Kent ranks as 8th most ethnically diverse city in the nation

Jersey City, New Jersey ranks first, according to WalletHub study

t

Kent is the eighth most ethnically diverse city in the nation, according to a Feb. 17 report by WalletHub.com.

Jersey City, New Jersey is the most ethnically diverse city in the United States. The city of Renton ranks 13th and Federal Way ranks 20th as three Washington cities are in the top 20. Four of the top 10 cities are in Maryland.

The U.S. today is a melting pot of cultures, thanks to increasing ethnic and racial diversification. If the trend continues, America will be more colorful than ever by 2045, at which point no single ethnic group will constitute the majority in the U.S. for the first time, according to WalletHub.

But with immigration reform still a hot-button issue, the U.S. ethnic landscape may change again in the near future. In light of this and the discussions of racial and ethnic equality that have been prominent in the past year, WalletHub took a snapshot of America’s current cultural profile, comparing more than 500 of the largest U.S. cities across three key indicators of ethnic diversity. It examined each city based on ethnicity and race, language and birthplace.

In order to determine the most ethnically diverse places in America, WalletHub compared 501 of the most populated U.S. cities across three key metrics: 1) ethnoracial diversity, 2) linguistic diversity and 3) birthplace diversity. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most ethnic diversity.

WalletHub then determined city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its “Ethnic Diversity Score” and used the resulting scores to rank the cities.

Each city in the sample refers to city proper and excludes the surrounding metro area. WalletHub limited its sample to no more than 10 cities from each state.

This analysis was conducted using the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index method, which is a commonly accepted measurement of market concentration that also works effectively as a general-purpose measure of diversity.

Jersey City had a ethnic diversity score of 72.62. Kent’s score was 68.74, Renton 66.25 and Federal Way 65.77.

Overall Rank

1 Jersey City, NJ

2 Gaithersburg, MD

3 Germantown, MD

4 Spring Valley, NV

5 Silver Spring, MD

6 New York, NY

7 Rockville, MD

8 Kent, WA

9 San Jose, CA

10 Oakland, CA

11 Paradise, NV

12 Bridgeport, CT

13 Renton, WA

14 San Francisco, CA

15 Orlando, FL

16 Sacramento, CA

17 Providence, RI

18 North Las Vegas, NV

19 Enterprise, NV

20 Federal Way, WA

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Man fatally shot by Kent Police had high blood alcohol level

Crime lab test results show 0.27 blood concentration level in August 2024 shooting at apartments

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Construction set in Kent for 74th Ave. S. and Willis Street

Crews to install traffic islands, curbing at busy intersection

t
Kent Police Blotter: Jan. 26 to Feb. 6

Incidents include vehicle prowls, carjacking arrest, police pursuits, shots fired

Kentlake High School. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Former Kentlake High School teacher pleads guilty to sex charge

Jesse Webb, 46, pleads guilty to communication with a minor for immoral purposes

t
Kent School Board appoints Teresa Gregory to vacant seat

Gregory selected from among 7 finalists to replace Awale Farah

Karen Keiser. COURTESY PHOTO
Former state Sen. Karen Keiser appointed to state Exchange health board

Health Benefit Exchange formed as part of Affordable Care Act

Crews on the SR 509 Completion Project in south King County install the framework for a new bus stop on SR 516, also known as Kent-Des Moines Road. The SR 509 Completion Project includes new or improved connections to existing transit centers and stops. COURTESY PHOTO, WSDOT
Eastbound SR 516 ramp to I-5 in Kent to close for 4 months

Drivers heading to northbound I-5 will use a temporary left turn lane

Courtesy Photo, King County
Tacoma boy, 17, charged with murder in November 2024 Kent case

Reportedly fired six shots into vehicle that killed 21-year-old SeaTac man on West Hill

t
CW series ‘Police 24/7’ features Kent indecent exposure case

Department also part of future TV episodes after crews responded on calls with police in 2024

t
Kent mobile home park fire displaces 7 people, kills family dog

Cause of accidental fire Feb. 6 in 24400 block of 64th Avenue S. remains under investigation

File Photo
Police arrest man at Kent hotel wanted for Alabama murder

Officers take fugitive into custody Feb. 5 for December 2024 shooting

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Seven candidates to interview for Kent School Board vacancy

School Board members scheduled to select replacement at Tuesday night, Feb. 11 special meeting