The 10 Most Diverse Cities In North Carolina For 2024


The most diverse cities in North Carolina are Spring Lake and Lumberton for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.


Most Diverse Cities In North Carolina

Racial diversity in North Carolina is a mixed bag.

There are parts of North Carolina where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in North Carolina?

To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 138 cities in North Carolina to rank them from most to least diverse.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


Here are the 10 most diverse places in North Carolina for 2024:

  1. Spring Lake
  2. Lumberton
  3. Pineville
  4. Charlotte
  5. Long View
  6. Clinton
  7. Hope Mills
  8. Fayetteville
  9. Durham
  10. Sanford

So what city is the most diverse in North Carolina? According to the most Census data, Spring Lake took the number one over all spot for diversity in North Carolina.

Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where North Carolina ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.

For more North Carolina reading:

The 10 Most Diverse Places In North Carolina For 2024

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 11,710
HHI: 2,710
% White: 35.6%
% African American: 31.4%
% Hispanic: 19.2%
% Asian: 2.4%
More on Spring Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Lumberton, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 19,099
HHI: 2,967
% White: 37.0%
% African American: 36.6%
% Hispanic: 9.4%
% Asian: 1.4%
More on Lumberton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Pineville, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Deshort | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 10,532
HHI: 2,988
% White: 44.7%
% African American: 24.5%
% Hispanic: 17.4%
% Asian: 5.6%
More on Pineville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Charlotte, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Greengrass090 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 875,045
HHI: 3,069
% White: 39.7%
% African American: 34.7%
% Hispanic: 15.3%
% Asian: 6.5%
More on Charlotte: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

5. Long View

Long View, NC

Source: Flickr User NCDOTcommunications | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

3
/10

Population: 5,029
HHI: 3,095
% White: 48.5%
% African American: 17.3%
% Hispanic: 17.4%
% Asian: 9.9%
More on Long View: Crime | Real Estate

Clinton, NC

Source: Flickr User Gerry Dincher | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 8,362
HHI: 3,097
% White: 33.5%
% African American: 38.1%
% Hispanic: 22.6%
% Asian: 2.5%
More on Clinton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Hope Mills, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 17,671
HHI: 3,110
% White: 41.7%
% African American: 33.3%
% Hispanic: 14.8%
% Asian: 1.3%
More on Hope Mills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Fayetteville, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Hegemanc | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 208,697
HHI: 3,148
% White: 35.0%
% African American: 41.4%
% Hispanic: 12.9%
% Asian: 3.1%
More on Fayetteville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Durham, NC

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 284,094
HHI: 3,163
% White: 40.7%
% African American: 35.8%
% Hispanic: 13.3%
% Asian: 5.7%
More on Durham: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Sanford, NC

Source: Wikipedia User Bigbird78 | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 30,373
HHI: 3,184
% White: 40.4%
% African American: 25.3%
% Hispanic: 30.1%
% Asian: 1.4%
More on Sanford: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in North Carolina 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 North Carolina.

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
* Not Hispanic or latino

We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 138 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 2,710 (Spring Lake) to 8,989 (Oak Island).

Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Spring Lake took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Oak Island was the least diverse city.

We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in North Carolina.

Summary: Diversity Across North Carolina

If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across North Carolina, this is an accurate list.

The most diverse cities in North Carolina are Spring Lake, Lumberton, Pineville, Charlotte, Long View, Clinton, Hope Mills, Fayetteville, Durham, and Sanford.

If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in North Carolina:

  1. Oak Island
  2. Black Mountain
  3. St. James

For more North Carolina reading, check out:

