Racial diversity in New Jersey is a mixed bag.
There are parts of New Jersey where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in New Jersey?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 266 cities in New Jersey to rank them from most to least diverse.
#1 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Hudson County, New Jersey
Jersey City is the second-most-populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark. It is the seat of Hudson County as well as the county’s largest city. As of 2016, the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program calculated that Jersey City’s population was 264,152, with the largest population increase of any municipality in New Jersey since 2010, an increase of about 6.7% from the 2010 United States Census, when the city’s population was at 247,597, ranking the city the 77th-largest in the nation.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#2 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Middlesex County, New Jersey
Avenel is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP’s population was 17,011.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#3 most diverse in New Jersey
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#4 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Bergen County, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147, reflecting an increase of 944 from the 26,203 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,353 from the 24,850 counted in the 1990 Census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#5 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Atlantic County, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, known for its casinos, boardwalks, and beaches. In 2010, it had a population of 39,558. The city was incorporated on May 1, 1854, from portions of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township. It borders Absecon, Brigantine, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, West Atlantic City, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#6 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Middlesex County, New Jersey
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#7 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Middlesex County, New Jersey
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#8 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP’s population was 22,083.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#9 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Bergen County, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States, and serves as its county seat. The area was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921, but it was informally known as Hackensack. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city’s population was 43,010, reflecting an increase of 333 from the 42,677 counted in the 2000 Census, which had, in turn, increased by 5,628 from the 37,049 counted in the 1990 Census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
#10 most diverse in New Jersey
Located in
Union County, New Jersey
Rahway is a city in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, 21.6 miles southwest of Manhattan and 5 miles west of Staten Island. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city’s population was 27,346, reflecting an increase of 846 from the 26,500 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,175 from the 25,325 counted in the 1990 Census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is New Jersey’s statewide median.
On the map
Where diversity lives in New Jersey
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
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
