Racial diversity in Massachusetts is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Massachusetts where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Massachusetts?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 52 cities in Massachusetts to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what city is the most diverse in Massachusetts? According to the most Census data, Brockton took the number one over all spot for diversity in Massachusetts.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Massachusetts ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Massachusetts reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Massachusetts For 2024
/10
Population: 104,713
HHI: 2,692
% White: 29.0%
% African American: 39.1%
% Hispanic: 12.3%
% Asian: 1.8%
More on Brockton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 48,685
HHI: 2,735
% White: 40.0%
% African American: 12.6%
% Hispanic: 29.1%
% Asian: 8.9%
More on Everett: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 665,945
HHI: 2,889
% White: 44.2%
% African American: 21.0%
% Hispanic: 19.6%
% Asian: 9.6%
More on Boston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 65,463
HHI: 2,984
% White: 44.1%
% African American: 13.3%
% Hispanic: 9.1%
% Asian: 27.5%
More on Malden: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 114,737
HHI: 3,072
% White: 46.5%
% African American: 8.8%
% Hispanic: 17.8%
% Asian: 22.5%
More on Lowell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 100,653
HHI: 3,274
% White: 35.6%
% African American: 10.8%
% Hispanic: 42.9%
% Asian: 5.7%
More on Lynn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 155,305
HHI: 3,457
% White: 28.2%
% African American: 17.7%
% Hispanic: 48.3%
% Asian: 2.7%
More on Springfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 204,191
HHI: 3,487
% White: 51.8%
% African American: 11.9%
% Hispanic: 24.6%
% Asian: 6.8%
More on Worcester: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 117,962
HHI: 3,711
% White: 56.0%
% African American: 10.3%
% Hispanic: 8.7%
% Asian: 19.2%
More on Cambridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 60,577
HHI: 3,820
% White: 46.6%
% African American: 3.5%
% Hispanic: 39.9%
% Asian: 5.8%
More on Revere: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts.
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
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 12,000 people. That left us with 52 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 2,692 (Brockton) to 8,512 (Newburyport).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Brockton took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Newburyport was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Massachusetts.
Summary: Diversity Across Massachusetts
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Massachusetts, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Massachusetts are Brockton, Everett, Boston, Malden, Lowell, Lynn, Springfield, Worcester, Cambridge, and Revere.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Massachusetts:
- Newburyport
- Gloucester
- Amesbury Town
For more Massachusetts reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Cheapest Places To Live In Massachusetts
- Most Dangerous Cities In Massachusetts
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Massachusetts
- Safest Places In Massachusetts
- Worst Places To Live In Massachusetts
Race By City In Massachusetts For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brockton, MA | 104,713 | 2,692 | 29.0% | 39.1% | 12.3% | 1.8% |
| 2 | Everett, MA | 48,685 | 2,735 | 40.0% | 12.6% | 29.1% | 8.9% |
