The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Indiana For 2026


The most diverse cities in Indiana are Hammond and Lawrence for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.


Most Diverse Cities In Indiana

Racial diversity in Indiana is a mixed bag.

There are parts of Indiana where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Indiana?

To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 125 cities in Indiana to rank them from most to least diverse.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


Here are the 10 most diverse places in Indiana for 2026:

  1. Hammond
  2. Lawrence
  3. Indianapolis
  4. South Bend
  5. Merrillville
  6. Speedway
  7. Elkhart
  8. Griffith
  9. Fort Wayne
  10. Michigan City

So what city is the most diverse in Indiana? According to the most Census data, Hammond took the number one over all spot for diversity in Indiana.

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Indiana ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.

For more Indiana reading:

The 10 Most Diverse Places In Indiana For 2026

Hammond, IN

Source: Wikipedia User HammondMan | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 76,768
HHI: 3,193
% White: 32.5%
% African American: 22.5%
% Hispanic: 40.2%
% Asian: 1.5%
More on Hammond: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Lawrence, IN

Source: Wikipedia User NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 49,517
HHI: 3,285
% White: 46.1%
% African American: 28.4%
% Hispanic: 18.0%
% Asian: 2.0%
More on Lawrence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Indianapolis, IN

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 885,860
HHI: 3,382
% White: 48.9%
% African American: 27.6%
% Hispanic: 13.8%
% Asian: 4.2%
More on Indianapolis: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

South Bend, IN

Source: Wikipedia User Khoa Huynh | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 103,085
HHI: 3,455
% White: 50.9%
% African American: 22.4%
% Hispanic: 17.9%
% Asian: 2.3%
More on South Bend: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Merrillville, IN

Source: Wikipedia User Dennisyerger84 | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 36,476
HHI: 3,494
% White: 33.4%
% African American: 46.1%
% Hispanic: 15.6%
% Asian: 1.0%
More on Merrillville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Speedway, IN

Source: Wikipedia User NaBUru38 | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 13,968
HHI: 3,836
% White: 51.7%
% African American: 32.5%
% Hispanic: 8.8%
% Asian: 2.8%
More on Speedway: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Elkhart, IN

Source: Wikipedia User Publichall | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 53,733
HHI: 3,920
% White: 54.9%
% African American: 12.4%
% Hispanic: 27.0%
% Asian: 0.5%
More on Elkhart: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Griffith, IN

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 16,273
HHI: 4,052
% White: 58.7%
% African American: 14.5%
% Hispanic: 19.1%
% Asian: 2.0%
More on Griffith: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Fort Wayne, IN

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 268,589
HHI: 4,374
% White: 63.2%
% African American: 14.0%
% Hispanic: 10.6%
% Asian: 6.1%
More on Fort Wayne: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Michigan City, IN

Source: Wikipedia User Drew Jacksich from San Jose, CA, The Republic of California | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 31,814
HHI: 4,393
% White: 61.0%
% African American: 23.8%
% Hispanic: 8.9%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Michigan City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Indiana for 2026

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 Indiana.

That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2020-2024 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
* Not Hispanic or latino

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 125 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 3,193 (Hammond) to 9,173 (Boonville).

Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Hammond took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Boonville was the least diverse city.

We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most diverse places in Indiana.

Summary: Diversity Across Indiana

If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Indiana, this is an accurate list.

The most diverse cities in Indiana are Hammond, Lawrence, Indianapolis, South Bend, Merrillville, Speedway, Elkhart, Griffith, Fort Wayne, and Michigan City.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Indiana:

  1. Boonville
  2. Cicero
  3. Linton

For more Indiana reading, check out:

Race By City In Indiana For 2026

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Hammond, IN 76,768 3,193 32.5% 22.5% 40.2% 1.5%
2 Lawrence, IN 49,517 3,285 46.1% 28.4% 18.0% 2.0%
3 Indianapolis, IN 885,860 3,382 48.9% 27.6% 13.8% 4.2%
4 South Bend, IN 103,085 3,455 50.9% 22.4% 17.9% 2.3%
5 Merrillville, IN 36,476 3,494 33.4% 46.1% 15.6% 1.0%
6 Speedway, IN 13,968 3,836 51.7% 32.5% 8.8% 2.8%
7 Elkhart, IN 53,733 3,920 54.9% 12.4% 27.0% 0.5%
8 Griffith, IN 16,273 4,052 58.7% 14.5% 19.1% 2.0%
9 Fort Wayne, IN 268,589 4,374 63.2% 14.0% 10.6% 6.1%
10 Michigan City, IN 31,814 4,393 61.0% 23.8% 8.9% 0.7%
11 Logansport, IN 17,790 4,558 58.3% 1.9% 33.7% 1.2%
12 Lake Station, IN 13,185 4,589 59.1% 2.5% 32.8% 1.4%
13 Goshen, IN 34,420 4,606 58.7% 2.3% 33.8% 1.1%
14 East Chicago, IN 26,022 4,611 6.1% 36.1% 57.2% 0.0%
15 Portage, IN 38,082 4,755 64.8% 9.3% 21.3% 1.2%
16 Hobart, IN 29,558 4,755 65.3% 14.3% 16.7% 1.1%
17 West Lafayette, IN 45,159 4,794 65.3% 3.5% 5.5% 21.9%
18 Highland, IN 23,680 4,815 65.7% 8.7% 20.3% 1.8%
19 Seymour, IN 22,371 4,894 65.4% 1.1% 24.0% 4.1%
20 Avon, IN 23,437 4,964 68.4% 13.8% 7.0% 4.6%
21 Frankfort, IN 15,917 5,035 62.0% 0.8% 34.4% 0.4%
22 Huntingburg, IN 6,396 5,037 63.0% 0.5% 32.6% 1.5%
23 Lafayette, IN 71,159 5,053 68.7% 10.3% 14.4% 2.5%
24 Westville, IN 5,279 5,067 66.2% 25.3% 6.5% 0.2%
25 Plainfield, IN 36,369 5,150 70.0% 11.7% 6.6% 6.6%
26 Munster, IN 23,733 5,155 69.6% 7.4% 14.5% 6.3%
27 Schererville, IN 29,701 5,245 70.0% 7.7% 16.2% 2.1%
28 Clarksville, IN 22,016 5,263 70.1% 8.7% 15.7% 0.8%
29 Cumberland, IN 6,267 5,364 71.5% 10.5% 9.4% 0.4%
30 Columbus, IN 51,824 5,428 71.9% 2.5% 10.7% 11.5%
31 Winfield, IN 7,816 5,470 72.4% 5.1% 12.4% 5.6%
32 Anderson, IN 55,367 5,497 72.5% 11.6% 8.1% 0.6%
33 Marion, IN 27,531 5,598 73.4% 9.8% 8.3% 1.1%
34 Jeffersonville, IN 51,043 5,599 73.3% 12.0% 5.8% 1.9%
35 Mishawaka, IN 51,021 5,630 73.7% 10.7% 6.4% 2.4%
36 Greenwood, IN 66,029 5,672 74.1% 5.6% 7.6% 9.0%
37 Bloomington, IN 80,049 5,709 74.3% 4.9% 5.5% 10.7%
38 Plymouth, IN 10,664 5,779 71.8% 0.7% 24.9% 0.7%
39 Carmel, IN 101,651 5,868 75.4% 3.0% 5.5% 11.6%
40 Evansville, IN 116,116 5,910 75.6% 11.7% 4.0% 1.0%
41 La Porte, IN 22,449 5,922 75.4% 4.0% 13.5% 0.7%
42 Gary, IN 68,113 5,943 9.4% 75.7% 10.4% 0.4%
43 Charlestown, IN 8,294 5,944 75.7% 3.3% 12.3% 0.7%
44 Westfield, IN 54,677 5,950 76.2% 6.1% 8.4% 3.7%
45 Crown Point, IN 34,393 5,958 75.9% 7.9% 10.6% 2.2%
46 Washington, IN 12,367 5,981 76.0% 3.6% 11.6% 0.5%
47 Warsaw, IN 16,768 6,005 75.8% 1.7% 15.4% 4.1%
48 White, IN 12,466 6,048 76.8% 4.6% 4.2% 9.9%
49 Rensselaer, IN 5,573 6,126 76.5% 2.3% 15.4% 0.5%
50 Brownsburg, IN 31,215 6,184 77.4% 12.4% 5.4% 1.1%
51 Porter, IN 5,217 6,274 78.2% 3.2% 11.0% 2.2%
52 Muncie, IN 64,751 6,281 78.4% 8.1% 4.4% 2.1%
53 Terre Haute, IN 58,427 6,329 78.7% 8.7% 4.4% 2.1%
54 Richmond, IN 35,581 6,331 78.8% 6.2% 5.4% 1.5%
55 Nappanee, IN 6,815 6,341 78.1% 2.5% 15.2% 1.8%
56 Kokomo, IN 59,122 6,348 78.8% 9.9% 4.3% 2.0%
57 Dyer, IN 16,400 6,369 78.6% 2.4% 12.7% 3.1%
58 St. John, IN 22,567 6,398 78.7% 2.3% 13.6% 2.0%
59 New Albany, IN 37,581 6,446 79.5% 7.7% 5.5% 1.3%
60 Mccordsville, IN 10,329 6,489 79.7% 10.2% 3.8% 2.1%
61 Valparaiso, IN 34,733 6,540 80.1% 3.3% 9.9% 2.4%
62 Princeton, IN 8,372 6,549 80.2% 4.9% 7.1% 0.9%
63 Hunte, IN 11,379 6,687 81.3% 4.2% 5.8% 5.0%
64 Rochester, IN 6,215 6,730 81.4% 1.1% 8.6% 0.1%
65 Noblesville, IN 73,362 6,837 82.2% 5.0% 5.7% 3.5%
66 Winona Lake, IN 5,080 6,843 81.8% 1.0% 11.4% 0.5%
67 Beech Grove, IN 14,913 6,858 82.2% 7.3% 4.4% 1.3%
68 Shelbyville, IN 20,296 7,067 83.4% 2.5% 10.0% 1.8%
69 New Haven, IN 15,698 7,067 83.6% 4.2% 5.6% 1.9%
70 Greencastle, IN 9,864 7,097 83.9% 5.1% 3.5% 2.6%
71 Crawfordsville, IN 16,491 7,130 83.8% 1.8% 9.8% 0.6%
72 Vincennes, IN 16,586 7,290 85.0% 3.5% 5.1% 0.9%
73 Zionsville, IN 32,095 7,309 85.2% 4.7% 3.4% 4.3%
74 Jasper, IN 15,991 7,328 84.9% 1.0% 10.6% 0.7%
75 New Whiteland, IN 5,704 7,374 85.0% 0.0% 3.3% 0.0%
76 Cedar Lake, IN 15,295 7,427 85.6% 0.2% 8.5% 1.0%
77 Kendallville, IN 10,556 7,482 86.0% 0.2% 9.0% 1.7%
78 Chesterton, IN 14,446 7,485 86.2% 1.7% 6.2% 1.9%
79 Portland, IN 6,416 7,507 85.9% 0.6% 11.1% 0.0%
80 Peru, IN 10,901 7,555 86.6% 2.9% 4.7% 0.1%
81 Lowell, IN 11,073 7,567 86.4% 0.3% 9.8% 0.0%
82 Whiteland, IN 5,173 7,651 87.1% 6.9% 1.1% 1.7%
83 Bargersville, IN 10,752 7,663 87.3% 3.2% 0.9% 5.1%
84 Scottsburg, IN 7,362 7,673 87.3% 0.9% 3.7% 0.0%
85 Decatur, IN 9,811 7,711 87.2% 0.7% 9.7% 0.0%
86 Pendleton, IN 5,321 7,752 87.5% 0.3% 9.8% 0.3%
87 Angola, IN 9,408 7,768 87.8% 1.8% 6.8% 0.9%
88 Lebanon, IN 17,812 7,813 88.0% 0.6% 7.8% 0.2%
89 Columbia City, IN 9,897 7,846 88.2% 0.3% 6.7% 0.2%
90 North Vernon, IN 7,078 7,870 88.3% 0.9% 7.8% 1.3%
91 Gas City, IN 6,076 7,953 88.9% 0.8% 4.7% 0.3%
92 Bluffton, IN 10,529 7,960 89.0% 1.8% 5.8% 0.2%
93 New Castle, IN 17,367 7,996 89.2% 3.5% 2.2% 0.7%
94 Greenfield, IN 24,940 8,054 89.6% 2.1% 3.2% 1.7%
95 Madison, IN 12,223 8,056 89.6% 2.2% 2.0% 1.3%
96 Yor, IN 11,699 8,063 89.6% 1.2% 1.4% 3.1%
97 Tipton, IN 5,280 8,114 89.9% 2.5% 4.2% 0.0%
98 Greensburg, IN 12,229 8,116 89.9% 0.5% 4.9% 0.0%
99 Franklin, IN 26,168 8,126 90.0% 2.7% 2.7% 1.5%
100 Rushville, IN 6,036 8,154 90.1% 1.8% 3.8% 0.0%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.