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 266 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 2,297 (Jersey City) to 9,242 (Little Silver).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Jersey City took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Little Silver was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most diverse places in New Jersey.
The full plate
Race By City In New Jersey For 2026
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jersey City | 294,078 | 2,297 | 23.5% | 19.2% | 25.7% | 26.5% |
| 2 | Avenel | 17,121 | 2,412 | 27.9% | 26.7% | 25.3% | 16.2% |
| 3 | Franklin Center | 6,646 | 2,424 | 29.8% | 23.3% | 13.9% | 28.1% |
| 4 | Englewood | 29,638 | 2,430 | 26.1% | 19.6% | 33.5% | 14.9% |
| 5 | Atlantic City | 38,632 | 2,450 | 17.6% | 29.4% | 31.9% | 15.4% |
| 6 | Madison Park | 9,124 | 2,528 | 29.6% | 30.5% | 18.4% | 19.3% |
| 7 | Carteret | 25,496 | 2,534 | 18.7% | 18.6% | 34.2% | 25.7% |
| 8 | Somerset | 22,720 | 2,544 | 32.7% | 28.1% | 11.6% | 23.1% |
| 9 | Hackensack | 46,057 | 2,594 | 26.0% | 18.1% | 37.2% | 13.8% |
| 10 | Rahway | 30,109 | 2,622 | 29.3% | 30.8% | 27.4% | 5.7% |
| 11 | Pomona | 7,995 | 2,665 | 39.6% | 10.4% | 15.3% | 26.1% |
| 12 | Franklin Park | 13,211 | 2,687 | 17.0% | 23.8% | 13.8% | 40.3% |
| 13 | Woodbridge | 20,756 | 2,777 | 38.0% | 9.4% | 24.6% | 25.2% |
| 14 | Lindenwold | 21,719 | 2,788 | 27.5% | 33.1% | 29.8% | 3.3% |
| 15 | Fords | 12,771 | 2,817 | 42.0% | 13.5% | 24.0% | 16.8% |
| 16 | Bergenfield | 28,450 | 2,822 | 32.7% | 6.9% | 33.0% | 24.7% |
| 17 | Secaucus | 21,778 | 2,833 | 33.7% | 5.3% | 18.3% | 36.1% |
| 18 | Harrison | 20,369 | 2,842 | 27.2% | 3.7% | 39.7% | 22.0% |
| 19 | Finderne | 6,489 | 2,850 | 38.5% | 7.8% | 30.7% | 18.6% |
| 20 | Paulsboro | 6,248 | 2,853 | 37.0% | 31.9% | 19.8% | 2.8% |
| 21 | Kingston Estates | 6,668 | 2,860 | 43.8% | 2.6% | 21.4% | 19.8% |
| 22 | Linden | 44,192 | 2,901 | 30.1% | 27.0% | 35.2% | 3.9% |
| 23 | Roselle Park | 14,093 | 2,954 | 40.3% | 9.6% | 32.2% | 14.0% |
| 24 | Leonia | 9,336 | 2,980 | 30.4% | 2.8% | 25.3% | 37.4% |
| 25 | Ridgefield | 11,498 | 2,991 | 32.5% | 1.8% | 37.8% | 22.0% |
| 26 | Asbury Park | 15,295 | 3,003 | 38.1% | 29.7% | 25.5% | 2.2% |
| 27 | Sayreville | 45,838 | 3,048 | 46.9% | 11.5% | 21.2% | 16.1% |
| 28 | Fort Dix | 7,984 | 3,068 | 38.9% | 27.0% | 28.5% | 2.4% |
| 29 | Bayonne | 71,553 | 3,075 | 42.5% | 12.0% | 32.1% | 9.1% |
| 30 | South Plainfield | 24,473 | 3,143 | 47.9% | 9.7% | 17.0% | 21.3% |
| 31 | Cliffside Park | 25,781 | 3,144 | 41.4% | 2.7% | 34.5% | 14.4% |
| 32 | Edgewater | 14,759 | 3,161 | 36.9% | 3.5% | 16.6% | 38.7% |
| 33 | Burlington | 9,993 | 3,185 | 40.0% | 36.7% | 11.6% | 1.2% |
| 34 | Raritan | 8,368 | 3,192 | 47.0% | 4.0% | 21.7% | 21.7% |
| 35 | Haledon | 8,980 | 3,201 | 26.3% | 17.8% | 46.4% | 3.5% |
| 36 | Iselin | 19,551 | 3,207 | 23.1% | 10.8% | 14.8% | 48.3% |
| 37 | Little Ferry | 10,996 | 3,228 | 37.2% | 3.1% | 37.6% | 20.5% |
| 38 | Woodbury | 10,042 | 3,240 | 48.5% | 21.2% | 19.1% | 1.3% |
| 39 | New Milford | 16,995 | 3,265 | 48.9% | 5.0% | 20.5% | 20.3% |
| 40 | Brookdale | 9,960 | 3,280 | 50.4% | 7.7% | 22.3% | 11.9% |
| 41 | Twin Rivers | 8,382 | 3,352 | 44.2% | 7.5% | 35.6% | 6.9% |
| 42 | Pine Hill | 10,802 | 3,357 | 48.1% | 25.9% | 18.4% | 2.2% |
| 43 | Wood-Ridge | 10,218 | 3,365 | 49.0% | 6.8% | 20.9% | 21.9% |
| 44 | Long Branch | 32,530 | 3,395 | 50.8% | 10.7% | 25.2% | 2.7% |
| 45 | Somerville | 13,410 | 3,397 | 51.8% | 11.3% | 21.1% | 10.8% |
| 46 | Maywood | 10,093 | 3,411 | 48.4% | 4.6% | 27.3% | 17.1% |
| 47 | Dumont | 18,279 | 3,412 | 48.3% | 2.9% | 27.0% | 18.3% |
| 48 | Elmwood Park | 21,412 | 3,426 | 48.6% | 10.4% | 29.5% | 9.3% |
| 49 | Lodi | 26,082 | 3,448 | 42.7% | 7.3% | 39.0% | 6.7% |
| 50 | Fort Lee | 40,067 | 3,481 | 37.2% | 2.3% | 13.5% | 43.6% |
