Most diverse counties in Iowa
The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.
Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in Iowa using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson’s diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.
Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.
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#50. Boone County
- Total population: 26,370
- White: 95.7% (25,246)
- Black or African American: 0.6% (168)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (107)
- Asian: 0.3% (82)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.4% (112)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (449)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (206)
#49. Calhoun County
- Total population: 9,744
- White: 95.6% (9,317)
- Black or African American: 1.5% (150)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (36)
- Asian: 0.4% (35)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (165)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (41)
#48. Clarke County
- Total population: 9,360
- White: 95.6% (8,946)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (6)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (40)
- Asian: 0.7% (69)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (177)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (122)
#47. Jones County
- Total population: 20,559
- White: 95.4% (19,621)
- Black or African American: 2.1% (435)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (27)
- Asian: 1.0% (196)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (280)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
#46. Fayette County
- Total population: 19,803
- White: 95.4% (18,890)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (444)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (34)
- Asian: 0.3% (50)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (344)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (41)
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#45. Jasper County
- Total population: 36,971
- White: 95.3% (35,232)
- Black or African American: 2.0% (738)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (76)
- Asian: 0.5% (172)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (638)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (115)
#44. Clay County
- Total population: 16,211
- White: 95.3% (15,446)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (112)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (7)
- Asian: 0.6% (105)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (2)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (398)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (141)
#43. Mahaska County
- Total population: 22,164
- White: 95.3% (21,112)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (312)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (57)
- Asian: 1.5% (342)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (50)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (290)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (1)
#42. Fremont County
- Total population: 6,946
- White: 95.2% (6,614)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (55)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (42)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.2% (80)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (155)
#41. Washington County
- Total population: 22,100
- White: 95.2% (21,043)
- Black or African American: 0.8% (172)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (58)
- Asian: 0.6% (132)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (4)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (299)
- Some other Race: 1.8% (392)
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#40. Franklin County
- Total population: 10,162
- White: 95.1% (9,669)
- Black or African American: 0.2% (25)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (11)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.3% (30)
- Some other Race: 4.2% (427)
#39. Hardin County
- Total population: 17,061
- White: 95.0% (16,212)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (221)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.6% (272)
- Asian: 0.1% (13)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (5)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (245)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (93)
#38. Cherokee County
- Total population: 11,343
- White: 94.9% (10,762)
- Black or African American: 2.0% (228)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (39)
- Asian: 0.8% (90)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (218)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (6)
#37. Winnebago County
- Total population: 10,534
- White: 94.9% (9,993)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (181)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (34)
- Asian: 1.3% (134)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (116)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (76)
#36. Decatur County
- Total population: 7,979
- White: 94.6% (7,552)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (141)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (24)
- Asian: 0.7% (59)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (25)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (141)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (37)
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#35. Emmet County
- Total population: 9,438
- White: 94.6% (8,929)
- Black or African American: 2.1% (199)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (16)
- Asian: 0.3% (24)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (158)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (112)
#34. Montgomery County
- Total population: 10,053
- White: 94.6% (9,509)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (11)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (86)
- Asian: 0.2% (17)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (185)
- Some other Race: 2.4% (245)
#33. Taylor County
- Total population: 6,167
- White: 94.6% (5,833)
- Black or African American: 0.0% (1)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (14)
- Asian: 1.0% (63)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (99)
- Some other Race: 2.5% (157)
#32. Sioux County
- Total population: 34,827
- White: 94.6% (32,930)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (122)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (94)
- Asian: 0.7% (257)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (16)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (595)
- Some other Race: 2.3% (813)
#31. Plymouth County
- Total population: 25,068
- White: 94.5% (23,694)
- Black or African American: 1.0% (244)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (117)
- Asian: 0.7% (163)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (268)
- Some other Race: 2.3% (582)
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#30. Osceola County
- Total population: 6,052
- White: 94.5% (5,717)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (76)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (21)
- Asian: 0.1% (8)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (3)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (100)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (127)
#29. Cerro Gordo County
- Total population: 42,834
- White: 94.1% (40,288)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (747)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (215)
- Asian: 1.1% (491)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (51)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (793)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (249)
#28. Floyd County
- Total population: 15,786
- White: 94.0% (14,832)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (271)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (97)
- Asian: 1.5% (237)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (24)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (283)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (42)
#27. Hamilton County
- Total population: 14,997
- White: 93.9% (14,077)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (202)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (8)
- Asian: 3.0% (455)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (32)
- 2 or more races: 0.1% (22)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (201)
#26. Poweshiek County
- Total population: 18,388
- White: 93.9% (17,261)
- Black or African American: 1.9% (354)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (2)
- Asian: 2.1% (391)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (286)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (94)
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#25. Page County
- Total population: 15,268
- White: 93.7% (14,313)
- Black or African American: 2.0% (305)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (79)
