A recent study by WalletHub ranked Maryland as the 9th most diverse state in the country, reflecting the state’s rich mix of races, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds. The analysis considered six key diversity categories: socio-economic, cultural, economic, household, religious, and political diversity.
Maryland stood out for its racial and ethnic diversity, ranking 5th nationwide, and its educational attainment diversity, where it placed 4th. The state also ranked 9th for birthplace diversity and 5th for worker-class diversity, which considers the variety in occupations among its civilian workforce aged 16 and older.
WalletHub’s study comes as America experiences growing diversity. According to the Census Bureau, by 2045, the U.S. is expected to no longer have a single ethnic majority. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, the probability of two Americans being from different racial or ethnic backgrounds increased from 54.9% to 61.1%.
While Maryland excels in many areas, it ranked lower in some categories, including 27th in marital-status diversity and religious diversity, and 26th in generational diversity. However, the state’s overall diversity contributes to a vibrant population that benefits from a variety of perspectives and experiences.
“The most diverse states have above-average variety when it comes to people’s ages, birthplaces, languages, jobs, family structures and more,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, emphasizing the broader benefits of living in a diverse community.
Maryland ranks among the top states leading America’s growing diversity. The top 10 most diverse states are California, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, Hawaii, Nevada, New York, Maryland, and Arizona. For more details, visit WalletHub’s 2024 report, “Most & Least Diverse States in America.”
