Racial diversity in New York is a mixed bag.
There are parts of New York where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in New York?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 170 cities in New York to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in New York for 2025:
So what city is the most diverse in New York? According to the most Census data, Valley Stream took the number one over all spot for diversity in New York.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where New York ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more New York reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In New York For 2025
/10
Population: 40,278
HHI: 2,194
% White: 24.5%
% African American: 24.6%
% Hispanic: 25.0%
% Asian: 18.4%
More on Valley Stream: Data
/10
Population: 8,516,202
HHI: 2,445
% White: 31.3%
% African American: 20.8%
% Hispanic: 28.4%
% Asian: 14.5%
More on New York: Data
/10
Population: 15,789
HHI: 2,814
% White: 31.9%
% African American: 16.4%
% Hispanic: 37.4%
% Asian: 10.9%
More on Westbury: Data
/10
Population: 31,778
HHI: 2,829
% White: 34.5%
% African American: 31.3%
% Hispanic: 24.7%
% Asian: 1.4%
More on Poughkeepsie: Data
/10
Population: 7,252
HHI: 2,920
% White: 29.1%
% African American: 19.6%
% Hispanic: 40.5%
% Asian: 5.2%
More on Monticello: Data
/10
Population: 68,521
HHI: 3,000
% White: 48.0%
% African American: 19.4%
% Hispanic: 13.3%
% Asian: 5.6%
More on Schenectady: Data
/10
Population: 209,720
HHI: 3,003
% White: 36.0%
% African American: 35.7%
% Hispanic: 19.9%
% Asian: 3.2%
More on Rochester: Data
/10
Population: 32,995
HHI: 3,054
% White: 35.5%
% African American: 28.3%
% Hispanic: 31.4%
% Asian: 2.9%
More on Spring Valley: Data
/10
Population: 276,397
HHI: 3,081
% White: 42.7%
% African American: 31.8%
% Hispanic: 12.7%
% Asian: 8.2%
More on Buffalo: Data
/10
Population: 81,591
HHI: 3,085
% White: 42.0%
% African American: 18.6%
% Hispanic: 30.6%
% Asian: 5.3%
More on New Rochelle: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in New York for 2025
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 York.
That leads us to the Census’s most recently available data, the 2019-2023 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 170 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 2,194 (Valley Stream) to 9,427 (New Square).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Valley Stream took the distinction of being the most diverse, while New Square was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in New York.
Summary: Diversity Across New York
