The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Kentucky For 2024


The most diverse cities in Kentucky are Oak Grove and Radcliff for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.


Most Diverse Cities In Kentucky

Racial diversity in Kentucky is a mixed bag.

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

To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 80 cities in Kentucky to rank them from most to least diverse.


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


Here are the 10 most diverse places in Kentucky for 2024:

  1. Oak Grove
  2. Radcliff
  3. Shively
  4. Hopkinsville
  5. Louisville
  6. Bowling Green
  7. Shelbyville
  8. Lyndon
  9. Mayfield
  10. Lexington

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

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

For more Kentucky reading:

The 10 Most Diverse Places In Kentucky For 2024

Oak Grove, KY

Source: Flickr User isydiavibes | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 7,895
HHI: 3,724
% White: 54.1%
% African American: 23.7%
% Hispanic: 14.0%
% Asian: 0.6%
More on Oak Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Radcliff, KY

Source: Flickr User Brave New Films | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 22,981
HHI: 3,802
% White: 54.6%
% African American: 26.5%
% Hispanic: 8.6%
% Asian: 3.3%
More on Radcliff: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Shively, KY

Source: Wikipedia User | CC-BY-2.5
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 15,595
HHI: 4,103
% White: 36.5%
% African American: 52.1%
% Hispanic: 5.5%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Shively: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Hopkinsville, KY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 31,042
HHI: 4,392
% White: 59.3%
% African American: 28.6%
% Hispanic: 3.5%
% Asian: 1.5%
More on Hopkinsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Louisville, KY

Source: Flickr User Alissa Barber Torres | CC BY-ND 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 629,176
HHI: 4,585
% White: 62.9%
% African American: 23.6%
% Hispanic: 6.8%
% Asian: 2.7%
More on Louisville: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Bowling Green, KY

Source: Wikipedia User OPMaster at en.wikipedia | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 72,385
HHI: 4,635
% White: 65.8%
% African American: 12.6%
% Hispanic: 8.5%
% Asian: 7.7%
More on Bowling Green: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Shelbyville, KY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 17,239
HHI: 4,798
% White: 66.2%
% African American: 8.7%
% Hispanic: 17.8%
% Asian: 1.8%
More on Shelbyville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Lyndon, KY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 10,997
HHI: 5,061
% White: 68.1%
% African American: 19.0%
% Hispanic: 5.4%
% Asian: 2.0%
More on Lyndon: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Mayfield, KY

Source: Flickr User pasa47 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 10,011
HHI: 5,148
% White: 69.3%
% African American: 12.2%
% Hispanic: 13.3%
% Asian: 0.4%
More on Mayfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Lexington, KY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 321,276
HHI: 5,151
% White: 69.6%
% African American: 14.6%
% Hispanic: 7.4%
% Asian: 4.1%
More on Lexington: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Kentucky for 2024

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 Kentucky.

That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2018-2022 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 80 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 3,724 (Oak Grove) to 9,414 (Taylor Mill).

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

We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Kentucky.

Summary: Diversity Across Kentucky

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

The most diverse cities in Kentucky are Oak Grove, Radcliff, Shively, Hopkinsville, Louisville, Bowling Green, Shelbyville, Lyndon, Mayfield, and Lexington.

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

  1. Taylor Mill
  2. Villa Hills
  3. Flatwoods

For more Kentucky reading, check out:

Race By City In Kentucky For 2024

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Oak Grove, KY 7,895 3,724 54.1% 23.7% 14.0% 0.6%
2 Radcliff, KY 22,981 3,802 54.6% 26.5% 8.6% 3.3%
3 Shively, KY 15,595 4,103 36.5% 52.1% 5.5% 0.0%
4 Hopkinsville, KY 31,042 4,392 59.3% 28.6% 3.5% 1.5%
5 Louisville, KY 629,176 4,585 62.9% 23.6% 6.8% 2.7%
6 Bowling Green, KY 72,385 4,635 65.8% 12.6% 8.5% 7.7%
7 Shelbyville, KY 17,239 4,798 66.2% 8.7% 17.8% 1.8%
8 Lyndon, KY 10,997 5,061 68.1% 19.0% 5.4% 2.0%
9 Mayfield, KY 10,011 5,148 69.3% 12.2% 13.3% 0.4%
10 Lexington, KY 321,276 5,151 69.6% 14.6% 7.4% 4.1%
11 Paducah, KY 26,869 5,393 70.0% 21.9% 2.9% 1.3%
12 Vine Grove, KY 6,611 5,402 71.7% 13.7% 4.6% 1.6%
13 Frankfort, KY 28,460 5,555 73.0% 12.2% 6.0% 2.5%
14 Lebanon, KY 6,274 5,682 73.4% 14.8% 7.7% 0.5%
15 Versailles, KY 10,297 5,827 74.7% 6.5% 13.4% 0.4%
16 Jeffersontown, KY 28,796 5,838 75.1% 12.3% 4.6% 4.4%
17 Elizabethtown, KY 31,425 5,943 75.9% 11.1% 4.8% 2.7%
18 Covington, KY 40,923 6,015 76.4% 9.6% 8.5% 1.1%
19 Madisonville, KY 19,433 6,217 77.7% 12.0% 3.5% 1.4%
20 Hillview, KY 8,681 6,246 78.3% 5.5% 7.6% 3.3%
21 Bardstown, KY 13,564 6,308 78.1% 12.9% 5.4% 0.6%
22 Henderson, KY 28,166 6,452 79.4% 10.9% 4.4% 0.4%
23 Danville, KY 17,191 6,489 79.5% 11.9% 4.3% 1.1%
24 Russellville, KY 7,186 6,566 79.7% 14.0% 4.2% 0.9%
25 Franklin, KY 10,141 6,614 80.2% 12.8% 3.0% 0.4%
26 Middletown, KY 9,594 6,633 80.7% 8.1% 1.9% 6.9%
27 Elsmere, KY 9,126 6,684 81.1% 7.7% 2.0% 2.6%
28 Owensboro, KY 60,019 6,754 81.6% 7.0% 4.5% 2.9%
29 Glasgow, KY 15,043 6,786 81.7% 7.6% 6.6% 1.0%
30 Princeton, KY 6,248 6,846 81.8% 11.6% 2.3% 0.0%
31 Florence, KY 32,056 6,883 82.5% 6.0% 4.7% 3.2%
32 Paris, KY 10,143 6,976 82.9% 8.2% 4.5% 0.0%
33 Harrodsburg, KY 9,057 6,981 83.0% 6.2% 5.6% 0.1%
34 Newport, KY 14,190 7,088 83.6% 7.4% 5.4% 0.3%
35 Murray, KY 17,414 7,127 84.0% 6.4% 2.0% 3.1%
36 Campbellsville, KY 11,434 7,146 83.9% 9.3% 1.1% 0.9%
37 Winchester, KY 19,080 7,147 84.1% 6.5% 4.6% 1.2%
38 Georgetown, KY 37,510 7,162 84.2% 5.8% 5.0% 1.0%
39 Richmond, KY 34,883 7,251 84.8% 6.1% 3.4% 1.2%
40 St. Matthews, KY 17,511 7,368 85.5% 5.0% 3.1% 3.2%
41 Erlanger, KY 19,577 7,456 86.0% 4.4% 2.6% 1.6%
42 Crestwood, KY 6,175 7,461 85.7% 1.3% 10.4% 0.8%
43 Somerset, KY 11,998 7,511 86.4% 3.6% 5.5% 1.5%
44 Maysville, KY 8,831 7,569 86.6% 6.9% 3.3% 1.1%
45 Nicholasville, KY 31,352 7,581 86.8% 4.8% 4.2% 0.8%
46 La Grange, KY 10,073 7,715 87.6% 5.4% 3.6% 0.6%
47 Hazard, KY 5,194 7,728 87.7% 1.5% 2.8% 3.5%
48 Central City, KY 5,740 7,734 87.7% 3.0% 2.4% 0.5%
49 Morehead, KY 7,001 7,744 87.7% 3.8% 5.4% 1.5%
50 Monticello, KY 5,770 7,754 87.4% 1.1% 10.5% 0.1%
51 Highland Heights, KY 6,566 7,832 88.3% 4.4% 0.8% 3.2%
52 Walton, KY 5,492 7,867 88.4% 0.0% 1.1% 0.2%
53 Dayton, KY 5,674 7,917 88.7% 2.6% 2.8% 0.1%
54 Douglass Hills, KY 5,466 7,995 89.1% 6.7% 0.2% 0.0%
55 Berea, KY 15,404 8,033 89.4% 2.8% 4.4% 0.3%
56 Fort Wright, KY 5,841 8,090 89.8% 1.6% 2.3% 0.7%
57 Bellevue, KY 5,596 8,108 89.9% 1.0% 4.5% 0.1%
58 Alexandria, KY 10,322 8,121 90.0% 1.9% 1.4% 2.8%
59 Wilmore, KY 6,017 8,137 90.1% 4.1% 1.4% 0.5%
60 Middlesborough, KY 9,383 8,181 90.3% 3.3% 2.7% 0.3%
61 Williamsburg, KY 5,229 8,190 90.3% 3.9% 3.2% 1.2%
62 Lawrenceburg, KY 11,749 8,280 90.8% 5.8% 1.6% 0.2%
63 Cynthiana, KY 6,355 8,283 90.9% 3.3% 2.6% 0.0%
64 Ashland, KY 21,542 8,289 90.9% 1.4% 3.0% 0.4%
65 Fort Mitchell, KY 8,667 8,302 91.0% 1.8% 4.3% 0.7%
66 Union, KY 7,369 8,345 91.2% 0.0% 2.6% 1.8%
67 Fort Thomas, KY 17,310 8,433 91.7% 1.5% 1.4% 1.3%
68 Pikeville, KY 7,563 8,508 92.1% 3.2% 1.0% 2.0%
69 Shepherdsville, KY 14,136 8,535 92.3% 1.5% 2.7% 0.0%
70 Corbin, KY 8,611 8,569 92.4% 1.0% 2.2% 0.0%
71 London, KY 7,612 8,579 92.6% 2.1% 1.7% 1.2%
72 Mount Washington, KY 17,987 8,668 93.0% 0.3% 3.5% 0.5%
73 Independence, KY 28,722 8,766 93.6% 1.2% 1.3% 1.4%
74 Mount Sterling, KY 7,532 8,821 93.8% 4.0% 0.7% 0.0%
75 Edgewood, KY 8,447 8,981 94.7% 3.1% 0.5% 1.1%
76 Leitchfield, KY 6,432 9,001 94.8% 1.7% 0.4% 0.0%
77 Cold Spring, KY 6,258 9,140 95.6% 1.5% 1.3% 0.0%
78 Flatwoods, KY 7,312 9,404 97.0% 0.8% 0.7% 0.6%
79 Villa Hills, KY 7,331 9,411 97.0% 0.1% 1.1% 0.3%
80 Taylor Mill, KY 6,851 9,414 97.0% 0.0% 1.5% 0.2%
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.