The 10 Most Racially Diverse Cities in America

The areas surrounding the nation’s capital include four of the most racially and ethnically diverse cities in the nation, a new study shows.

Gaithersburg, Maryland, ranks No. 1 in the country for diversity, according to an analysis by WalletHub.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, minorities comprised 38 percent of the country’s population as of last year. And minorities are projected to comprise the majority of the U.S. population by 2044.

In honor of National Diversity Awareness Month, WalletHub examined more than 300 of the largest American cities in terms of not only race and ethnicity, but also the number of foreign languages spoken and the residents’ regions of birth. The website states:

Given such forecasts, it’s ever more imperative to close the racial gaps across U.S. cities to ensure no group is left behind socially or economically.

Nancy DiTomaso, a professor of management and global business at Rutgers Business School in New Jersey, tells WalletHub that among other benefits, a greater diversity of opportunities in the workforce is one of the pluses of living in a diverse city:

Most ethnically diverse cities are also large cities, where the amenities in terms of universities, hospitals, cultural entertainment, and transportation (including airports) often accompany a diversity of job opportunities and business and industry growth.

If the city is genuinely diverse without being segregated, then it is likely that the city is more tolerant, open to creative and innovative ideas, and provides the opportunity for each person or family to find the services and amenities that help them develop and thrive.

According to WalletHub’s analysis, the most diverse cities in the U.S. are:

• Gaithersburg, Maryland
• Jersey City, New Jersey
• Germantown, Maryland
• New York City
• Oakland, California
• Spring Valley, Nevada
• San Jose, California
• Silver Spring, Maryland
• Renton, Washington
• Rockville, Maryland

The least diverse cities of the 313 examined are:

• Birmingham, Alabama
• Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• O’Fallon, Missouri
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin
• Duluth, Minnesota
• Warwick, Rhode Island
• Parma, Ohio
• Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• Livonia, Michigan
• Laredo, Texas

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