The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Virginia For 2024


The most diverse cities in Virginia are Herndon and Manassas Park for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.


Most Diverse Cities In Virginia

Racial diversity in Virginia is a mixed bag.

There are parts of Virginia where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Virginia?

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 Virginia to rank them from most to least diverse.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


Here are the 10 most diverse places in Virginia for 2024:

  1. Herndon
  2. Manassas Park
  3. Dumfries
  4. Manassas
  5. Alexandria
  6. Newport News
  7. Norfolk
  8. Fairfax
  9. Hopewell
  10. Culpeper

So what city is the most diverse in Virginia? According to the most Census data, Herndon took the number one over all spot for diversity in Virginia.

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Virginia ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.

For more Virginia reading:

The 10 Most Diverse Places In Virginia For 2024

Herndon, VA

Source: Wikipedia User Dion Hinchcliffe | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 24,456
HHI: 2,930
% White: 34.8%
% African American: 7.4%
% Hispanic: 37.4%
% Asian: 15.9%
More on Herndon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Manassas Park, VA

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

8.5
/10

Population: 17,123
HHI: 2,955
% White: 30.1%
% African American: 12.4%
% Hispanic: 41.9%
% Asian: 11.0%
More on Manassas Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Dumfries, VA

Source: Wikipedia User Leonard J. DeFrancisci | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 5,697
HHI: 2,981
% White: 25.1%
% African American: 27.7%
% Hispanic: 39.1%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Dumfries: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Manassas, VA

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

8
/10

Population: 42,620
HHI: 3,152
% White: 37.8%
% African American: 13.0%
% Hispanic: 38.8%
% Asian: 6.0%
More on Manassas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Alexandria, VA

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

8.5
/10

Population: 157,594
HHI: 3,383
% White: 51.1%
% African American: 20.9%
% Hispanic: 16.6%
% Asian: 6.3%
More on Alexandria: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Newport News, VA

Source: Wikipedia User Etombari | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 185,118
HHI: 3,441
% White: 40.8%
% African American: 40.6%
% Hispanic: 9.9%
% Asian: 3.4%
More on Newport News: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Norfolk, VA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 236,973
HHI: 3,499
% White: 42.2%
% African American: 40.1%
% Hispanic: 8.7%
% Asian: 3.8%
More on Norfolk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Fairfax, VA

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

7.5
/10

Population: 24,242
HHI: 3,528
% White: 53.3%
% African American: 5.9%
% Hispanic: 18.1%
% Asian: 17.4%
More on Fairfax: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Hopewell, VA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 23,046
HHI: 3,672
% White: 42.5%
% African American: 41.9%
% Hispanic: 8.9%
% Asian: 1.0%
More on Hopewell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Culpeper, VA

Source: Wikipedia User Billy Hathorn | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 20,105
HHI: 3,677
% White: 53.8%
% African American: 18.4%
% Hispanic: 20.5%
% Asian: 1.5%
More on Culpeper: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

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

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 2,930 (Herndon) to 9,525 (Richlands).

Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Herndon took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Richlands was the least diverse city.

We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Virginia.

Summary: Diversity Across Virginia

If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Virginia, this is an accurate list.

The most diverse cities in Virginia are Herndon, Manassas Park, Dumfries, Manassas, Alexandria, Newport News, Norfolk, Fairfax, Hopewell, and Culpeper.

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

  1. Richlands
  2. Abingdon
  3. Vinton

For more Virginia reading, check out:

