Racial diversity in Kansas is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Kansas where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Kansas?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 63 cities in Kansas to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Kansas for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in Kansas? According to the most Census data, Kansas City took the number one over all spot for diversity in Kansas.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Kansas ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Kansas reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Kansas For 2024
/10
Population: 155,438
HHI: 2,835
% White: 36.4%
% African American: 21.5%
% Hispanic: 31.6%
% Asian: 5.4%
More on Kansas City: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 22,738
HHI: 3,301
% White: 50.7%
% African American: 18.4%
% Hispanic: 17.3%
% Asian: 2.9%
More on Junction City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 27,933
HHI: 4,182
% White: 34.5%
% African American: 5.6%
% Hispanic: 54.2%
% Asian: 4.7%
More on Garden City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,842
HHI: 4,232
% White: 61.5%
% African American: 10.4%
% Hispanic: 16.8%
% Asian: 0.5%
More on Coffeyville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 395,951
HHI: 4,246
% White: 61.6%
% African American: 9.7%
% Hispanic: 17.6%
% Asian: 4.7%
More on Wichita: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,118
HHI: 4,739
% White: 62.4%
% African American: 2.3%
% Hispanic: 28.6%
% Asian: 2.1%
More on Emporia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,834
HHI: 4,745
% White: 46.2%
% African American: 0.2%
% Hispanic: 51.0%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Ulysses: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 126,431
HHI: 4,758
% White: 66.1%
% African American: 9.8%
% Hispanic: 16.4%
% Asian: 1.7%
More on Topeka: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,341
HHI: 4,874
% White: 67.7%
% African American: 9.2%
% Hispanic: 12.6%
% Asian: 5.9%
More on Bel Aire: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,997
HHI: 4,932
% White: 66.4%
% African American: 3.0%
% Hispanic: 21.3%
% Asian: 0.2%
More on Arkansas City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Kansas 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 Kansas.
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 63 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 2,835 (Kansas City) to 8,453 (Augusta).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Kansas City took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Augusta was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Kansas.
Summary: Diversity Across Kansas
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Kansas, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Kansas are Kansas City, Junction City, Garden City, Coffeyville, Wichita, Emporia, Ulysses, Topeka, Bel Aire, and Arkansas City.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Kansas:
- Augusta
- Spring Hill
- Mulvane
For more Kansas reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Kansas
- Cheapest Places To Live In Kansas
- Most Dangerous Places In Kansas
- Safest Places In Kansas
- Worst Places To Live In Kansas
Race By City In Kansas For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, KS | 155,438 | 2,835 | 36.4% | 21.5% | 31.6% | 5.4% |
| 2 | Junction City, KS | 22,738 | 3,301 | 50.7% | 18.4% | 17.3% | 2.9% |
| 3 | Garden City, KS | 27,933 | 4,182 | 34.5% | 5.6% | 54.2% | 4.7% |
| 4 | Coffeyville, KS | 8,842 | 4,232 | 61.5% | 10.4% | 16.8% | 0.5% |
| 5 | Wichita, KS | 395,951 | 4,246 | 61.6% | 9.7% | 17.6% | 4.7% |
| 6 | Emporia, KS | 24,118 | 4,739 | 62.4% | 2.3% | 28.6% | 2.1% |
| 7 | Ulysses, KS | 5,834 | 4,745 | 46.2% | 0.2% | 51.0% | 0.0% |
