When it comes to diversity, California ranks No. 1, according to the personal finance website, WalletHub, which conducted an in-depth analysis of 2019’s Most and Least Diverse States in America.

To determine where the most idea and identity exchanges have occurred at the highest level in the U.S. — and where the population is relatively more homogeneous — WalletHub compared the 50 states across six key categories: socio-economic, cultural, economic, household, religious and political diversity.

But U.S. diversity spans more than just racial lines, Adam McCann, a financial writer for WalletHub writes. In many states, the population reflects a mix of not just races and ethnicities but also cultures, religions, economic statuses, educational backgrounds and other characteristics. These groups come together in everyday life, influencing and experiencing one another. However, some elements of society aren’t as diverse as others. For example, there are only 33 women among the CEOs of fortune 500 companies, and around 66% of those companies’ board members are white.

Here is  snapshot of how California stacked up in these diversity categories:

  • 14th – Income
  • 2nd – Educational-Attainment
  • 2nd – Racial & Ethnic
  • 1st – Linguistic
  • 24th – Birthplace
  • 2nd – Industry*
  • 16th – Worker-Class*
  • 12th – Household-Type
  • 2nd – Household-Size

*Includes civilian employed population aged 16 and older

Following California in the No. 2 through No. 5 spots are: Texas, Hawaii, New  Jersey and New York.

America has long been referred to as a melting pot. The melting-together metaphor was in use by the 1780s. The exact term “melting pot” came into general usage in the United States after it was used as a metaphor describing a fusion of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities in the 1908 play of the same name.

Whether that metaphor will hold true in the coming years remains to be seen. By 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the U.S. will no longer have a single ethnic majority, currently non-Hispanic whites, and will grow increasingly more diverse in the years to follow.

For more of a local perspective on America’s burgeoning diversity, WalletHub also conducted its analysis at the city level, which you can read by clicking here. 

You may read the full report by clicking here.

Image Sources

  • Diversity: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay