Racial diversity in Maryland is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Maryland where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Maryland?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 44 cities in Maryland to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Maryland for 2026:
So what city is the most diverse in Maryland? According to the most Census data, Gaithersburg took the number one over all spot for diversity in Maryland.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Maryland ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Maryland reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Maryland For 2026
/10
Population: 69,825
HHI: 2,455
% White: 29.7%
% African American: 14.6%
% Hispanic: 30.5%
% Asian: 20.3%
More on Gaithersburg: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 34,540
HHI: 2,532
% White: 37.2%
% African American: 23.6%
% Hispanic: 17.7%
% Asian: 15.8%
More on College Park: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 67,671
HHI: 2,828
% White: 43.2%
% African American: 11.0%
% Hispanic: 18.1%
% Asian: 22.1%
More on Rockville: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,966
HHI: 2,841
% White: 28.4%
% African American: 24.3%
% Hispanic: 37.5%
% Asian: 5.1%
More on Hyattsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 6,096
HHI: 2,968
% White: 24.0%
% African American: 44.7%
% Hispanic: 16.9%
% Asian: 4.1%
More on Cheverly: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,632
HHI: 3,105
% White: 44.6%
% African American: 29.2%
% Hispanic: 14.1%
% Asian: 4.7%
More on Takoma Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 24,678
HHI: 3,113
% White: 19.0%
% African American: 47.9%
% Hispanic: 19.2%
% Asian: 7.7%
More on Greenbelt: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 83,395
HHI: 3,289
% White: 50.1%
% African American: 17.0%
% Hispanic: 20.5%
% Asian: 5.8%
More on Frederick: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,270
HHI: 3,354
% White: 16.7%
% African American: 24.6%
% Hispanic: 49.2%
% Asian: 3.9%
More on Riverdale Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 8,245
HHI: 3,412
% White: 18.4%
% African American: 43.2%
% Hispanic: 34.7%
% Asian: 1.2%
More on Mount Rainier: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Maryland 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 Maryland.
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
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 44 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 2,455 (Gaithersburg) to 8,041 (Thurmont).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Gaithersburg took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Thurmont was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most diverse places in Maryland.
Summary: Diversity Across Maryland
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Maryland, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Maryland are Gaithersburg, College Park, Rockville, Hyattsville, Cheverly, Takoma Park, Greenbelt, Frederick, Riverdale Park, and Mount Rainier.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Maryland:
- Thurmont
- Hampstead
- Middl
For more Maryland reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Maryland
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland
- Most Dangerous Cities In Maryland
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maryland
- Safest Places In Maryland
- Worst Places To Live In Maryland
Race By City In Maryland For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaithersburg, MD | 69,825 | 2,455 | 29.7% | 14.6% | 30.5% | 20.3% |
| 2 | College Park, MD | 34,540 | 2,532 | 37.2% | 23.6% | 17.7% | 15.8% |
| 3 | Rockville, MD | 67,671 | 2,828 | 43.2% | 11.0% | 18.1% | 22.1% |
| 4 | Hyattsville, MD | 20,966 | 2,841 | 28.4% | 24.3% | 37.5% | 5.1% |
| 5 | Cheverly, MD | 6,096 | 2,968 | 24.0% | 44.7% | 16.9% | 4.1% |
| 6 | Takoma Park, MD | 17,632 | 3,105 | 44.6% | 29.2% | 14.1% | 4.7% |
| 7 | Greenbelt, MD | 24,678 | 3,113 | 19.0% | 47.9% | 19.2% | 7.7% |
| 8 | Frederick, MD | 83,395 | 3,289 | 50.1% | 17.0% | 20.5% | 5.8% |
| 9 | Riverdale Park, MD | 7,270 | 3,354 | 16.7% | 24.6% | 49.2% | 3.9% |
| 10 | Mount Rainier, MD | 8,245 | 3,412 | 18.4% | 43.2% | 34.7% | 1.2% |
| 11 | Salisbury, MD | 33,285 | 3,436 | 40.9% | 40.5% | 7.8% | 2.2% |
| 12 | Laurel, MD | 29,798 | 3,463 | 12.1% | 52.3% | 22.2% | 8.2% |
| 13 | Aberdeen, MD | 17,298 | 3,496 | 50.0% | 28.9% | 11.0% | 2.0% |
| 14 | Cambridge, MD | 13,152 | 3,524 | 38.7% | 43.7% | 7.6% | 2.1% |
| 15 | Fruitland, MD | 5,801 | 3,540 | 49.9% | 28.8% | 13.3% | 2.2% |
| 16 | La Plata, MD | 10,683 | 3,573 | 46.7% | 35.8% | 6.2% | 3.3% |
| 17 | Bowie, MD | 57,926 | 3,694 | 26.5% | 53.4% | 10.0% | 3.3% |
| 18 | Hagerstown, MD | 43,665 | 3,867 | 56.6% | 21.0% | 12.2% | 1.4% |
| 19 | Annapolis, MD | 40,720 | 3,939 | 57.3% | 20.2% | 14.8% | 3.0% |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | 573,243 | 4,189 | 26.0% | 58.5% | 8.2% | 2.6% |
| 21 | Elkton, MD | 15,910 | 4,193 | 61.4% | 16.6% | 7.8% | 2.6% |
| 22 | New Carrollton, MD | 13,564 | 4,289 | 4.5% | 55.9% | 33.4% | 1.6% |
| 23 | Easton, MD | 17,308 | 4,605 | 64.3% | 15.7% | 14.6% | 2.1% |
| 24 | Bladensburg, MD | 9,583 | 4,646 | 0.6% | 53.6% | 41.9% | 0.7% |
| 25 | Berlin, MD | 5,232 | 4,811 | 65.5% | 20.7% | 4.0% | 0.5% |
| 26 | Havre De Grace, MD | 14,994 | 4,902 | 66.9% | 19.0% | 5.6% | 2.4% |
| 27 | Brunswick, MD | 8,450 | 4,949 | 68.2% | 8.4% | 12.3% | 2.8% |
| 28 | Walkersville, MD | 6,414 | 5,168 | 69.9% | 7.5% | 13.5% | 4.6% |
| 29 | Cheste, MD | 5,594 | 5,312 | 69.3% | 22.1% | 3.4% | 2.6% |
| 30 | Poolesville, MD | 5,764 | 5,522 | 72.9% | 2.1% | 8.7% | 8.0% |
| 31 | Chesapeake Beach, MD | 6,456 | 5,525 | 72.8% | 7.6% | 3.2% | 4.2% |
| 32 | Bel Air, MD | 10,585 | 5,761 | 74.8% | 4.3% | 9.9% | 4.8% |
| 33 | Glenarden, MD | 6,344 | 5,794 | 1.8% | 73.4% | 19.8% | 0.5% |
| 34 | Westminster, MD | 20,445 | 5,834 | 75.3% | 8.0% | 8.8% | 4.0% |
| 35 | Frostburg, MD | 6,977 | 6,675 | 80.8% | 11.5% | 2.0% | 3.2% |
| 36 | District Heights, MD | 5,891 | 6,907 | 3.3% | 82.3% | 10.9% | 0.1% |
| 37 | Taneytown, MD | 7,932 | 7,013 | 83.1% | 9.2% | 3.7% | 0.4% |
| 38 | Ocean City, MD | 6,903 | 7,157 | 84.0% | 1.6% | 9.5% | 1.7% |
| 39 | Mount Airy, MD | 9,805 | 7,216 | 84.5% | 2.6% | 7.6% | 0.9% |
| 40 | Manchester, MD | 5,439 | 7,298 | 85.1% | 2.0% | 3.1% | 4.3% |
| 41 | Cumberland, MD | 18,804 | 7,349 | 85.3% | 4.1% | 2.4% | 0.7% |
| 42 | Middl, MD | 5,014 | 7,412 | 85.7% | 1.1% | 4.1% | 5.5% |
| 43 | Hampstead, MD | 6,251 | 7,597 | 86.9% | 3.3% | 1.4% | 4.1% |
| 44 | Thurmont, MD | 6,254 | 8,041 | 89.4% | 1.3% | 5.9% | 0.0% |