The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Michigan For 2021


We used data and science to determine the most diverse cities in Michigan.

Chris Kolmar, About HomeSnacks
December 21, 2020
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Editor’s Note: We updated this article for 2021. This is our seventh time ranking the most diverse places in Michigan.


Most Diverse Cities In Michigan

Article continues below.

Race relations in America seem to be hitting a tipping point.

While we still haven't dealt with racism as a society, the election of Donald Trump to the presidency has only flamed the tensions that have been mounting for years.

Part of the reason for that tension? The country as a whole continues to self segregate across race, income, and party lines. But it's not all bad on the race relations front.

There are parts of Michigan where there's a high level of diversity -- where people of all walks of life come together. We decided to shine a light on those places today.

Using a standard measure of diversity, we ranked all 148 cities in Michigan from most to least diverse.

Here are the 10 most diverse places in Michigan for 2021:

  1. Ecorse
  2. Pontiac
  3. Saginaw
  4. Lansing
  5. Hamtramck
  6. River Rouge
  7. Auburn Hills
  8. Muskegon
  9. Kentwood
  10. Melvindale

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

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

And if you already knew these places were diverse, check out:

The 10 Most Diverse Places In Michigan For 2021

1. EcorseEcorse Location In Michigan

Ecorse, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 9,432

HHI: 3,058
% White: 31.4%
% African American: 40.9%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Ecorse: Photos | Data

2. PontiacPontiac Location In Michigan

Pontiac, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 59,955

HHI: 3,458
% White: 23.5%
% African American: 50.2%
% Asian: 1.8%
More on Pontiac: Photos | Data

3. SaginawSaginaw Location In Michigan

Saginaw, MI

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

3
/10

Population: 48,650

HHI: 3,468
% White: 37.5%
% African American: 42.7%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Saginaw: Photos | Data

4. LansingLansing Location In Michigan

Lansing, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Subterranean | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 117,159

HHI: 3,636
% White: 54.1%
% African American: 22.2%
% Asian: 4.4%
More on Lansing: Photos | Data

5. HamtramckHamtramck Location In Michigan

Hamtramck, MI

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

3
/10

Population: 21,822

HHI: 3,727
% White: 53.7%
% African American: 11.5%
% Asian: 26.0%
More on Hamtramck: Photos | Data

6. River RougeRiver Rouge Location In Michigan

River Rouge, MI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 7,502

HHI: 3,757
% White: 32.4%
% African American: 48.9%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on River Rouge: Photos | Data

7. Auburn HillsAuburn Hills Location In Michigan

Auburn Hills, MI

Source: Wikipedia User Kevin Ward from Eastpoint | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 23,572

HHI: 3,783
% White: 56.2%
% African American: 16.7%
% Asian: 17.4%
More on Auburn Hills: Photos | Data

8. MuskegonMuskegon Location In Michigan

Muskegon, MI

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 37,633

HHI: 3,803
% White: 51.6%
% African American: 31.9%
% Asian: 0.2%
More on Muskegon: Photos | Data

9. KentwoodKentwood Location In Michigan

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 51,693

HHI: 3,860
% White: 56.8%
% African American: 21.3%
% Asian: 8.7%
More on Kentwood: Data

10. MelvindaleMelvindale Location In Michigan

Melvindale, MI

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 10,348

HHI: 3,934
% White: 55.9%
% African American: 15.0%
% Asian: 1.6%
More on Melvindale: Photos | Data

How we determined the most diverse cities in Michigan for 2021

We still believe in the accuracy of data -- especially from the census. So that's where we went to get the breakdown of race across Michigan.

That lead us to the Census's most recently available data, the 2015-2019 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
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We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 148 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 3,058 (Ecorse) to 9,255 (Iron Mountain).

Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Ecorse took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Iron Mountain was the least diverse city. You can download the data here.

Read on for more information on how the cities in Michigan ranked for diversity or, for a more general take on diversity in america, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.

