In this article, we will look at the least racially diverse cities in the US.
With an overall ethnic fractionalization of 49%, the United States is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Ethnic fractionalization refers to the probability that two people selected at random belong to different ethnicities. However, not all cities in the United States are the same when it comes to racial diversity. While one of the most popular Presidents of the United States is an African American, some cities in the country do not do well in terms of encouraging and accepting diversity.
The United States was once a white-dominated country. However, much has changed in the recent past, and it is on its way to becoming a major-minority country, where there are as many minority residents as there are majority residents. The United States is the top migration country in the world. Each year, thousands of immigrant make this country their home to fulfill their American dream. Nearly four out of ten residents in the United States identify with a non-white race. In 2022, foreign-born essential workers increased to 19.8 million. These foreign or immigrant workers are one of the primary drivers of economic growth for the country as they have a collective spending power of $1.3 trillion. In addition, most of the immigrant workers are at their prime working age.
Diversity, healthy growth of the population, and the inflow of immigrant workers are essential for the American economy. In the year 2021, the United States saw a historically low population growth rate of 0,16%. During the same time, international migration decreased by 50%. There was a slight increase in the population growth rate between July 2021 and July 2022 compared to the same period last year. During this time, the population growth rate was 0.38%, but the increase came mostly from migrant workers. Population growth is essential for the United States as without it the number of prime-age working people will start declining.
Several studies and research have been done to assess the impact of diversity on a country, and most of them report favorable outcomes. In 2015, the French government computed that France would gain 150 billion Euros or 6.9% of its 2015 GDP by improving accessibility of minorities and women. Inclusion and diversity make the workforce more competitive. It encourages the disfavored groups to make more meaningful contributions and participate actively in the economy. On the other hand, it forces people belonging to favored groups to stop taking their position for granted and increase their productivity. In addition, increased diversity also increases the availability of a variety of skills and expertise.
It seems that the business community in the United States recognizes that diversity and racial inclusion are good for business. Many companies in the country work actively against prevalent racism. One of these companies is Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:APPL). The company committed $100 million to its Racial Justice initiative, and in 2021, announced the launch of several projects as part of this initiative. In addition, it also announced a new Apple Developer academy in Detroit, which aims at helping African Americans acquire coding skills.
With that backdrop, let’s look at some of the least racially diverse cities in the US. If you were wondering which is the least racially diverse city in America, our list has the answer for you.
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Methodology
To curate our list of the least diverse cities in the United States, we used Wallet Hub’s ranking of cities according to their diversity. The list analyzes the United States’s 501 cities and computes their scores based on the following factors: household diversity, economic diversity, socioeconomic diversity, and cultural diversity. The least diverse city has the lowest total diversity score.
20 – Jackson, Missisipi
Racial Diversity Score – 21.25
Located along the Pearl River, Jackson, Mississippi is the capital and most populous city of Mississippi. The city is one of the least diverse large cities in America. The city has a population of 157000 people, as of 2021, with a median age of 33.5. The surprising fact about Jackson is that although it is one of the least racially diverse cities in the US, it has a predominantly African-American population. Non-Hispanic Blacks make up 82% of its total population.
19 – Weirton, West Virginia
Racial Diversity Score – 21.15
Weirton is located in the Hancock and Brooke counties of the state of West Virginia, which is also the least diverse state in America. The city has a population of just above 19,000, 91.7% of which are Non-Hispanic Whites. As of 2021, there are 30.2 times more whites in the city compared to people belonging to other races and ethnicities, making it one of the least racially diverse cities in the US.
18 – Lewiston, Maine
Racial Diversity Score – 21.14
Lewiston is the second most populous and the least diverse city in Maine. The city has an overall population of 36,615 people. As of 2021. With a median age of 40.5. Nion Hispanic whites make up 82.7% of its population. There are 11.9 times more whites in the city compared to any other ethnic group.
17 – Fairmont, Illinois
Racial Diversity Score – 20.97
Located in Will County Illinois, Fairmount is home to only 631 people as of 2021. More than 95% of the total population of the city comprises non-Hispanic whites, making it one of the least diverse cities in the United States. As of 2021, there were 46.5 times more non-Hispanic Whites, compared to all other ethnicities.
16 – Greenville, South California
Racial Diversity Score – 20.89
Located halfway between Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, Greenville has a population of about 69700 people with a median age of 34.5. 65.5% of the total population in the city comprises non-Hispanic whites. As of 2021, whites were more than 2.84 times that of people belonging to other ethnicities.
