Racial diversity in West Virginia is a mixed bag.
There are parts of West Virginia where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in West Virginia?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 25 cities in West 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 West Virginia for 2026:
So what city is the most diverse in West Virginia? According to the most Census data, Martinsburg took the number one over all spot for diversity in West Virginia.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where West Virginia ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more West Virginia reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In West Virginia For 2026
/10
Population: 18,904
HHI: 4,590
% White: 64.7%
% African American: 15.2%
% Hispanic: 10.6%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Martinsburg: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,337
HHI: 4,769
% White: 66.0%
% African American: 13.9%
% Hispanic: 13.9%
% Asian: 1.8%
More on Charles Town: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 16,818
HHI: 5,321
% White: 70.6%
% African American: 16.5%
% Hispanic: 3.6%
% Asian: 2.7%
More on Beckley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 9,387
HHI: 5,980
% White: 75.8%
% African American: 13.4%
% Hispanic: 3.1%
% Asian: 0.6%
More on Bluefield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 47,421
HHI: 6,018
% White: 76.4%
% African American: 9.5%
% Hispanic: 2.2%
% Asian: 2.6%
More on Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 7,254
HHI: 6,070
% White: 77.0%
% African American: 7.6%
% Hispanic: 3.9%
% Asian: 0.8%
More on Dunbar: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 30,236
HHI: 6,956
% White: 83.0%
% African American: 4.5%
% Hispanic: 4.3%
% Asian: 3.7%
More on Morgantown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 45,787
HHI: 7,067
% White: 83.6%
% African American: 6.5%
% Hispanic: 2.4%
% Asian: 1.2%
More on Huntington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,221
HHI: 7,118
% White: 83.9%
% African American: 6.0%
% Hispanic: 2.4%
% Asian: 1.0%
More on Fairmont: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 5,116
HHI: 7,461
% White: 86.1%
% African American: 4.2%
% Hispanic: 2.5%
% Asian: 1.7%
More on Buckhannon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in West Virginia 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 West Virginia.
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 25 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 4,590 (Martinsburg) to 9,418 (New Martinsville).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Martinsburg took the distinction of being the most diverse, while New Martinsville was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most diverse places in West Virginia.
Summary: Diversity Across West Virginia
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across West Virginia, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in West Virginia are Martinsburg, Charles Town, Beckley, Bluefield, Charleston, Dunbar, Morgantown, Huntington, Fairmont, and Buckhannon.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in West Virginia:
- New Martinsville
- Hurricane
- Moundsville
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In West Virginia
- Safest Places In West Virginia
- Worst Places To Live In West Virginia
Race By City In West Virginia For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg, WV | 18,904 | 4,590 | 64.7% | 15.2% | 10.6% | 0.3% |
| 2 | Charles Town, WV | 7,337 | 4,769 | 66.0% | 13.9% | 13.9% | 1.8% |
| 3 | Beckley, WV | 16,818 | 5,321 | 70.6% | 16.5% | 3.6% | 2.7% |
| 4 | Bluefield, WV | 9,387 | 5,980 | 75.8% | 13.4% | 3.1% | 0.6% |
| 5 | Charleston, WV | 47,421 | 6,018 | 76.4% | 9.5% | 2.2% | 2.6% |
| 6 | Dunbar, WV | 7,254 | 6,070 | 77.0% | 7.6% | 3.9% | 0.8% |
| 7 | Morgantown, WV | 30,236 | 6,956 | 83.0% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 3.7% |
| 8 | Huntington, WV | 45,787 | 7,067 | 83.6% | 6.5% | 2.4% | 1.2% |
| 9 | Fairmont, WV | 18,221 | 7,118 | 83.9% | 6.0% | 2.4% | 1.0% |
| 10 | Buckhannon, WV | 5,116 | 7,461 | 86.1% | 4.2% | 2.5% | 1.7% |
| 11 | South Charleston, WV | 13,457 | 7,516 | 86.4% | 5.1% | 2.0% | 1.5% |
| 12 | Elkins, WV | 6,811 | 7,657 | 87.1% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 0.0% |
| 13 | Nitro, WV | 6,853 | 7,743 | 87.3% | 1.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 14 | St. Albans, WV | 10,522 | 7,756 | 87.8% | 4.2% | 2.2% | 0.0% |
| 15 | Princeton, WV | 5,736 | 7,842 | 88.1% | 2.6% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| 16 | Bridgeport, WV | 9,252 | 7,874 | 88.5% | 1.9% | 4.3% | 3.8% |
| 17 | Wheeling, WV | 26,350 | 7,932 | 88.8% | 4.5% | 1.4% | 0.4% |
| 18 | Clarksburg, WV | 15,549 | 7,987 | 89.2% | 3.6% | 2.7% | 0.5% |
| 19 | Weirton, WV | 18,647 | 7,999 | 89.3% | 2.6% | 2.4% | 1.3% |
| 20 | Oak Hill, WV | 7,937 | 8,211 | 90.4% | 6.5% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 21 | Vienna, WV | 10,518 | 8,305 | 91.0% | 1.8% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| 22 | Parkersburg, WV | 29,240 | 8,379 | 91.4% | 1.6% | 1.8% | 0.6% |
| 23 | Moundsville, WV | 7,869 | 8,505 | 92.1% | 0.2% | 2.4% | 0.0% |
| 24 | Hurricane, WV | 6,855 | 8,662 | 93.0% | 0.7% | 1.7% | 1.2% |
| 25 | New Martinsville, WV | 5,133 | 9,418 | 97.0% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.1% |