Posted by: Richie Bernardo

The American narrative is a story of diversity. Our history tells of many different peoples coming together from every walk of life to form what is today a complex tapestry of backgrounds. And our story will continue to advance that narrative in the decades to come. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2044 the U.S. will no longer have a single ethnic majority, currently non-Hispanic whites, and will grow increasingly “majority-minority” in the years to follow.

But U.S. diversity spans more than just racial lines. In many states, the population reflects an eclectic mix of not just races but also cultures, religions, economic statuses, educational backgrounds and other characteristics, as people of various demographic profiles are forced to come into contact with one another.

In order to determine where idea and identity exchanges have occurred at the highest level — and where the population is relatively more homogeneous — WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states across five key diversity categories listed below. For a more local perspective on America’s ever expanding diversity, we also conducted our analysis at the city level. Read on for our findings, expert commentary from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Detailed Findings
3. Ask the Experts
4. Methodology

Main Findings

 

Most & Least Diverse States in America

Overall Rank (1 = Most Diverse)	State	Total Score	‘Socio-economic Diversity’ Rank	‘Cultural Diversity’ Rank	‘Economic Diversity’ Rank	‘Household Diversity’ Rank	‘Religious Diversity’ Rank
1	California	70.74	5	1	11	4	32
2	Texas	69.53	15	5	13	15	6
3	Hawaii	69.26	14	3	4	14	34
4	New Jersey	68.92	3	7	39	25	20
5	New York	68.58	8	9	37	6	18
6	New Mexico	68.56	33	4	5	5	22
7	Maryland	67.95	1	10	25	11	30
8	Nevada	67.51	26	2	45	2	45
9	Florida	67.35	29	6	34	7	38
10	Arizona	67.11	24	8	26	8	41
11	Illinois	66.91	11	12	38	21	7
12	Virginia	66.79	4	14	16	33	25
13	Georgia	66.39	20	13	18	10	16
14	Connecticut	66.07	6	15	44	26	27
15	Alaska	65.79	19	11	1	29	44
16	Delaware	65.29	13	17	40	12	35
17	Colorado	65.19	7	18	27	36	40
18	Massachusetts	64.87	2	20	50	19	33
19	Washington	64.85	12	16	14	35	43
20	North Carolina	64.47	27	19	29	18	26
21	Rhode Island	64.33	10	21	49	9	36
22	Oklahoma	63.92	42	22	6	22	19
23	Louisiana	63.87	44	25	12	3	3
24	South Carolina	63.71	38	23	20	13	15
25	Kansas	63.15	21	27	23	39	11
26	Alabama	62.38	46	28	17	16	12
27	Mississippi	62.32	49	26	10	1	14
28	Oregon	62.30	23	24	22	30	48
29	Nebraska	62.23	25	34	21	44	4
30	Minnesota	62.08	16	36	43	43	5
31	Tennessee	61.99	41	31	24	20	21
32	Pennsylvania	61.90	22	32	48	32	10
33	Arkansas	61.53	48	29	14	27	24
34	Idaho	61.40	43	35	8	48	13
35	South Dakota	60.96	37	42	9	42	2
36	Michigan	60.79	34	33	47	23	31
37	Missouri	60.77	32	39	35	31	17
38	Wyoming	60.68	31	38	2	47	37
39	Utah	60.66	18	30	30	50	49
40	Wisconsin	60.65	30	40	41	38	9
41	North Dakota	60.42	28	45	7	49	1
42	Indiana	60.36	40	37	46	28	29
43	Ohio	59.98	36	41	41	17	28
44	Iowa	59.53	35	46	32	46	8
45	Kentucky	59.02	47	44	28	24	23
46	Montana	58.82	45	43	3	45	39
47	New Hampshire	58.68	9	47	36	41	46
48	Vermont	57.49	17	48	33	40	47
49	Maine	55.83	39	49	31	37	50
50	West Virginia	55.55	50	50	19	34	42

 

