 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 7 |
| 8 | New Jersey | 62.11 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 10 |
| 9 | Maryland | 60.58 | 11 | 25 | 10 | 9 |
| 10 | Connecticut | 59.99 | 6 | 31 | 16 | 8 |
| 11 | Delaware | 59.72 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 26 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 58.98 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 19 |
| 13 | Louisiana | 58.92 | 8 | 17 | 29 | 12 |
| 14 | South Carolina | 58.39 | 3 | 20 | 37 | 28 |
| 15 | Alabama | 58.15 | 5 | 27 | 24 | 20 |
| 16 | California | 58.15 | 23 | 5 | 36 | 13 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 56.52 | 13 | 37 | 23 | 18 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 56.04 | 9 | 29 | 34 | 21 |
| 19 | Tennessee | 55.86 | 20 | 24 | 35 | 16 |
| 20 | Arizona | 55.19 | 25 | 6 | 20 | 43 |
| 21 | Virginia | 55.05 | 19 | 34 | 19 | 22 |
| 22 | Illinois | 54.76 | 30 | 26 | 32 | 4 |
| 23 | New York | 54.68 | 21 | 39 | 12 | 17 |
| 24 | Hawaii | 54.57 | 22 | 30 | 21 | 40 |
| 25 | Oregon | 54.13 | 38 | 8 | 3 | 39 |
| 26 | Montana | 53.82 | 31 | 38 | 5 | N/A |
| 27 | Utah | 53.57 | 35 | 15 | 4 | 44 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | 53.22 | 16 | 45 | 25 | 33 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | 51.55 | 29 | 28 | 17 | 37 |
| 30 | Washington | 51.39 | 32 | 11 | 18 | 27 |
| 31 | Alaska | 51.06 | 28 | 23 | 45 | 32 |
| 32 | Kansas | 50.85 | 36 | 36 | 9 | 29 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | 49.77 | 37 | 16 | 47 | 15 |
| 34 | Missouri | 49.52 | 27 | 33 | 33 | 38 |
| 35 | Kentucky | 48.55 | 33 | 35 | 26 | 35 |
| 36 | Michigan | 48.08 | 43 | 9 | 39 | 25 |
| 37 | Colorado | 46.84 | 34 | 44 | 30 | 34 |
| 38 | Nevada | 46.76 | 45 | 22 | 11 | 36 |
| 39 | North Dakota | 46.40 | 15 | 51 | 51 | 1 |
| 40 | Ohio | 45.43 | 39 | 40 | 44 | 23 |
| 41 | Indiana | 45.34 | 46 | 19 | 38 | 31 |
| 42 | Minnesota | 45.27 | 48 | 21 | 43 | 14 |
| 43 | South Dakota | 43.36 | 24 | 49 | 50 | 46 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 43.23 | 40 | 50 | 31 | 11 |
| 45 | Maine | 42.98 | 42 | 47 | 41 | N/A |
| 46 | West Virginia | 41.99 | 44 | 32 | 48 | 41 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | 41.02 | 51 | 42 | 28 | 5 |
| 48 | Nebraska | 40.24 | 41 | 41 | 40 | 47 |
| 49 | Wisconsin | 39.59 | 47 | 46 | 42 | 42 |
| 50 | Iowa | 35.41 | 50 | 43 | 49 | 30 |
| 51 | Vermont | 34.65 | 49 | 48 | 46 | N/A |
Note: *No. 1 = Most Racial Progress Achieved
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
- Highest Change
- 1. Wyoming
- 2. Georgia
- 3. Hawaii
- 4. New Mexico
- 5. Florida
- Lowest Change
- 47. Iowa
- 48. Wisconsin
- 49. North Dakota
- 50. Vermont
- 51. District of Columbia
- Highest Change
- 1. North Dakota
- 2. Utah
- 3. New Hampshire
- 4. Hawaii
- 5. Massachusetts
- Lowest Change
- 47. Florida
- 48. Colorado
- 49. Pennsylvania
- 50. Wisconsin
- 51. District of Columbia
- Highest Change
- 1. North Dakota
- 2. South Dakota
- 3. Idaho
- 4. Vermont
- 5. Maine
- Lowest Change
- 47. Nevada
- 48. Hawaii
- 49. Illinois
- 50. Montana
- 51. District of Columbia
- Highest Change
- 1. Connecticut
- 2. Idaho
- 3. Montana
- 4. North Dakota
- 5. Rhode Island
- Lowest Change
- 47. Nebraska
- 48. Vermont
- 49. Minnesota
- 50. West Virginia
- 51. Iowa
- Highest Change
- 1. Mississippi
- 2. South Carolina
- 3. Georgia
- 4. Alabama
- 5. Arkansas
- Lowest Change
- 47. Iowa
- 48. North Dakota
- 49. Idaho
- 50. Vermont
- 51. Maine
- Highest Change
- 1. Nevada
- 2. Mississippi
- 3. Delaware
- 4. Arizona
- 5. Florida
- Lowest Change
- 47. Montana
- 48. New Hampshire
- 49. Maine
- 50. South Dakota
- 51. North Dakota
- Highest Change
- 1. Wyoming
- 2. New Mexico
- 3. Arizona
- 4. Idaho
- 5. Texas
- Lowest Change
- 47. South Dakota
- 48. Minnesota
- 49. New Hampshire
- 50. Vermont
- 51. District of Columbia
- Highest Change
- 1. New Mexico
- 2. Florida
- 3. Mississippi
- 4. New Jersey
- 5. California
- Lowest Change
- 32. Kentucky
- 33. Oklahoma
- 34. Ohio
- 35. Wisconsin
- 36. Iowa
- Best Change
- 1. Kansas
- 2. North Carolina
- 3. Mississippi
- 4. Maryland
- 5. New Jersey
- Worst Change
- 25. Massachusetts
- 26. Ohio
- 27. Washington
- 28. South Carolina
- 29. Wisconsin
- Highest Change
- 1. District of Columbia
- 2. Minnesota
- 3. Tennessee
- 4. Iowa
- 5. Pennsylvania
- Lowest Change
- 34. Nevada
- 35. West Virginia
- 36. Kansas
- 37. Nebraska
- 38. Kentucky
Note: All of the above comparisons refer to the gap between white people and black people over time.
*“Adults” include the population aged 25 and older.
Ask the Experts
The harsh realities of racial segregation and discrimination are no longer as visible in America as they once were — but they persist. In order to understand the driving forces behind such problems and possible solutions, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts and ideas. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:
