The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Mississippi For 2024


The most diverse cities in Mississippi are Forest and Pontotoc for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: January 11, 2024


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 62 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 2024:

  1. Forest
  2. Pontotoc
  3. Pascagoula
  4. Gautier
  5. Horn Lake
  6. Ridgeland
  7. New Albany
  8. Gulfport
  9. Ripley
  10. Biloxi

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 2024

1. ForestForest Location In Mississippi

Forest, MS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 5,416
HHI: 3,441
% White: 28.2%
% African American: 41.8%
% Hispanic: 30.0%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Forest: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

2. PontotocPontotoc Location In Mississippi

Pontotoc, MS

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

6
/10

Population: 5,676
HHI: 3,564
% White: 50.2%
% African American: 26.8%
% Hispanic: 16.8%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Pontotoc: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

3. PascagoulaPascagoula Location In Mississippi

Pascagoula, MS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 21,904
HHI: 3,701
% White: 46.8%
% African American: 36.5%
% Hispanic: 13.2%
% Asian: 0.9%
More on Pascagoula: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

4. GautierGautier Location In Mississippi

Gautier, MS

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

4
/10

Population: 19,007
HHI: 3,772
% White: 48.8%
% African American: 35.1%
% Hispanic: 12.3%
% Asian: 2.2%
More on Gautier: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

5. 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: 26,652
HHI: 3,810
% White: 42.2%
% African American: 44.1%
% Hispanic: 8.8%
% Asian: 1.4%
More on Horn Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

6. RidgelandRidgeland Location In Mississippi

Ridgeland, MS

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

8
/10

Population: 24,618
HHI: 3,876
% White: 45.9%
% African American: 41.3%
% Hispanic: 6.8%
% Asian: 3.1%
More on Ridgeland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

7. New AlbanyNew Albany Location In Mississippi

New Albany, MS

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 7,657
HHI: 3,964
% White: 52.3%
% African American: 33.3%
% Hispanic: 10.7%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on New Albany: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

8. GulfportGulfport Location In Mississippi

Gulfport, MS

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

3
/10

Population: 72,524
HHI: 3,982
% White: 49.7%
% African American: 38.1%
% Hispanic: 5.4%
% Asian: 1.5%
More on Gulfport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

9. Ripley

Ripley, MS

Source: Wikipedia User Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 5,440
HHI: 4,138
% White: 59.5%
% African American: 19.4%
% Hispanic: 11.8%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Ripley: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

10. BiloxiBiloxi Location In Mississippi

Biloxi, MS

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

6
/10

Population: 49,141
HHI: 4,219
% White: 60.6%
% African American: 20.5%
% Hispanic: 9.0%
% Asian: 3.7%
More on Biloxi: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

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

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 62 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 3,441 (Forest) to 7,991 (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 2024. This report is our tenth 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, Pontotoc, Pascagoula, Gautier, Horn Lake, Ridgeland, New Albany, Gulfport, Ripley, and Biloxi.

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

  1. Yazoo City
  2. Diamondhead
  3. Indianola

For more Mississippi reading, check out:

Race By City In Mississippi For 2024

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Forest, MS 5,416 3,441 28.2% 41.8% 30.0% 0.0%
2 Pontotoc, MS 5,676 3,564 50.2% 26.8% 16.8% 0.0%
3 Pascagoula, MS 21,904 3,701 46.8% 36.5% 13.2% 0.9%
4 Gautier, MS 19,007 3,772 48.8% 35.1% 12.3% 2.2%
5 Horn Lake, MS 26,652 3,810 42.2% 44.1% 8.8% 1.4%
6 Ridgeland, MS 24,618 3,876 45.9% 41.3% 6.8% 3.1%
7 New Albany, MS 7,657 3,964 52.3% 33.3% 10.7% 0.3%
8 Gulfport, MS 72,524 3,982 49.7% 38.1% 5.4% 1.5%
9 Ripley, MS 5,440 4,138 59.5% 19.4% 11.8% 0.0%
10 Biloxi, MS 49,141 4,219 60.6% 20.5% 9.0% 3.7%
11 Hattiesburg, MS 48,466 4,288 40.2% 51.5% 3.7% 0.8%
12 Southaven, MS 54,908 4,343 54.8% 36.1% 5.2% 1.1%
13 Cleveland, MS 11,082 4,408 39.8% 52.9% 0.8% 1.8%
14 Leakesville, MS 5,463 4,413 47.4% 46.4% 1.7% 0.0%
15 Tupelo, MS 37,939 4,418 54.2% 38.3% 3.3% 0.5%
16 Clinton, MS 27,668 4,422 50.1% 43.5% 1.8% 3.5%
17 Olive Branch, MS 45,938 4,424 57.9% 32.2% 5.1% 1.6%
18 Picayune, MS 11,804 4,544 55.7% 37.6% 2.0% 0.1%
19 D’iberville, MS 12,922 4,601 64.7% 16.9% 5.6% 9.1%
20 Starkville, MS 24,274 4,601 58.7% 33.8% 2.2% 3.7%
21 Flowood, MS 10,204 4,624 62.8% 24.9% 3.9% 6.3%
22 Philadelphia, MS 7,065 4,625 45.2% 50.8% 0.7% 0.6%
23 Kosciusko, MS 7,056 4,632 43.4% 52.4% 1.6% 0.0%
24 Pearl, MS 27,255 4,639 59.7% 32.5% 4.2% 1.8%
25 Senatobia, MS 8,288 4,690 52.7% 43.6% 1.9% 0.1%
26 Batesville, MS 7,464 4,729 51.4% 45.6% 1.0% 0.1%
27 Louisville, MS 6,061 4,778 36.2% 58.8% 1.3% 0.3%
28 Brookhaven, MS 11,714 4,781 39.4% 56.7% 2.0% 1.5%
29 Amory, MS 6,642 4,833 63.2% 28.4% 4.1% 0.2%
30 Columbia, MS 5,831 4,848 54.9% 42.8% 0.4% 0.2%
31 Grenada, MS 12,594 4,886 39.9% 57.4% 0.0% 0.2%
32 Natchez, MS 14,380 4,910 31.9% 62.2% 4.0% 0.1%
33 Columbus, MS 23,896 5,050 31.0% 63.9% 1.8% 1.5%
34 Meridian, MS 34,990 5,116 29.8% 65.0% 1.9% 1.1%
35 Laurel, MS 17,241 5,213 30.1% 65.5% 3.8% 0.2%
36 Oxford, MS 25,713 5,258 67.7% 25.7% 1.9% 2.6%
37 West Point, MS 10,063 5,382 34.4% 64.8% 0.0% 0.1%
38 Vicksburg, MS 21,337 5,484 27.5% 68.7% 2.5% 0.3%
39 Richland, MS 7,208 5,519 71.6% 19.0% 3.2% 2.1%
40 Pass Christian, MS 5,802 5,564 72.0% 18.9% 4.4% 1.8%
41 Greenwood, MS 14,242 5,607 25.9% 70.2% 2.4% 0.7%
42 Corinth, MS 14,520 5,658 73.1% 16.5% 5.0% 0.0%
43 Hernando, MS 17,262 5,664 72.7% 18.5% 5.2% 1.3%
44 Moss Point, MS 12,173 5,860 17.3% 74.4% 4.0% 0.1%
45 Canton, MS 10,951 5,922 17.6% 74.6% 7.1% 0.2%
46 Bay St. Louis, MS 9,788 5,942 75.2% 16.3% 2.3% 1.2%
47 Mccomb, MS 12,295 5,989 23.5% 73.7% 1.6% 0.3%
48 Ocean Springs, MS 18,417 6,072 77.1% 6.1% 7.8% 4.5%
49 Byram, MS 12,922 6,116 22.0% 75.0% 1.4% 1.1%
50 Booneville, MS 9,027 6,170 76.6% 16.9% 0.8% 0.6%
51 Madison, MS 27,595 6,214 77.5% 13.2% 1.1% 6.0%
52 Holly Springs, MS 6,942 6,286 18.4% 77.0% 0.5% 0.1%
53 Brandon, MS 25,142 6,332 77.0% 19.8% 2.2% 0.1%
54 Petal, MS 11,047 6,415 78.6% 14.8% 4.3% 0.1%
55 Clarksdale, MS 14,769 6,800 15.1% 81.0% 2.0% 0.3%
56 Waveland, MS 7,075 6,805 81.4% 12.8% 2.6% 0.1%
57 Long Beach, MS 16,809 6,808 81.9% 8.1% 3.1% 2.3%
58 Jackson, MS 153,271 6,936 14.7% 82.0% 1.7% 0.3%
59 Greenville, MS 29,495 7,081 15.1% 82.8% 0.0% 1.2%
60 Indianola, MS 9,572 7,263 15.7% 83.8% 0.1% 0.0%
61 Diamondhead, MS 9,360 7,328 85.1% 1.9% 8.3% 0.5%
62 Yazoo City, MS 10,573 7,991 9.6% 88.9% 0.2% 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