15 – Mitchell, South Dakota
Racial Diversity Score – 20.46
Mitchell is located on the James River in South Dakota. The city has a total population of about 69700 people, amongst which 65.6% are White Non-Hispanic. As of 2021, there were 2.84 times more white non-Hispanic people compared to people belonging to any other ethnicities, making it one of the least diverse cities in the United States.
14 – Augusta, Georgia
Racial Diversity Score – 20.12
Augusta is located along the South Carolina and Georgia border. As of 2021, it had a total population of almost just above 600,000 people, with a median age of 37.9. Hispanic whites make up 53.4%, and non-Hispanic African Americans make up 34.8% of the population. As of 2021, there were 1.53 times more non-Hispanic White residents than people belonging to any other ethnicity.
13 – Watertown, New York
Racial Diversity Score – 20.12
Water Town is one of only two New York states in our list of the least racially diverse cities in the US. It is located 13 miles southwest of the US Army base at Fort Drum and is home to more than 25,000 people. Non-Hispanic Whites make up more than 79% of its population. As of 2021, there are 11.2 times more Non-Hispanic White residents than people belonging to any other ethnicities, making Watertown one of the least racially diverse cities in the US.
12 – Brattleboro, Vermont
Racial Diversity Score – 19.92
Known as the best small town in America, Brattleboro is home to only about 7300 people. More than 94% of the total population in the city comprises non-Hispanic Whites. As of 2021, Hispanic white people outnumber people of all other ethnicities by 43 times in Brattleboro.
11 – Jamestown, New York
Racial Diversity Score – 19.89
Jamestown is the least racially diverse city in New York. The total population of the city is around 28,800 as of 2021, with a median age of 36.8. 82.3% of the people in the city are non-Hispanic whites, who outnumber people belonging to all other ethnicities by 15.5 times.
10 – Laconia, New Hampshire
Racial Diversity Score – 19.79
Laconia, New Hampshire, is among the top ten least racially diverse cities in the US. The city has a population of around 16,800 people with a considerably high median age of 43.1. More than 92% of the total population comprises non-Hispanic White residents, who outnumber people belonging to all other ethnicities by 36 times.
9 – Bennington, Vermont
Racial Diversity Score – 19.69
Bennington is located in the southwesternmost part of Vermont and has a total population of just above 8,,700 people with a median age of 47. Non-Hispanic White residents make up 94% of the population, and there are small minorities of Asians and White Hispanics in the city. As of 2021, non-Hispanic White residents outnumbered residents belonging to other ethnicities by 41.2 times, making it one of the least racially diverse cities in the United States.
8 – Wheeling, West Virginia
Racial Diversity Score – 19.47
Located in the northern part of West Virginia, Wheeling is one of the least racially diverse cities in the United States. The city has a population of around 140,000 residents with a median age of 44.1. Non-Hispanic whites make up more than 92% of the total population in the city. As of 2021, there were 35.6 times more non-Hispanic White residents, compared to all other ethnicities.
7 – Butte-Silver Bow, Montana
Racial Diversity Score – 19.39
The seventh least racially diverse city in the US is Butte-Silver Bow, Montana. In 2021, the city had a population of around 140000 people, with a median age of 44.1. The city has a predominantly white population, as non-Hispanic White residents outnumber people belonging to all other ethnicities by 35.6 times.
6 – Laredo, Texas
Racial Diversity Score – 18.91
Located on the west end of Rio Grande Plains, Laredo, Texas is home to around 25,500 people with a median age of 29.1. The non-Hispanic white population in the city makes up 64.8% of its total population. The city is also home to Hispanics, Asians, and Hispanic White people. As of 2021, non-Hispanic white residents of the city outnumbered people from all other ethnicities by 2.44 times.
5 – Rutland, Vermont
Racial Diversity Score – 18.74
The third largest city of Vermont, Rutland is one of the top five least racially diverse cities in the United States. The city has a population of around 61,000 people with a median age of 47.2. Non-Hispanic White residents make up more than 94% of the total population in the city. At around 0.696% of the total population, African Americans are very rare in the city. As of 2021, non-Hispanic white residents outnumber people from other ethnicities by 37.4 times.
4 – Barre, Vermont
Racial Diversity Score – 17.41
Located in the Washington County of Vermont, Barre is home to 59,609 people. The median age of the residents of the city is 43.4. Barre, Vermont has a predominantly non-Hispanoc white population who make up for more than 93% of its total population. As of 2021, the non-Hispanic white residents outnumbered people from all other ethnicities by 33.9 times, making Barre one of the least racially diverse cities in the United States.