Detailed Findings

State	‘Income Diversity’ Rank	‘Educational-Attainment Diversity’ Rank	‘Racial & Ethnic Diversity’ Rank	‘Linguistic Diversity’ Rank	‘Birthplace Diversity’ Rank	‘Industry Diversity’ Rank	‘Occupational Diversity’ Rank	‘Worker-Class Diversity’ Rank	‘Marital-Status Diversity’ Rank	‘Generational Diversity’ Rank	‘Household-Type Diversity’ Rank	‘Household-Size Diversity’ Rank	‘Religious Diversity’ Rank
Alabama	47	28	21	46	43	21	9	21	5	15	10	47	12
Alaska	1	46	13	17	4	15	22	1	35	49	26	4	44
Arizona	30	19	11	8	3	12	33	30	13	4	12	12	41
Arkansas	49	42	25	36	29	32	3	16	16	7	24	45	24
California	14	2	2	1	22	4	36	17	30	44	11	2	32
Colorado	11	8	23	16	5	1	45	33	39	47	35	13	40
Connecticut	5	7	22	12	19	44	47	36	29	13	25	19	27
Delaware	12	18	16	22	10	33	40	41	15	6	14	20	35
Florida	37	22	9	7	2	18	34	40	3	1	13	42	38
Georgia	32	12	10	21	17	5	29	28	12	45	7	14	16
Hawaii	3	27	1	9	14	22	30	4	38	2	32	3	34
Idaho	38	43	40	28	13	7	10	11	49	30	49	10	13
Illinois	17	11	12	11	38	24	35	47	31	33	20	16	7
Indiana	34	41	36	33	39	42	6	50	25	29	28	22	29
Iowa	25	48	46	35	44	34	13	34	45	8	45	41	8
Kansas	26	21	30	23	24	26	28	19	41	27	40	26	11
Kentucky	46	33	43	47	41	29	7	32	14	24	21	38	23
Louisiana	44	30	15	32	50	8	5	25	2	43	2	28	3
Maine	35	38	50	41	35	46	21	15	26	18	38	48	50
Maryland	2	4	5	15	8	35	50	6	24	35	9	8	30
Massachusetts	8	1	26	10	30	50	49	37	28	40	22	11	33
Michigan	31	36	29	30	49	43	20	48	23	23	19	30	31
Minnesota	10	24	38	24	40	36	41	42	47	25	44	21	5
Mississippi	50	34	18	49	46	30	2	12	1	28	1	31	14
Missouri	36	31	34	43	36	28	25	38	19	14	29	33	17
Montana	40	44	45	48	18	11	24	3	34	12	42	49	39
Nebraska	23	32	37	26	33	14	19	23	46	26	41	27	4
Nevada	27	35	4	6	1	47	17	46	4	32	5	7	45
New Hampshire	4	16	47	34	15	37	43	29	42	38	47	23	46
New Jersey	6	6	7	4	16	25	46	39	37	9	30	6	20
New Mexico	45	14	8	2	12	31	26	2	6	20	4	24	22
New York	18	3	6	5	32	45	44	22	20	37	3	9	18
North Carolina	39	15	17	25	21	27	27	27	17	16	16	32	26
North Dakota	16	47	44	44	37	16	11	8	48	46	46	40	1
Ohio	33	39	35	40	48	39	23	44	11	10	15	37	28
Oklahoma	41	37	20	29	27	3	8	13	18	31	23	29	19
Oregon	28	20	31	19	9	19	32	20	22	21	34	18	48
Pennsylvania	22	26	32	27	47	40	31	49	21	5	27	34	10
Rhode Island	19	9	27	13	25	48	38	45	8	36	6	25	36
South Carolina	42	23	19	39	23	20	12	24	7	11	8	44	15
South Dakota	29	45	41	42	34	13	16	10	43	19	39	46	2
Tennessee	43	25	28	38	28	23	15	26	10	22	18	36	21
Texas	21	10	3	3	26	2	18	31	27	48	17	5	6
Utah	13	29	33	20	31	10	37	35	50	50	50	1	49
Vermont	20	13	49	45	20	49	42	9	32	39	43	43	47
Virginia	7	5	14	18	11	17	48	7	33	34	33	17	25
Washington	9	17	24	14	7	6	39	18	36	41	36	15	43
West Virginia	48	49	48	50	42	38	4	14	9	3	31	50	42
Wisconsin	24	40	39	31	45	41	14	43	40	17	37	35	9
Wyoming	15	50	42	37	6	9	1	5	44	42	48	39	37

