Racial diversity in Montana is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Montana where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Montana?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 17 cities in Montana to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Montana for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in Montana? According to the most Census data, Polson took the number one over all spot for diversity in Montana.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Montana ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Montana reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Montana For 2024
/10
Population: 5,218
HHI: 4,271
% White: 61.4%
% African American: 0.6%
% Hispanic: 7.0%
% Asian: 1.1%
More on Polson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,332
HHI: 6,146
% White: 77.1%
% African American: 0.3%
% Hispanic: 5.2%
% Asian: 0.4%
More on Havre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 60,373
HHI: 6,951
% White: 82.9%
% African American: 1.0%
% Hispanic: 5.4%
% Asian: 0.9%
More on Great Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,257
HHI: 7,049
% White: 83.3%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 7.0%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Sidney: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 117,093
HHI: 7,056
% White: 83.5%
% African American: 0.5%
% Hispanic: 7.1%
% Asian: 0.9%
More on Billings: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,181
HHI: 7,410
% White: 85.7%
% African American: 0.5%
% Hispanic: 6.6%
% Asian: 1.6%
More on Laurel: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 74,627
HHI: 7,441
% White: 86.0%
% African American: 0.7%
% Hispanic: 4.5%
% Asian: 1.6%
More on Missoula: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 53,500
HHI: 7,581
% White: 86.8%
% African American: 0.6%
% Hispanic: 4.8%
% Asian: 2.3%
More on Bozeman: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 32,529
HHI: 7,798
% White: 88.1%
% African American: 0.8%
% Hispanic: 4.8%
% Asian: 0.9%
More on Helena: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,432
HHI: 7,924
% White: 88.8%
% African American: 0.3%
% Hispanic: 4.6%
% Asian: 0.5%
More on Miles City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Montana 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 Montana.
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 5,000 people. That left us with 17 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 4,271 (Polson) to 8,959 (Whitefish).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Polson took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Whitefish was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Montana.
Summary: Diversity Across Montana
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Montana, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Montana are Polson, Havre, Great Falls, Sidney, Billings, Laurel, Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, and Miles City.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Montana:
- Whitefish
- Livingston
- Lewistown
For more Montana reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Montana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Montana
- Most Dangerous Cities In Montana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Montana
- Safest Places In Montana
- Worst Places To Live In Montana
Race By City In Montana For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polson, MT | 5,218 | 4,271 | 61.4% | 0.6% | 7.0% | 1.1% |
| 2 | Havre, MT | 9,332 | 6,146 | 77.1% | 0.3% | 5.2% | 0.4% |
| 3 | Great Falls, MT | 60,373 | 6,951 | 82.9% | 1.0% | 5.4% | 0.9% |
| 4 | Sidney, MT | 6,257 | 7,049 | 83.3% | 0.0% | 7.0% | 0.0% |
| 5 | Billings, MT | 117,093 | 7,056 | 83.5% | 0.5% | 7.1% | 0.9% |
| 6 | Laurel, MT | 7,181 | 7,410 | 85.7% | 0.5% | 6.6% | 1.6% |
| 7 | Missoula, MT | 74,627 | 7,441 | 86.0% | 0.7% | 4.5% | 1.6% |
| 8 | Bozeman, MT | 53,500 | 7,581 | 86.8% | 0.6% | 4.8% | 2.3% |
| 9 | Helena, MT | 32,529 | 7,798 | 88.1% | 0.8% | 4.8% | 0.9% |
| 10 | Miles City, MT | 8,432 | 7,924 | 88.8% | 0.3% | 4.6% | 0.5% |
| 11 | Kalispell, MT | 25,473 | 8,026 | 89.4% | 0.2% | 4.1% | 1.6% |
| 12 | Columbia Falls, MT | 5,435 | 8,047 | 89.4% | 0.0% | 6.3% | 1.0% |
| 13 | Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, MT | 9,435 | 8,059 | 89.6% | 0.5% | 3.7% | 0.5% |
| 14 | Belgrade, MT | 10,941 | 8,362 | 91.4% | 0.2% | 2.5% | 0.5% |
| 15 | Lewistown, MT | 5,988 | 8,499 | 92.1% | 0.7% | 2.4% | 1.6% |
| 16 | Livingston, MT | 8,489 | 8,740 | 93.4% | 0.0% | 2.5% | 0.2% |
| 17 | Whitefish, MT | 8,098 | 8,959 | 94.6% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 0.0% |
