Racial diversity in California is a mixed bag.
There are parts of California where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in California?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 428 cities in California to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in California for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in California? According to the most Census data, Suisun City took the number one over all spot for diversity in California.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where California ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more California reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In California For 2024
/10
Population: 29,350
HHI: 2,175
% White: 22.5%
% African American: 21.0%
% Hispanic: 30.2%
% Asian: 16.2%
More on Suisun City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 125,132
HHI: 2,215
% White: 22.6%
% African American: 17.8%
% Hispanic: 29.3%
% Asian: 22.3%
More on Vallejo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 437,825
HHI: 2,285
% White: 29.0%
% African American: 21.3%
% Hispanic: 26.6%
% Asian: 15.7%
More on Oakland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 119,420
HHI: 2,296
% White: 28.4%
% African American: 15.1%
% Hispanic: 29.9%
% Asian: 17.8%
More on Fairfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 523,600
HHI: 2,362
% White: 30.8%
% African American: 11.9%
% Hispanic: 29.4%
% Asian: 19.2%
More on Sacramento: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 176,105
HHI: 2,420
% White: 31.5%
% African American: 10.9%
% Hispanic: 18.9%
% Asian: 30.1%
More on Elk Grove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 18,946
HHI: 2,429
% White: 31.9%
% African American: 11.6%
% Hispanic: 26.1%
% Asian: 23.7%
More on Pinole: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 115,016
HHI: 2,437
% White: 25.4%
% African American: 18.8%
% Hispanic: 35.1%
% Asian: 13.3%
More on Antioch: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 21,669
HHI: 2,545
% White: 21.1%
% African American: 6.1%
% Hispanic: 28.4%
% Asian: 34.6%
More on American Canyon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 89,723
HHI: 2,557
% White: 20.7%
% African American: 10.1%
% Hispanic: 28.3%
% Asian: 34.7%
More on San Leandro: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in California 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 California.
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
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 428 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 2,175 (Suisun City) to 9,581 (Mendota).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Suisun City took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Mendota was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in California.
Summary: Diversity Across California
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across California, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in California are Suisun City, Vallejo, Oakland, Fairfield, Sacramento, Elk Grove, Pinole, Antioch, American Canyon, and San Leandro.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in California:
- Mendota
- Calexico
- Coachella
For more California reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In California
- Cheapest Places To Live In California
- Most Dangerous Cities In California
- Best Places To Raise A Family In California
- Safest Places In California
- Worst Places To Live In California
