Racial diversity in North Carolina is a mixed bag.
There are parts of North Carolina where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in North Carolina?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 139 cities in North Carolina to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in North Carolina for 2025:
So what city is the most diverse in North Carolina? According to the most Census data, Spring Lake took the number one over all spot for diversity in North Carolina.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where North Carolina ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more North Carolina reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In North Carolina For 2025
/10
Population: 11,613
HHI: 2,806
% White: 34.5%
% African American: 35.7%
% Hispanic: 15.7%
% Asian: 2.0%
More on Spring Lake: Data
/10
Population: 19,220
HHI: 2,887
% White: 34.0%
% African American: 37.9%
% Hispanic: 10.6%
% Asian: 1.6%
More on Lumberton: Data
/10
Population: 10,780
HHI: 2,922
% White: 44.9%
% African American: 17.7%
% Hispanic: 21.5%
% Asian: 5.5%
More on Pineville: Data
/10
Population: 886,283
HHI: 2,974
% White: 38.7%
% African American: 33.7%
% Hispanic: 17.0%
% Asian: 6.3%
More on Charlotte: Data
/10
Population: 19,691
HHI: 3,011
% White: 43.1%
% African American: 26.0%
% Hispanic: 20.8%
% Asian: 4.3%
More on Lexington: Data
/10
Population: 288,465
HHI: 3,075
% White: 40.5%
% African American: 34.2%
% Hispanic: 14.7%
% Asian: 5.6%
More on Durham: Data
/10
Population: 209,692
HHI: 3,111
% White: 34.8%
% African American: 41.0%
% Hispanic: 13.0%
% Asian: 3.0%
More on Fayetteville: Data
/10
Population: 17,823
HHI: 3,136
% White: 41.6%
% African American: 33.7%
% Hispanic: 15.5%
% Asian: 1.9%
More on Hope Mills: Data
/10
Population: 115,263
HHI: 3,140
% White: 43.3%
% African American: 32.2%
% Hispanic: 12.3%
% Asian: 8.2%
More on High Point: Data
/10
Population: 7,961
HHI: 3,142
% White: 32.8%
% African American: 38.5%
% Hispanic: 23.7%
% Asian: 0.2%
More on Zebulon: Data
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
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 139 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 2,806 (Spring Lake) to 8,846 (Oak Island).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Spring Lake took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Oak Island was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in North Carolina.
Summary: Diversity Across North Carolina
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across North Carolina, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in North Carolina are Spring Lake, Lumberton, Pineville, Charlotte, Lexington, Durham, Fayetteville, Hope Mills, High Point, and Zebulon.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in North Carolina:
- Oak Island
- Boiling Spring Lakes
- Locust
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina
- Best Places To Raise A Family In North Carolina
- Safest Cities in North Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In North Carolina
Race By City In North Carolina For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Lake, NC | 11,613 | 2,806 | 34.5% | 35.7% | 15.7% | 2.0% |
| 2 | Lumberton, NC | 19,220 | 2,887 | 34.0% | 37.9% | 10.6% | 1.6% |
| 3 | Pineville, NC | 10,780 | 2,922 | 44.9% | 17.7% | 21.5% | 5.5% |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | 886,283 | 2,974 | 38.7% | 33.7% | 17.0% | 6.3% |