Race By City In Virginia For 2024

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Herndon, VA 24,456 2,930 34.8% 7.4% 37.4% 15.9%
2 Manassas Park, VA 17,123 2,955 30.1% 12.4% 41.9% 11.0%
3 Dumfries, VA 5,697 2,981 25.1% 27.7% 39.1% 0.0%
4 Manassas, VA 42,620 3,152 37.8% 13.0% 38.8% 6.0%
5 Alexandria, VA 157,594 3,383 51.1% 20.9% 16.6% 6.3%
6 Newport News, VA 185,118 3,441 40.8% 40.6% 9.9% 3.4%
7 Norfolk, VA 236,973 3,499 42.2% 40.1% 8.7% 3.8%
8 Fairfax, VA 24,242 3,528 53.3% 5.9% 18.1% 17.4%
9 Hopewell, VA 23,046 3,672 42.5% 41.9% 8.9% 1.0%
10 Culpeper, VA 20,105 3,677 53.8% 18.4% 20.5% 1.5%
11 Hampton, VA 137,217 3,711 36.4% 48.0% 6.6% 2.1%
12 Richmond, VA 227,171 3,743 41.8% 43.7% 7.6% 2.2%
13 Martinsville, VA 13,539 3,844 42.6% 44.3% 7.0% 0.8%
14 Fredericksburg, VA 28,258 3,855 56.9% 20.7% 11.7% 3.8%
15 Leesburg, VA 48,465 3,866 58.0% 10.2% 16.7% 10.1%
16 Chesapeake, VA 249,377 3,946 55.2% 28.6% 7.0% 3.6%
17 Portsmouth, VA 97,384 3,981 36.4% 51.0% 5.0% 1.4%
18 Suffolk, VA 94,856 3,997 47.7% 41.0% 4.8% 1.8%
19 Virginia Beach, VA 457,900 4,081 59.9% 18.2% 8.8% 6.9%
20 Franklin, VA 8,194 4,120 37.9% 51.4% 3.3% 3.4%
21 Roanoke, VA 99,213 4,146 57.0% 28.7% 6.9% 3.2%
22 Danville, VA 42,507 4,166 40.5% 49.9% 4.9% 1.4%
23 Emporia, VA 5,680 4,328 23.5% 60.3% 4.7% 0.8%
24 Ashland, VA 7,617 4,420 62.1% 20.4% 11.4% 1.8%
25 Lynchburg, VA 79,166 4,528 61.1% 27.4% 4.7% 2.1%
26 Farmville, VA 7,647 4,546 62.1% 25.6% 4.8% 2.0%
27 Winchester, VA 28,103 4,553 63.9% 9.8% 18.7% 2.1%
28 Harrisonburg, VA 51,784 4,580 63.8% 7.0% 20.8% 3.1%
29 Charlottesville, VA 46,289 4,647 65.3% 17.0% 5.8% 7.0%
30 Vienna, VA 16,401 4,675 66.1% 5.1% 8.4% 13.3%
31 South Boston, VA 7,942 4,702 43.4% 53.1% 1.9% 0.7%
32 Williamsburg, VA 15,486 4,928 67.7% 15.2% 7.7% 6.8%
33 Falls Church, VA 14,576 5,013 69.0% 4.6% 11.3% 8.8%
34 Colonial Heights, VA 18,158 5,118 69.0% 16.6% 7.2% 3.6%
35 Smithfield, VA 8,625 5,295 69.2% 21.8% 5.4% 0.4%
36 Purcellville, VA 8,928 5,344 71.2% 9.2% 13.0% 3.4%
37 Galax, VA 6,687 5,450 70.7% 5.1% 20.6% 0.4%
38 Front Royal, VA 15,064 5,501 72.7% 9.6% 9.3% 2.0%
39 Waynesboro, VA 22,341 5,521 72.8% 9.5% 9.3% 1.7%
40 Woodstock, VA 5,798 5,593 72.1% 4.6% 18.9% 4.1%
41 Warrenton, VA 10,111 5,766 74.8% 8.2% 7.5% 2.5%
42 Blacksburg, VA 45,147 5,902 75.7% 4.7% 3.8% 11.4%
43 Petersburg, VA 33,261 5,946 14.9% 75.4% 5.3% 1.3%
44 Big Stone Gap, VA 5,221 6,262 77.5% 15.7% 0.9% 2.9%
45 Staunton, VA 25,581 6,513 79.9% 10.1% 3.8% 1.4%
46 Covington, VA 5,722 6,638 80.3% 13.2% 2.4% 1.1%
47 Lexington, VA 7,346 6,650 81.0% 5.2% 5.1% 3.1%
48 Strasburg, VA 7,104 6,872 82.4% 5.2% 6.2% 2.0%
49 Radford, VA 16,379 6,934 82.7% 8.8% 3.2% 2.3%
50 Salem, VA 25,372 7,057 83.5% 7.8% 3.8% 1.8%
51 Christiansburg, VA 22,947 7,278 85.0% 5.4% 3.0% 4.0%
52 Pulaski, VA 8,982 7,336 85.2% 6.5% 1.3% 1.1%
53 Bluefield, VA 5,059 7,487 86.0% 8.5% 3.8% 1.0%
54 Buena Vista, VA 6,639 7,521 86.3% 4.1% 1.5% 0.5%
55 Bristol, VA 17,036 7,560 86.6% 6.3% 2.6% 0.3%
56 Bridgewater, VA 6,575 7,710 87.6% 2.8% 5.2% 0.4%
57 Marion, VA 5,722 7,715 87.5% 4.8% 3.6% 0.0%
58 Wytheville, VA 8,228 7,866 88.5% 5.2% 2.3% 2.2%
59 Poquoson, VA 12,479 8,049 89.6% 1.8% 3.4% 2.1%
60 Vinton, VA 8,045 8,120 90.0% 3.1% 2.8% 0.6%
61 Abingdon, VA 8,346 8,402 91.6% 3.1% 1.2% 2.1%
62 Richlands, VA 5,266 9,525 97.6% 0.2% 0.0% 1.1%
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.