Racial diversity in West Virginia is a mixed bag.
There are parts of West Virginia where there’s a high level of diversity. But where will you find the most diverse places in West Virginia?
To answer that question, we went to the US Census data. Using Saturday Night Science, we measured the Gini coefficient for all 25 cities in West 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 West Virginia for 2024:
So what city is the most diverse in West Virginia? According to the most Census data, Martinsburg took the number one over all spot for diversity in West Virginia.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. To see where West Virginia ranked as a state, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in Ameria.
For more West Virginia reading:
The 10 Most Diverse Places In West Virginia For 2024
/10
Population: 18,678
HHI: 5,072
% White: 69.1%
% African American: 13.4%
% Hispanic: 6.0%
% Asian: 1.4%
More on Martinsburg: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 9,619
HHI: 5,190
% White: 68.2%
% African American: 22.1%
% Hispanic: 3.0%
% Asian: 0.3%
More on Bluefield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 6,584
HHI: 5,289
% White: 70.6%
% African American: 14.4%
% Hispanic: 8.9%
% Asian: 1.8%
More on Charles Town: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 17,132
HHI: 5,682
% White: 73.1%
% African American: 17.1%
% Hispanic: 1.9%
% Asian: 2.1%
More on Beckley: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 7,418
HHI: 6,022
% White: 76.4%
% African American: 12.1%
% Hispanic: 2.8%
% Asian: 1.0%
More on Dunbar: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 48,415
HHI: 6,157
% White: 77.1%
% African American: 12.8%
% Hispanic: 1.6%
% Asian: 2.5%
More on Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 13,527
HHI: 6,944
% White: 82.6%
% African American: 8.8%
% Hispanic: 0.5%
% Asian: 2.0%
More on South Charleston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 46,637
HHI: 7,237
% White: 84.6%
% African American: 7.0%
% Hispanic: 1.7%
% Asian: 1.3%
More on Huntington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 30,220
HHI: 7,280
% White: 85.0%
% African American: 4.1%
% Hispanic: 3.2%
% Asian: 3.1%
More on Morgantown: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 5,201
HHI: 7,448
% White: 86.0%
% African American: 6.2%
% Hispanic: 3.5%
% Asian: 1.7%
More on Buckhannon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How we determined the most diverse cities in West 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 West 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 25 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 5,072 (Martinsburg) to 9,468 (New Martinsville).
Finally, we ranked each city based on the HHI, with a lower score being more diverse than a high score. Martinsburg took the distinction of being the most diverse, while New Martinsville was the least diverse city.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the most diverse places in West Virginia.
Summary: Diversity Across West Virginia
If you’re looking for a scientific breakdown of diversity across West Virginia, this is an accurate list.
The most diverse cities in West Virginia are Martinsburg, Bluefield, Charles Town, Beckley, Dunbar, Charleston, South Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, and Buckhannon.
If you’re curious enough, here are the least diverse places in West Virginia:
- New Martinsville
- Moundsville
- Hurricane
For more West Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In West Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In West Virginia
- Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In West Virginia
- Safest Places In West Virginia
- Worst Places To Live In West Virginia
Race By City In West Virginia For 2024
| Rank | City | Population | HHI | % White | % Black | % Hispanic | % Asian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martinsburg, WV | 18,678 | 5,072 | 69.1% | 13.4% | 6.0% | 1.4% |
| 2 | Bluefield, WV | 9,619 | 5,190 | 68.2% | 22.1% | 3.0% | 0.3% |
| 3 | Charles Town, WV | 6,584 | 5,289 | 70.6% | 14.4% | 8.9% | 1.8% |
| 4 | Beckley, WV | 17,132 | 5,682 | 73.1% | 17.1% | 1.9% | 2.1% |
| 5 | Dunbar, WV | 7,418 | 6,022 | 76.4% | 12.1% | 2.8% | 1.0% |
| 6 | Charleston, WV | 48,415 | 6,157 | 77.1% | 12.8% | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| 7 | South Charleston, WV | 13,527 | 6,944 | 82.6% | 8.8% | 0.5% | 2.0% |
| 8 | Huntington, WV | 46,637 | 7,237 | 84.6% | 7.0% | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| 9 | Morgantown, WV | 30,220 | 7,280 | 85.0% | 4.1% | 3.2% | 3.1% |
| 10 | Buckhannon, WV | 5,201 | 7,448 | 86.0% | 6.2% | 3.5% | 1.7% |
| 11 | Fairmont, WV | 18,402 | 7,578 | 86.7% | 6.5% | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| 12 | Princeton, WV | 5,833 | 8,022 | 89.3% | 6.2% | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| 13 | St. Albans, WV | 10,753 | 8,089 | 89.7% | 4.5% | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| 14 | Wheeling, WV | 26,900 | 8,094 | 89.8% | 4.3% | 1.1% | 0.5% |
| 15 | Bridgeport, WV | 9,255 | 8,164 | 90.2% | 1.8% | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| 16 | Elkins, WV | 6,935 | 8,235 | 90.6% | 3.0% | 2.3% | 0.4% |
| 17 | Oak Hill, WV | 8,157 | 8,284 | 90.7% | 7.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| 18 | Weirton, WV | 18,971 | 8,386 | 91.5% | 3.1% | 1.8% | 0.8% |
| 19 | Vienna, WV | 10,642 | 8,420 | 91.6% | 1.5% | 0.5% | 1.8% |
| 20 | Clarksburg, WV | 15,977 | 8,459 | 91.9% | 2.5% | 2.0% | 0.4% |
| 21 | Nitro, WV | 6,540 | 8,542 | 92.2% | 1.4% | 0.5% | 0.0% |
| 22 | Parkersburg, WV | 29,685 | 8,569 | 92.5% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.9% |
| 23 | Hurricane, WV | 6,908 | 8,639 | 92.8% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| 24 | Moundsville, WV | 8,056 | 8,820 | 93.9% | 0.2% | 1.9% | 0.0% |
| 25 | New Martinsville, WV | 5,210 | 9,468 | 97.3% | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0.2% |