Racial diversity in Idaho is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Idaho where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Idaho?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 34 cities in Idaho to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what city is the most diverse in Idaho? According to the most Census data, Jerome took the number one over all spot for diversity in Idaho.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Idaho ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Idaho reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Idaho For 2024
/10
Population: 12,482
HHI: 4,597
% White: 49.6%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 46.1%
% Asian: 0.1%
More on Jerome: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 61,212
HHI: 4,621
% White: 56.3%
% African American: 0.4%
% Hispanic: 37.9%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Caldwell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,506
HHI: 4,734
% White: 59.2%
% African American: 0.1%
% Hispanic: 34.8%
% Asian: 0.5%
More on Burley: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,066
HHI: 4,861
% White: 50.2%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 48.4%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Rupert: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,238
HHI: 5,141
% White: 62.7%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 34.7%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Hailey: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,182
HHI: 5,157
% White: 67.8%
% African American: 0.2%
% Hispanic: 22.7%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Payette: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,678
HHI: 5,192
% White: 66.7%
% African American: 0.1%
% Hispanic: 26.8%
% Asian: 0.2%
More on Weiser: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 102,598
HHI: 5,272
% White: 68.0%
% African American: 1.0%
% Hispanic: 25.3%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Nampa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 16,026
HHI: 5,687
% White: 73.8%
% African American: 2.1%
% Hispanic: 14.3%
% Asian: 4.1%
More on Mountain Home: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,169
HHI: 5,783
% White: 73.0%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 20.8%
% Asian: 2.3%
More on Fruitland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Idaho 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 Idaho.
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 34 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 4,597 (Jerome) to 8,611 (Hayden).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Jerome took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Hayden was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Idaho.
Summary: Diversity Across Idaho
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Idaho, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Idaho are Jerome, Caldwell, Burley, Rupert, Hailey, Payette, Weiser, Nampa, Mountain Home, and Fruitland.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Idaho:
- Hayden
- Lewiston
- Preston
For more Idaho reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Idaho
- Cheapest Places To Live In Idaho
- Most Dangerous Cities In Idaho
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Idaho
- Safest Places In Idaho
- Worst Places To Live In Idaho
Race By City In Idaho For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerome, ID | 12,482 | 4,597 | 49.6% | 0.0% | 46.1% | 0.1% |
| 2 | Caldwell, ID | 61,212 | 4,621 | 56.3% | 0.4% | 37.9% | 0.7% |
| 3 | Burley, ID | 11,506 | 4,734 | 59.2% | 0.1% | 34.8% | 0.5% |
| 4 | Rupert, ID | 6,066 | 4,861 | 50.2% | 0.0% | 48.4% | 0.3% |
| 5 | Hailey, ID | 9,238 | 5,141 | 62.7% | 0.0% | 34.7% | 0.0% |
| 6 | Payette, ID | 8,182 | 5,157 | 67.8% | 0.2% | 22.7% | 0.0% |
| 7 | Weiser, ID | 5,678 | 5,192 | 66.7% | 0.1% | 26.8% | 0.2% |
| 8 | Nampa, ID | 102,598 | 5,272 | 68.0% | 1.0% | 25.3% | 0.7% |
| 9 | Mountain Home, ID | 16,026 | 5,687 | 73.8% | 2.1% | 14.3% | 4.1% |
| 10 | Fruitland, ID | 6,169 | 5,783 | 73.0% | 0.0% | 20.8% | 2.3% |
| 11 | Blackfoot, ID | 12,349 | 5,788 | 73.7% | 0.4% | 18.1% | 0.2% |
| 12 | Twin Falls, ID | 52,315 | 6,117 | 76.6% | 0.8% | 15.1% | 2.5% |
| 13 | Idaho Falls, ID | 65,685 | 6,370 | 78.0% | 0.3% | 16.6% | 1.0% |
| 14 | Rigby, ID | 5,097 | 6,494 | 79.2% | 0.0% | 14.2% | 1.2% |
| 15 | Emmett, ID | 7,694 | 6,548 | 79.4% | 0.0% | 15.1% | 0.2% |
| 16 | Middleton, ID | 9,614 | 6,568 | 79.9% | 0.4% | 11.9% | 1.2% |
| 17 | Boise City, ID | 234,192 | 6,709 | 81.2% | 1.4% | 9.1% | 3.4% |
| 18 | Pocatello, ID | 56,582 | 6,807 | 81.8% | 1.2% | 9.6% | 2.2% |
| 19 | Meridian, ID | 119,872 | 6,854 | 82.2% | 1.4% | 9.0% | 2.2% |
| 20 | Star, ID | 11,971 | 6,906 | 82.4% | 0.9% | 9.2% | 1.0% |
| 21 | Chubbuck, ID | 15,638 | 6,930 | 82.3% | 0.3% | 12.2% | 1.5% |
| 22 | Moscow, ID | 25,616 | 7,147 | 84.2% | 1.8% | 5.0% | 2.9% |
| 23 | Rexburg, ID | 38,803 | 7,224 | 84.4% | 1.0% | 9.5% | 2.3% |
| 24 | Sandpoint, ID | 8,899 | 7,317 | 85.1% | 0.3% | 7.7% | 1.6% |
| 25 | Garden City, ID | 12,301 | 7,320 | 84.9% | 0.6% | 10.2% | 0.9% |
| 26 | Ammon, ID | 17,921 | 7,392 | 85.3% | 0.2% | 10.6% | 0.8% |
| 27 | Eagle, ID | 30,635 | 7,418 | 85.6% | 0.2% | 9.1% | 2.0% |
| 28 | Coeur D’alene, ID | 54,599 | 7,426 | 85.8% | 0.4% | 5.6% | 1.2% |
| 29 | Rathdrum, ID | 9,556 | 7,640 | 87.1% | 0.0% | 4.8% | 0.7% |
| 30 | Post Falls, ID | 40,002 | 7,659 | 87.1% | 0.2% | 5.8% | 0.3% |
| 31 | Kuna, ID | 24,845 | 7,797 | 87.8% | 0.2% | 8.8% | 0.6% |
| 32 | Preston, ID | 5,668 | 8,034 | 89.4% | 0.0% | 5.6% | 0.0% |
| 33 | Lewiston, ID | 34,270 | 8,191 | 90.3% | 0.1% | 4.5% | 0.9% |
| 34 | Hayden, ID | 15,703 | 8,611 | 92.7% | 0.3% | 3.9% | 0.2% |