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across New York, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in New York are Valley Stream, New York, Westbury, Poughkeepsie, Monticello, Schenectady, Rochester, Spring Valley, Buffalo, and New Rochelle.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in New York:
- New Square
- Lancaster
- Kiryas Joel
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Most Dangerous Places In New York
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
- Worst Places To Live In New York State
Race By City In New York For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley Stream, NY | 40,278 | 2,194 | 24.5% | 24.6% | 25.0% | 18.4% |
| 2 | New York, NY | 8,516,202 | 2,445 | 31.3% | 20.8% | 28.4% | 14.5% |
| 3 | Westbury, NY | 15,789 | 2,814 | 31.9% | 16.4% | 37.4% | 10.9% |
| 4 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 31,778 | 2,829 | 34.5% | 31.3% | 24.7% | 1.4% |
| 5 | Monticello, NY | 7,252 | 2,920 | 29.1% | 19.6% | 40.5% | 5.2% |
| 6 | Schenectady, NY | 68,521 | 3,000 | 48.0% | 19.4% | 13.3% | 5.6% |
| 7 | Rochester, NY | 209,720 | 3,003 | 36.0% | 35.7% | 19.9% | 3.2% |
| 8 | Spring Valley, NY | 32,995 | 3,054 | 35.5% | 28.3% | 31.4% | 2.9% |
| 9 | Buffalo, NY | 276,397 | 3,081 | 42.7% | 31.8% | 12.7% | 8.2% |
| 10 | New Rochelle, NY | 81,591 | 3,085 | 42.0% | 18.6% | 30.6% | 5.3% |
| 11 | Middletown, NY | 30,227 | 3,094 | 28.9% | 21.1% | 42.3% | 3.2% |
| 12 | White Plains, NY | 59,818 | 3,212 | 43.9% | 11.4% | 32.9% | 8.3% |
| 13 | Yonkers, NY | 209,529 | 3,226 | 31.6% | 15.0% | 44.4% | 5.0% |
| 14 | Syracuse, NY | 146,211 | 3,306 | 49.5% | 25.8% | 10.3% | 6.8% |
| 15 | Freeport, NY | 44,102 | 3,316 | 19.0% | 32.9% | 43.2% | 1.5% |
| 16 | Albany, NY | 100,081 | 3,375 | 50.5% | 24.8% | 10.7% | 7.8% |
| 17 | Elmsford, NY | 5,183 | 3,442 | 21.4% | 13.5% | 51.8% | 10.8% |
| 18 | Peekskill, NY | 25,484 | 3,464 | 31.9% | 17.4% | 46.2% | 1.8% |
| 19 | Utica, NY | 64,440 | 3,465 | 54.0% | 13.4% | 14.6% | 11.0% |
| 20 | New Hyde Park, NY | 10,208 | 3,507 | 49.6% | 2.2% | 12.1% | 29.4% |
| 21 | Ossining, NY | 26,979 | 3,513 | 40.6% | 10.1% | 41.7% | 3.9% |
| 22 | Walden, NY | 6,871 | 3,568 | 52.4% | 11.4% | 24.7% | 3.0% |
| 23 | Nyack, NY | 7,469 | 3,574 | 52.4% | 21.4% | 18.4% | 4.7% |
| 24 | Newburgh, NY | 28,649 | 3,631 | 21.7% | 23.8% | 50.9% | 0.6% |
| 25 | Woodbury, NY | 11,437 | 3,674 | 53.7% | 10.4% | 24.9% | 6.6% |
| 26 | Tuckahoe, NY | 6,990 | 3,746 | 55.2% | 5.2% | 20.0% | 16.2% |
| 27 | Suffern, NY | 11,395 | 3,847 | 56.7% | 16.0% | 18.3% | 5.5% |
| 28 | Monroe, NY | 9,466 | 3,858 | 53.7% | 10.2% | 29.2% | 3.3% |
| 29 | New Hempstead, NY | 5,431 | 3,884 | 58.3% | 9.0% | 18.0% | 7.0% |
| 30 | Mount Vernon, NY | 72,528 | 3,945 | 14.8% | 58.0% | 18.3% | 2.2% |
| 31 | Hempstead, NY | 58,569 | 3,969 | 4.8% | 43.2% | 45.4% | 2.4% |
| 32 | Pelham, NY | 7,247 | 4,054 | 60.2% | 8.9% | 16.6% | 6.2% |
| 33 | Liberty, NY | 5,083 | 4,093 | 42.5% | 5.0% | 47.5% | 2.0% |
| 34 | Manorhaven, NY | 6,934 | 4,101 | 50.0% | 0.9% | 39.0% | 8.7% |
| 35 | Washingtonville, NY | 5,723 | 4,129 | 57.3% | 8.4% | 27.5% | 2.2% |
| 36 | Mount Kisco, NY | 10,782 | 4,172 | 50.0% | 4.5% | 40.5% | 2.7% |
| 37 | Port Jervis, NY | 8,709 | 4,180 | 60.1% | 7.8% | 21.6% | 4.2% |
| 38 | Sleepy Hollow, NY | 10,592 | 4,181 | 43.2% | 2.5% | 47.8% | 3.9% |
| 39 | Tarr, NY | 11,752 | 4,199 | 59.9% | 3.7% | 22.3% | 9.3% |
| 40 | Glen Cove, NY | 28,101 | 4,220 | 55.1% | 3.8% | 33.7% | 4.8% |
| 41 | Kingston, NY | 23,942 | 4,272 | 61.2% | 14.1% | 17.1% | 1.8% |
| 42 | Ardsley, NY | 5,005 | 4,276 | 62.0% | 2.0% | 11.3% | 14.2% |
| 43 | Great Neck Plaza, NY | 7,503 | 4,295 | 60.6% | 0.4% | 12.7% | 20.9% |
| 44 | Haverstraw, NY | 12,273 | 4,300 | 18.4% | 17.1% | 60.5% | 2.7% |
| 45 | Mamaroneck, NY | 19,840 | 4,306 | 58.7% | 4.5% | 28.5% | 4.5% |
| 46 | Ithaca, NY | 31,792 | 4,316 | 62.8% | 5.1% | 9.2% | 15.1% |
| 47 | Amsterdam, NY | 18,162 | 4,337 | 56.7% | 5.8% | 32.9% | 1.6% |
| 48 | Lynbrook, NY | 20,251 | 4,340 | 61.3% | 7.0% | 22.1% | 6.7% |
| 49 | Troy, NY | 51,054 | 4,395 | 63.2% | 15.6% | 9.8% | 4.3% |
| 50 | Mineola, NY | 21,082 | 4,449 | 63.1% | 1.5% | 15.6% | 14.3% |
| 51 | Port Chester, NY | 31,162 | 4,458 | 28.9% | 6.9% | 59.7% | 2.5% |
| 52 | Wappingers Falls, NY | 5,694 | 4,504 | 60.0% | 4.7% | 29.6% | 2.6% |
| 53 | Niagara Falls, NY | 48,198 | 4,515 | 64.1% | 17.1% | 8.0% | 2.3% |
| 54 | Patchogue, NY | 12,368 | 4,526 | 62.7% | 4.4% | 23.2% | 4.9% |
| 55 | West Haverstraw, NY | 10,663 | 4,531 | 17.8% | 13.5% | 63.4% | 3.4% |
| 56 | Hudson, NY | 5,900 | 4,610 | 65.3% | 11.6% | 7.6% | 12.3% |
| 57 | Binghamton, NY | 47,357 | 4,633 | 65.7% | 13.0% | 8.8% | 6.7% |
| 58 | Beacon, NY | 14,629 | 4,640 | 64.3% | 10.9% | 19.4% | 1.4% |
| 59 | Dunkirk, NY | 12,597 | 4,691 | 59.7% | 3.8% | 33.2% | 0.1% |
| 60 | Williston Park, NY | 7,508 | 4,707 | 64.3% | 0.5% | 15.9% | 17.9% |
| 61 | New Paltz, NY | 8,028 | 4,854 | 67.7% | 6.2% | 12.7% | 6.3% |
| 62 | Scarsdale, NY | 18,005 | 4,877 | 66.7% | 1.6% | 5.7% | 18.8% |
| 63 | Salamanca, NY | 5,878 | 4,884 | 67.2% | 2.4% | 5.6% | 0.2% |
| 64 | Great Neck, NY | 11,068 | 4,918 | 67.2% | 2.2% | 9.1% | 17.3% |
