A study conducted by news web site Axios found that the New York City (NYC) borough of Queens has the highest rate of ethnic and racial diversity among all counties in the U.S. with more than one million residents. It has a total population of 2.34 million and has a diversity index of 76.4.
For the rest of New York City, Staten Island has a diversity index of 56.3, the Bronx has 59.3, Manhattan has 68.3 and Brooklyn has 72.6.
Staten Island may be the least diverse, but it has the highest increase in NYC since 2009 at 10%. The Bronx, on the other hand, dropped its diversity index by 5%.
For other counties in New York State, Suffolk County in Long Island has a relatively low diversity index of 48.9, but it has the highest increase since 2009 at 19.3%. It is followed by Nassau County with an increase of 17.6% between 2009 and 2017. Its diversity index is 57.6 for a population of 1.6 million. Westchester County posted an 8.7% increase to 62.5.
For smaller countries, Hawaii County has the highest diversity index at 77.8.
Overall, the U.S. has a diversity index of 57.5%, which is 5% higher compared to 2009.
The study found that the most diverse counties tend to be located near a big city or contain one. It was also found that some counties in Midwestern states have increased their diversity. It is even likely that whites will become a minority in 2045.
However, there are several counties that have become more homogenous. These include Texas counties which have become mostly Hispanic. The least diverse of all counties with more than 1 million residents is Allegheny County, Pennsylvania with an index of 35.7.