Race By City In North Carolina For 2024

Rank City Population HHI % White % Black % Hispanic % Asian
1 Spring Lake, NC 11,710 2,710 35.6% 31.4% 19.2% 2.4%
2 Lumberton, NC 19,099 2,967 37.0% 36.6% 9.4% 1.4%
3 Pineville, NC 10,532 2,988 44.7% 24.5% 17.4% 5.6%
4 Charlotte, NC 875,045 3,069 39.7% 34.7% 15.3% 6.5%
5 Long View, NC 5,029 3,095 48.5% 17.3% 17.4% 9.9%
6 Clinton, NC 8,362 3,097 33.5% 38.1% 22.6% 2.5%
7 Hope Mills, NC 17,671 3,110 41.7% 33.3% 14.8% 1.3%
8 Fayetteville, NC 208,697 3,148 35.0% 41.4% 12.9% 3.1%
9 Durham, NC 284,094 3,163 40.7% 35.8% 13.3% 5.7%
10 Sanford, NC 30,373 3,184 40.4% 25.3% 30.1% 1.4%
11 Lexington, NC 19,595 3,230 44.6% 30.7% 16.4% 3.6%
12 Monroe, NC 34,897 3,266 44.1% 23.0% 28.0% 0.6%
13 Morrisville, NC 29,756 3,271 35.9% 11.5% 4.1% 42.5%
14 High Point, NC 114,120 3,281 45.6% 31.8% 10.7% 7.7%
15 Selma, NC 6,449 3,325 27.2% 44.5% 24.5% 0.0%
16 Zebulon, NC 7,421 3,356 41.6% 35.0% 19.9% 0.4%
17 Winston-Salem, NC 249,571 3,358 44.9% 32.4% 16.6% 2.5%
18 Butner, NC 8,374 3,414 43.8% 33.8% 18.7% 0.4%
19 Greensboro, NC 297,202 3,423 38.6% 42.6% 9.0% 5.3%
20 Burlington, NC 56,951 3,430 48.0% 28.4% 17.5% 2.4%
21 Wendell, NC 10,575 3,553 47.4% 28.7% 21.8% 0.0%
22 Jacksonville, NC 71,908 3,562 53.2% 17.7% 19.2% 2.7%
23 Siler City, NC 7,847 3,592 29.2% 14.7% 50.1% 0.0%
24 Statesville, NC 28,576 3,604 50.5% 28.5% 15.1% 2.1%
25 Knightdale, NC 19,127 3,618 35.9% 47.1% 8.6% 2.7%
26 Dallas, NC 5,889 3,619 47.9% 32.3% 16.6% 1.2%
27 Concord, NC 105,335 3,628 54.0% 21.7% 13.9% 6.0%
28 Laurinburg, NC 14,971 3,658 34.3% 48.9% 4.5% 0.8%
29 Raleigh, NC 465,517 3,673 52.5% 27.5% 11.6% 4.5%
30 Roxboro, NC 8,131 3,692 48.6% 34.6% 6.4% 0.6%
31 Harrisburg, NC 18,934 3,697 55.8% 17.6% 9.5% 12.6%
32 Smithfield, NC 11,527 3,736 50.9% 28.9% 17.6% 1.8%
33 Graham, NC 17,136 3,760 53.5% 23.7% 18.0% 0.7%
34 Wilson, NC 47,767 3,770 34.7% 49.1% 12.1% 1.1%
35 Salisbury, NC 35,437 3,810 48.6% 36.5% 10.3% 1.3%
36 Elizabeth City, NC 18,570 3,812 36.9% 48.6% 8.5% 1.4%
37 Asheboro, NC 27,117 3,830 53.2% 13.3% 28.3% 1.1%
38 Havelock, NC 16,759 3,865 57.4% 15.8% 16.5% 4.1%
39 Washington, NC 9,759 3,893 44.3% 43.1% 7.0% 0.9%
40 Gastonia, NC 80,615 3,899 53.8% 29.7% 10.4% 1.1%
41 Roanoke Rapids, NC 15,143 3,905 51.8% 34.0% 6.0% 1.3%
42 New Bern, NC 31,373 3,925 54.0% 30.6% 6.4% 5.1%
43 Reidsville, NC 14,526 3,939 50.1% 37.0% 3.8% 0.3%
44 Mebane, NC 17,899 3,959 57.1% 24.4% 5.4% 4.4%
45 Williamston, NC 5,224 4,048 34.5% 52.7% 8.6% 2.1%
46 Greenville, NC 87,894 4,050 49.1% 40.0% 4.2% 2.9%
47 Dunn, NC 8,549 4,070 50.8% 37.5% 8.7% 0.5%
48 Cary, NC 174,880 4,074 59.2% 8.0% 7.8% 20.8%
49 Kannapolis, NC 53,314 4,094 58.7% 21.9% 12.2% 2.3%
50 Forest City, NC 7,357 4,114 56.8% 28.4% 7.7% 1.5%
51 Clayton, NC 26,837 4,120 58.0% 23.5% 13.8% 0.8%
52 Garner, NC 31,684 4,134 58.4% 24.1% 11.1% 1.6%
53 Ayden, NC 5,002 4,146 51.4% 37.0% 11.6% 0.0%
54 Angier, NC 5,348 4,157 59.1% 12.5% 22.2% 1.6%
55 Oxford, NC 8,685 4,159 31.5% 55.6% 5.9% 0.9%
56 Goldsboro, NC 33,566 4,168 34.1% 54.4% 5.1% 1.8%
57 Lincolnton, NC 11,225 4,188 58.9% 20.6% 16.8% 0.3%
58 Morganton, NC 17,457 4,192 60.0% 13.3% 20.2% 2.3%
59 Shelby, NC 21,712 4,197 55.0% 33.5% 4.1% 1.2%
60 Thomasville, NC 27,130 4,225 60.2% 17.8% 16.1% 0.7%
61 Tarboro, NC 10,696 4,245 41.6% 49.7% 6.1% 0.1%
62 Rockingham, NC 9,174 4,250 54.3% 34.9% 9.0% 0.1%
63 Marion, NC 7,652 4,294 61.6% 11.6% 18.3% 4.6%
64 Marvin, NC 6,421 4,351 62.0% 10.1% 5.2% 19.2%
65 Eden, NC 15,349 4,411 59.5% 28.5% 6.1% 1.4%
66 Winterville, NC 10,510 4,433 55.5% 36.4% 4.1% 1.0%
67 Newton, NC 13,173 4,487 64.4% 11.2% 11.9% 4.3%
68 Chapel Hill, NC 58,919 4,527 64.7% 10.3% 6.8% 13.4%
69 Carrboro, NC 21,242 4,567 65.1% 12.9% 8.1% 9.0%
70 Rolesville, NC 9,696 4,567 62.1% 25.2% 5.0% 0.4%
71 Albemarle, NC 16,444 4,665 63.3% 24.4% 6.5% 3.2%
72 Hickory, NC 43,352 4,670 65.5% 13.2% 13.2% 4.0%
73 Henderson, NC 14,997 4,694 24.7% 63.1% 9.9% 0.7%
74 Rocky Mount, NC 54,260 4,705 28.8% 62.0% 4.3% 1.3%
75 Apex, NC 65,541 4,731 66.3% 7.7% 6.4% 14.8%
76 Hamlet, NC 6,043 4,776 52.3% 45.2% 1.3% 0.0%
77 Wake Forest, NC 48,047 4,953 67.4% 17.9% 7.9% 2.3%
78 Fuquay-Varina, NC 35,428 4,990 68.1% 15.7% 9.1% 1.9%
79 Stokesdale, NC 5,900 5,028 68.9% 11.9% 8.9% 2.9%
80 Kernersville, NC 27,177 5,044 68.0% 16.7% 11.4% 1.7%
81 Nashville, NC 5,624 5,082 35.7% 61.7% 0.0% 0.7%
82 Kings Mountain, NC 11,246 5,200 67.2% 25.8% 2.1% 2.1%
83 Waxhaw, NC 20,665 5,232 70.8% 8.0% 10.2% 5.8%
84 Kinston, NC 19,704 5,263 22.3% 68.8% 3.1% 1.0%
85 Mocksville, NC 5,908 5,298 70.7% 8.6% 13.1% 0.0%
86 Lenoir, NC 18,301 5,318 70.6% 13.7% 11.9% 0.5%
87 Huntersville, NC 61,202 5,339 71.3% 13.0% 7.2% 4.6%
88 Indian Trail, NC 40,325 5,389 71.8% 8.9% 11.3% 3.3%
89 Matthews, NC 29,613 5,411 72.0% 12.0% 6.2% 6.0%
90 Conover, NC 8,457 5,413 70.3% 3.0% 21.3% 3.3%
91 Wilmington, NC 116,933 5,438 71.5% 16.1% 7.0% 1.3%
92 Wadesboro, NC 5,004 5,445 25.4% 69.1% 0.0% 4.9%
93 Mint Hill, NC 26,537 5,471 72.0% 15.2% 6.3% 3.8%
94 Gibsonville, NC 8,827 5,482 67.8% 29.7% 0.5% 0.8%
95 Walke, NC 5,706 5,491 71.6% 16.9% 8.1% 0.0%
96 Mount Holly, NC 17,644 5,540 72.6% 14.3% 5.9% 4.7%
97 Aberdeen, NC 8,674 5,541 72.5% 15.7% 5.3% 2.4%
98 Holly Springs, NC 42,023 5,552 73.3% 9.5% 6.2% 6.2%
99 Southern Pines, NC 15,701 5,612 73.2% 13.3% 7.8% 3.0%
100 Hillsborough, NC 9,534 5,681 73.8% 12.4% 8.0% 2.3%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.