| 3 | Boston, MA | 665,945 | 2,889 | 44.2% | 21.0% | 19.6% | 9.6% |
| 4 | Malden, MA | 65,463 | 2,984 | 44.1% | 13.3% | 9.1% | 27.5% |
| 5 | Lowell, MA | 114,737 | 3,072 | 46.5% | 8.8% | 17.8% | 22.5% |
| 6 | Lynn, MA | 100,653 | 3,274 | 35.6% | 10.8% | 42.9% | 5.7% |
| 7 | Springfield, MA | 155,305 | 3,457 | 28.2% | 17.7% | 48.3% | 2.7% |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | 204,191 | 3,487 | 51.8% | 11.9% | 24.6% | 6.8% |
| 9 | Cambridge, MA | 117,962 | 3,711 | 56.0% | 10.3% | 8.7% | 19.2% |
| 10 | Revere, MA | 60,577 | 3,820 | 46.6% | 3.5% | 39.9% | 5.8% |
| 11 | New Bedford, MA | 100,620 | 4,045 | 58.3% | 4.8% | 23.4% | 1.3% |
| 12 | Quincy, MA | 100,981 | 4,054 | 56.2% | 6.0% | 5.4% | 28.8% |
| 13 | Marlborough, MA | 41,391 | 4,222 | 61.7% | 3.3% | 16.9% | 5.2% |
| 14 | Waltham, MA | 64,711 | 4,273 | 61.8% | 6.9% | 15.3% | 12.9% |
| 15 | Methuen Town, MA | 52,812 | 4,304 | 58.0% | 4.9% | 29.9% | 4.0% |
| 16 | Fitchburg, MA | 41,621 | 4,352 | 58.0% | 5.8% | 30.6% | 1.7% |
| 17 | Southbridge Town, MA | 17,669 | 4,525 | 56.7% | 3.2% | 36.0% | 1.1% |
| 18 | Holyoke, MA | 38,210 | 4,556 | 43.3% | 2.6% | 51.7% | 0.6% |
| 19 | Medford, MA | 61,748 | 4,837 | 67.6% | 7.6% | 8.4% | 11.2% |
| 20 | Haverhill, MA | 67,273 | 4,963 | 65.9% | 3.3% | 24.2% | 1.4% |
| 21 | Somerville, MA | 80,464 | 4,988 | 68.7% | 4.0% | 10.9% | 10.4% |
| 22 | Chelsea, MA | 39,890 | 4,997 | 20.0% | 5.6% | 67.4% | 2.9% |
| 23 | Salem, MA | 44,541 | 5,132 | 68.8% | 4.8% | 19.0% | 3.1% |
| 24 | Chicopee, MA | 55,441 | 5,185 | 67.7% | 4.3% | 24.0% | 2.2% |
| 25 | Fall River, MA | 93,638 | 5,225 | 70.5% | 5.5% | 12.3% | 2.5% |
| 26 | Watertown Town, MA | 35,181 | 5,252 | 70.9% | 3.9% | 6.5% | 11.7% |
| 27 | Leominster, MA | 43,620 | 5,274 | 70.8% | 5.9% | 13.9% | 3.0% |
| 28 | Braintree Town, MA | 38,748 | 5,341 | 69.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 20.7% |
| 29 | Winthrop Town, MA | 19,031 | 5,542 | 72.0% | 3.6% | 18.2% | 1.6% |
| 30 | Taunton, MA | 59,436 | 5,608 | 73.7% | 7.2% | 7.7% | 2.1% |
| 31 | Newton, MA | 88,453 | 5,634 | 73.4% | 2.6% | 3.6% | 14.2% |
| 32 | Woburn, MA | 40,992 | 5,688 | 74.3% | 5.0% | 6.1% | 9.6% |
| 33 | West Springfield Town, MA | 28,755 | 6,017 | 76.3% | 3.3% | 11.9% | 5.2% |
| 34 | Barnstable Town, MA | 48,922 | 6,140 | 77.6% | 6.2% | 6.9% | 0.9% |
| 35 | Melrose, MA | 29,477 | 6,292 | 78.4% | 2.7% | 5.1% | 9.5% |
| 36 | Pittsfield, MA | 43,730 | 6,418 | 79.3% | 5.5% | 8.4% | 1.3% |
| 37 | Weymouth Town, MA | 57,300 | 6,500 | 80.0% | 5.4% | 4.3% | 6.8% |
| 38 | Peabody, MA | 54,204 | 6,589 | 80.2% | 2.8% | 11.7% | 1.6% |
| 39 | Attleboro, MA | 46,384 | 6,723 | 81.4% | 4.3% | 7.7% | 3.4% |
| 40 | Westfield, MA | 40,794 | 6,769 | 81.5% | 1.3% | 10.4% | 4.3% |
| 41 | Northampton, MA | 28,245 | 6,817 | 82.0% | 2.1% | 7.9% | 3.7% |
| 42 | Lawrence, MA | 88,067 | 6,895 | 13.0% | 2.0% | 82.0% | 1.9% |
| 43 | Palmer Town, MA | 12,422 | 6,907 | 82.5% | 2.6% | 7.1% | 1.4% |
| 44 | Gardner, MA | 21,090 | 7,082 | 83.6% | 1.8% | 8.3% | 3.2% |
| 45 | Beverly, MA | 42,414 | 7,271 | 84.9% | 2.4% | 6.5% | 2.1% |
| 46 | Easthampton Town, MA | 16,136 | 7,491 | 86.1% | 0.5% | 7.9% | 1.7% |
| 47 | North Adams, MA | 12,937 | 7,497 | 86.2% | 1.4% | 6.4% | 3.4% |
| 48 | Franklin Town, MA | 32,777 | 7,517 | 86.4% | 1.5% | 4.1% | 5.6% |
| 49 | Agawam Town, MA | 28,606 | 7,783 | 88.0% | 2.1% | 5.7% | 2.0% |
| 50 | Amesbury Town, MA | 17,279 | 7,832 | 88.3% | 3.1% | 2.7% | 1.0% |
| 51 | Gloucester, MA | 29,830 | 8,069 | 89.7% | 1.2% | 4.1% | 2.5% |
| 52 | Newburyport, MA | 18,356 | 8,512 | 92.2% | 0.5% | 2.8% | 1.5% |