| 51 | Vineland | 61,006 | 3,511 | 37.0% | 10.9% | 44.8% | 2.1% |
| 52 | Closter | 8,606 | 3,515 | 48.8% | 2.0% | 11.1% | 31.0% |
| 53 | Kendall Park | 10,011 | 3,521 | 46.3% | 3.5% | 9.9% | 35.3% |
| 54 | Newark | 310,178 | 3,524 | 8.9% | 44.8% | 37.6% | 2.0% |
| 55 | Bogota | 9,360 | 3,524 | 30.7% | 9.2% | 49.0% | 9.9% |
| 56 | East Rutherford | 10,313 | 3,529 | 51.7% | 5.6% | 22.7% | 17.5% |
| 57 | Somerdale | 5,581 | 3,533 | 48.5% | 31.9% | 11.0% | 3.9% |
| 58 | River Edge | 12,091 | 3,582 | 50.3% | 4.7% | 11.4% | 29.8% |
| 59 | South River | 16,124 | 3,599 | 52.8% | 13.5% | 24.5% | 4.0% |
| 60 | Morganville | 5,902 | 3,648 | 54.4% | 1.1% | 10.9% | 22.6% |
| 61 | Ridgefield Park | 13,235 | 3,660 | 32.1% | 8.9% | 50.0% | 6.8% |
| 62 | Roselle | 22,646 | 3,666 | 11.3% | 39.7% | 44.2% | 1.4% |
| 63 | Dayton | 7,952 | 3,671 | 31.4% | 6.0% | 6.6% | 50.9% |
| 64 | Kearny | 40,614 | 3,696 | 30.7% | 4.7% | 51.7% | 4.3% |
| 65 | Dunellen | 7,911 | 3,699 | 39.7% | 4.9% | 45.2% | 6.1% |
| 66 | New Brunswick | 56,345 | 3,705 | 22.8% | 11.6% | 54.6% | 7.9% |
| 66 | Mays Landing | 6,406 | 3,704 | 56.4% | 15.1% | 13.0% | 4.1% |
| 68 | Clifton | 89,379 | 3,745 | 45.9% | 3.5% | 39.4% | 8.3% |
| 69 | Highland Park | 15,121 | 3,751 | 55.1% | 3.6% | 15.8% | 21.1% |
| 70 | Middlesex | 14,645 | 3,756 | 54.2% | 5.2% | 24.3% | 13.8% |
| 70 | North Plainfield | 22,809 | 3,757 | 15.8% | 22.1% | 54.7% | 4.1% |
| 72 | Colonia | 18,587 | 3,772 | 56.4% | 5.1% | 17.5% | 15.6% |
| 73 | Paramus | 26,568 | 3,773 | 54.1% | 4.1% | 13.0% | 25.7% |
| 74 | Morristown | 20,453 | 3,784 | 51.1% | 7.4% | 32.9% | 4.2% |
| 75 | Bradley Gardens | 14,165 | 3,799 | 47.4% | 1.3% | 8.6% | 38.3% |
| 76 | North Arlington | 16,461 | 3,804 | 52.7% | 4.0% | 30.3% | 8.7% |
| 77 | Florence | 5,242 | 3,828 | 57.8% | 15.0% | 12.5% | 5.5% |
| 78 | Millville | 27,511 | 3,836 | 55.8% | 17.4% | 19.6% | 0.7% |
| 79 | Palisades Park | 20,290 | 3,847 | 19.2% | 2.6% | 22.3% | 54.5% |
| 80 | Blackwells Mills | 10,301 | 3,867 | 53.8% | 4.4% | 5.5% | 29.7% |
| 81 | Trenton | 90,338 | 3,871 | 10.6% | 40.0% | 46.4% | 0.4% |
| 82 | Caldwell | 9,003 | 3,901 | 56.9% | 4.7% | 20.8% | 13.9% |
| 83 | Pleasantville | 20,712 | 3,905 | 8.2% | 30.4% | 53.7% | 2.0% |
| 84 | Echelon | 13,284 | 3,911 | 56.1% | 9.1% | 4.4% | 25.5% |
| 85 | Tenafly | 15,319 | 3,944 | 50.6% | 1.2% | 8.4% | 36.0% |
| 86 | Metuchen | 15,144 | 3,950 | 58.7% | 4.7% | 8.4% | 17.9% |
| 87 | East Franklin | 11,070 | 3,961 | 7.2% | 31.7% | 53.7% | 3.7% |
| 88 | Westwood | 11,283 | 3,965 | 56.4% | 3.5% | 26.2% | 7.5% |
| 89 | Budd Lake | 10,650 | 3,969 | 58.0% | 9.2% | 21.2% | 7.4% |
| 90 | Jamesburg | 5,770 | 3,982 | 41.0% | 2.3% | 47.1% | 8.7% |
| 91 | Eato | 13,575 | 3,994 | 59.4% | 10.5% | 11.3% | 14.5% |
| 92 | Totowa | 10,959 | 3,999 | 56.9% | 5.3% | 25.7% | 7.4% |
| 93 | Carneys Point | 8,050 | 4,023 | 58.1% | 19.6% | 15.3% | 2.8% |
| 94 | Garfield | 32,783 | 4,025 | 41.8% | 5.3% | 47.3% | 3.7% |
| 95 | Country Lake Estates | 5,055 | 4,042 | 59.2% | 18.6% | 9.1% | 1.7% |
| 96 | Englewood Cliffs | 5,362 | 4,064 | 42.2% | 1.2% | 5.4% | 47.3% |
| 97 | Hight | 5,920 | 4,115 | 58.5% | 7.1% | 24.3% | 6.5% |
| 98 | Old Tappan | 6,008 | 4,123 | 49.0% | 3.2% | 4.5% | 41.1% |
| 99 | Freehold | 12,507 | 4,127 | 35.2% | 5.7% | 53.3% | 3.4% |
| 100 | Woodland Park | 13,355 | 4,128 | 55.4% | 3.2% | 31.5% | 6.3% |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. 266 cities with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
Summary: Diversity Across New Jersey
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across New Jersey, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in New Jersey are Jersey City, Avenel, Franklin Center, Englewood, Atlantic City, Madison Park, Carteret, Somerset, Hackensack, and Rahway.