- Asian: 1.0% (152)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (19)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (335)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (65)
#24. Lee County
- Total population: 34,227
- White: 93.7% (32,054)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (946)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (83)
- Asian: 0.6% (213)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (6)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (744)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (181)
#23. Clinton County
- Total population: 46,909
- White: 93.6% (43,921)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (1,320)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (141)
- Asian: 0.7% (326)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (2)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (1,087)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (112)
#22. Wright County
- Total population: 12,739
- White: 93.4% (11,901)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (49)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (3)
- Asian: 0.5% (67)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (201)
- Some other Race: 4.1% (518)
#21. Pottawattamie County
- Total population: 93,393
- White: 93.0% (86,816)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (1,638)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (355)
- Asian: 0.8% (728)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (10)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (1,804)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (2,042)
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#20. Dubuque County
- Total population: 96,982
- White: 92.6% (89,785)
- Black or African American: 3.5% (3,440)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (250)
- Asian: 1.1% (1,050)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.5% (509)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (1,471)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (477)
#19. Henry County
- Total population: 19,941
- White: 91.6% (18,273)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (444)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (35)
- Asian: 2.6% (526)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (9)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (519)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (135)
#18. Webster County
- Total population: 36,545
- White: 90.6% (33,123)
- Black or African American: 4.7% (1,727)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (119)
- Asian: 1.4% (501)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (5)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (649)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (421)
#17. Dallas County
- Total population: 87,099
- White: 90.6% (78,883)
- Black or African American: 1.9% (1,654)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (98)
- Asian: 4.5% (3,928)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (83)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (1,773)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (680)
#16. Muscatine County
- Total population: 42,889
- White: 90.4% (38,753)
- Black or African American: 2.5% (1,065)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (87)
- Asian: 0.9% (388)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (11)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (1,225)
- Some other Race: 3.2% (1,360)
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#15. Louisa County
- Total population: 11,178
- White: 90.3% (10,097)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (126)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.9% (96)
- Asian: 3.4% (377)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (100)
- Some other Race: 3.4% (382)
#14. Des Moines County
- Total population: 39,386
- White: 90.1% (35,502)
- Black or African American: 5.7% (2,258)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (78)
- Asian: 0.8% (302)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (1,150)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (96)
#13. Linn County
- Total population: 223,861
- White: 88.0% (197,046)
- Black or African American: 5.5% (12,389)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (493)
- Asian: 2.3% (5,086)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (313)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (6,828)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (1,706)
#12. Tama County
- Total population: 17,032
- White: 87.8% (14,952)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (157)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 8.4% (1,438)
- Asian: 0.5% (78)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (4)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (178)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (225)
#11. Wapello County
- Total population: 35,141
- White: 87.3% (30,687)
- Black or African American: 3.6% (1,248)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (36)
- Asian: 1.2% (432)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.7% (240)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (704)
- Some other Race: 5.1% (1,794)
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#10. Story County
- Total population: 96,941
- White: 86.1% (83,428)
- Black or African American: 2.3% (2,213)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (223)
- Asian: 8.0% (7,795)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (2,421)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (861)
#9. Marshall County
- Total population: 39,964
- White: 85.8% (34,303)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (502)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (105)
- Asian: 3.7% (1,474)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (15)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (913)
- Some other Race: 6.6% (2,652)
#8. Crawford County
- Total population: 17,034
- White: 85.8% (14,619)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (477)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (107)
- Asian: 2.1% (353)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (27)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (364)
- Some other Race: 6.4% (1,087)
#7. Scott County
- Total population: 172,446
- White: 85.6% (147,646)
- Black or African American: 7.5% (12,954)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (543)
- Asian: 2.7% (4,698)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (39)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (5,276)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (1,290)
#6. Woodbury County
- Total population: 102,586
- White: 85.7% (87,959)
- Black or African American: 3.6% (3,706)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 2.0% (2,010)
- Asian: 2.8% (2,908)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (326)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (3,565)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (2,112)
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#5. Polk County
- Total population: 479,612
- White: 84.0% (402,987)
- Black or African American: 6.8% (32,518)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (1,530)
- Asian: 4.6% (21,909)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (438)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (13,774)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (6,456)
#4. Black Hawk County
- Total population: 132,393
- White: 83.7% (110,821)
- Black or African American: 9.5% (12,534)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (557)
- Asian: 2.4% (3,145)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (352)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (3,040)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (1,944)
#3. Jefferson County
- Total population: 18,148
- White: 83.2% (15,104)
- Black or African American: 7.2% (1,305)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (3)
- Asian: 4.4% (790)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.8% (694)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (252)
#2. Johnson County
- Total population: 148,577
- White: 81.7% (121,408)
- Black or African American: 7.3% (10,815)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (288)
- Asian: 6.2% (9,271)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (102)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (3,454)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (3,239)
#1. Buena Vista County
- Total population: 20,058
- White: 77.0% (15,451)
- Black or African American: 2.5% (505)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (5)
- Asian: 10.1% (2,020)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 1.5% (299)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (285)
- Some other Race: 7.4% (1,493)
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