 

Ask the Experts

Diversity can have profound effects on communities. For insight on such outcomes and advice on achieving social integration, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are the pros and cons of living in a diverse state?
2. What impact does diversity have on social innovation and social cohesion? What about violence and social unrest?
3. What can policymakers do to encourage integration across neighborhoods?
4. How can states take advantage of their diversity in order to increase economic growth?

< >

• Adrian Cruz Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Alexandra Filindra Associate Professor of Political Science and Affiliated Faculty of Latin-American and Latino Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago
• Juan Carlos Gomez Director of the Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights Clinic at Florida International University College of Law

Adrian Cruz Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell What are the pros and cons to living in a diverse state? Diversity can be understood in many ways -- class, gender, race/ethnicity, immigrant/citizenship status. Communities that are diverse in terms of race and ethnicity offer opportunities for people to interact with others who may be very different from themselves. Such interactions can be invaluable in forging bonds across what have historically been lines of division and inequality in the U.S. As for “cons,” or disadvantages of diversity -- certainly, conflict could erupt between people because of racial/ethnic prejudice and acts of discrimination. While the word “diversity” is a buzzword these days in the U.S. that inspires images of unity and cohesion, the country has a long history of deep tension between racial and ethnic groups. What impact does diversity have on social innovation and social cohesion? What about violence and social unrest? As stated above, race and ethnic relations have often boiled over into tense and violent confrontations. We need not look further back into history than mere weeks ago, at the situation that arose in Charlottesville, Virginia. A lack of unity between various race/ethnic groups, in my opinion, impedes efforts to assemble a racially integrated United States of America. Consequently, divisions such as these prevent us from becoming the most innovative, and I would also say productive, country that we can be. What can policymakers do to encourage integration across neighborhoods? The United States continues to exhibit high levels of racial segregation across the country. Social scientists have developed sophisticated tools to assess and measure levels of segregation throughout the U.S. And the news is not good. We remain a society in which our schools, neighborhoods, and churches remain in separate “racial bubbles.” Racial and ethnic minorities, disturbingly, live in poorer neighborhoods, and attend poorly- and underfunded schools. Policymakers must look to invest in communities of color, such as struggling city cores (e.g., Newark, Detroit, Baltimore) and poor rural areas (which include many white communities) to provide economic and educational opportunity that is on par with wealthier parts of the U.S. How can states take advantage of their diversity in order to increase economic growth? States can seek to ensure that minority communities are guaranteed equal access and treatment. In making sure doors remain open to everyone, our streets, classrooms, and workplaces have a chance of becoming truly integrated spaces. Having a diverse set of citizens, workers and students translates into a more diverse set of skills -- more languages spoken, contacts with a wider span of networks, and variant life experiences and backgrounds. The list could go on. Alexandra Filindra Associate Professor of Political Science and Affiliated Faculty of Latin-American and Latino Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago What are the pros and cons to living in a diverse state? There are many forms of diversity: social, political, economic. Diversity challenges our ways of thinking, our assumptions about people. Most people prefer the comfort of their own “bubble” because that provides safety, even though a lot of times it is not an accurate reflection of the real world. Exposure to diverse environments forces us to update our thinking about the world. What impact does diversity have on social innovation and social cohesion? What about violence and social unrest? Social diversity can be the engine for new ideas. People who come from different parts of the world bring with them approaches and ways of thinking that can provide new solutions to old problems. Many immigrants are risk-takers -- choosing to move to a new place is a major risk in itself. Those who choose to migrate for the purpose of economic and social advancement tend to be people who are high achievers and likely to be productive economic citizens. Many are very educated with advanced degrees. But even those who are not tend to be people who believe in the American Dream of economic mobility and are willing to invest their labor to reach that dream. The introduction of people who are different in a socially cohesive community can be very disorienting for community members. Especially in communities where ethnic and racial ideologies are strong and people are raised to believe in their own group’s superior norms and abilities. In these situations, the role of elites is crucial. People follow the edicts of their trusted elites. When such leaders promote tolerance and integration, mass opinion follows. When leaders promote anger, threat, and adversarial relationships with newcomers, the people listen to that, too and respond accordingly. What can policymakers do to encourage integration across neighborhoods? Policymakers should stop using “dog whistle” politics and outright prejudice. They should encourage inter-group contact and embrace policies that enable people to interact with each other. School integration policies have been crucial in promoting and developing tolerance. Neighborhood integration today is to a great extent an economic problem. The policy needs to provide comprehensive, structural approaches to poverty alleviation. Livable wages, full-time jobs, child care programs, policies that allow people to save and invest in their communities will help with integration. How can states take advantage of their diversity in order to increase economic growth? States can invest in immigration, both foreign and domestic. Some cities have toyed with the idea of providing incentives for individuals and families to move into declining or abandoned neighborhoods. Maybe instead of giving subsidies to corporations to move from one state to another, we should go back to the old model of incentivizing families and small-scale entrepreneurs to come into our cities and states. In the 19th century, the demands of developing the West led states and territories to offer ten acres and a mule as incentives for people to come in and cultivate the land. Maybe that model has merit. We know that immigration creates its own demand for goods and services. Inviting people to populate a neighborhood can create jobs, because these people will need help to remodel and maintain homes, fix their cars, buy goods. Juan Carlos Gomez Director of the Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights Clinic at Florida International University College of Law What are the pros and cons to living in a diverse state?

