Racial diversity in Idaho is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Idaho where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Idaho?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 34 cities in Idaho to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what city is the most diverse in Idaho? According to the most Census data, Burley took the number one over all spot for diversity in Idaho.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Idaho ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Idaho reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Idaho For 2025
/10
Population: 11,721
HHI: 4,440
% White: 54.5%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 38.0%
% Asian: 0.4%
More on Burley: Data
/10
Population: 63,465
HHI: 4,520
% White: 55.2%
% African American: 0.3%
% Hispanic: 38.1%
% Asian: 1.0%
More on Caldwell: Data
/10
Population: 12,689
HHI: 4,609
% White: 47.4%
% African American: 0.1%
% Hispanic: 48.5%
% Asian: 0.2%
More on Jerome: Data
/10
Population: 6,157
HHI: 4,967
% White: 45.8%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 53.6%
% Asian: 0.4%
More on Rupert: Data
/10
Population: 8,358
HHI: 5,131
% White: 67.2%
% African American: 0.3%
% Hispanic: 24.0%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Payette: Data
/10
Population: 106,289
HHI: 5,261
% White: 68.1%
% African American: 1.1%
% Hispanic: 24.5%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Nampa: Data
/10
Population: 5,803
HHI: 5,344
% White: 68.2%
% African American: 0.1%
% Hispanic: 25.8%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Weiser: Data
/10
Population: 16,265
HHI: 5,420
% White: 71.4%
% African American: 2.6%
% Hispanic: 16.8%
% Asian: 3.6%
More on Mountain Home: Data
/10
Population: 9,439
HHI: 5,617
% White: 70.2%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 25.9%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Hailey: Data
/10
Population: 12,628
HHI: 5,624
% White: 72.1%
% African American: 0.6%
% Hispanic: 20.1%
% Asian: 0.4%
More on Blackfoot: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Idaho for 2025
We still believe in the accuracy of data — especially from the Census — and Saturday Night Science. So that’s where we went to get the race breakdown across Idaho.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2019-2023 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
- Hispanic or Latino
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 34 cities.
We then calculated the HHI for each city by finding the racial breakdown of a city in percent terms, squaring them, and then adding the squares together. This left us with scores ranging from 4,440 (Burley) to 8,021 (Preston).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Burley took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Preston was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Idaho.
Summary: Diversity Across Idaho
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Idaho, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Idaho are Burley, Caldwell, Jerome, Rupert, Payette, Nampa, Weiser, Mountain Home, Hailey, and Blackfoot.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Idaho:
- Preston
- Hayden
- Lewiston
For more Idaho reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Idaho
- Cheapest Places To Live In Idaho
- Most Dangerous Cities In Idaho
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Idaho
- Safest Places In Idaho
- Worst Places To Live In Idaho
Race By City In Idaho For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burley, ID | 11,721 | 4,440 | 54.5% | 0.0% | 38.0% | 0.4% |
| 2 | Caldwell, ID | 63,465 | 4,520 | 55.2% | 0.3% | 38.1% | 1.0% |
| 3 | Jerome, ID | 12,689 | 4,609 | 47.4% | 0.1% | 48.5% | 0.2% |
| 4 | Rupert, ID | 6,157 | 4,967 | 45.8% | 0.0% | 53.6% | 0.4% |
| 5 | Payette, ID | 8,358 | 5,131 | 67.2% | 0.3% | 24.0% | 0.0% |
| 6 | Nampa, ID | 106,289 | 5,261 | 68.1% | 1.1% | 24.5% | 0.7% |
| 7 | Weiser, ID | 5,803 | 5,344 | 68.2% | 0.1% | 25.8% | 0.3% |
| 8 | Mountain Home, ID | 16,265 | 5,420 | 71.4% | 2.6% | 16.8% | 3.6% |
| 9 | Hailey, ID | 9,439 | 5,617 | 70.2% | 0.0% | 25.9% | 0.0% |
| 10 | Blackfoot, ID | 12,628 | 5,624 | 72.1% | 0.6% | 20.1% | 0.4% |
| 11 | Fruitland, ID | 6,405 | 5,636 | 71.7% | 0.0% | 21.7% | 1.6% |
| 12 | Twin Falls, ID | 53,219 | 5,977 | 75.5% | 0.9% | 15.9% | 2.2% |
| 13 | Chubbuck, ID | 15,900 | 6,195 | 77.3% | 0.2% | 14.1% | 0.6% |
| 14 | Middleton, ID | 10,101 | 6,230 | 77.2% | 0.4% | 15.6% | 0.8% |
| 15 | Idaho Falls, ID | 66,672 | 6,314 | 77.6% | 0.4% | 16.5% | 0.7% |
| 16 | Emmett, ID | 7,948 | 6,503 | 79.0% | 0.0% | 15.9% | 0.1% |
| 17 | Boise City, ID | 235,701 | 6,593 | 80.4% | 1.3% | 9.5% | 3.3% |
| 18 | Meridian, ID | 124,865 | 6,740 | 81.4% | 1.5% | 9.5% | 2.1% |
| 19 | Pocatello, ID | 57,152 | 6,808 | 81.9% | 1.2% | 9.2% | 2.0% |
| 20 | Star, ID | 13,231 | 6,910 | 82.3% | 0.9% | 10.6% | 1.1% |
| 21 | Rexburg, ID | 39,589 | 6,934 | 82.4% | 1.1% | 11.3% | 1.8% |
| 22 | Moscow, ID | 25,868 | 7,019 | 83.4% | 1.5% | 5.6% | 2.8% |
| 23 | Rigby, ID | 5,251 | 7,030 | 83.0% | 0.1% | 11.5% | 0.3% |
| 24 | Garden City, ID | 12,483 | 7,105 | 83.5% | 0.5% | 10.4% | 0.7% |
| 25 | Post Falls, ID | 41,716 | 7,225 | 84.4% | 0.3% | 6.6% | 0.6% |
| 26 | Eagle, ID | 31,490 | 7,269 | 84.7% | 0.3% | 9.5% | 2.0% |
| 27 | Kuna, ID | 25,960 | 7,285 | 84.6% | 0.4% | 10.6% | 0.8% |
| 28 | Ammon, ID | 18,496 | 7,429 | 85.3% | 0.1% | 11.9% | 0.8% |
| 29 | Coeur D’alene, ID | 55,558 | 7,469 | 86.1% | 0.4% | 5.0% | 1.1% |
| 30 | Sandpoint, ID | 9,244 | 7,494 | 86.1% | 0.3% | 7.8% | 1.0% |
| 31 | Rathdrum, ID | 10,133 | 7,908 | 88.6% | 0.0% | 4.0% | 0.5% |
| 32 | Lewiston, ID | 34,471 | 7,963 | 89.0% | 0.1% | 4.2% | 0.9% |
| 33 | Hayden, ID | 16,021 | 7,979 | 89.1% | 0.4% | 5.4% | 0.6% |
| 34 | Preston, ID | 5,800 | 8,021 | 89.3% | 0.0% | 5.9% | 0.0% |