- What are the major causes of the racial wealth gap between black and white households?
- What can state and local authorities do to help reduce racial gaps in wealth, employment and education?
- Should state and local authorities work to reduce racial segregation in housing? If so, how?
- Why have some states been more successful than others in addressing racial inequalities?
Ask the Experts
Ph.D. – Administration and Supervision Program Director and Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership, College of Education – University of Houston-Clear Lake
Read More
Ph.D. – Derrick K. Gondwe Fellow and Assistant Professor of Africana Studies – Gettysburg College
Read More
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Black Communities and the Social Determinants of Health, Department of Health and Human Development – University of Pittsburgh School of Education
Read More
Samuel DuBois Cook Distinguished Professor of Public Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy – Duke University
Read More
Ph.D. – Professor, Department of Sociology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences – University of Illinois Chicago
Read More
Social Anthropologist, Professor, and Chair of Africana Studies – Lafayette College
Read More
Methodology
In order to determine the most racially integrated states and those that have achieved the most racial progress over time, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across four key dimensions: 1) Employment & Wealth, 2) Education 3) Social & Civic Engagement and 4) Health.
We evaluated those dimensions using 21 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of racial integration and progress.
This analysis compares only black people and white people in light of racial tensions in recent years that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. We released this report ahead of the holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement to end segregation and discrimination against black people.
We ranked the states and the District of Columbia based on two key measures:
- Racial Integration – Determined by subtracting the values attributed to white people and black people for a given metric, using only the most recent available data.
- Racial Progress – Determined by subtracting the values attributed to white people and black people for a given metric, using the oldest available data and the most recent. Based on the result, we calculated the percentage of progress for that specific metric in the analyzed period.
If in some states black people scored as high as or better than white people on a given metric, all such states were awarded the maximum number of points.
Finally, we determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.
Employment & Wealth – Total Points: 40
- Median Annual Household Income: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
- Labor-Force Participation Rate: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
- Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
- Homeownership Rate: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
- Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
- Share of Executives: Full Weight (~6.67 Points)
Education – Total Points: 20
- Share of Adults with at Least a High School Degree: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: “Adults” include the population aged 25 and older. - Share of Adults with at Least a Bachelor’s Degree: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: “Adults” include the population aged 25 and older. - Standardized-Test Scores: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). - Public High School Dropout Rate: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Social & Civic Engagement – Total Points: 20
- Share of Single-Parent Households: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Share of Adult Population on Parole: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Share of Veterans: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Voter-Turnout Rate: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the rates for presidential elections.
Health – Total Points: 20
- Share of Adults in Poor or Fair Health: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Share of Insured Adults: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Share of Obese Adults: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Share of Diabetic Adults: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Share of Preterm Births: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
- Share of Live Births with Low Birthweight: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: “Low Birthweight” refers to less than 2,500 grams. - Infant-Mortality Rate: Full Weight (~2.86 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of deaths of infants younger than one year per 1,000 live births.
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Bureau of Justice Statistics, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
