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 New York 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.
Marduk // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 50#50. Steuben County
- Index: 0.103
- Total population: 96,422
- White: 94.7% (91,286)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (1,623)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (103)
- Asian: 1.5% (1,480)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (3)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (1,465)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (462)
Stef Ko // Shutterstock
2 / 50#49. Cortland County
- Index: 0.103
- Total population: 47,865
- White: 94.6% (45,302)
- Black or African American: 1.9% (928)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (107)
- Asian: 0.8% (364)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (7)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (921)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (236)
Colgate University // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 50#48. Madison County
- Index: 0.104
- Total population: 71,205
- White: 94.6% (67,360)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (1,268)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (339)
- Asian: 0.9% (638)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (79)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (1,212)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (309)
Beyond My Ken // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 50#47. Fulton County
- Index: 0.108
- Total population: 53,646
- White: 94.4% (50,640)
- Black or African American: 2.1% (1,119)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (209)
- Asian: 0.8% (417)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (7)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (810)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (444)
UpstateNYer // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 50#46. Washington County
- Index: 0.122
- Total population: 61,616
- White: 93.6% (57,686)
- Black or African American: 3.2% (1,969)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (196)
- Asian: 0.6% (371)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (7)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (869)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (518)
Kenneth Sponsler // Shutterstock
6 / 50#45. Otsego County
- Index: 0.126
- Total population: 59,972
- White: 93.4% (56,036)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (1,303)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (92)
- Asian: 1.4% (814)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (6)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (1,291)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (430)
Andre Carrotflower // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 50#44. Wayne County
- Index: 0.135
- Total population: 90,519
- White: 92.9% (84,123)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (2,543)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (148)
- Asian: 0.8% (725)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (105)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (1,915)
- Some other Race: 1.1% (960)
tomtsya// Shutterstock
8 / 50#43. Essex County
- Index: 0.136
- Total population: 37,459
- White: 92.9% (34,788)
- Black or African American: 3.2% (1,194)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (93)
- Asian: 0.3% (103)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (7)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (768)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (506)
P199 // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 50#42. St. Lawrence County
- Index: 0.137
- Total population: 108,913
- White: 92.8% (101,115)
- Black or African American: 2.4% (2,654)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (831)
- Asian: 1.0% (1,100)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (60)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (2,059)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (1,094)
PhotoItaliaStudio // Shutterstock
10 / 50#41. Saratoga County
- Index: 0.139
- Total population: 228,502
- White: 92.7% (211,792)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (3,992)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (508)
- Asian: 2.9% (6,697)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (41)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (4,277)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (1,195)
Benjamin D. Esham (bdesham) // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 50#40. Livingston County
- Index: 0.140
- Total population: 63,591
- White: 92.6% (58,916)
- Black or African American: 2.9% (1,813)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (146)
- Asian: 1.3% (830)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (30)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (1,065)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (791)
Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 50#39. Ontario County
- Index: 0.142
- Total population: 109,511
- White: 92.6% (101,371)
- Black or African American: 2.5% (2,769)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (388)
- Asian: 1.4% (1,501)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (36)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (1,864)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (1,582)
Andre Carrotflower // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 50#38. Chautauqua County
- Index: 0.148
- Total population: 128,496
- White: 92.2% (118,515)
- Black or African American: 2.6% (3,338)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (410)
- Asian: 0.6% (723)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (82)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (2,585)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (2,843)
Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 50#37. Genesee County
- Index: 0.153
- Total population: 57,808
- White: 91.9% (53,142)
- Black or African American: 2.1% (1,214)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (490)
- Asian: 0.8% (455)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (1,536)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (971)
Pubdog // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 50#36. Cattaraugus County
- Index: 0.154
- Total population: 77,121
- White: 91.9% (70,859)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (1,116)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 3.2% (2,485)
- Asian: 0.8% (610)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (1,581)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (470)
PQK // Shuterstock
16 / 50#35. Cayuga County
- Index: 0.155
- Total population: 77,425
- White: 91.8% (71,056)
- Black or African American: 4.3% (3,303)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (106)
