The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Mississippi For 2026


The most diverse cities in Mississippi are Forest and Pascagoula for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026


Most Diverse Cities In Mississippi

Racial diversity in Mississippi is a mixed bag.

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

To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 61 cities in Mississippi to rank them from most to least diverse.

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

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

  1. Forest
  2. Pascagoula
  3. Pontotoc
  4. Gulfport
  5. Ridgeland
  6. Gautier
  7. Horn Lake
  8. Biloxi
  9. Olive Branch
  10. Starkville

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

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

For more Mississippi reading:

The 10 Most Diverse Places In Mississippi For 2026

1. ForestForest Location In Mississippi

Forest, MS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 5,357
HHI: 3,223
% White: 23.0%
% African American: 37.3%
% Hispanic: 36.0%
% Asian: 0.1%
More on Forest: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

2. PascagoulaPascagoula Location In Mississippi

Pascagoula, MS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 21,710
HHI: 3,641
% White: 48.0%
% African American: 34.1%
% Hispanic: 12.6%
% Asian: 1.2%
More on Pascagoula: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

3. PontotocPontotoc Location In Mississippi

Pontotoc, MS

Source: Wikipedia User Michaelswikiusername at English Wikipedia | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,806
HHI: 3,704
% White: 53.9%
% African American: 22.9%
% Hispanic: 15.2%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Pontotoc: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

4. GulfportGulfport Location In Mississippi

Gulfport, MS

Source: Wikipedia User Redditaddict69 | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 73,003
HHI: 3,720
% White: 47.3%
% African American: 37.3%
% Hispanic: 6.8%
% Asian: 1.7%
More on Gulfport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

5. RidgelandRidgeland Location In Mississippi

Ridgeland, MS

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

8
/10

Population: 24,587
HHI: 3,815
% White: 40.1%
% African American: 46.4%
% Hispanic: 6.5%
% Asian: 3.5%
More on Ridgeland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

6. GautierGautier Location In Mississippi

Gautier, MS

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

4
/10

Population: 19,046
HHI: 3,819
% White: 53.1%
% African American: 29.5%
% Hispanic: 10.3%
% Asian: 1.5%
More on Gautier: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

7. Horn LakeHorn Lake Location In Mississippi

Horn Lake, MS

Source: Wikipedia User Thomas R Machnitzki | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 26,647
HHI: 3,872
% White: 35.7%
% African American: 50.0%
% Hispanic: 9.2%
% Asian: 0.8%
More on Horn Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

8. BiloxiBiloxi Location In Mississippi

Biloxi, MS

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

6
/10

Population: 48,861
HHI: 4,046
% White: 59.4%
% African American: 18.4%
% Hispanic: 10.8%
% Asian: 3.6%
More on Biloxi: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

9. Olive BranchOlive Branch Location In Mississippi

Olive Branch, MS

Source: Wikipedia User Thomas R Machnitzki ([email protected]) | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 47,019
HHI: 4,104
% White: 52.7%
% African American: 35.7%
% Hispanic: 6.3%
% Asian: 2.1%
More on Olive Branch: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

10. StarkvilleStarkville Location In Mississippi

Starkville, MS

Source: Wikipedia User NatalieMaynor from Jackson, Mississippi, USA | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 25,721
HHI: 4,114
% White: 52.7%
% African American: 36.0%
% Hispanic: 3.8%
% Asian: 4.6%
More on Starkville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Mississippi 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 Mississippi.

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 61 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 3,223 (Forest) to 7,938 (Yazoo City).

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

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

Best States To Live In The United States

Summary: Diversity Across Mississippi

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

The most diverse cities in Mississippi are Forest, Pascagoula, Pontotoc, Gulfport, Ridgeland, Gautier, Horn Lake, Biloxi, Olive Branch, and Starkville.

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

  1. Yazoo City
  2. Diamondhead
  3. Greenville

For more Mississippi reading, check out:

Race By City In Mississippi For 2026

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Forest, MS 5,357 3,223 23.0% 37.3% 36.0% 0.1%
2 Pascagoula, MS 21,710 3,641 48.0% 34.1% 12.6% 1.2%
3 Pontotoc, MS 5,806 3,704 53.9% 22.9% 15.2% 0.0%
4 Gulfport, MS 73,003 3,720 47.3% 37.3% 6.8% 1.7%
5 Ridgeland, MS 24,587 3,815 40.1% 46.4% 6.5% 3.5%
6 Gautier, MS 19,046 3,819 53.1% 29.5% 10.3% 1.5%
7 Horn Lake, MS 26,647 3,872 35.7% 50.0% 9.2% 0.8%
8 Biloxi, MS 48,861 4,046 59.4% 18.4% 10.8% 3.6%
9 Olive Branch, MS 47,019 4,104 52.7% 35.7% 6.3% 2.1%
10 Starkville, MS 25,721 4,114 52.7% 36.0% 3.8% 4.6%
11 Clinton, MS 27,195 4,129 47.3% 43.1% 2.1% 4.6%
12 Hattiesburg, MS 48,619 4,152 39.5% 50.5% 5.1% 0.7%
13 Tupelo, MS 37,791 4,153 51.9% 37.8% 4.7% 1.7%
14 Southaven, MS 56,226 4,157 50.7% 39.3% 5.3% 1.2%
15 D’iberville, MS 13,203 4,211 60.8% 19.1% 8.1% 8.0%
16 Picayune, MS 11,900 4,236 52.1% 38.5% 5.1% 0.0%
17 Pearl, MS 27,737 4,264 57.9% 29.1% 6.4% 2.5%
18 Cleveland, MS 10,623 4,321 41.3% 51.0% 2.8% 2.1%
19 New Albany, MS 7,663 4,437 60.2% 27.3% 7.7% 0.6%
20 Philadelphia, MS 6,996 4,465 42.3% 51.6% 0.8% 0.4%
21 Senatobia, MS 8,380 4,478 53.2% 40.3% 2.5% 0.2%
22 Meridian, MS 34,137 4,513 30.3% 59.7% 2.3% 1.2%
23 Laurel, MS 17,679 4,669 28.7% 61.3% 9.1% 0.2%
24 Ripley, MS 5,377 4,742 65.5% 16.4% 12.1% 0.0%
25 Brookhaven, MS 11,650 4,797 41.7% 55.3% 1.5% 0.7%
26 Columbia, MS 6,632 4,837 59.6% 35.8% 1.7% 0.0%
27 Oxford, MS 26,411 4,868 64.7% 25.5% 4.0% 2.8%
28 Batesville, MS 7,387 4,869 42.2% 55.6% 1.1% 0.1%
29 Grenada, MS 12,375 4,877 39.0% 57.9% 0.0% 0.0%
30 Amory, MS 6,500 4,916 64.1% 28.0% 2.8% 0.1%
31 Kosciusko, MS 6,933 4,962 38.9% 58.7% 1.4% 0.0%
32 Columbus, MS 23,348 5,034 29.7% 64.4% 2.0% 1.6%
33 Natchez, MS 14,192 5,066 34.5% 62.2% 0.4% 0.0%
34 Louisville, MS 5,983 5,075 37.9% 60.3% 0.2% 0.3%
35 Corinth, MS 14,323 5,137 68.5% 19.5% 7.0% 0.9%
36 Richland, MS 7,346 5,231 70.2% 15.7% 4.3% 3.5%
37 Moss Point, MS 11,957 5,264 22.5% 68.7% 6.2% 0.8%
38 Pass Christian, MS 6,097 5,363 70.5% 19.1% 2.8% 2.7%
39 Flowood, MS 10,587 5,373 71.0% 17.0% 3.9% 3.7%
40 Booneville, MS 9,246 5,406 70.2% 21.3% 2.1% 1.0%
41 West Point, MS 9,900 5,485 31.0% 67.3% 0.1% 0.1%
42 Greenwood, MS 14,086 5,530 25.6% 69.8% 3.3% 0.4%
43 Brandon, MS 25,542 5,564 69.5% 27.1% 1.7% 0.4%
44 Petal, MS 11,294 5,601 72.8% 16.1% 5.5% 1.7%
45 Byram, MS 12,799 5,688 24.8% 71.2% 2.2% 1.0%
46 Holly Springs, MS 6,704 5,706 24.0% 71.6% 0.6% 0.3%
47 Vicksburg, MS 20,589 5,738 23.7% 71.9% 2.3% 0.1%
48 Hernando, MS 17,949 5,740 74.0% 14.5% 7.0% 1.2%
49 Mccomb, MS 12,049 5,746 23.4% 72.0% 2.6% 0.5%
50 Bay St. Louis, MS 10,188 5,936 75.6% 13.7% 4.6% 1.3%
51 Canton, MS 10,811 5,972 19.6% 74.6% 5.4% 0.0%
52 Ocean Springs, MS 18,646 6,018 76.6% 7.4% 8.4% 4.9%
53 Madison, MS 27,946 6,175 77.3% 12.7% 2.3% 5.9%
54 Waveland, MS 7,062 6,211 77.7% 12.0% 3.6% 2.1%
55 Long Beach, MS 17,009 6,394 79.1% 10.1% 4.0% 1.8%
56 Clarksdale, MS 14,231 6,734 13.4% 80.9% 3.8% 0.4%
57 Jackson, MS 146,631 6,863 13.3% 81.7% 2.4% 0.3%
58 Indianola, MS 9,062 6,864 15.0% 81.5% 1.7% 0.4%
59 Greenville, MS 28,166 7,015 14.9% 82.4% 0.3% 1.2%
60 Diamondhead, MS 9,338 7,182 84.3% 2.6% 5.5% 1.4%
61 Yazoo City, MS 10,219 7,938 9.7% 88.6% 0.5% 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.

 Diverse, Rankings