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Most diverse counties in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts 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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#14. Franklin County
- Index: 0.138
- Total population: 70,577
- White: 92.8% (65,480)
- Black or African American: 1.5% (1,066)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (209)
- Asian: 1.3% (908)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (106)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (1,841)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (967)
- Total population: 70,577
- White: 92.8% (65,480)
- Black or African American: 1.5% (1,066)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (209)
- Asian: 1.3% (908)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (106)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (1,841)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (967)
#13. Barnstable County
- Index: 0.158
- Total population: 213,496
- White: 91.6% (195,669)
- Black or African American: 2.9% (6,210)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (1,313)
- Asian: 1.5% (3,182)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (109)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (4,448)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (2,565)
- Total population: 213,496
- White: 91.6% (195,669)
- Black or African American: 2.9% (6,210)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (1,313)
- Asian: 1.5% (3,182)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (109)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (4,448)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (2,565)
#12. Berkshire County
- Index: 0.178
- Total population: 126,425
- White: 90.6% (114,485)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (3,548)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (338)
- Asian: 1.8% (2,248)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (78)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (3,519)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (2,209)
- Total population: 126,425
- White: 90.6% (114,485)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (3,548)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (338)
- Asian: 1.8% (2,248)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (78)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (3,519)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (2,209)
#11. Dukes County
- Index: 0.220
- Total population: 17,312
- White: 88.1% (15,247)
- Black or African American: 4.7% (813)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (143)
- Asian: 0.3% (59)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 4.1% (704)
- Some other Race: 2.0% (346)
- Total population: 17,312
- White: 88.1% (15,247)
- Black or African American: 4.7% (813)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (143)
- Asian: 0.3% (59)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 4.1% (704)
- Some other Race: 2.0% (346)
#10. Hampshire County
- Index: 0.228
- Total population: 161,032
- White: 87.6% (141,084)
- Black or African American: 2.6% (4,186)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (299)
- Asian: 5.3% (8,483)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (138)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (5,234)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (1,608)
- Total population: 161,032
- White: 87.6% (141,084)
- Black or African American: 2.6% (4,186)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (299)
- Asian: 5.3% (8,483)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (138)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (5,234)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (1,608)
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#9. Nantucket County
- Index: 0.231
- Total population: 11,168
- White: 87.3% (9,748)
- Black or African American: 7.8% (871)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (32)
- Asian: 0.6% (71)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (7)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (344)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (95)
- Total population: 11,168
- White: 87.3% (9,748)
- Black or African American: 7.8% (871)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (32)
- Asian: 0.6% (71)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (7)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (344)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (95)
#8. Bristol County
- Index: 0.286
- Total population: 561,037
- White: 84.1% (471,827)
- Black or African American: 4.3% (23,969)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (391)
- Asian: 2.3% (12,741)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (287)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (17,007)
- Some other Race: 6.2% (34,815)
- Total population: 561,037
- White: 84.1% (471,827)
- Black or African American: 4.3% (23,969)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (391)
- Asian: 2.3% (12,741)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (287)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (17,007)
- Some other Race: 6.2% (34,815)
#7. Worcester County
- Index: 0.293
- Total population: 824,772
- White: 83.7% (690,146)
- Black or African American: 5.0% (41,366)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (2,181)
- Asian: 4.9% (40,508)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (288)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (23,660)
- Some other Race: 3.2% (26,623)
- Total population: 824,772
- White: 83.7% (690,146)
- Black or African American: 5.0% (41,366)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (2,181)
- Asian: 4.9% (40,508)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (288)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (23,660)
- Some other Race: 3.2% (26,623)
#6. Plymouth County
- Index: 0.301
- Total population: 515,303
- White: 82.9% (427,046)
- Black or African American: 10.0% (51,537)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (817)
- Asian: 1.4% (7,192)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (50)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (11,497)
- Some other Race: 3.3% (17,164)
- Total population: 515,303
- White: 82.9% (427,046)
- Black or African American: 10.0% (51,537)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (817)
- Asian: 1.4% (7,192)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (50)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (11,497)
- Some other Race: 3.3% (17,164)
#5. Hampden County
- Index: 0.326
- Total population: 467,871
- White: 81.4% (381,040)
- Black or African American: 8.9% (41,471)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (1,144)
- Asian: 2.4% (11,197)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (121)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (13,803)
- Some other Race: 4.1% (19,095)
- Total population: 467,871
- White: 81.4% (381,040)
- Black or African American: 8.9% (41,471)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (1,144)
- Asian: 2.4% (11,197)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (121)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (13,803)
- Some other Race: 4.1% (19,095)
#4. Essex County
- Index: 0.349
- Total population: 783,676
- White: 79.9% (626,140)
- Black or African American: 4.3% (33,424)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (1,596)
- Asian: 3.4% (26,899)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (186)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (23,579)
- Some other Race: 9.2% (71,852)
- Total population: 783,676
- White: 79.9% (626,140)
- Black or African American: 4.3% (33,424)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (1,596)
- Asian: 3.4% (26,899)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (186)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (23,579)
- Some other Race: 9.2% (71,852)
#3. Norfolk County
- Index: 0.380
- Total population: 700,437
- White: 77.6% (543,394)
- Black or African American: 7.1% (49,756)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (950)
- Asian: 11.1% (77,446)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (274)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (17,054)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (11,563)
- Total population: 700,437
- White: 77.6% (543,394)
- Black or African American: 7.1% (49,756)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (950)
- Asian: 11.1% (77,446)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (274)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (17,054)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (11,563)
#2. Middlesex County
- Index: 0.393
- Total population: 1.6 million
- White: 76.7% (1,227,271)
- Black or African American: 5.3% (85,583)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (3,163)
- Asian: 11.9% (190,905)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (742)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (47,866)
- Some other Race: 2.8% (45,312)
- Total population: 1.6 million
- White: 76.7% (1,227,271)
- Black or African American: 5.3% (85,583)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (3,163)
- Asian: 11.9% (190,905)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (742)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (47,866)
- Some other Race: 2.8% (45,312)
#1. Suffolk County
- Index: 0.628
- Total population: 796,605
- White: 55.2% (439,961)
- Black or African American: 22.4% (178,557)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (2,188)
- Asian: 8.9% (70,597)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (418)
- 2 or more races: 6.6% (52,479)
- Some other Race: 6.6% (52,405)
- Total population: 796,605
- White: 55.2% (439,961)
- Black or African American: 22.4% (178,557)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (2,188)
- Asian: 8.9% (70,597)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (418)
- 2 or more races: 6.6% (52,479)
- Some other Race: 6.6% (52,405)
