Racial diversity in Connecticut is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Connecticut where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Connecticut?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 21 cities in Connecticut to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Connecticut for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in Connecticut? According to the most Census data, New Haven took the number one over all spot for diversity in Connecticut.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Connecticut ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Connecticut reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Connecticut For 2024
/10
Population: 135,736
HHI: 2,797
% White: 32.2%
% African American: 28.0%
% Hispanic: 30.7%
% Asian: 5.0%
More on New Haven: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 148,470
HHI: 2,805
% White: 32.4%
% African American: 19.6%
% Hispanic: 36.2%
% Asian: 6.7%
More on Bridgeport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 114,480
HHI: 2,891
% White: 30.4%
% African American: 25.5%
% Hispanic: 35.9%
% Asian: 2.9%
More on Waterbury: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 135,413
HHI: 3,054
% White: 42.3%
% African American: 18.0%
% Hispanic: 29.8%
% Asian: 6.9%
More on Stamford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 86,456
HHI: 3,197
% White: 44.7%
% African American: 12.0%
% Hispanic: 31.7%
% Asian: 4.9%
More on Danbury: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 91,050
HHI: 3,265
% White: 44.7%
% African American: 17.3%
% Hispanic: 30.8%
% Asian: 4.0%
More on Norwalk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 55,336
HHI: 3,463
% White: 49.7%
% African American: 16.2%
% Hispanic: 26.7%
% Asian: 3.6%
More on West Haven: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 27,596
HHI: 3,489
% White: 49.0%
% African American: 14.2%
% Hispanic: 29.4%
% Asian: 2.2%
More on New London: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 121,057
HHI: 3,510
% White: 14.9%
% African American: 34.0%
% Hispanic: 46.1%
% Asian: 2.1%
More on Hartford: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 74,212
HHI: 3,544
% White: 37.9%
% African American: 11.0%
% Hispanic: 44.3%
% Asian: 2.6%
More on New Britain: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Connecticut 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 Connecticut.
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 9,000 people. That left us with 21 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 2,797 (New Haven) to 6,999 (Milford).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. New Haven took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Milford was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Connecticut.
Summary: Diversity Across Connecticut
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Connecticut, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Connecticut are New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Stamford, Danbury, Norwalk, West Haven, New London, Hartford, and New Britain.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Connecticut:
- Milford
- Shelton
- Middletown
For more Connecticut reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Connecticut
- Cheapest Places To Live In Connecticut
- Most Dangerous Cities In Connecticut
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Connecticut
- Safest Places In Connecticut
- Worst Places To Live In Connecticut
Race By City In Connecticut For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Haven, CT | 135,736 | 2,797 | 32.2% | 28.0% | 30.7% | 5.0% |
| 2 | Bridgeport, CT | 148,470 | 2,805 | 32.4% | 19.6% | 36.2% | 6.7% |
| 3 | Waterbury, CT | 114,480 | 2,891 | 30.4% | 25.5% | 35.9% | 2.9% |
| 4 | Stamford, CT | 135,413 | 3,054 | 42.3% | 18.0% | 29.8% | 6.9% |
| 5 | Danbury, CT | 86,456 | 3,197 | 44.7% | 12.0% | 31.7% | 4.9% |
| 6 | Norwalk, CT | 91,050 | 3,265 | 44.7% | 17.3% | 30.8% | 4.0% |
| 7 | West Haven, CT | 55,336 | 3,463 | 49.7% | 16.2% | 26.7% | 3.6% |
| 8 | New London, CT | 27,596 | 3,489 | 49.0% | 14.2% | 29.4% | 2.2% |
| 9 | Hartford, CT | 121,057 | 3,510 | 14.9% | 34.0% | 46.1% | 2.1% |
| 10 | New Britain, CT | 74,212 | 3,544 | 37.9% | 11.0% | 44.3% | 2.6% |
| 11 | Ansonia, CT | 18,954 | 3,842 | 52.5% | 10.7% | 31.0% | 2.8% |
| 12 | Derby, CT | 12,373 | 3,863 | 56.4% | 10.9% | 23.1% | 2.4% |
| 13 | Meriden, CT | 60,556 | 3,987 | 50.5% | 7.2% | 37.1% | 2.1% |
| 14 | Naugatuck, CT | 31,653 | 4,133 | 60.5% | 12.5% | 16.0% | 4.6% |
| 15 | Norwich, CT | 40,054 | 4,273 | 62.3% | 9.8% | 15.0% | 7.2% |
| 16 | Groton, CT | 9,364 | 4,426 | 63.9% | 7.8% | 13.3% | 5.8% |
| 17 | Bristol, CT | 61,052 | 4,617 | 64.2% | 6.8% | 20.3% | 3.4% |
| 18 | Torrington, CT | 35,510 | 4,624 | 64.8% | 9.4% | 17.5% | 3.4% |
| 19 | Middletown, CT | 48,152 | 4,712 | 66.1% | 13.2% | 11.0% | 5.0% |
| 20 | Shelton, CT | 41,206 | 5,276 | 70.9% | 4.2% | 12.1% | 8.8% |
| 21 | Milford, CT | 50,664 | 6,999 | 83.1% | 1.7% | 7.7% | 4.8% |