- Asian: 0.6% (441)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (5)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (1,910)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (604)
Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 50#34. Wyoming County
- Index: 0.160
- Total population: 40,305
- White: 91.5% (36,882)
- Black or African American: 4.1% (1,669)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (203)
- Asian: 0.4% (167)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (815)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (569)
marjobani // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 50#33. Seneca County
- Index: 0.166
- Total population: 34,390
- White: 91.2% (31,355)
- Black or African American: 5.1% (1,744)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (143)
- Asian: 0.8% (285)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (8)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (543)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (312)
Richard Cavalleri // Shutterstock
19 / 50#32. Clinton County
- Index: 0.171
- Total population: 80,583
- White: 90.9% (73,237)
- Black or African American: 4.3% (3,447)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (221)
- Asian: 1.4% (1,133)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (15)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (1,123)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (1,407)
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock
20 / 50#31. Greene County
- Index: 0.193
- Total population: 47,424
- White: 89.6% (42,486)
- Black or African American: 5.8% (2,758)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (304)
- Asian: 1.0% (497)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (3)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (895)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (481)
Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 50#30. Columbia County
- Index: 0.205
- Total population: 60,371
- White: 89.0% (53,725)
- Black or African American: 4.5% (2,741)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (34)
- Asian: 1.8% (1,084)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (1,658)
- Some other Race: 1.9% (1,129)
Jimmy Emerson // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 50#29. Orleans County
- Index: 0.206
- Total population: 40,904
- White: 88.9% (36,345)
- Black or African American: 5.8% (2,383)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (136)
- Asian: 0.6% (250)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (993)
- Some other Race: 1.9% (797)
Lvklock // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 50#28. Chemung County
- Index: 0.219
- Total population: 84,895
- White: 88.1% (74,766)
- Black or African American: 6.3% (5,324)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (250)
- Asian: 1.3% (1,135)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (12)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (2,798)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (610)
Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock
24 / 50#27. Niagara County
- Index: 0.233
- Total population: 210,820
- White: 87.2% (183,860)
- Black or African American: 7.0% (14,806)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (2,074)
- Asian: 1.1% (2,337)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (62)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (5,998)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (1,683)
Jwilson855 // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 50#26. Montgomery County
- Index: 0.234
- Total population: 49,302
- White: 87.2% (42,970)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (1,091)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (73)
- Asian: 0.7% (362)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (1,387)
- Some other Race: 6.9% (3,419)
James Kirkikis // Shutterstock
26 / 50#25. Putnam County
- Index: 0.240
- Total population: 98,787
- White: 86.9% (85,846)
- Black or African American: 3.1% (3,030)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (203)
- Asian: 2.1% (2,039)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (23)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (2,056)
- Some other Race: 5.7% (5,590)
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
27 / 50#24. Jefferson County
- Index: 0.249
- Total population: 112,842
- White: 86.4% (97,448)
- Black or African American: 6.1% (6,932)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (564)
- Asian: 1.8% (1,983)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (249)
- 2 or more races: 3.8% (4,341)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (1,325)
Matt H. Wade // Wikimedia Commons
28 / 50#23. Rensselaer County
- Index: 0.253
- Total population: 159,185
- White: 86.1% (137,002)
- Black or African American: 6.5% (10,268)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (228)
- Asian: 2.7% (4,282)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (13)
- 2 or more races: 3.6% (5,717)
- Some other Race: 1.1% (1,675)
#22. Broome County
- Index: 0.263
- Total population: 193,188
- White: 85.5% (165,108)
- Black or African American: 5.7% (10,918)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (348)
- Asian: 4.3% (8,389)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (75)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (6,292)
- Some other Race: 1.1% (2,058)
Nina Alizada // Shutterstock
30 / 50#21. Oneida County
- Index: 0.266
- Total population: 229,959
- White: 85.3% (196,219)
- Black or African American: 6.0% (13,771)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (542)
- Asian: 4.0% (9,304)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (70)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (6,790)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (3,263)
Fred Hsu // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 50#20. Ulster County
- Index: 0.279
- Total population: 178,665
- White: 84.5% (151,001)
- Black or African American: 6.0% (10,780)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (395)
- Asian: 1.9% (3,396)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (102)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (7,476)
- Some other Race: 3.1% (5,515)
Mwanner // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 50#19. Franklin County
- Index: 0.308
- Total population: 50,477
- White: 82.7% (41,726)
- Black or African American: 5.7% (2,863)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 7.1% (3,609)
- Asian: 0.6% (280)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (111)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (831)
- Some other Race: 2.1% (1,057)
Tim Hettler from New York, NY, USA // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 50#18. Suffolk County
- Index: 0.339
- Total population: 1.5 million
- White: 80.7% (1,196,719)
- Black or African American: 7.8% (116,018)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (4,212)
