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No it isn't. I'm almost certain the methodology is the "balance" between the "big 4" ethno-racial groups: whites, blacks, Hispanics and Asians. It doesn't measure diversity of the immigrant population or diversity within these 4 categories. It's nonsense like this that leads many to erroneously believe that places like Oakland and Sacramento are more diverse than London!
New York's Black population is heavily Caribbean, while L.A. is almost all African American. L.A.'s Hispanic population is dominated by Mexicans, while in New York the two leading Hispanic groups - Puerto Ricans and Dominicans only make up about half the Hispanic population. New York's white population is more diverse than L.A.'s - more "white ethnics" like Italians and more European-born in the population, though the large Armenian population in L.A. certainly is unparalleled elsewhere and adds to its diversity. The Asian populations in both cities are very diverse, although L.A. has more Filipinos, Koreans and Vietnamese while New York has far more South Asians. Indeed, it's strange that South Asians are lumped in with East Asians.
Last edited by King of Kensington; 09-05-2014 at 12:37 PM..
Given that it seems pretty obvious what the top 2 are - what comes next for ethnic diversity?
No, it's not "pretty obvious" what the top 2 are (as to Toronto and New York). LA is as as diverse as these two no matter how you want to skew the facts.
But way to start a poll with that immediate conclusion. Thus, one can start a poll right now asking what city the "best for everything overall" (typical city-data poll) but exclude LA because, obviously, LA is the best of the best of the best overall.
Last edited by latino_esq; 09-05-2014 at 01:13 PM..
Reason: Editing
In contrast, Toronto has fewer immigrants than LA, and has far fewer racial minorities than LA.
Fair point. However Toronto's immigrant population isn't dominated by any nationality, which is why I put it ahead. The white and black populations are also more diverse than those of L.A., and it's more balanced between East and South Asians. Where Toronto is lacking compared to the major US metro areas is a large Hispanic population. It is certainly behind NYC in diversity and probably about the same as London (though the raw numbers are less obviously).
For example, the largest foreign-born group, those born in China/Hong Kong are just 13% of the immigrant population. India is 11%. A quarter were born in Europe, with significant numbers from Italy, Portugal, Poland and the FSU. A tenth in the Caribbean and Guyana. There are 140,000 African-born. And the Greater Toronto Area is over 40% foreign born.
I should have just put Toronto in the poll.
Last edited by JMT; 09-06-2014 at 07:42 AM..
Reason: North American cities only.
This is kind of a stupid study, though. They're strictly defining "diverse" as "closest city to 25-25-25-25 breakdown of whites/blacks/Asians/Latinos.
On that we're in agreement.
Of course Queens NY comes pretty close to an even split between the "big four", but more importantly is the diversity within these groups that puts it over the top. Queens is no doubt the most ethnically diverse place in the world.
NYC and Toronto are definitely the top two in N.A.
SF, Miami & LA would round out the top 5 (not in order).
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Thus, one can start a poll right now asking what city the "best for everything overall" (typical city-data poll) but exclude LA because, obviously, LA is the best of the best of the best overall. 