There You Have It - Diversity Across Michigan

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

If you're curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Michigan:

  1. Iron Mountain
  2. Frankenmuth
  3. Grand Haven

For more Michigan reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Most Diverse Cities In Michigan For 2021

Rank City Population HHI
1 Ecorse, MI 9,432 3,058
2 Pontiac, MI 59,955 3,458
3 Saginaw, MI 48,650 3,468
4 Lansing, MI 117,159 3,636
5 Hamtramck, MI 21,822 3,727
6 River Rouge, MI 7,502 3,757
7 Auburn Hills, MI 23,572 3,783
8 Muskegon, MI 37,633 3,803
9 Kentwood, MI 51,693 3,860
10 Melvindale, MI 10,348 3,934
11 Grand Rapids, MI 198,401 4,089
12 Springfield, MI 5,193 4,225
13 Flint, MI 96,559 4,228
14 Eastpointe, MI 32,443 4,234
15 Albion, MI 8,336 4,264
16 Farmington Hills, MI 81,214 4,312
17 Romulus, MI 23,527 4,375
18 Oak Park, MI 29,726 4,445
19 Novi, MI 60,014 4,451
20 Wyoming, MI 75,702 4,452
21 Kalamazoo, MI 76,019 4,544
22 St. Louis, MI 7,189 4,622
23 Ypsilanti, MI 20,828 4,639
24 Harper Woods, MI 13,895 4,651
25 Battle Creek, MI 51,316 4,671
26 Dowagiac, MI 5,743 4,762
27 Warren, MI 134,797 4,814
28 Ionia, MI 11,147 4,815
29 Farmington, MI 10,563 4,894
30 Jackson, MI 32,673 4,917
31 Ann Arbor, MI 120,735 4,921
32 Center Line, MI 8,260 4,923
33 Lincoln Park, MI 36,697 4,953
34 Troy, MI 83,989 5,010
35 Holland, MI 33,402 5,098
36 Southfield, MI 73,174 5,302
37 Mount Clemens, MI 16,315 5,303
38 Wixom, MI 13,902 5,344
39 Westland, MI 81,938 5,454
40 East Lansing, MI 48,729 5,461
41 Taylor, MI 61,379 5,464
42 Roseville, MI 47,400 5,679
43 Inkster, MI 24,520 5,694
44 Sturgis, MI 10,905 5,698
45 Adrian, MI 20,572 5,704
46 Wayne, MI 16,976 5,752
47 Sault Ste. Marie, MI 13,591 5,817
48 Three Rivers, MI 7,659 5,865
49 Muskegon Heights, MI 10,748 5,973
50 Rochester Hills, MI 74,206 6,026
51 Allegan, MI 5,036 6,140
52 Detroit, MI 674,841 6,256
53 Port Huron, MI 29,025 6,265
54 Hazel Park, MI 16,525 6,315
55 Southgate, MI 29,165 6,404
56 Madison Heights, MI 30,120 6,466
57 Niles, MI 11,211 6,505
58 Grand Blanc, MI 7,905 6,606
59 Houghton, MI 7,870 6,728
60 Coldwater, MI 12,241 6,745
61 Sterling Heights, MI 132,476 6,772
62 Walled Lake, MI 7,173 6,869
63 Lapeer, MI 8,676 6,878
64 Woodhaven, MI 12,518 6,879
65 Mount Pleasant, MI 25,629 6,880
66 St. Joseph, MI 8,316 6,883
67 Portage, MI 48,774 6,931
68 Dearborn Heights, MI 55,857 7,052
69 Bay City, MI 33,167 7,056
70 Benton Harbor, MI 9,843 7,111
71 Beverly Hills, MI 10,387 7,111
72 Flat Rock, MI 9,967 7,153
73 Big Rapids, MI 10,355 7,200
74 Allen Park, MI 27,216 7,232
75 Grosse Pointe Park, MI 11,153 7,343
76 Grandville, MI 15,942 7,343
77 Ferndale, MI 20,137 7,388
78 Burton, MI 28,654 7,393
79 Monroe, MI 19,775 7,459
80 Utica, MI 5,006 7,555
81 Richmond, MI 5,869 7,598
82 Swartz Creek, MI 5,535 7,620
83 Royal Oak, MI 59,195 7,627
84 Mason, MI 8,487 7,640
85 Walker, MI 24,816 7,662
86 Fraser, MI 14,580 7,677
87 Midland, MI 41,920 7,713
88 Alma, MI 8,976 7,729
89 Livonia, MI 94,249 7,743
90 Birmingham, MI 21,201 7,749
91 Manistee, MI 6,083 7,762
92 Dearborn, MI 94,701 7,814
93 Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 15,498 7,836
94 Garden City, MI 26,683 7,853
95 Rochester, MI 13,162 7,888
96 Norton Shores, MI 24,467 7,899
97 Saline, MI 9,251 7,908
98 Zeeland, MI 5,572 7,948
99 Petoskey, MI 5,724 7,969
100 Berkley, MI 15,372 7,982
Download The Entire Michigan Ranking Data

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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.

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