Racial diversity in Maine is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Maine where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Maine?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 19 cities in Maine to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Maine for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in Maine? According to the most Census data, Lewiston took the number one over all spot for diversity in Maine.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Maine ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Maine reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Maine For 2024
/10
Population: 37,577
HHI: 6,552
% White: 80.0%
% African American: 10.8%
% Hispanic: 2.7%
% Asian: 2.2%
More on Lewiston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 68,280
HHI: 6,786
% White: 81.8%
% African American: 8.6%
% Hispanic: 2.3%
% Asian: 3.4%
More on Portland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 26,656
HHI: 7,055
% White: 83.5%
% African American: 6.8%
% Hispanic: 2.8%
% Asian: 2.4%
More on South Portland: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,339
HHI: 7,166
% White: 84.3%
% African American: 4.3%
% Hispanic: 1.9%
% Asian: 3.2%
More on Westbrook: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,953
HHI: 7,387
% White: 85.6%
% African American: 1.0%
% Hispanic: 1.7%
% Asian: 0.7%
More on Belfast: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 31,705
HHI: 7,747
% White: 87.9%
% African American: 2.4%
% Hispanic: 2.9%
% Asian: 1.7%
More on Bangor: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 15,785
HHI: 7,928
% White: 88.9%
% African American: 1.2%
% Hispanic: 2.5%
% Asian: 2.9%
More on Waterville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,772
HHI: 8,101
% White: 89.9%
% African American: 1.2%
% Hispanic: 1.5%
% Asian: 0.9%
More on Presque Isle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,446
HHI: 8,132
% White: 90.0%
% African American: 2.1%
% Hispanic: 1.7%
% Asian: 1.1%
More on Saco: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 22,438
HHI: 8,354
% White: 91.3%
% African American: 1.3%
% Hispanic: 2.8%
% Asian: 1.8%
More on Biddeford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Maine 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 Maine.
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 19 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 6,552 (Lewiston) to 9,278 (Rockland).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Lewiston took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Rockland was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Maine.
Summary: Diversity Across Maine
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Maine, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Maine are Lewiston, Portland, South Portland, Westbrook, Belfast, Bangor, Waterville, Presque Isle, Saco, and Biddeford.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Maine:
- Rockland
- Bath
- Brewer
For more Maine reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Maine
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maine
- Most Dangerous Cities In Maine
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maine
- Safest Places In Maine
- Worst Places To Live In Maine
Race By City In Maine For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewiston, ME | 37,577 | 6,552 | 80.0% | 10.8% | 2.7% | 2.2% |
| 2 | Portland, ME | 68,280 | 6,786 | 81.8% | 8.6% | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| 3 | South Portland, ME | 26,656 | 7,055 | 83.5% | 6.8% | 2.8% | 2.4% |
| 4 | Westbrook, ME | 20,339 | 7,166 | 84.3% | 4.3% | 1.9% | 3.2% |
| 5 | Belfast, ME | 6,953 | 7,387 | 85.6% | 1.0% | 1.7% | 0.7% |
| 6 | Bangor, ME | 31,705 | 7,747 | 87.9% | 2.4% | 2.9% | 1.7% |
| 7 | Waterville, ME | 15,785 | 7,928 | 88.9% | 1.2% | 2.5% | 2.9% |
| 8 | Presque Isle, ME | 8,772 | 8,101 | 89.9% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 0.9% |
| 9 | Saco, ME | 20,446 | 8,132 | 90.0% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| 10 | Biddeford, ME | 22,438 | 8,354 | 91.3% | 1.3% | 2.8% | 1.8% |
| 11 | Ellsworth, ME | 8,478 | 8,398 | 91.6% | 1.0% | 1.6% | 1.5% |
| 12 | Augusta, ME | 18,938 | 8,431 | 91.7% | 1.7% | 2.4% | 1.1% |
| 13 | Auburn, ME | 24,038 | 8,489 | 92.0% | 2.1% | 2.0% | 0.5% |
| 14 | Caribou, ME | 7,454 | 8,540 | 92.2% | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| 15 | Old Town, ME | 7,458 | 8,816 | 93.8% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 0.2% |
| 16 | Gardiner, ME | 5,994 | 8,900 | 94.3% | 0.0% | 1.1% | 0.8% |
| 17 | Brewer, ME | 9,633 | 8,937 | 94.5% | 0.4% | 1.5% | 0.0% |
| 18 | Bath, ME | 8,775 | 9,059 | 95.1% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| 19 | Rockland, ME | 6,986 | 9,278 | 96.3% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 0.7% |