• Pros -- life is much richer in a diverse state -- music, food, art, architecture, stories;

• Cons -- people take a while to trust each other and blend in with each other. In worst case scenarios, people stay within their circles and live in fear of each other.

What impact does diversity have on social innovation and social cohesion? What about violence and social unrest? I don't see violence or social unrest as an issue. I do see entrepreneurship in business that makes life richer in many ways. I see efforts by social and business leaders to transcend little differences and build on common interests -- like educating children and keeping them safe. What can policymakers do to encourage integration across neighborhoods? Education is the key to this issue. Policymakers must make sure that persons from all backgrounds, regardless of socioeconomic level, nationality, race, religion, or gender have a real and effective education. By education I mean teaching how to use the tools to enjoy a well-rounded life. I mean teach the many things that each culture can provide, teach how to communicate with each other, and teach how to appreciate and understand each other. Transcultural communication is key to problem-solving. Education is much more than sitting in a classroom, reading a textbook, staring at a computer screen, and heading from and to an isolated home in a cultural ghetto to a school building. Policymakers must incentivize innovation in meaningful education -- not prepackaged garbage that results in issuing a meaningless certificate. How can states take advantage of their diversity in order to increase economic growth? If a state can harness the entrepreneurial spirit, the drive to prosper in our country, the positive side of each culture, others will want to invest and become a part of this state.

Methodology

In order to determine the most and least diverse states in America, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states across five key dimensions: 1) Socio-economic Diversity, 2) Cultural Diversity, 3) Economic Diversity, 4) Household Diversity and 5) Religious Diversity.

We evaluated those dimensions using 13 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights and subcomponents. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale.

Finally, we determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states. A total score of 100 represents the most diverse state.

We conducted our analysis using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index method, which is a commonly accepted measure of market concentration that also works effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity (e.g., race/ethnicity, occupations, languages, nationalities).

