American history is a story of immigration and diversity. As of June 2012, people of color constituted 36% of the workforce, and the Census has predicted that by 2050, there will be no racial or ethnic majority in the United States. Our nation’s diversity is often a point of pride among residents, as well as an appealing aspect of the United States for newcomers and visitors. In honor of Diversity Day, NerdWallet took a closer look at which cities contribute the most diversity to this melting pot.
» MORE: Best mortgage lenders for immigrant borrowers
The overall scores were calculated by measuring how near the population was to an equal distribution of residents across the four most common ethnic groups: Hispanic/Latino, White (non-Hispanic), Black (non-Hispanic), and Asian/Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic).
Most Diverse Cities
1. Vallejo, CA
2. Jersey City, NJ
3. Suisun City, CA
4. Oakland, CA
5. San Leandro, CA
6. Germantown CDP, MD
7. Lincolnia CDP, VA
8. Atlantic City, NJ
9. New York, NY
10. Florin CDP, CA
| Rank | City/CDP | Hispanic or Latino | White (non-Hispanic) | Black (non-Hispanic) | Asian or Pacific Islander | Overall diversity score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vallejo, California | 23.70% | 24.10% | 21.00% | 24.50% | 96.9 |
| 2 | Jersey City, New Jersey | 27.80% | 21.60% | 23.80% | 23.80% | 95.3 |
| 3 | Suisun City, California | 25.70% | 26.60% | 19.70% | 20.20% | 91.7 |
| 4 | Oakland, California | 24.90% | 26.30% | 27.00% | 17.50% | 91.4 |
| 5 | San Leandro, California | 29.90% | 24.80% | 12.50% | 28.90% | 84.6 |
| 6 | Germantown, Maryland | 19.50% | 35.80% | 21.40% | 19.20% | 84.2 |
| 7 | Lincolnia, Virginia | 28.00% | 32.80% | 22.90% | 14.20% | 84.2 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, New Jersey | 24.20% | 20.80% | 37.40% | 15.20% | 82.7 |
| 9 | New York, New York | 28.60% | 33.30% | 22.90% | 12.70% | 82.5 |
| 10 | Florin, California | 30.20% | 20.80% | 12.60% | 30.20% | 82 |
| 11 | Springfield, Virginia | 24.70% | 37.40% | 10.90% | 25.10% | 81.8 |
| 12 | Sacramento, California | 26.60% | 34.90% | 13.40% | 19.70% | 81.1 |
| 13 | Eastvale, California | 38.60% | 24.20% | 9.70% | 25.30% | 80 |
| 14 | Fairfield, California | 25.90% | 36.10% | 15.10% | 16.80% | 79.9 |
| 15 | SeaTac, Washington | 21.20% | 39.00% | 21.80% | 11.60% | 79.2 |
| 16 | Richmond, California | 38.70% | 17.80% | 25.40% | 14.80% | 79 |
| 17 | Dale City, Virginia | 24.70% | 31.50% | 30.60% | 7.70% | 78.8 |
| 18 | Gaithersburg, Maryland | 23.50% | 40.40% | 14.60% | 17.40% | 78.1 |
| 19 | Aspen Hill, Maryland | 20.90% | 40.70% | 24.20% | 10.90% | 77.9 |
| 20 | Montgomery Village, Maryland | 26.00% | 39.20% | 22.30% | 9.70% | 77.9 |
Least Diverse Cities
1. Huntington Park, CA
2. East Los Angeles, CA
3. Lancaster, OH
4. Rocky River, OH
5. Forest Hills, MI
6. Laredo, TX
7. South Gate, CA
8. Green, OH
9. Mentor, OH
10. West Seneca, NY
| Rank | City/CDP | Hispanic or Latino | White (non-Hispanic) | Black (non-Hispanic) | Asian or Pacific Islander | Overall diversity score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntington Park, California | 97.90% | 1.10% | 0.10% | 0.90% | 2.8 |
| 2 | East Los Angeles, California | 97.70% | 1.30% | 0.30% | 0.70% | 3.1 |
| 3 | Lancaster, Ohio | 0.90% | 96.30% | 0.80% | 0.80% | 4.5 |
| 4 | Rocky River, Ohio | 0.40% | 95.90% | 0.90% | 2.30% | 5.3 |
| 5 | Forest Hills, Michigan | 1.00% | 95.20% | 0.50% | 2.40% | 6.1 |
| 6 | Laredo, Texas | 95.40% | 3.60% | 0.20% | 0.70% | 6.1 |
| 7 | South Gate, California | 95.10% | 3.10% | 0.40% | 1.00% | 6.4 |
| 8 | Green, Ohio | 0.70% | 94.90% | 0.90% | 2.70% | 6.5 |
| 9 | Mentor, Ohio | 1.70% | 94.80% | 1.90% | 1.40% | 6.9 |
| 10 | West Seneca, New York | 2.60% | 94.40% | 1.00% | 0.60% | 7 |
| 11 | Hialeah, Florida | 94.70% | 4.40% | 0.60% | 0.30% | 7.1 |
| 12 | Parkersburg, West Virginia | 1.20% | 94.10% | 1.90% | 0.40% | 7.1 |
| 13 | Ashland, Ohio | 1.50% | 94.30% | 1.60% | 1.60% | 7.3 |
| 14 | Bethel Park, Pennsylvania | 0.70% | 94.30% | 2.40% | 1.70% | 7.3 |
| 15 | Bristol, Tennessee | 1.40% | 94.10% | 3.10% | 0.60% | 7.6 |
| 16 | Lewiston, Idaho | 2.50% | 93.80% | 0.40% | 1.50% | 7.7 |
| 17 | Brunswick, Ohio | 3.20% | 93.90% | 1.20% | 0.30% | 7.7 |
| 18 | Keene, New Hampshire | 1.50% | 94.00% | 1.00% | 2.60% | 7.7 |
| 19 | Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio | 1.10% | 93.90% | 3.20% | 0.70% | 7.8 |
| 20 | Winona, Minnesota | 0.60% | 93.80% | 1.70% | 2.60% | 7.8 |
Over 1900 places were included in this analysis. Data was obtained from the U.S. Census.
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