Race By City In California For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suisun City, CA | 29,350 | 2,175 | 22.5% | 21.0% | 30.2% | 16.2% |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | 125,132 | 2,215 | 22.6% | 17.8% | 29.3% | 22.3% |
| 3 | Oakland, CA | 437,825 | 2,285 | 29.0% | 21.3% | 26.6% | 15.7% |
| 4 | Fairfield, CA | 119,420 | 2,296 | 28.4% | 15.1% | 29.9% | 17.8% |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | 523,600 | 2,362 | 30.8% | 11.9% | 29.4% | 19.2% |
| 6 | Elk Grove, CA | 176,105 | 2,420 | 31.5% | 10.9% | 18.9% | 30.1% |
| 7 | Pinole, CA | 18,946 | 2,429 | 31.9% | 11.6% | 26.1% | 23.7% |
| 8 | Antioch, CA | 115,016 | 2,437 | 25.4% | 18.8% | 35.1% | 13.3% |
| 9 | American Canyon, CA | 21,669 | 2,545 | 21.1% | 6.1% | 28.4% | 34.6% |
| 10 | San Leandro, CA | 89,723 | 2,557 | 20.7% | 10.1% | 28.3% | 34.7% |
| 11 | Emeryville, CA | 12,840 | 2,587 | 35.9% | 16.1% | 9.3% | 30.3% |
| 12 | Hercules, CA | 26,041 | 2,650 | 17.3% | 19.2% | 15.7% | 41.3% |
| 13 | Lakewood, CA | 81,499 | 2,694 | 31.5% | 8.5% | 35.7% | 18.3% |
| 14 | Marina, CA | 22,253 | 2,702 | 39.0% | 6.1% | 29.4% | 14.0% |
| 15 | Signal Hill, CA | 11,678 | 2,703 | 23.1% | 9.4% | 39.6% | 22.2% |
| 16 | Loma Linda, CA | 24,883 | 2,704 | 35.2% | 6.2% | 27.8% | 25.3% |
| 17 | Hayward, CA | 160,602 | 2,745 | 14.6% | 8.7% | 39.7% | 29.2% |
| 18 | Lathrop, CA | 29,633 | 2,763 | 20.7% | 8.0% | 39.2% | 26.9% |
| 19 | Pittsburg, CA | 76,419 | 2,765 | 18.9% | 14.8% | 43.2% | 17.7% |
| 20 | Richmond, CA | 115,619 | 2,780 | 17.5% | 17.8% | 44.0% | 14.0% |
| 21 | San Bruno, CA | 43,218 | 2,784 | 29.2% | 1.0% | 29.5% | 32.2% |
| 22 | Carson, CA | 94,475 | 2,803 | 6.3% | 22.3% | 40.3% | 25.0% |
| 23 | Pasadena, CA | 137,554 | 2,806 | 34.3% | 7.7% | 35.3% | 17.5% |
| 24 | Eastvale, CA | 69,594 | 2,854 | 22.2% | 7.1% | 39.4% | 27.3% |
| 25 | San Mateo, CA | 104,165 | 2,872 | 38.8% | 1.9% | 24.7% | 26.8% |
| 26 | Gardena, CA | 60,377 | 2,876 | 8.5% | 19.4% | 42.7% | 24.2% |
| 27 | Tracy, CA | 94,027 | 2,879 | 27.4% | 5.5% | 41.0% | 19.8% |
| 28 | Lomita, CA | 20,662 | 2,886 | 37.5% | 4.8% | 33.3% | 17.8% |
| 29 | Stockton, CA | 320,030 | 2,909 | 17.6% | 11.1% | 45.2% | 20.3% |
| 30 | Alameda, CA | 77,565 | 2,913 | 41.3% | 6.8% | 12.1% | 31.1% |
| 31 | Torrance, CA | 145,454 | 2,928 | 33.4% | 3.2% | 19.3% | 37.4% |
| 32 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA | 174,696 | 2,937 | 33.0% | 8.6% | 39.5% | 14.1% |
| 33 | Cypress, CA | 49,955 | 2,941 | 33.5% | 3.2% | 20.4% | 36.9% |
| 34 | Lemon Grove, CA | 27,482 | 2,944 | 27.5% | 15.1% | 43.2% | 8.6% |
| 35 | Rancho Cordova, CA | 79,128 | 2,953 | 46.1% | 10.6% | 21.4% | 14.9% |
| 36 | San Francisco, CA | 851,036 | 2,954 | 38.3% | 4.9% | 15.5% | 34.5% |
| 37 | San Diego, CA | 1,383,987 | 2,974 | 41.5% | 5.6% | 30.1% | 17.1% |
| 38 | San Jose, CA | 1,001,176 | 2,977 | 23.9% | 2.8% | 30.8% | 37.9% |
| 39 | Long Beach, CA | 462,293 | 2,982 | 27.2% | 11.5% | 44.1% | 12.3% |
| 40 | Yuba City, CA | 69,535 | 2,990 | 39.9% | 2.2% | 31.4% | 19.6% |
| 41 | Brentwood, CA | 64,443 | 2,994 | 44.9% | 9.4% | 25.5% | 14.8% |
| 42 | Chino Hills, CA | 78,223 | 2,996 | 23.7% | 4.0% | 28.7% | 39.8% |
| 43 | South Pasadena, CA | 26,583 | 3,003 | 39.2% | 3.5% | 18.2% | 33.1% |
| 44 | California City, CA | 15,002 | 3,004 | 29.7% | 22.4% | 39.9% | 1.7% |
| 45 | Culver City, CA | 40,357 | 3,028 | 46.9% | 7.8% | 20.3% | 17.6% |
| 46 | Newark, CA | 47,470 | 3,040 | 19.5% | 3.1% | 30.4% | 41.4% |
| 47 | Fullerton, CA | 142,280 | 3,072 | 31.6% | 1.9% | 38.0% | 24.9% |
| 48 | Albany, CA | 20,027 | 3,072 | 44.2% | 4.0% | 11.8% | 29.6% |
| 49 | Brea, CA | 47,099 | 3,080 | 37.9% | 0.8% | 31.1% | 25.6% |
| 50 | Tustin, CA | 79,514 | 3,085 | 28.3% | 2.1% | 40.4% | 25.2% |
