Census ACS 5-Year · 52 states
Most Racially Diverse States
Racial diversity in the United States varies dramatically by state. Hawaii is the most diverse state, with no single racial group forming a majority, a unique demographic profile reflecting centuries of migration from Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the mainland US. California, New Mexico, and Texas are also highly diverse, driven by large Hispanic and Asian populations. Diversity is more than a demographic statistic: research consistently shows that diverse communities foster innovation, broader economic opportunity, and richer cultural experiences. The most diverse states also tend to have more multilingual populations, international business ties, and varied cuisine and arts scenes. Meanwhile, states in the upper Midwest and northern New England remain among the least diverse, though demographic shifts driven by immigration and domestic migration are gradually changing that picture.
Key Findings
- 1Hawaii leads with a diversity score of 77.5, followed by Puerto Rico (64.8) and District of Columbia (60.9).
- 2Vermont ranks last at 8.6, while Hawaii leads at 77.5.
- 3The national median across all states is 29.1 (Arkansas at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Hawaii, Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, California, Maryland, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Mississippi.
Full Ranking: Most Racially Diverse States
Source: Census ACS 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Hispanic | Black | Asian | White |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 3.9% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 86.0% |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 1.8% | 6.1% | 0.0% | 81.3% |
| 3 | West Virginia | 1.1% | 3.3% | 0.0% | 90.9% |
| 4 | Washington | 3.3% | 4.0% | 0.0% | 67.8% |
| 5 | Virginia | 1.4% | 18.7% | 0.0% | 61.7% |
| 6 | Vermont | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.0% | 91.4% |
| 7 | Utah | 2.2% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 80.7% |
| 8 | Texas | 2.0% | 12.2% | 0.0% | 53.9% |
| 9 | Tennessee | 1.3% | 15.9% | 0.0% | 73.5% |
| 10 | South Dakota | 10.1% | 2.2% | 0.0% | 81.5% |
| 11 | South Carolina | 1.3% | 25.3% | 0.0% | 64.1% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1.7% | 5.8% | 0.0% | 72.3% |
| 13 | Puerto Rico | 2.0% | 7.3% | 0.0% | 35.2% |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | 0.9% | 10.7% | 0.0% | 75.8% |
| 15 | Oregon | 3.6% | 1.9% | 0.0% | 76.6% |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 13.9% | 7.1% | 0.0% | 66.8% |
| 17 | Ohio | 1.1% | 12.3% | 0.0% | 77.8% |
| 18 | North Dakota | 6.4% | 3.2% | 0.1% | 83.9% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 2.3% | 20.6% | 0.0% | 63.3% |
| 20 | New York | 1.4% | 14.7% | 0.0% | 57.1% |
| 21 | New Mexico | 12.0% | 2.1% | 5.9% | 53.6% |
| 22 | New Jersey | 1.2% | 13.0% | 0.0% | 56.9% |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 1.0% | 1.5% | 0.0% | 88.9% |
| 24 | Nevada | 2.9% | 9.4% | 0.1% | 53.2% |
| 25 | Nebraska | 2.2% | 4.8% | 0.0% | 79.9% |
| 26 | Montana | 8.2% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 85.7% |
| 27 | Missouri | 1.6% | 11.1% | 0.0% | 78.3% |
| 28 | Mississippi | 1.2% | 37.0% | 0.0% | 56.3% |
| 29 | Minnesota | 2.2% | 6.8% | 0.0% | 78.4% |
| 30 | Michigan | 1.7% | 13.4% | 0.0% | 74.8% |
| 31 | Massachusetts | 1.0% | 7.0% | 0.0% | 70.7% |
| 32 | Maryland | 1.5% | 29.6% | 0.0% | 49.6% |
| 33 | Maine | 1.6% | 1.7% | 0.0% | 91.3% |
| 34 | Louisiana | 1.8% | 31.1% | 0.0% | 58.0% |
| 35 | Kentucky | 1.1% | 7.9% | 0.0% | 83.7% |
| 36 | Kansas | 2.7% | 5.4% | 0.0% | 77.9% |
| 37 | Iowa | 1.2% | 3.9% | 0.0% | 85.6% |
| 38 | Indiana | 1.3% | 9.3% | 0.0% | 78.5% |
| 39 | Illinois | 1.5% | 13.8% | 0.0% | 63.3% |
| 40 | Idaho | 2.8% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 83.3% |
| 41 | Hawaii | 2.6% | 1.9% | 0.0% | 22.5% |
| 42 | Georgia | 1.5% | 31.3% | 0.0% | 52.5% |
| 43 | Florida | 1.2% | 15.3% | 0.0% | 59.9% |
| 44 | District of Columbia | 1.6% | 43.3% | 0.0% | 39.1% |
| 45 | Delaware | 1.4% | 21.9% | 0.0% | 61.8% |
| 46 | Connecticut | 1.2% | 10.7% | 0.0% | 67.6% |
| 47 | Colorado | 2.9% | 4.0% | 0.2% | 73.5% |
| 48 | California | 2.8% | 5.5% | 0.0% | 44.0% |
| 49 | Arkansas | 2.4% | 14.9% | 0.0% | 70.9% |
| 50 | Arizona | 6.0% | 4.6% | 1.9% | 63.2% |
| 51 | Alaska | 20.2% | 3.1% | 0.0% | 60.7% |
| 52 | Alabama | 1.6% | 26.1% | 0.0% | 65.4% |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Hawaii has the highest diversity score at 77.5, according to latest Census ACS data. Puerto Rico and District of Columbia round out the top three.
Vermont has the lowest diversity score at 8.6. Maine is second-lowest at 8.7.
The median across all 52 states is 29.1. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently, the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS 5-Year estimates. The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.