1. Socioeconomic Diversity - Total Points: 25
   1. Household-Income Diversity: Weight = Double Weight (~16.67 Points)
      • $34,999 or Less
      • $35,000 - $49,999
      • $50,000 - $74,999
      • $75,000 - $99,999
      • $100,000 - $149,999
      • $150,000 or more
   2. Educational-Attainment Diversity: Weight = Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
      • Without a high school diploma
      • High school diploma and perhaps some college or an associate’s degree
      • Bachelor’s degree
      • Graduate or professional degree

    

2. Cultural Diversity - Total Points: 25
   1. Racial & Ethnic Diversity: Weight = Triple Weight (~12.50 Points)
      • Hispanic or Latino
      • White (not Hispanic or Latino)
      • Black or African American (not Hispanic or Latino)
      • Asian (not Hispanic or Latino)
      • Other (American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, some other race alone, two or more races and not Hispanic or Latino)
   2. Linguistic Diversity: Weight = Double Weight (~8.33 Points)
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Other Indo-European Languages
      • Asian & Pacific Islander Languages
      • Other Languages
   3. Birthplace Diversity: Weight = Full Weight (~4.17 Points)
      • In State of Residence
      • Northeast Region
      • Midwest Region
      • South Region
      • West Region
      • U.S. Territory & Abroad (if born to American parent(s))
      • Foreign Nation

    

3. Economic Diversity - Total Points: 20
   1. Industry Diversity: Weight = Triple Weight (~12.00 Points)Note: Considers the civilian employed population aged 16 and older
      • Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, and Mining
      • Construction
      • Manufacturing
      • Wholesale Trade
      • Retail Trade
      • Transportation and Warehousing, and Utilities
      • Information
      • Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
      • Professional, Scientific, and Management, and Administrative and Waste-Management Services
      • Educational Services, and Health Care and Social Assistance
      • Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, and Accommodation and Food Services
      • Other Services (excluding Public Administration)
      • Public Administration
   2. Occupational Diversity: Weight = Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: Considers the civilian employed population aged 16 and older
      • Management, Business, Science, and Arts Occupations
      • Service Occupations
      • Sales and Office Occupations
      • Natural-Resources, Construction, and Maintenance Occupations
      • Production, Transportation, and Material Moving Occupations
   3. Worker-Class Diversity: Weight = Full Weight (~4.00 Points)Note: Considers the civilian employed population aged 16 and older
      • Private Wage and Salary Workers
      • Government Workers
      • Self-Employed Workers (operating their own, unincorporated businesses)Note: Includes “people who worked for profit or fees in their own unincorporated business, professional practice, or trade or who operated a farm,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
      • Unpaid Family Workers

    

4. Household Diversity - Total Points: 20
   1. Marital-Status Diversity: Weight = Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
      • Never Married
      • Married (excluding separated)
      • Divorced
      • Separated
      • Widowed
   2. Generational Diversity: Weight = Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
      • Post-Millennials (Generation Z): born after 2000
      • Millennials: Ages 16 to 35 (born 1981-2000)
      • Generation X: Ages 36 to 51 (born 1965-1980)
      • Baby Boomers: Ages 52 to 70 (born 1946-1964)
      • Silent Generation & Greatest Generation: Ages 71 & Older (born before 1946)
   3. Household-Type Diversity: Weight = Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
      • Family Households with Married Couples
      • Male-headed Family Households (no spouse present)
      • Female-headed Family Households (no spouse present)
      • Nonfamily Households
   4. Household Size Diversity: Weight = Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
      • Two-person Family Households
      • Three-person Family Households
      • Four-person Family Households
      • Five-person Family Households
      • Six-person Family Households
      • Seven-person or More Family Households
      • One-person Nonfamily Households
      • Two-person Nonfamily Households
      • Three-person Nonfamily Households
      • Four-person Nonfamily Households
      • Five-person Nonfamily Households
      • Six-person Nonfamily Households
      • Seven-person or More Nonfamily Households

    

5. Religious Diversity - Total Points: 20
   • Evangelical Protestant
   • Mainline Protestant
   • Black Protestant
   • Catholic
   • Orthodox Christian
   • Muslim
   • Buddhist
   • Hindu
   • Unaffiliated
   • Other

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau and ARDA.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress