Racial diversity in Alaska is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Alaska where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Alaska?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 11 cities in Alaska to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what city is the most diverse in Alaska? According to the most Census data, Ketchikan took the number one over all spot for diversity in Alaska.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Alaska ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Alaska reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Alaska For 2024
/10
Population: 8,168
HHI: 3,373
% White: 52.7%
% African American: 1.0%
% Hispanic: 6.0%
% Asian: 13.5%
More on Ketchikan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 290,674
HHI: 3,417
% White: 55.2%
% African American: 5.1%
% Hispanic: 9.7%
% Asian: 9.6%
More on Anchorage: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,584
HHI: 3,457
% White: 32.0%
% African American: 0.0%
% Hispanic: 8.8%
% Asian: 47.9%
More on Kodiak: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 32,496
HHI: 3,663
% White: 57.5%
% African American: 7.4%
% Hispanic: 11.1%
% Asian: 4.2%
More on Fairbanks: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,462
HHI: 3,966
% White: 59.9%
% African American: 0.6%
% Hispanic: 7.4%
% Asian: 7.7%
More on Sitka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 32,108
HHI: 4,159
% White: 61.8%
% African American: 1.0%
% Hispanic: 7.2%
% Asian: 6.8%
More on Juneau: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,312
HHI: 4,607
% White: 15.6%
% African American: 2.9%
% Hispanic: 5.6%
% Asian: 3.7%
More on Bethel: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,091
HHI: 4,933
% White: 68.5%
% African American: 2.6%
% Hispanic: 5.2%
% Asian: 1.8%
More on Palmer: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,477
HHI: 5,143
% White: 70.0%
% African American: 0.8%
% Hispanic: 8.1%
% Asian: 2.6%
More on Kenai: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,267
HHI: 5,794
% White: 75.1%
% African American: 1.3%
% Hispanic: 6.7%
% Asian: 3.1%
More on Wasilla: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Alaska 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 Alaska.
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 11 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 3,373 (Ketchikan) to 6,241 (Homer).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Ketchikan took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Homer was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Alaska.
Summary: Diversity Across Alaska
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Alaska, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Alaska are Ketchikan, Anchorage, Kodiak, Fairbanks, Sitka, Juneau, Bethel, Palmer, Kenai, and Wasilla.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Alaska:
- Homer
- Wasilla
- Kenai
For more Alaska reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Alaska
- Cheapest Places To Live In Alaska
- Most Dangerous Cities In Alaska
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Alaska
- Safest Places In Alaska
- Worst Places To Live In Alaska
Race By City In Alaska For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ketchikan, AK | 8,168 | 3,373 | 52.7% | 1.0% | 6.0% | 13.5% |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | 290,674 | 3,417 | 55.2% | 5.1% | 9.7% | 9.6% |
| 3 | Kodiak, AK | 5,584 | 3,457 | 32.0% | 0.0% | 8.8% | 47.9% |
| 4 | Fairbanks, AK | 32,496 | 3,663 | 57.5% | 7.4% | 11.1% | 4.2% |
| 5 | Sitka, AK | 8,462 | 3,966 | 59.9% | 0.6% | 7.4% | 7.7% |
| 6 | Juneau, AK | 32,108 | 4,159 | 61.8% | 1.0% | 7.2% | 6.8% |
| 7 | Bethel, AK | 6,312 | 4,607 | 15.6% | 2.9% | 5.6% | 3.7% |
| 8 | Palmer, AK | 6,091 | 4,933 | 68.5% | 2.6% | 5.2% | 1.8% |
| 9 | Kenai, AK | 7,477 | 5,143 | 70.0% | 0.8% | 8.1% | 2.6% |
| 10 | Wasilla, AK | 9,267 | 5,794 | 75.1% | 1.3% | 6.7% | 3.1% |
| 11 | Homer, AK | 5,623 | 6,241 | 78.2% | 0.2% | 5.6% | 1.6% |