Most Diverse State in US? Connecticut Ranks #15

According to a recently released data analysis, Connecticut is the nation’s 15th most diverse state.

The rankings, by the financial services website WalletHub, utilized data in four major categories:  Socioeconomic Diversity, Cultural Diversity, Economic Diversity and Household Diversity.  In those multi-faceted categories, Connecticut ranked 11th, 12th, 48th and 25th.

Overall, the nation’s most diverse states were California, Texas, New Mexico, Florida, Nevade, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii and Arizona.  Connecticut was the highest ranking state in New England.

Data in a range of sub-categories was evaluated in the overall rankings.  Those categories include linguistic diversity, birthplace diversity, industry diversity, occupational diversity, generational diversity, and religious diversity.

“ The best aspect of living in a diverse state is that you engage with people from different cultures, traditions, ideas, and ways of life, and solve problems together,” observed Marybeth Gasman, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education & Distinguished Professor, Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University - New Brunswick. 

“Diversity makes communities more creative and culturally rich — as well as more economically dynamic. Challenges can sometimes surface when groups live near one another but remain separated by neighborhoods, schools, or access to opportunity. It is essential for diverse communities to have equitable access to resources,” Gasman added.

Connecticut ranked 47th in Industry Diversity in the analysis; only Vermont, New York and Massachusetts ranked lower.