Racial diversity in Virginia is a mixed bag.
There are parts of Virginia where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in Virginia?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 62 cities in Virginia to rank them from most to least diverse.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
Here are the 10 most diverse places in Virginia for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in Virginia? According to the most Census data, Herndon took the number one over all spot for diversity in Virginia.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where Virginia ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more Virginia reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In Virginia For 2024
/10
Population: 24,456
HHI: 2,930
% White: 34.8%
% African American: 7.4%
% Hispanic: 37.4%
% Asian: 15.9%
More on Herndon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,123
HHI: 2,955
% White: 30.1%
% African American: 12.4%
% Hispanic: 41.9%
% Asian: 11.0%
More on Manassas Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,697
HHI: 2,981
% White: 25.1%
% African American: 27.7%
% Hispanic: 39.1%
% Asian: 0.0%
More on Dumfries: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 42,620
HHI: 3,152
% White: 37.8%
% African American: 13.0%
% Hispanic: 38.8%
% Asian: 6.0%
More on Manassas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 157,594
HHI: 3,383
% White: 51.1%
% African American: 20.9%
% Hispanic: 16.6%
% Asian: 6.3%
More on Alexandria: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 185,118
HHI: 3,441
% White: 40.8%
% African American: 40.6%
% Hispanic: 9.9%
% Asian: 3.4%
More on Newport News: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 236,973
HHI: 3,499
% White: 42.2%
% African American: 40.1%
% Hispanic: 8.7%
% Asian: 3.8%
More on Norfolk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 24,242
HHI: 3,528
% White: 53.3%
% African American: 5.9%
% Hispanic: 18.1%
% Asian: 17.4%
More on Fairfax: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 23,046
HHI: 3,672
% White: 42.5%
% African American: 41.9%
% Hispanic: 8.9%
% Asian: 1.0%
More on Hopewell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,105
HHI: 3,677
% White: 53.8%
% African American: 18.4%
% Hispanic: 20.5%
% Asian: 1.5%
More on Culpeper: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in Virginia 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 Virginia.
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 62 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 2,930 (Herndon) to 9,525 (Richlands).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Herndon took the distinction of being the most diverse, while Richlands was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in Virginia.
Summary: Diversity Across Virginia
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across Virginia, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in Virginia are Herndon, Manassas Park, Dumfries, Manassas, Alexandria, Newport News, Norfolk, Fairfax, Hopewell, and Culpeper.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in Virginia:
- Richlands
- Abingdon
- Vinton
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia
- Safest Places In Virginia
- Worst Cities In Virginia For 2017
Race By City In Virginia For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herndon, VA | 24,456 | 2,930 | 34.8% | 7.4% | 37.4% | 15.9% |
| 2 | Manassas Park, VA | 17,123 | 2,955 | 30.1% | 12.4% | 41.9% | 11.0% |
| 3 | Dumfries, VA | 5,697 | 2,981 | 25.1% | 27.7% | 39.1% | 0.0% |
| 4 | Manassas, VA | 42,620 | 3,152 | 37.8% | 13.0% | 38.8% | 6.0% |
| 5 | Alexandria, VA | 157,594 | 3,383 | 51.1% | 20.9% | 16.6% | 6.3% |
| 6 | Newport News, VA | 185,118 | 3,441 | 40.8% | 40.6% | 9.9% | 3.4% |
| 7 | Norfolk, VA | 236,973 | 3,499 | 42.2% | 40.1% | 8.7% | 3.8% |
| 8 | Fairfax, VA | 24,242 | 3,528 | 53.3% | 5.9% | 18.1% | 17.4% |
| 9 | Hopewell, VA | 23,046 | 3,672 | 42.5% | 41.9% | 8.9% | 1.0% |