| 65 | Rensselaer, NY | 9,247 | 4,924 | 68.4% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 9.3% |
| 66 | Dobbs Ferry, NY | 11,397 | 4,998 | 68.6% | 3.0% | 12.2% | 10.4% |
| 67 | Floral Park, NY | 16,025 | 5,010 | 67.8% | 2.0% | 15.7% | 12.5% |
| 68 | Geneva, NY | 12,573 | 5,010 | 67.9% | 7.2% | 18.3% | 2.8% |
| 69 | Lake Grove, NY | 11,050 | 5,040 | 68.1% | 1.1% | 15.7% | 12.1% |
| 70 | Harrison, NY | 29,279 | 5,106 | 68.8% | 4.4% | 17.2% | 7.0% |
| 71 | North Hills, NY | 5,419 | 5,148 | 64.2% | 0.8% | 1.4% | 31.9% |
| 72 | Endicott, NY | 13,456 | 5,289 | 71.1% | 9.4% | 10.4% | 2.4% |
| 73 | Cohoes, NY | 18,043 | 5,295 | 71.0% | 9.9% | 7.7% | 1.3% |
| 74 | Johnson City, NY | 15,130 | 5,343 | 71.6% | 7.2% | 4.3% | 9.2% |
| 75 | Malverne, NY | 8,496 | 5,373 | 71.1% | 4.2% | 16.4% | 3.5% |
| 76 | Elmira, NY | 26,349 | 5,431 | 71.9% | 13.1% | 6.1% | 1.2% |
| 77 | Long Beach, NY | 34,741 | 5,492 | 72.3% | 4.3% | 14.3% | 4.8% |
| 78 | Lackawanna, NY | 19,779 | 5,501 | 72.1% | 14.0% | 9.4% | 0.6% |
| 79 | Farmingdale, NY | 8,450 | 5,570 | 73.0% | 4.0% | 11.1% | 9.7% |
| 80 | Watervliet, NY | 10,285 | 5,626 | 73.8% | 8.7% | 7.2% | 3.2% |
| 81 | Amityville, NY | 9,513 | 5,733 | 73.1% | 4.8% | 18.8% | 0.8% |
| 82 | Briarcliff Manor, NY | 7,333 | 5,735 | 74.4% | 1.3% | 9.4% | 9.0% |
| 83 | Colonie, NY | 7,705 | 5,736 | 74.6% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 8.0% |
| 84 | Irvington, NY | 6,541 | 5,758 | 74.5% | 1.1% | 11.2% | 8.6% |
| 85 | Goshen, NY | 5,751 | 5,848 | 73.2% | 1.4% | 22.1% | 1.2% |
| 86 | Lindenhurst, NY | 27,106 | 5,875 | 74.4% | 3.9% | 17.8% | 2.4% |
| 87 | Pelham Manor, NY | 5,648 | 5,901 | 75.7% | 3.0% | 9.7% | 7.5% |
| 88 | Rye Brook, NY | 9,884 | 5,914 | 75.6% | 0.6% | 8.9% | 10.1% |
| 89 | Rye, NY | 16,410 | 5,949 | 76.2% | 1.7% | 7.3% | 7.0% |
| 90 | Chestnut Ridge, NY | 10,464 | 5,962 | 76.2% | 7.7% | 8.8% | 1.6% |
| 91 | Airmont, NY | 10,082 | 6,070 | 76.0% | 5.2% | 16.0% | 2.3% |
| 92 | Lockport, NY | 20,699 | 6,081 | 76.8% | 11.1% | 4.5% | 0.3% |
| 93 | Rockville Centre, NY | 25,770 | 6,111 | 77.2% | 4.0% | 10.1% | 5.4% |
| 94 | Jamestown, NY | 28,401 | 6,163 | 77.1% | 3.8% | 13.5% | 0.6% |
| 95 | East Rockaway, NY | 10,064 | 6,216 | 77.7% | 4.8% | 12.1% | 3.5% |
| 96 | Pleasantville, NY | 7,395 | 6,259 | 76.8% | 1.3% | 18.8% | 1.6% |
| 97 | Newark, NY | 9,040 | 6,364 | 78.6% | 3.6% | 12.6% | 1.0% |
| 98 | Brockport, NY | 7,153 | 6,396 | 79.1% | 9.7% | 5.2% | 2.7% |
| 99 | Port Jefferson, NY | 8,029 | 6,423 | 79.2% | 0.6% | 9.9% | 6.9% |
| 100 | Cedarhurst, NY | 7,306 | 6,440 | 78.7% | 1.2% | 15.3% | 0.2% |