Racial diversity in Maryland is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Maryland where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Maryland?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 43 cities in Maryland to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Maryland for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in Maryland? According to the most Census data, Gaithersburg took the number one over all spot for diversity in Maryland.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Maryland ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Maryland reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Maryland For 2024
/10
Population: 69,016
HHI: 2,426
% White: 32.5%
% African American: 15.5%
% Hispanic: 26.0%
% Asian: 20.9%
More on Gaithersburg: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,851
HHI: 2,728
% White: 26.3%
% African American: 27.3%
% Hispanic: 35.3%
% Asian: 5.9%
More on Hyattsville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 34,416
HHI: 2,754
% White: 42.0%
% African American: 22.5%
% Hispanic: 16.5%
% Asian: 14.0%
More on College Park: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 67,142
HHI: 2,934
% White: 45.0%
% African American: 9.7%
% Hispanic: 17.5%
% Asian: 22.1%
More on Rockville: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,646
HHI: 3,009
% White: 20.7%
% African American: 46.7%
% Hispanic: 15.4%
% Asian: 11.6%
More on Greenbelt: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,132
HHI: 3,097
% White: 33.6%
% African American: 42.3%
% Hispanic: 7.3%
% Asian: 6.1%
More on Cheverly: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,542
HHI: 3,103
% White: 42.1%
% African American: 33.3%
% Hispanic: 12.2%
% Asian: 5.9%
More on Takoma Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 29,581
HHI: 3,268
% White: 16.6%
% African American: 50.4%
% Hispanic: 18.3%
% Asian: 9.5%
More on Laurel: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 8,262
HHI: 3,326
% White: 20.3%
% African American: 42.4%
% Hispanic: 33.3%
% Asian: 1.3%
More on Mount Rainier: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,058
HHI: 3,502
% White: 37.3%
% African American: 44.5%
% Hispanic: 7.7%
% Asian: 2.4%
More on Cambridge: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Maryland 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 Maryland.
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 43 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 2,426 (Gaithersburg) to 8,618 (District Heights).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Gaithersburg took the distinction of being the most diverse, while District Heights was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Maryland.
Summary: Diversity Across Maryland
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Maryland, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Maryland are Gaithersburg, Hyattsville, College Park, Rockville, Greenbelt, Cheverly, Takoma Park, Laurel, Mount Rainier, and Cambridge.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Maryland:
- District Heights
- Thurmont
- Manchester
For more Maryland reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Maryland
- Cheapest Places To Live In Maryland
- Most Dangerous Cities In Maryland