| 51 | West Sacramento, CA | 54,163 | 3,093 | 42.0% | 4.4% | 33.7% | 11.7% |
| 52 | Seaside, CA | 32,291 | 3,094 | 30.5% | 5.9% | 44.6% | 10.2% |
| 53 | Mountain View, CA | 82,132 | 3,114 | 40.6% | 2.1% | 18.3% | 33.2% |
| 54 | Vacaville, CA | 101,631 | 3,148 | 47.5% | 8.3% | 26.1% | 9.4% |
| 55 | El Cerrito, CA | 25,869 | 3,151 | 45.2% | 4.7% | 12.8% | 29.7% |
| 56 | Concord, CA | 125,007 | 3,153 | 44.1% | 3.6% | 31.2% | 13.4% |
| 57 | Redwood City, CA | 83,077 | 3,153 | 39.3% | 1.8% | 36.1% | 16.7% |
| 58 | Buena Park, CA | 83,542 | 3,154 | 22.2% | 2.1% | 40.0% | 32.3% |
| 59 | Manteca, CA | 83,897 | 3,157 | 36.5% | 3.3% | 40.0% | 14.1% |
| 60 | Monrovia, CA | 37,656 | 3,157 | 29.3% | 5.6% | 45.1% | 14.7% |
| 61 | Lancaster, CA | 171,465 | 3,165 | 25.7% | 20.7% | 45.3% | 4.0% |
| 62 | Claremont, CA | 36,891 | 3,173 | 47.8% | 5.4% | 24.4% | 15.1% |
| 63 | San Dimas, CA | 34,466 | 3,175 | 39.7% | 3.0% | 36.4% | 15.6% |
| 64 | South San Francisco, CA | 65,596 | 3,177 | 21.8% | 1.9% | 29.1% | 42.9% |
| 65 | Placentia, CA | 51,797 | 3,178 | 40.0% | 2.6% | 35.6% | 16.9% |
| 66 | Fountain Valley, CA | 56,754 | 3,191 | 38.5% | 0.7% | 17.1% | 37.4% |
| 67 | La Habra Heights, CA | 5,599 | 3,225 | 47.7% | 0.0% | 23.3% | 19.2% |
| 68 | Oakley, CA | 43,525 | 3,226 | 45.1% | 8.4% | 32.1% | 7.9% |
| 69 | Morgan Hill, CA | 45,291 | 3,227 | 42.6% | 2.3% | 33.5% | 16.0% |
| 70 | Artesia, CA | 16,237 | 3,238 | 15.1% | 4.2% | 35.3% | 41.7% |
| 71 | Los Alamitos, CA | 11,728 | 3,261 | 44.3% | 3.6% | 32.4% | 14.8% |
| 72 | Upland, CA | 78,847 | 3,284 | 34.9% | 6.5% | 43.7% | 9.9% |
| 73 | Belmont, CA | 27,820 | 3,305 | 47.1% | 1.5% | 13.8% | 29.3% |
| 74 | Los Angeles, CA | 3,881,041 | 3,312 | 28.1% | 8.2% | 48.1% | 11.6% |
| 75 | La Mirada, CA | 47,644 | 3,319 | 27.8% | 1.6% | 45.4% | 21.7% |
| 76 | Lake Forest, CA | 85,583 | 3,338 | 48.9% | 2.1% | 23.5% | 19.2% |
| 77 | Campbell, CA | 43,464 | 3,360 | 48.0% | 1.6% | 17.6% | 26.7% |
| 78 | La Palma, CA | 15,522 | 3,369 | 22.3% | 4.5% | 19.3% | 49.6% |
| 79 | Berkeley, CA | 121,385 | 3,370 | 51.9% | 7.5% | 12.1% | 20.7% |
| 80 | Santa Clara, CA | 128,058 | 3,374 | 30.1% | 2.2% | 15.3% | 47.0% |
| 81 | Beaumont, CA | 53,544 | 3,377 | 32.9% | 9.6% | 46.2% | 7.6% |
| 82 | Santa Clarita, CA | 225,850 | 3,383 | 43.5% | 3.9% | 36.7% | 10.7% |
| 83 | Irvine, CA | 304,527 | 3,390 | 35.7% | 1.7% | 11.2% | 44.1% |
| 84 | Duarte, CA | 21,686 | 3,401 | 23.2% | 5.0% | 50.0% | 18.0% |
| 85 | Orange, CA | 138,728 | 3,403 | 41.0% | 1.3% | 39.1% | 13.1% |
| 86 | Pacifica, CA | 38,048 | 3,407 | 50.9% | 2.0% | 18.3% | 21.0% |
| 87 | Live Oak, CA | 9,222 | 3,408 | 33.6% | 1.5% | 45.6% | 13.6% |
| 88 | Garden Grove, CA | 171,637 | 3,415 | 17.3% | 1.0% | 37.3% | 41.5% |
| 89 | Murrieta, CA | 111,899 | 3,418 | 45.9% | 5.2% | 34.5% | 7.9% |
| 90 | Menifee, CA | 103,680 | 3,422 | 41.2% | 6.5% | 40.3% | 5.7% |
| 91 | Fresno, CA | 541,528 | 3,427 | 25.4% | 6.2% | 50.5% | 13.7% |
| 92 | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 41,805 | 3,456 | 47.4% | 1.8% | 10.9% | 32.3% |
| 93 | Barstow, CA | 25,235 | 3,459 | 22.6% | 14.9% | 51.6% | 1.4% |
| 94 | Redlands, CA | 73,234 | 3,462 | 44.0% | 4.9% | 37.6% | 8.3% |
| 95 | Corona, CA | 158,346 | 3,473 | 31.3% | 5.5% | 48.4% | 10.5% |
| 96 | Clovis, CA | 120,607 | 3,474 | 46.2% | 2.9% | 34.3% | 11.5% |
| 97 | Oceanside, CA | 173,722 | 3,480 | 44.3% | 4.0% | 37.7% | 7.0% |
| 98 | Temecula, CA | 110,114 | 3,494 | 50.1% | 3.5% | 28.6% | 11.0% |
| 99 | Sunnyvale, CA | 154,573 | 3,496 | 27.5% | 1.2% | 16.7% | 49.4% |
| 100 | La Verne, CA | 31,239 | 3,496 | 45.2% | 3.3% | 36.3% | 10.4% |
