The 10 Most Diverse Cities In Washington For 2026


The most diverse cities in Washington are Tukwila and Seatac for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.


Most Diverse Cities In Washington

Racial diversity in Washington is a mixed bag.

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

To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 122 cities in Washington to rank them from most to least diverse.


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


Here are the 10 most diverse places in Washington for 2026:

  1. Tukwila
  2. SeaTac
  3. Fife
  4. Federal Way
  5. Kent
  6. Renton
  7. Des Moines
  8. Lakewood
  9. Burien
  10. Auburn

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

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

For more Washington reading:

The 10 Most Diverse Places In Washington For 2026

Tukwila, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Joe Mabel | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 21,451
HHI: 2,151
% White: 26.1%
% African American: 17.7%
% Hispanic: 24.0%
% Asian: 23.5%
More on Tukwila: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Seatac, WA

Source: Wikipedia User SounderBruce from Seattle, United States | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 32,414
HHI: 2,189
% White: 27.0%
% African American: 24.4%
% Hispanic: 22.8%
% Asian: 17.4%
More on Seatac: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Fife, WA

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

7
/10

Population: 10,949
HHI: 2,213
% White: 37.7%
% African American: 13.3%
% Hispanic: 15.2%
% Asian: 15.7%
More on Fife: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Federal Way, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 99,493
HHI: 2,247
% White: 34.9%
% African American: 17.8%
% Hispanic: 20.0%
% Asian: 15.3%
More on Federal Way: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Kent, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 135,603
HHI: 2,396
% White: 37.0%
% African American: 12.7%
% Hispanic: 16.6%
% Asian: 23.0%
More on Kent: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Renton, WA

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

8
/10

Population: 105,317
HHI: 2,587
% White: 38.6%
% African American: 9.0%
% Hispanic: 15.6%
% Asian: 26.4%
More on Renton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Des Moines, WA

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 32,823
HHI: 2,722
% White: 44.0%
% African American: 12.7%
% Hispanic: 19.8%
% Asian: 12.0%
More on Des Moines: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Lakewood, WA

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

6
/10

Population: 62,937
HHI: 2,743
% White: 45.0%
% African American: 13.3%
% Hispanic: 18.8%
% Asian: 6.9%
More on Lakewood: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Burien, WA

Source: Wikipedia User No machine-readable author provided. Wikidude775~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 51,513
HHI: 2,995
% White: 45.7%
% African American: 7.6%
% Hispanic: 24.2%
% Asian: 15.3%
More on Burien: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

Auburn, WA

Source: Wikipedia User Joe Mabel | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 85,676
HHI: 3,005
% White: 48.2%
% African American: 6.6%
% Hispanic: 20.8%
% Asian: 12.1%
More on Auburn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers

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

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
* Not Hispanic or latino

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 122 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 2,151 (Tukwila) to 8,293 (Toppenish).

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

We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most diverse places in Washington.

Summary: Diversity Across Washington

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

The most diverse cities in Washington are Tukwila, SeaTac, Fife, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Des Moines, Lakewood, Burien, and Auburn.

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

  1. Toppenish
  2. Port Townsend
  3. Liberty Lake

For more Washington reading, check out:

Race By City In Washington For 2026

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Tukwila, WA 21,451 2,151 26.1% 17.7% 24.0% 23.5%
2 Seatac, WA 32,414 2,189 27.0% 24.4% 22.8% 17.4%
3 Fife, WA 10,949 2,213 37.7% 13.3% 15.2% 15.7%
4 Federal Way, WA 99,493 2,247 34.9% 17.8% 20.0% 15.3%
5 Kent, WA 135,603 2,396 37.0% 12.7% 16.6% 23.0%
6 Renton, WA 105,317 2,587 38.6% 9.0% 15.6% 26.4%
7 Des Moines, WA 32,823 2,722 44.0% 12.7% 19.8% 12.0%
8 Lakewood, WA 62,937 2,743 45.0% 13.3% 18.8% 6.9%
9 Burien, WA 51,513 2,995 45.7% 7.6% 24.2% 15.3%
10 Auburn, WA 85,676 3,005 48.2% 6.6% 20.8% 12.1%
11 Lynnwood, WA 40,110 3,149 49.0% 10.0% 15.6% 19.2%
12 Newcastle, WA 12,989 3,309 37.6% 3.5% 4.5% 42.1%
13 Pacific, WA 7,066 3,339 51.4% 6.7% 22.4% 10.7%
14 Bellevue, WA 151,847 3,519 39.9% 2.6% 7.9% 42.7%
15 Tacoma, WA 222,758 3,547 55.6% 9.3% 13.8% 9.4%
16 Airway Heights, WA 11,245 3,642 57.6% 6.0% 11.5% 4.3%
17 Redmond, WA 77,353 3,700 44.8% 2.2% 6.7% 40.2%
18 Dupont, WA 9,931 3,744 57.4% 4.5% 12.3% 14.4%
19 Sultan, WA 6,116 3,752 56.0% 1.9% 19.2% 13.8%
20 Everett, WA 111,845 3,759 56.9% 6.1% 18.1% 10.0%
21 Covington, WA 21,233 3,863 58.9% 8.1% 11.2% 10.9%
22 Sammamish, WA 66,463 3,871 49.2% 1.3% 5.6% 37.1%
23 University Place, WA 34,911 3,892 59.0% 7.1% 12.4% 10.7%
24 Issaquah, WA 39,591 3,919 55.7% 2.2% 5.7% 26.6%
25 Seattle, WA 754,195 3,932 58.8% 6.4% 8.5% 17.5%
26 Connell, WA 5,054 3,943 52.3% 4.6% 34.2% 3.6%
27 Mountlake Terrace, WA 23,104 4,025 59.8% 4.2% 15.3% 11.5%
28 Mukilteo, WA 21,323 4,043 59.2% 1.8% 9.8% 18.6%
29 Oak Harbor, WA 24,362 4,106 60.7% 3.9% 14.0% 9.5%
30 Shoreline, WA 61,431 4,179 61.6% 6.6% 8.7% 14.4%
31 Mount Vernon, WA 35,377 4,249 53.6% 1.4% 36.8% 3.3%
32 Moses Lake, WA 26,083 4,253 54.7% 2.7% 34.9% 1.0%
33 Mill Creek, WA 20,956 4,279 61.3% 3.2% 8.6% 20.3%
34 Yakima, WA 96,961 4,284 42.7% 1.0% 49.4% 1.3%
35 Lacey, WA 57,737 4,316 63.3% 5.8% 11.4% 9.2%
36 Bremerton, WA 44,830 4,323 63.0% 3.1% 13.3% 6.3%
37 Kenmore, WA 23,741 4,352 62.7% 2.8% 9.8% 16.2%
38 Kirkland, WA 92,621 4,372 62.3% 1.8% 7.8% 19.3%
39 Yelm, WA 11,102 4,372 63.2% 4.8% 16.3% 1.3%
40 Marysville, WA 73,002 4,389 63.0% 3.4% 16.9% 8.6%
41 East Wenatchee, WA 14,199 4,408 54.7% 0.7% 37.2% 1.2%
42 Monroe, WA 19,755 4,461 63.4% 3.2% 17.6% 9.5%
43 Kennewick, WA 85,295 4,501 58.2% 2.2% 33.0% 2.0%
44 Union Gap, WA 6,584 4,509 34.2% 0.0% 57.6% 2.7%
45 Milton, WA 8,894 4,519 64.5% 3.8% 15.9% 5.4%
46 Pasco, WA 79,575 4,588 34.0% 1.8% 58.5% 1.8%
47 Bothell, WA 49,610 4,622 64.4% 0.8% 8.4% 19.1%
48 Selah, WA 8,437 4,633 61.5% 0.3% 28.5% 2.4%
49 Vancouver, WA 195,300 4,639 65.3% 3.1% 16.8% 5.3%
50 Wenatchee, WA 35,484 4,645 57.9% 0.5% 35.7% 0.9%
51 Woodinville, WA 13,438 4,646 64.6% 1.6% 8.0% 19.2%
52 Tumwater, WA 26,956 4,673 66.5% 4.6% 9.3% 7.3%
53 Mercer Island, WA 25,307 4,680 63.3% 0.9% 2.4% 24.4%
54 Omak, WA 5,036 4,680 65.6% 0.4% 14.3% 1.3%
55 Burlington, WA 10,003 4,719 62.3% 1.6% 28.6% 2.5%
56 Shelton, WA 10,612 4,841 63.3% 0.3% 28.2% 0.9%
57 Duvall, WA 8,526 4,844 66.2% 0.6% 17.6% 11.5%
58 Prosser, WA 6,305 4,847 45.0% 0.0% 53.1% 0.7%
59 Lake Stevens, WA 40,253 4,855 67.6% 2.5% 11.3% 10.1%
60 Aberdeen, WA 17,088 4,856 65.5% 1.3% 22.8% 1.5%
61 Ephrata, WA 8,560 4,901 61.2% 0.5% 33.8% 0.1%
62 Walla Walla, WA 33,925 4,907 65.0% 2.4% 25.7% 2.0%
63 Black Diamond, WA 5,961 4,909 67.0% 0.4% 7.9% 17.6%
64 Lake Forest Park, WA 13,335 4,915 68.3% 5.2% 5.9% 11.2%
65 Pullman, WA 32,229 4,916 68.0% 1.6% 9.2% 9.4%
66 Maple Valley, WA 28,287 4,927 67.7% 1.6% 5.0% 15.4%
67 Steilacoom, WA 6,686 4,949 68.2% 4.4% 13.1% 5.0%
68 Puyallup, WA 42,746 5,013 69.0% 3.7% 11.2% 5.6%
69 North Bend, WA 7,953 5,041 68.8% 0.0% 13.3% 6.3%
70 Fircrest, WA 7,069 5,064 69.3% 5.6% 4.6% 7.5%
71 Camas, WA 27,007 5,161 70.0% 1.4% 6.5% 12.6%
72 Ferndale, WA 15,999 5,174 70.0% 0.6% 12.6% 8.4%
73 Edgewood, WA 13,032 5,214 70.9% 3.0% 7.9% 7.9%
74 Brier, WA 6,545 5,244 71.0% 6.8% 3.0% 10.6%
75 Olympia, WA 55,951 5,286 71.2% 2.7% 10.6% 6.7%
76 Arlington, WA 21,095 5,407 71.4% 1.4% 16.0% 5.4%
77 Sedro-Woolley, WA 12,831 5,421 70.6% 0.3% 20.3% 2.5%
78 College Place, WA 9,854 5,447 71.0% 0.9% 19.3% 3.0%
79 Edmonds, WA 42,735 5,455 72.5% 2.3% 6.1% 10.0%
80 Richland, WA 62,753 5,497 72.2% 1.0% 14.8% 6.4%
81 Blaine, WA 6,100 5,580 73.6% 2.3% 9.9% 4.6%
82 Sumner, WA 10,733 5,590 71.5% 0.4% 21.1% 0.6%
83 Port Orchard, WA 17,149 5,594 73.5% 1.3% 10.6% 4.9%
84 Poulsbo, WA 12,165 5,595 73.5% 2.3% 10.9% 2.4%
85 Centralia, WA 18,830 5,644 72.4% 1.1% 19.7% 1.6%
86 West Richland, WA 17,586 5,661 73.4% 0.7% 14.6% 2.1%
87 Woodland, WA 6,487 5,721 71.9% 0.9% 23.2% 0.4%
88 Cheney, WA 12,804 5,727 74.4% 1.1% 10.7% 3.5%
89 Kelso, WA 12,684 5,887 75.4% 1.9% 10.3% 0.7%
90 Bonney Lake, WA 22,090 5,898 75.6% 2.2% 9.0% 3.3%
91 Ellensburg, WA 20,874 5,956 75.8% 2.1% 12.8% 2.6%
92 Bellingham, WA 93,438 5,976 76.2% 1.3% 10.2% 5.2%
93 Snoqualmie, WA 13,798 6,032 76.1% 0.6% 2.7% 14.0%
94 Ridgefield, WA 13,408 6,102 77.0% 1.4% 10.3% 3.6%
95 Chehalis, WA 7,587 6,118 76.6% 1.0% 14.6% 0.5%
96 Spokane, WA 230,293 6,151 77.6% 2.8% 8.4% 2.5%
97 Orting, WA 8,978 6,158 77.5% 1.5% 9.6% 3.2%
98 Longview, WA 38,069 6,165 77.2% 0.6% 12.6% 1.7%
99 Lynden, WA 16,234 6,192 77.2% 0.3% 13.9% 2.3%
100 Quincy, WA 7,998 6,196 19.5% 0.5% 76.2% 1.2%
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.