| 10 | Culpeper, VA | 20,105 | 3,677 | 53.8% | 18.4% | 20.5% | 1.5% |
| 11 | Hampton, VA | 137,217 | 3,711 | 36.4% | 48.0% | 6.6% | 2.1% |
| 12 | Richmond, VA | 227,171 | 3,743 | 41.8% | 43.7% | 7.6% | 2.2% |
| 13 | Martinsville, VA | 13,539 | 3,844 | 42.6% | 44.3% | 7.0% | 0.8% |
| 14 | Fredericksburg, VA | 28,258 | 3,855 | 56.9% | 20.7% | 11.7% | 3.8% |
| 15 | Leesburg, VA | 48,465 | 3,866 | 58.0% | 10.2% | 16.7% | 10.1% |
| 16 | Chesapeake, VA | 249,377 | 3,946 | 55.2% | 28.6% | 7.0% | 3.6% |
| 17 | Portsmouth, VA | 97,384 | 3,981 | 36.4% | 51.0% | 5.0% | 1.4% |
| 18 | Suffolk, VA | 94,856 | 3,997 | 47.7% | 41.0% | 4.8% | 1.8% |
| 19 | Virginia Beach, VA | 457,900 | 4,081 | 59.9% | 18.2% | 8.8% | 6.9% |
| 20 | Franklin, VA | 8,194 | 4,120 | 37.9% | 51.4% | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| 21 | Roanoke, VA | 99,213 | 4,146 | 57.0% | 28.7% | 6.9% | 3.2% |
| 22 | Danville, VA | 42,507 | 4,166 | 40.5% | 49.9% | 4.9% | 1.4% |
| 23 | Emporia, VA | 5,680 | 4,328 | 23.5% | 60.3% | 4.7% | 0.8% |
| 24 | Ashland, VA | 7,617 | 4,420 | 62.1% | 20.4% | 11.4% | 1.8% |
| 25 | Lynchburg, VA | 79,166 | 4,528 | 61.1% | 27.4% | 4.7% | 2.1% |
| 26 | Farmville, VA | 7,647 | 4,546 | 62.1% | 25.6% | 4.8% | 2.0% |
| 27 | Winchester, VA | 28,103 | 4,553 | 63.9% | 9.8% | 18.7% | 2.1% |
| 28 | Harrisonburg, VA | 51,784 | 4,580 | 63.8% | 7.0% | 20.8% | 3.1% |
| 29 | Charlottesville, VA | 46,289 | 4,647 | 65.3% | 17.0% | 5.8% | 7.0% |
| 30 | Vienna, VA | 16,401 | 4,675 | 66.1% | 5.1% | 8.4% | 13.3% |
| 31 | South Boston, VA | 7,942 | 4,702 | 43.4% | 53.1% | 1.9% | 0.7% |
| 32 | Williamsburg, VA | 15,486 | 4,928 | 67.7% | 15.2% | 7.7% | 6.8% |
| 33 | Falls Church, VA | 14,576 | 5,013 | 69.0% | 4.6% | 11.3% | 8.8% |
| 34 | Colonial Heights, VA | 18,158 | 5,118 | 69.0% | 16.6% | 7.2% | 3.6% |
| 35 | Smithfield, VA | 8,625 | 5,295 | 69.2% | 21.8% | 5.4% | 0.4% |
| 36 | Purcellville, VA | 8,928 | 5,344 | 71.2% | 9.2% | 13.0% | 3.4% |
| 37 | Galax, VA | 6,687 | 5,450 | 70.7% | 5.1% | 20.6% | 0.4% |
| 38 | Front Royal, VA | 15,064 | 5,501 | 72.7% | 9.6% | 9.3% | 2.0% |
| 39 | Waynesboro, VA | 22,341 | 5,521 | 72.8% | 9.5% | 9.3% | 1.7% |
| 40 | Woodstock, VA | 5,798 | 5,593 | 72.1% | 4.6% | 18.9% | 4.1% |
| 41 | Warrenton, VA | 10,111 | 5,766 | 74.8% | 8.2% | 7.5% | 2.5% |
| 42 | Blacksburg, VA | 45,147 | 5,902 | 75.7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 11.4% |
| 43 | Petersburg, VA | 33,261 | 5,946 | 14.9% | 75.4% | 5.3% | 1.3% |
| 44 | Big Stone Gap, VA | 5,221 | 6,262 | 77.5% | 15.7% | 0.9% | 2.9% |
| 45 | Staunton, VA | 25,581 | 6,513 | 79.9% | 10.1% | 3.8% | 1.4% |
| 46 | Covington, VA | 5,722 | 6,638 | 80.3% | 13.2% | 2.4% | 1.1% |
| 47 | Lexington, VA | 7,346 | 6,650 | 81.0% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 3.1% |
| 48 | Strasburg, VA | 7,104 | 6,872 | 82.4% | 5.2% | 6.2% | 2.0% |
| 49 | Radford, VA | 16,379 | 6,934 | 82.7% | 8.8% | 3.2% | 2.3% |
| 50 | Salem, VA | 25,372 | 7,057 | 83.5% | 7.8% | 3.8% | 1.8% |
| 51 | Christiansburg, VA | 22,947 | 7,278 | 85.0% | 5.4% | 3.0% | 4.0% |
| 52 | Pulaski, VA | 8,982 | 7,336 | 85.2% | 6.5% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| 53 | Bluefield, VA | 5,059 | 7,487 | 86.0% | 8.5% | 3.8% | 1.0% |
| 54 | Buena Vista, VA | 6,639 | 7,521 | 86.3% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| 55 | Bristol, VA | 17,036 | 7,560 | 86.6% | 6.3% | 2.6% | 0.3% |
| 56 | Bridgewater, VA | 6,575 | 7,710 | 87.6% | 2.8% | 5.2% | 0.4% |
| 57 | Marion, VA | 5,722 | 7,715 | 87.5% | 4.8% | 3.6% | 0.0% |
| 58 | Wytheville, VA | 8,228 | 7,866 | 88.5% | 5.2% | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| 59 | Poquoson, VA | 12,479 | 8,049 | 89.6% | 1.8% | 3.4% | 2.1% |
| 60 | Vinton, VA | 8,045 | 8,120 | 90.0% | 3.1% | 2.8% | 0.6% |
| 61 | Abingdon, VA | 8,346 | 8,402 | 91.6% | 3.1% | 1.2% | 2.1% |
| 62 | Richlands, VA | 5,266 | 9,525 | 97.6% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 1.1% |