Most diverse metropolitan areas (Using 2008 American Community Survey numbers) (state, population, Atlanta)

[Lifeshadower]

Alright, since I'm such a stat head, I've decided to make a thread calculating the statistical diversity of each of our top metropolitan areas to finally put this argument to rest.

What is the most diverse metropolitan area?
(All data is from American FactFinder)

For the 2000 census, the US census released a diversity index (http://www.census.gov/population/cen...ensr01-104.pdf) calculating the statistical diversity of each county in the United States based on the 8 broad ethno-racial demographic groups seen in the census. If you look on the 4th page of the link above, the census demographers use simple mathematics to determine how they got the index to begin with:

1) Square the percentage of each group analyzed
2) Subtract that number from 1.00 (total diversity)

The range of diversity is from .00 (no diversity at all) to 1.00 (total diversity). For the sake of making our lives easier, I will only analyze five statistically significant groups: i) White Non-Hispanics ii) Black Non-Hispanics iii) Hispanics iv) Asian Non-Hispanics v)Two or more races

If you want to calculate it based on diversity within groups (like Italian Americans, Irish Americans, Indian Americans, etc.), just add those percentages based on the American Community Survey Link above and do the same thing.

Here's the top 11 United States primary census areas by population: Table of United States primary census statistical areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA
2 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA CSA
3 Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI CSA
4 Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV CSA
5 Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA
6 San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA CSA
7 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CSA
8 Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA
9 Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX CSA
10 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, GA-AL CSA
11 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL MSA


1. New York CSA (New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
54.0% White Non-Hispanic
15.7% Black Non-Hispanic
20.1% Hispanic
8.4% Asian
1.0% Two or More Races
US Census Diversity Index: .595

2. Los Angeles CSA (Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, CA CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
35.4% White Non-Hispanic
6.8% Black Non-Hispanic
43.9% Hispanic
11.3% Asian
1.6% Two or More Races
US Census Diversity Index: .664 (= {[.354*.354] + [.439*.439] + [.113+.113] + [.068*.068]+[.016*.016]} - 1.00)

3. Chicago CSA (Chicago-Naperville-Michigan City, IL-IN-WI CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
57.0% White Non-Hispanic
17.4% Black Non-Hispanic
19.2% Hispanic
5.1% Asian
1.1% Two or More Races
US Census Diversity Index: .605

4. Washington-Baltimore CSA (Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
56.2% White Non-Hispanic
25.9% Black Non-Hispanic
8.9% Hispanic
6.7% Asian
1.8% Two or More Races
US Census Diversity Index: .604

5. Boston-Providence CSA (Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
80.2% White Non-Hispanic
5.1% Black Non-Hispanic
7.8% Hispanic
4.6% Asian
1.3% Two or More Races
US Census Diversity Index: .346

6. San Francisco CSA (Boston-Worcester-Manchester, MA-RI-NH CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
46.2% White Non-Hispanic
6.4% Black Non-Hispanic
22.4% Hispanic
21.1% Asian
2.6% Two or more races
US Census Diversity Index: .687 (= {[.462*.462] + [.224*.224] + [.211*.211] + [.064*.064]+[.026*.026]} - 1.00)

7. Dallas-Fort Worth CSA (Dallas-Fort Worth, TX CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
54.3% White Non-Hispanic
13.3% Black Non-Hispanic
26.0% Hispanic
4.5% Asian
1.3% Two or more races
US Census Diversity Index: .618

8. Philadelphia CSA (Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, PA-NJ-DE-MD CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
68.1% White Non-Hispanic
18.8% Black Non-Hispanic
7.4% Hispanic
4.0% Asian
1.3% Two or more races
US Census Diversity Index: .494

9. Houston CSA (Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, TX CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
43.2% White Non-Hispanic
16.6% Black Non-Hispanic
33.1% Hispanic
5.6% Asian
0.9% Two or more races
US Census Diversity Index: .676

10. Atlanta CSA (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, GA-AL CSA - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
54.8% White Non-Hispanic
29.9% Black Non-Hispanic
9.7% Hispanic
3.9% Asian
1.1% Two or more races
US Census Diversity Index: .599

11. Miami MSA (doesn't have a CSA: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL Metro Area - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008)
38.4% White Non-Hispanic
19.2% Black Non-Hispanic
38.9% Hispanic
2.1% Asian
0.9% Two or more races
US Census Diversity Index: .663

TOP 11 LIST OF MOST DIVERSE METROPOLITAN AREAS IN TERMS OF RACIAL GROUPS (out of the top 11 populated metro areas):
1) San Francisco (.687)
2) Houston (.676)
3) Los Angeles (.664)
4) Miami (.663)
5) Dallas (.618)
6) Chicago (.605)
7) Washington (.604)
8) Atlanta (.599)
9) New York (.595)
10) Philadelphia (.494)
11) Boston (.346)

There. If you want to calculate your metro area/city/county/etc. or add more variables, just do what I did in the above. Just remember that the formula is

1 - ([Group1 squared) + [Group2 squared] + [Group 3 squared] + .......)

[18Montclair]

Awesome dude.

Looking over your stats, SF is the only one to have 3 groups over 20%(but only 1 over 30%) meanwhile Houston, LA and Miami each have 2 groups over 30%.

[RussianIvanov]

But white is many different things. I am considered white in the NY population, but I am Russian.

[wpmeads]

It's funny because when people on CD talk about the diverse cities, San Francisco and Houston are normally not even in the top three and people from LA, Chicago, and New York would throw a fit if you even suggest the those two metros where just as diverse. This should be an interesting thread.

[wpmeads]

Originally Posted by RussianIvanov

But white is many different things. I am considered white in the NY population, but I am Russian.

So is Latino and Asian though. Especially in Texas and California.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by wpmeads

It's funny because when people on CD talk about the diverse cities, San Francisco and Houston are normally not even in the top three and people from LA, Chicago, and New York would throw a fit if you even suggest the those two metros where just as diverse. This should be an interesting thread.

I've long suspected that the top 2 were SF and Houston.

[wpmeads]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

I've long suspected that the top 2 were SF and Houston.

Me too.

[NowInWI]

Not enough difference in the top four to be perceptible.

[RussianIvanov]

Originally Posted by wpmeads

So is Latino and Asian though. Especially in Texas and California.

There is more of a difference in Asian and white cultures than Latino. Hispanic countries all almost the same. But white can Russian, Italian, British, French, Greek, Swedish, Icelandic, Australian. Asian can be Chinese, Arab, Korean, Indian, Indonesian, Israeli. All are very different and speak different languages.

[justcause]

Originally Posted by RussianIvanov

There is more of a difference in Asian and white cultures than Latino. Hispanic countries all almost the same. But white can Russian, Italian, British, French, Greek, Swedish, Icelandic, Australian. Asian can be Chinese, Arab, Korean, Indonesian, Israeli. All are very different and speak different languages.

This comment is extremely ignorant.