| 5 | Lexington, NC | 19,691 | 3,011 | 43.1% | 26.0% | 20.8% | 4.3% |
| 6 | Durham, NC | 288,465 | 3,075 | 40.5% | 34.2% | 14.7% | 5.6% |
| 7 | Fayetteville, NC | 209,692 | 3,111 | 34.8% | 41.0% | 13.0% | 3.0% |
| 8 | Hope Mills, NC | 17,823 | 3,136 | 41.6% | 33.7% | 15.5% | 1.9% |
| 9 | High Point, NC | 115,263 | 3,140 | 43.3% | 32.2% | 12.3% | 8.2% |
| 10 | Zebulon, NC | 7,961 | 3,142 | 32.8% | 38.5% | 23.7% | 0.2% |
| 11 | Clinton, NC | 8,336 | 3,163 | 31.0% | 40.7% | 23.2% | 1.9% |
| 12 | Sanford, NC | 30,833 | 3,180 | 41.2% | 22.7% | 30.9% | 1.3% |
| 13 | Morrisville, NC | 30,471 | 3,196 | 35.1% | 13.1% | 3.8% | 41.8% |
| 14 | Butner, NC | 7,996 | 3,215 | 42.4% | 28.3% | 24.6% | 0.2% |
| 15 | Monroe, NC | 35,596 | 3,244 | 42.5% | 21.5% | 31.0% | 0.7% |
| 16 | Selma, NC | 6,611 | 3,248 | 22.8% | 42.4% | 30.4% | 0.4% |
| 17 | Burlington, NC | 58,599 | 3,248 | 44.7% | 29.8% | 18.5% | 2.7% |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | 250,887 | 3,278 | 44.0% | 31.8% | 17.9% | 2.2% |
| 19 | Greensboro, NC | 298,564 | 3,318 | 37.9% | 41.6% | 10.5% | 4.9% |
| 20 | Concord, NC | 106,518 | 3,395 | 51.2% | 21.7% | 15.8% | 6.7% |
| 21 | Harrisburg, NC | 19,203 | 3,441 | 53.9% | 13.2% | 9.9% | 13.7% |
| 22 | Dallas, NC | 6,012 | 3,481 | 46.9% | 31.3% | 17.2% | 0.8% |
| 23 | Laurinburg, NC | 15,079 | 3,499 | 33.2% | 48.0% | 4.2% | 2.3% |
| 24 | Knightdale, NC | 19,532 | 3,510 | 35.4% | 46.2% | 9.7% | 3.6% |
| 25 | Statesville, NC | 29,161 | 3,522 | 49.9% | 26.7% | 17.5% | 2.2% |
| 26 | Wendell, NC | 11,585 | 3,536 | 47.6% | 25.5% | 24.9% | 0.2% |
| 27 | Roxboro, NC | 8,144 | 3,548 | 46.6% | 35.1% | 8.1% | 1.2% |
| 28 | Raleigh, NC | 470,763 | 3,569 | 51.4% | 27.0% | 12.7% | 4.7% |
| 29 | Graham, NC | 17,537 | 3,596 | 51.5% | 23.5% | 19.6% | 1.0% |
| 30 | Salisbury, NC | 35,730 | 3,656 | 47.5% | 35.2% | 12.1% | 1.4% |
| 31 | Havelock, NC | 16,471 | 3,706 | 55.6% | 18.1% | 15.1% | 3.8% |
| 32 | Forest City, NC | 7,368 | 3,712 | 54.0% | 25.0% | 10.8% | 1.6% |
| 33 | Jacksonville, NC | 73,507 | 3,725 | 55.5% | 15.6% | 18.8% | 2.6% |
| 34 | Mebane, NC | 18,899 | 3,747 | 54.5% | 25.6% | 7.9% | 4.4% |
| 35 | Gastonia, NC | 81,632 | 3,755 | 51.7% | 30.6% | 11.4% | 1.2% |
| 36 | Wilson, NC | 47,740 | 3,767 | 35.2% | 48.9% | 11.3% | 1.3% |
| 37 | Asheboro, NC | 27,353 | 3,768 | 52.8% | 14.1% | 27.7% | 1.1% |
| 38 | New Bern, NC | 31,563 | 3,785 | 53.6% | 28.7% | 6.1% | 5.8% |
| 39 | Angier, NC | 5,746 | 3,786 | 52.5% | 15.1% | 28.2% | 0.7% |
| 40 | Dunn, NC | 8,512 | 3,800 | 49.5% | 34.6% | 12.2% | 0.5% |
| 41 | Smithfield, NC | 11,798 | 3,807 | 52.9% | 26.3% | 17.8% | 1.8% |
| 42 | Elizabeth City, NC | 18,740 | 3,829 | 36.7% | 49.0% | 7.7% | 1.2% |
| 43 | Clayton, NC | 28,043 | 3,864 | 54.2% | 27.0% | 13.7% | 0.5% |
| 44 | Reidsville, NC | 14,547 | 3,865 | 53.1% | 30.5% | 6.0% | 0.4% |
| 45 | Roanoke Rapids, NC | 15,024 | 3,877 | 49.9% | 36.3% | 6.5% | 1.1% |
| 46 | Garner, NC | 32,543 | 3,878 | 55.2% | 25.9% | 11.9% | 1.7% |
| 47 | Kannapolis, NC | 56,470 | 3,880 | 56.2% | 23.1% | 12.4% | 2.3% |
| 48 | Siler City, NC | 7,905 | 3,893 | 23.5% | 16.7% | 55.2% | 0.0% |
| 49 | Shelby, NC | 21,868 | 3,921 | 52.7% | 32.3% | 4.7% | 0.8% |
| 50 | Williamston, NC | 5,157 | 3,928 | 39.6% | 48.0% | 6.3% | 2.4% |
| 51 | Cary, NC | 176,686 | 3,938 | 58.0% | 7.3% | 9.3% | 20.4% |
| 52 | Washington, NC | 9,754 | 4,028 | 45.9% | 43.3% | 4.6% | 0.6% |
| 53 | Greenville, NC | 88,540 | 4,034 | 48.7% | 40.3% | 4.3% | 2.6% |
| 54 | Morganton, NC | 17,541 | 4,050 | 57.6% | 13.2% | 23.2% | 2.0% |
| 55 | Goldsboro, NC | 33,448 | 4,055 | 34.3% | 53.1% | 5.5% | 1.8% |
| 56 | Lincolnton, NC | 11,503 | 4,096 | 58.1% | 20.3% | 17.2% | 0.1% |
| 57 | Marion, NC | 7,594 | 4,109 | 59.0% | 11.8% | 21.4% | 4.5% |
| 58 | Ayden, NC | 5,035 | 4,120 | 52.4% | 35.0% | 12.5% | 0.0% |
| 59 | Rockingham, NC | 9,094 | 4,145 | 52.4% | 36.4% | 8.3% | 0.7% |
| 60 | Thomasville, NC | 27,261 | 4,175 | 60.0% | 16.9% | 15.9% | 0.9% |
| 61 | Newton, NC | 13,223 | 4,250 | 62.2% | 11.3% | 13.4% | 5.9% |
| 62 | Tarboro, NC | 10,705 | 4,257 | 39.1% | 51.7% | 7.4% | 0.0% |
| 63 | Oxford, NC | 8,897 | 4,258 | 34.7% | 54.9% | 4.6% | 0.6% |
| 64 | Rolesville, NC | 10,200 | 4,286 | 58.1% | 29.0% | 5.5% | 1.5% |
| 65 | Eden, NC | 15,353 | 4,405 | 59.4% | 28.4% | 7.4% | 0.3% |
| 66 | Apex, NC | 67,765 | 4,412 | 63.3% | 8.1% | 7.1% | 16.5% |
| 67 | Winterville, NC | 10,624 | 4,425 | 55.4% | 36.4% | 5.0% | 1.0% |
| 68 | Chapel Hill, NC | 59,889 | 4,426 | 63.8% | 10.8% | 7.4% | 13.1% |
| 69 | Carrboro, NC | 21,170 | 4,464 | 64.0% | 12.8% | 11.6% | 7.9% |
| 70 | Hickory, NC | 43,747 | 4,538 | 64.3% | 13.3% | 13.9% | 4.2% |
| 71 | Albemarle, NC | 16,527 | 4,546 | 63.0% | 22.3% | 8.2% | 3.8% |
| 72 | Henderson, NC | 14,922 | 4,565 | 25.3% | 61.7% | 10.6% | 0.8% |
| 73 | Hamlet, NC | 6,000 | 4,719 | 54.5% | 41.7% | 1.9% | 0.0% |
| 74 | Rocky Mount, NC | 54,175 | 4,736 | 27.8% | 62.7% | 3.8% | 1.1% |
| 75 | Mint Hill, NC | 26,954 | 4,769 | 66.3% | 14.9% | 11.4% | 4.4% |
| 76 | Wake Forest, NC | 51,199 | 4,777 | 65.6% | 19.7% | 7.8% | 2.4% |
| 77 | Aberdeen, NC | 8,969 | 4,791 | 65.6% | 21.1% | 3.1% | 3.7% |
| 78 | Marvin, NC | 6,542 | 4,815 | 66.3% | 7.3% | 4.2% | 18.3% |
| 79 | Indian Trail, NC | 41,146 | 4,852 | 67.1% | 10.3% | 14.5% | 3.4% |
| 80 | Fuquay-Varina, NC | 37,749 | 4,854 | 67.2% | 15.2% | 8.6% | 3.3% |
| 81 | Kernersville, NC | 27,439 | 4,908 | 67.0% | 17.1% | 11.1% | 2.1% |
| 82 | Waxhaw, NC | 21,565 | 4,927 | 68.2% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 7.4% |
| 83 | Kinston, NC | 19,576 | 4,933 | 23.9% | 65.8% | 2.8% | 1.5% |
| 84 | Huntersville, NC | 62,458 | 5,014 | 68.8% | 13.5% | 7.4% | 5.5% |
| 85 | Nashville, NC | 5,672 | 5,021 | 34.0% | 62.1% | 0.0% | 0.7% |
| 86 | Stokesdale, NC | 5,943 | 5,094 | 69.2% | 9.4% | 13.4% | 1.9% |
| 87 | Mount Holly, NC | 17,928 | 5,133 | 69.3% | 15.3% | 8.2% | 3.9% |
| 88 | Wilmington, NC | 118,578 | 5,201 | 69.9% | 14.8% | 8.9% | 1.3% |
| 89 | Matthews, NC | 29,959 | 5,209 | 70.3% | 13.2% | 6.1% | 6.1% |
| 90 | Mocksville, NC | 6,001 | 5,247 | 70.2% | 7.1% | 14.4% | 0.0% |
| 91 | Lenoir, NC | 18,282 | 5,278 | 70.2% | 12.5% | 13.6% | 1.0% |
| 92 | Kings Mountain, NC | 11,472 | 5,312 | 69.0% | 22.9% | 2.0% | 2.7% |
| 93 | Hillsborough, NC | 9,656 | 5,449 | 72.3% | 9.1% | 9.9% | 2.7% |
| 94 | Mooresville, NC | 51,447 | 5,459 | 72.5% | 10.7% | 7.3% | 4.5% |
| 95 | Stallings, NC | 16,495 | 5,588 | 73.4% | 7.8% | 10.0% | 5.8% |
| 96 | Holly Springs, NC | 43,429 | 5,670 | 74.2% | 7.9% | 5.6% | 7.5% |
| 97 | Southern Pines, NC | 16,052 | 5,678 | 73.9% | 11.7% | 6.8% | 1.8% |
| 98 | Wesley Chapel, NC | 8,923 | 5,742 | 74.7% | 7.7% | 9.0% | 4.3% |
| 99 | Walke, NC | 5,793 | 5,802 | 74.1% | 15.9% | 7.0% | 0.0% |
| 100 | Conover, NC | 8,491 | 5,973 | 75.1% | 2.3% | 17.8% | 1.7% |