15 Worst States in America for Cultural Diversity
If you’re looking for a new place to live, one factor that might be important to you is a state’s cultural diversity. A diverse state can offer rich opportunities to experience different food, people, and cultural events.
We took a look at data provided by WalletHub, in addition to U.S. Census data, to discover the least diverse states. WalletHub analyzed each state’s diversity in five categories: socioeconomic diversity, cultural diversity, economic diversity, household diversity, and religious diversity. For our list, we focused on each state’s cultural diversity.
Here are the 15 worst states for cultural diversity, according to WalletHub. Do you live in one of them?
15. Minnesota

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 36
First up on our list is Minnesota. According to U.S. Census data, roughly 85% of the population is white, 6.2% is black or African American, 5.2% is Hispanic or Latino, 4.9% is Asian, and 1.3% is Native American.
Minnesota recently received national media attention for what many described as a racially motivated shooting. Communities of color in Minnesota were outraged by the fatal shooting of Philando Castile by a local police officer. The officer later decided to leave the police department and take a $48,500 buyout.
Next: Indiana
14. Indiana

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 37
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 85.6% of the population of Indiana is white, 9.7% is black or African American, 6.8% is Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% is Asian, and 0.4% is Native American. And unfortunately, some people are fighting to keep Indiana free from diversity. The Southern Poverty Law Center found Indiana is home to 26 active hate groups.
One family wasn’t received very well when it moved to its Fishers, Indiana, neighborhood. When a family member went to retrieve the mail, he found a nasty letter from a neighbor telling him to trim his lawn because he wasn’t in the “ghetto.”
Next: Wyoming
13. Wyoming

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 38
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 92.8% of Wyoming’s population is white, 1.3% is black or African American, 10% is Hispanic or Latino, 1% is Asian, and 2.7% is Native American. When it comes to hate groups, Wyoming has just two, according to Southern Poverty Law Center.
A fatal shooting of two Native American men had people in one Wyoming town on edge. The shooter, Roy Clyde, received two life sentences as punishment.
Next: Missouri
12. Missouri

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 39
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 83.2% of Missouri’s population is white, 11.8% is black or African American, 4.1% is Hispanic or Latino, 2% is Asian, and 0.6% is Native American. Diversity seems to be low on the list for some residents. The state has 24 hate groups, according to Southern Poverty Law Center.
Recently, the NAACP issued a travel advisory warning people of color to be careful when traveling in Missouri in response to the state’s revised laws making it more difficult to sue for discrimination. The notification also cited people of color traveling in Missouri are 75% more likely than whites to be pulled over by police. Missouri ranked No. 8 on our list of most dangerous states.
Next: Wisconsin
11. Wisconsin

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 40
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 87.5% of Wisconsin’s population is white, 6.6% is black or African American, 6.7% is Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% is Asian, and 1.1% is Native American. Wisconsin has nine hate groups.
One group aiming to put a stop to racism in Wisconsin is YWCA Southeast Wisconsin. On its website, it says the organization is “on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities.”
Next: Ohio
10. Ohio

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 41
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 82.5% of Ohio’s population is white, 12.8% is black or African American, 3.7% is Hispanic or Latino, 2.2% is Asian, and 0.3% is Native American. It looks like many Ohio residents just aren’t feeling the love. Ohio has 35 hate groups, according to research by Southern Poverty Law Center.
Ohio received national media attention after 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot by Cleveland officer Timothy Loehmann. NPR reports Cleveland agreed to pay the family a $6 million settlement.
Next: South Dakota
9. South Dakota

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 42
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 85.2% of South Dakota’s population is white, 2% is black or African American, 3.7% is Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% is Asian, and 9% is Native American. South Dakota has 7 hate groups, according to research by Southern Poverty Law Center.
The South Dakota Department of Social Services got in some hot water back in 2015 for not doing its part to encourage diversity. The United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the department for racially screening prospective employees in an effort to keep Native American applicants from getting jobs.
Next: Montana
8. Montana

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 43
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 89.2% of Montana’s population is white, 0.6% is black or African American, 3.6% is Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% is Asian, and 6.6% is Native American. Montana has 7 hate groups, according to research by Southern Poverty Law Center.
Students at Montana State University Northern recently told The Washington Times racism is a problem on campus. And back in 2010 a hate group caused controversy when it began showing Holocaust denial films at a Montana library.
Next: Kentucky
7. Kentucky

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 44
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 88% of Kentucky’s population is white, 8.3% is black or African American, 3.5% is Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% is Asian, and 0.3% is Native American. Kentucky isn’t all too welcoming when it comes to diversity. The state has 23 hate groups, according to research by Southern Poverty Law Center.
A Louisville mall made the news recently when a shopper was caught on video shouting racist comments at two Hispanic shoppers, telling them to “go back wherever they came from.” Mall representatives said they would ban the woman in the video from returning.
Next: North Dakota
6. North Dakota

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 45
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 87.9% of North Dakota’s population is white, 2.9% is black or African American, 3.6% is Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% is Asian, and 5.5% is Native American. The state has just one hate group, according to Southern Poverty Law Center.
The University of North Dakota made headlines after incidents of students posting racists images and comments on Snapchat. University officials decided not to punish the students, citing their First Amendment rights.
Next: Iowa
5. Iowa

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 46
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 91.4% of Iowa’s population is white, 3.7% is black or African American, 5.8% is Hispanic or Latino, 2.5% is Asian, and 0.5% is Native American. Iowa has just four hate groups, according to research by Southern Poverty Law Center. Recently Iowa’s state government paid more than $1.6 million to settle 10 lawsuits primarily based on discriminatory promotion and hiring practices.
Next: New Hampshire
4. New Hampshire

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 47
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 93.8% of New Hampshire’s population is white, 1.5% is black or African American, 3.5% is Hispanic or Latino, 2.7% is Asian, and 0.3% is Native American. New Hampshire has six hate groups, according to research by Southern Poverty Law Center. And a small town in New Hampshire was in the news recently after an 8-year-old biracial boy was nearly hanged by a group of teenagers.
Next: Vermont
3. Vermont

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 48
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 94.6% of Vermont’s population is white, 1.3% is black or African American, 1.9% is Hispanic or Latino, 1.8% is Asian, and 0.4% is Native American. Vermont has just one hate group, according to research by Southern Poverty Law Center.
A school district in Vermont was in the spotlight after it was accused of racism on more than one occasion. One case involved alleged hiring discrimination, and another involved an allegation that a student used a racial slur against a student of color.
Next: Maine
2. Maine

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 49
According to U.S. Census data, roughly 94.8% of Maine’s population is white, 1.5% is black or African American, 1.6% is Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% is Asian, and 0.7% is Native American. Maine has just three hate groups, according to research by Southern Poverty Law Center. In a column for Portland Press Herald, Matthew Raymond recently wrote about Maine’s long history of institutional racism.
Next: West Virginia
1. West Virginia

- Cultural diversity rank (scale of 1 to 50; 50 is worst): 50
If you’re looking for diversity, West Virginia might not be the state for you. According to U.S. Census data, roughly 93.6% of the population is white, 3.6% is black or African American, 1.5% is Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% is Asian, and 0.2% is Native American. In addition, WalletHub found the state scored low when it came to linguistic diversity.
West Virginia received some unwanted attention in 2016 when Pamela Ramsey Taylor, director of the Clay County Development, made racist comments about former first lady Michelle Obama on Facebook. Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling joined in on the conversation, supporting Taylor’s comments. After news broke about the racist remarks, Whaling resigned and Taylor was fired.
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