Racial diversity in North Dakota is a mixed bag.
There are parts of North Dakota where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in North Dakota?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 13 cities in North Dakota 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 Dakota for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in North Dakota? According to the most Census data, Williston took the number one over all spot for diversity in North Dakota.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where North Dakota ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more North Dakota reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In North Dakota For 2024
/10
Population: 27,783
HHI: 5,607
% White: 73.5%
% African American: 7.2%
% Hispanic: 11.3%
% Asian: 1.3%
More on Williston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,900
HHI: 5,797
% White: 73.8%
% African American: 0.9%
% Hispanic: 18.2%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Watford City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,192
HHI: 6,151
% White: 77.0%
% African American: 0.9%
% Hispanic: 3.1%
% Asian: 1.4%
More on Devils Lake: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 48,038
HHI: 6,425
% White: 79.5%
% African American: 4.3%
% Hispanic: 7.4%
% Asian: 2.2%
More on Minot: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 127,319
HHI: 6,541
% White: 80.2%
% African American: 8.5%
% Hispanic: 3.2%
% Asian: 4.0%
More on Fargo: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 58,935
HHI: 6,578
% White: 80.7%
% African American: 4.3%
% Hispanic: 4.9%
% Asian: 3.3%
More on Grand Forks: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 25,116
HHI: 7,184
% White: 84.3%
% African American: 3.0%
% Hispanic: 7.5%
% Asian: 1.5%
More on Dickinson: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,049
HHI: 7,270
% White: 84.9%
% African American: 1.8%
% Hispanic: 5.4%
% Asian: 0.5%
More on Mandan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 73,694
HHI: 7,294
% White: 85.1%
% African American: 2.5%
% Hispanic: 2.7%
% Asian: 1.0%
More on Bismarck: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,558
HHI: 7,626
% White: 87.1%
% African American: 2.8%
% Hispanic: 3.4%
% Asian: 2.1%
More on Valley City: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in North Dakota 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 Dakota.
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 13 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 5,607 (Williston) to 7,986 (Jamestown).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Williston took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Jamestown was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in North Dakota.
Summary: Diversity Across North Dakota
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across North Dakota, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in North Dakota are Williston, Watford City, Devils Lake, Minot, Fargo, Grand Forks, Dickinson, Mandan, Bismarck, and Valley City.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in North Dakota:
- Jamestown
- Wahpeton
- West Fargo
For more North Dakota reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Dakota
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Dakota
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Dakota
- Best Places To Raise A Family In North Dakota
- Safest Places In North Dakota
- Worst Places To Live In North Dakota
Race By City In North Dakota For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williston, ND | 27,783 | 5,607 | 73.5% | 7.2% | 11.3% | 1.3% |
| 2 | Watford City, ND | 5,900 | 5,797 | 73.8% | 0.9% | 18.2% | 0.3% |
| 3 | Devils Lake, ND | 7,192 | 6,151 | 77.0% | 0.9% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| 4 | Minot, ND | 48,038 | 6,425 | 79.5% | 4.3% | 7.4% | 2.2% |
| 5 | Fargo, ND | 127,319 | 6,541 | 80.2% | 8.5% | 3.2% | 4.0% |
| 6 | Grand Forks, ND | 58,935 | 6,578 | 80.7% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 3.3% |
| 7 | Dickinson, ND | 25,116 | 7,184 | 84.3% | 3.0% | 7.5% | 1.5% |
| 8 | Mandan, ND | 24,049 | 7,270 | 84.9% | 1.8% | 5.4% | 0.5% |
| 9 | Bismarck, ND | 73,694 | 7,294 | 85.1% | 2.5% | 2.7% | 1.0% |
| 10 | Valley City, ND | 6,558 | 7,626 | 87.1% | 2.8% | 3.4% | 2.1% |
| 11 | West Fargo, ND | 38,653 | 7,836 | 88.4% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 2.0% |
| 12 | Wahpeton, ND | 7,983 | 7,916 | 88.8% | 1.6% | 3.2% | 0.3% |
| 13 | Jamestown, ND | 15,850 | 7,986 | 89.2% | 2.5% | 3.5% | 1.0% |