| 8 | Topeka, KS | 126,431 | 4,758 | 66.1% | 9.8% | 16.4% | 1.7% |
| 9 | Bel Aire, KS | 8,341 | 4,874 | 67.7% | 9.2% | 12.6% | 5.9% |
| 10 | Arkansas City, KS | 11,997 | 4,932 | 66.4% | 3.0% | 21.3% | 0.2% |
| 11 | Liberal, KS | 19,099 | 5,045 | 25.2% | 3.4% | 66.2% | 2.7% |
| 12 | Dodge City, KS | 27,721 | 5,105 | 28.8% | 2.2% | 65.3% | 1.3% |
| 13 | Leavenworth, KS | 37,193 | 5,388 | 71.9% | 10.6% | 8.0% | 1.6% |
| 14 | Lansing, KS | 11,254 | 5,627 | 73.3% | 13.2% | 6.2% | 0.5% |
| 15 | Great Bend, KS | 14,725 | 5,630 | 71.1% | 1.2% | 23.8% | 0.5% |
| 16 | Lawrence, KS | 95,103 | 5,675 | 74.3% | 4.5% | 7.3% | 5.8% |
| 17 | Newton, KS | 18,527 | 5,813 | 73.6% | 2.2% | 19.5% | 0.2% |
| 18 | Olathe, KS | 142,114 | 5,826 | 75.1% | 5.1% | 11.7% | 4.1% |
| 19 | Overland Park, KS | 196,676 | 5,877 | 75.6% | 4.7% | 7.0% | 9.0% |
| 20 | Bonner Springs, KS | 7,770 | 5,902 | 75.8% | 3.3% | 9.6% | 4.9% |
| 21 | Manhattan, KS | 54,287 | 5,976 | 76.5% | 5.1% | 7.7% | 4.8% |
| 22 | Lenexa, KS | 57,497 | 6,066 | 76.9% | 6.3% | 9.5% | 3.9% |
| 23 | Park City, KS | 7,703 | 6,100 | 77.1% | 6.0% | 9.0% | 2.4% |
| 24 | Tonganoxie, KS | 5,484 | 6,154 | 77.3% | 0.3% | 10.8% | 4.3% |
| 25 | Merriam, KS | 11,070 | 6,168 | 77.5% | 8.3% | 8.8% | 2.3% |
| 26 | Gardner, KS | 23,488 | 6,219 | 78.1% | 6.5% | 6.8% | 3.2% |
| 27 | Independence, KS | 8,556 | 6,231 | 78.1% | 5.9% | 7.7% | 0.2% |
| 28 | Salina, KS | 46,734 | 6,303 | 78.2% | 3.3% | 12.5% | 2.2% |
| 29 | Shawnee, KS | 67,671 | 6,330 | 78.8% | 6.5% | 7.8% | 3.3% |
| 30 | Roeland Park, KS | 6,848 | 6,390 | 78.5% | 1.5% | 13.9% | 0.7% |
| 31 | Pittsburg, KS | 20,610 | 6,391 | 79.0% | 2.8% | 10.7% | 2.8% |
| 32 | Hutchinson, KS | 39,995 | 6,468 | 79.2% | 3.0% | 12.9% | 0.8% |
| 33 | Parsons, KS | 9,564 | 6,480 | 79.7% | 7.8% | 6.5% | 0.1% |
| 34 | Derby, KS | 25,551 | 6,514 | 79.8% | 1.4% | 10.9% | 1.2% |
| 35 | Maize, KS | 6,071 | 6,548 | 78.6% | 1.3% | 19.4% | 0.0% |
| 36 | Mission, KS | 9,894 | 6,623 | 80.8% | 4.8% | 6.3% | 4.6% |
| 37 | Andover, KS | 15,460 | 6,687 | 81.1% | 2.0% | 8.7% | 3.4% |
| 38 | Winfield, KS | 11,804 | 6,708 | 81.3% | 2.9% | 8.3% | 3.8% |
| 39 | Wellington, KS | 7,710 | 6,789 | 81.5% | 1.6% | 10.8% | 0.4% |
| 40 | Atchison, KS | 10,834 | 6,897 | 82.5% | 5.5% | 4.4% | 0.7% |
| 41 | De Soto, KS | 6,248 | 6,970 | 83.0% | 3.5% | 7.0% | 2.0% |
| 42 | Valley Center, KS | 8,448 | 7,014 | 83.1% | 0.3% | 7.3% | 2.1% |
| 43 | Pratt, KS | 6,588 | 7,222 | 84.4% | 3.0% | 8.8% | 0.2% |
| 44 | Iola, KS | 5,395 | 7,240 | 84.7% | 3.7% | 5.9% | 0.4% |
| 45 | Concordia, KS | 5,080 | 7,276 | 84.9% | 1.2% | 6.7% | 0.0% |
| 46 | Fort Scott, KS | 7,569 | 7,501 | 86.2% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 0.1% |
| 47 | Haysville, KS | 10,891 | 7,503 | 86.2% | 0.1% | 7.1% | 0.5% |
| 48 | Mcpherson, KS | 13,955 | 7,546 | 86.5% | 2.4% | 6.3% | 1.4% |
| 49 | El Dorado, KS | 12,882 | 7,573 | 86.8% | 1.5% | 4.5% | 1.5% |
| 50 | Ottawa, KS | 12,615 | 7,776 | 87.9% | 0.8% | 4.6% | 0.8% |
| 51 | Hays, KS | 21,111 | 7,816 | 88.1% | 0.6% | 6.2% | 2.0% |
| 52 | Leawood, KS | 33,784 | 7,823 | 88.2% | 1.0% | 3.2% | 5.8% |
| 53 | Eudora, KS | 6,025 | 7,939 | 88.7% | 0.0% | 7.2% | 0.2% |
| 54 | Chanute, KS | 8,713 | 7,946 | 88.8% | 1.1% | 7.5% | 0.1% |
| 55 | Basehor, KS | 7,004 | 7,995 | 89.2% | 2.1% | 4.0% | 0.8% |
| 56 | Prairie Village, KS | 22,922 | 8,006 | 89.3% | 1.0% | 5.1% | 1.2% |
| 57 | Colby, KS | 5,403 | 8,087 | 89.5% | 0.8% | 8.7% | 0.4% |
| 58 | Paola, KS | 5,742 | 8,177 | 90.3% | 2.7% | 2.4% | 1.3% |
| 59 | Goddard, KS | 5,119 | 8,178 | 90.1% | 0.2% | 7.0% | 0.5% |
| 60 | Abilene, KS | 6,489 | 8,307 | 90.9% | 1.1% | 6.1% | 0.0% |
| 61 | Mulvane, KS | 6,003 | 8,347 | 91.2% | 0.4% | 2.9% | 0.0% |
| 62 | Spring Hill, KS | 8,279 | 8,431 | 91.7% | 0.9% | 3.5% | 0.3% |
| 63 | Augusta, KS | 9,253 | 8,453 | 91.8% | 1.1% | 4.8% | 0.1% |