- Asian: 3.9% (58,204)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (418)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (33,829)
- Some other Race: 5.0% (74,432)
Lewis Liu // Shutterstock
34 / 50#17. Tompkins County
- Index: 0.343
- Total population: 102,642
- White: 80.2% (82,359)
- Black or African American: 3.8% (3,859)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (224)
- Asian: 9.7% (9,964)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (57)
- 2 or more races: 4.4% (4,513)
- Some other Race: 1.6% (1,666)
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
35 / 50#16. Onondaga County
- Index: 0.351
- Total population: 462,872
- White: 79.6% (368,328)
- Black or African American: 11.4% (52,912)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (2,568)
- Asian: 3.7% (17,041)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (162)
- 2 or more races: 3.6% (16,871)
- Some other Race: 1.1% (4,990)
Eric Richards // Wikimedia Commons
36 / 50#15. Sullivan County
- Index: 0.351
- Total population: 75,116
- White: 79.8% (59,949)
- Black or African American: 8.0% (5,990)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (196)
- Asian: 1.7% (1,265)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 4.6% (3,433)
- Some other Race: 5.7% (4,283)
Colin D. Young // Shutterstock
37 / 50#14. Dutchess County
- Index: 0.373
- Total population: 293,754
- White: 78.2% (229,746)
- Black or African American: 10.5% (30,970)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (934)
- Asian: 3.5% (10,413)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (155)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (10,314)
- Some other Race: 3.8% (11,222)
#13. Erie County
- Index: 0.374
- Total population: 919,355
- White: 77.8% (715,409)
- Black or African American: 13.5% (123,742)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (4,634)
- Asian: 3.6% (32,793)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (289)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (22,139)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (20,349)
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
39 / 50#12. Monroe County
- Index: 0.397
- Total population: 743,341
- White: 76.0% (564,617)
- Black or African American: 15.3% (113,808)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (3,040)
- Asian: 3.6% (27,115)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (290)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (21,606)
- Some other Race: 1.7% (12,865)
UpstateNYer // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 50#11. Schenectady County
- Index: 0.402
- Total population: 154,859
- White: 76.3% (118,130)
- Black or African American: 10.1% (15,590)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (359)
- Asian: 4.7% (7,228)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (84)
- 2 or more races: 4.8% (7,389)
- Some other Race: 3.9% (6,079)
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
41 / 50#10. Albany County
- Index: 0.411
- Total population: 306,968
- White: 75.3% (231,246)
- Black or African American: 12.4% (38,035)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (494)
- Asian: 6.6% (20,192)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (129)
- 2 or more races: 4.2% (12,787)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (4,085)
Roman Babakin // Shutterstock
42 / 50#9. Richmond County
- Index: 0.429
- Total population: 474,893
- White: 74.1% (352,034)
- Black or African American: 10.3% (48,958)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (1,026)
- Asian: 9.3% (44,246)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (219)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (10,862)
- Some other Race: 3.7% (17,548)
Mwanner // Wikimedia Commons
43 / 50#8. Orange County
- Index: 0.430
- Total population: 380,085
- White: 74.1% (281,683)
- Black or African American: 11.0% (41,779)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (1,482)
- Asian: 2.7% (10,280)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (298)
- 2 or more races: 3.5% (13,477)
- Some other Race: 8.2% (31,086)
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock
44 / 50#7. Rockland County
- Index: 0.475
- Total population: 324,422
- White: 70.7% (229,240)
- Black or African American: 12.3% (39,845)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (524)
- Asian: 5.9% (19,099)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (27)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (8,694)
- Some other Race: 8.3% (26,993)
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
45 / 50#6. Nassau County
- Index: 0.508
- Total population: 1.4 million
- White: 68.0% (922,873)
- Black or African American: 11.7% (158,857)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (3,912)
- Asian: 9.7% (130,971)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (402)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (41,106)
- Some other Race: 7.3% (98,388)
#5. Westchester County
- Index: 0.547
- Total population: 968,890
- White: 64.3% (622,855)
- Black or African American: 14.9% (144,053)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (3,594)
- Asian: 6.0% (58,140)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (251)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (29,968)
- Some other Race: 11.4% (110,029)
pisaphotography // Shutterstock
47 / 50#4. New York County
- Index: 0.629
- Total population: 1.6 million
- White: 56.5% (922,033)
- Black or African American: 14.8% (240,993)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (6,178)
- Asian: 12.2% (198,833)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (888)
- 2 or more races: 4.6% (74,668)
- Some other Race: 11.5% (188,400)
Victor Moussa // Shutterstock
48 / 50#3. Kings County
- Index: 0.683
- Total population: 2.6 million
- White: 43.7% (1,132,426)
- Black or African American: 32.2% (833,683)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (8,604)
- Asian: 11.9% (307,081)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (1,232)
- 2 or more races: 3.2% (81,786)
- Some other Race: 8.7% (225,162)
Gryffindor // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 50#2. Bronx County
- Index: 0.706
- Total population: 1.4 million
- White: 22.0% (315,533)
- Black or African American: 35.2% (504,814)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (10,116)
- Asian: 3.7% (52,989)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (1,385)
- 2 or more races: 3.9% (55,868)
- Some other Race: 34.4% (494,363)
Bjoertvedt // Wikimedia Commons
50 / 50#1. Queens County
- Index: 0.735
- Total population: 2.3 million
- White: 38.3% (875,191)
- Black or African American: 18.3% (418,429)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (10,326)
- Asian: 25.5% (583,459)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (1,078)
- 2 or more races: 3.6% (82,764)
- Some other Race: 13.8% (316,141)