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Maryland
- Safest Places In Maryland
- Worst Places To Live In Maryland
Race By City In Maryland For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gaithersburg, MD | 69,016 | 2,426 | 32.5% | 15.5% | 26.0% | 20.9% |
| 2 | Hyattsville, MD | 20,851 | 2,728 | 26.3% | 27.3% | 35.3% | 5.9% |
| 3 | College Park, MD | 34,416 | 2,754 | 42.0% | 22.5% | 16.5% | 14.0% |
| 4 | Rockville, MD | 67,142 | 2,934 | 45.0% | 9.7% | 17.5% | 22.1% |
| 5 | Greenbelt, MD | 24,646 | 3,009 | 20.7% | 46.7% | 15.4% | 11.6% |
| 6 | Cheverly, MD | 6,132 | 3,097 | 33.6% | 42.3% | 7.3% | 6.1% |
| 7 | Takoma Park, MD | 17,542 | 3,103 | 42.1% | 33.3% | 12.2% | 5.9% |
| 8 | Laurel, MD | 29,581 | 3,268 | 16.6% | 50.4% | 18.3% | 9.5% |
| 9 | Mount Rainier, MD | 8,262 | 3,326 | 20.3% | 42.4% | 33.3% | 1.3% |
| 10 | Cambridge, MD | 13,058 | 3,502 | 37.3% | 44.5% | 7.7% | 2.4% |
| 11 | Frederick, MD | 78,390 | 3,597 | 54.2% | 17.2% | 17.7% | 5.2% |
| 12 | Salisbury, MD | 32,960 | 3,654 | 44.7% | 39.7% | 5.2% | 4.7% |
| 13 | Annapolis, MD | 40,719 | 3,667 | 53.1% | 22.8% | 17.4% | 2.7% |
| 14 | Aberdeen, MD | 16,422 | 3,684 | 54.1% | 24.3% | 11.1% | 2.8% |
| 15 | Riverdale Park, MD | 7,284 | 3,722 | 16.0% | 20.8% | 54.7% | 2.7% |
| 16 | Bowie, MD | 57,922 | 3,958 | 27.3% | 55.8% | 8.2% | 3.4% |
| 17 | La Plata, MD | 10,283 | 4,069 | 52.0% | 36.3% | 5.6% | 2.5% |
| 18 | Hagerstown, MD | 43,374 | 4,164 | 59.9% | 20.7% | 9.7% | 1.8% |
| 19 | Fruitland, MD | 5,603 | 4,343 | 60.3% | 24.3% | 9.7% | 2.8% |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | 584,548 | 4,460 | 27.0% | 60.7% | 5.9% | 2.5% |
| 21 | Elkton, MD | 15,830 | 4,518 | 64.5% | 14.9% | 7.4% | 1.6% |
| 22 | New Carrollton, MD | 13,580 | 4,771 | 6.6% | 64.5% | 23.4% | 1.6% |
| 23 | Easton, MD | 17,118 | 4,874 | 67.0% | 15.9% | 10.6% | 1.9% |
| 24 | Havre De Grace, MD | 14,743 | 5,045 | 68.2% | 17.6% | 7.6% | 2.0% |
| 25 | Brunswick, MD | 7,781 | 5,088 | 69.4% | 10.9% | 9.4% | 2.2% |
| 26 | Cheste, MD | 5,522 | 5,220 | 68.1% | 23.8% | 4.1% | 2.0% |
| 27 | Bladensburg, MD | 9,574 | 5,243 | 1.2% | 65.0% | 31.8% | 0.5% |
| 28 | Berlin, MD | 5,056 | 5,943 | 75.1% | 16.6% | 4.1% | 0.5% |
| 29 | Bel Air, MD | 10,630 | 6,050 | 77.0% | 4.2% | 8.6% | 4.5% |
| 30 | Chesapeake Beach, MD | 6,358 | 6,166 | 77.6% | 6.5% | 3.3% | 3.1% |
| 31 | Poolesville, MD | 5,686 | 6,190 | 77.6% | 0.3% | 8.3% | 9.2% |
| 32 | Frostburg, MD | 7,118 | 6,311 | 78.3% | 12.5% | 3.5% | 2.8% |
| 33 | Glenarden, MD | 6,335 | 6,355 | 2.5% | 78.2% | 14.9% | 0.4% |
| 34 | Westminster, MD | 20,099 | 6,449 | 79.6% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 3.0% |
| 35 | Walkersville, MD | 6,239 | 6,749 | 81.6% | 5.9% | 5.0% | 3.4% |
| 36 | Mount Airy, MD | 9,667 | 7,095 | 83.8% | 2.7% | 7.1% | 2.2% |
| 37 | Taneytown, MD | 7,234 | 7,427 | 85.6% | 9.8% | 2.7% | 0.9% |
| 38 | Cumberland, MD | 19,041 | 7,634 | 87.1% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 0.8% |
| 39 | Ocean City, MD | 6,879 | 7,638 | 86.9% | 0.6% | 8.6% | 0.8% |
| 40 | Hampstead, MD | 6,278 | 7,669 | 87.4% | 2.9% | 1.8% | 4.3% |
| 41 | Manchester, MD | 5,403 | 8,022 | 89.4% | 1.4% | 2.9% | 0.7% |
| 42 | Thurmont, MD | 6,313 | 8,366 | 91.3% | 1.2% | 4.2% | 0.0% |
| 43 | District Heights, MD | 5,905 | 8,618 | 3.1% | 92.8% | 1.6% | 0.1% |