Florida: One Of the Most Diverse States In The U.S.
The U.S. is a melting pot of races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, economic backgrounds, and more. A recent study shows that Florida is among the most diverse states in the country.
WalletHub, a financial advisory firm, evaluated all 50 states based on six key diversity categories: socio-economic diversity, cultural diversity, economic diversity, household diversity, religious diversity, and political diversity. They used 14 specific metrics to assess each category, with each metric scored on a 100-point scale.
Florida is ranked as the third-most diverse state. It stands out in terms of birthplace diversity, with the second-highest percentage of residents born abroad; over 21%. Around 36% of Florida’s population was born in the state, with a significant number of U.S.-born residents relocating from the Northeast and Midwest.
The state also ranks fifth in political diversity, as reflected by the competitive nature of recent elections. Additionally, Florida is seventh in language diversity, with nearly 30% of residents speaking a language other than English at home.
Regarding racial and ethnic diversity, Florida is eighth. About 52% of its population is white, 27% is Hispanic, 15% is Black, and 3% is Asian.
California is ranked as the most diverse state, followed by Texas in second place.
California’s high ranking is attributed to its large population and status as a border state. It has the greatest language diversity, with only 56% of residents speaking only English at home; 28% speak Spanish, and nearly 10% speak Asian or Pacific Islander languages.
Texas, the second-most diverse state, also benefits from being a border state with a large population. It excels in industrial diversity, offering a broad range of job opportunities. Texas ranks fourth in racial and ethnic diversity and third in language diversity, with about 35% of residents speaking a non-English language at home. Additionally, it ranks third in religious diversity and fourth in household size diversity.
“Race and gender are probably the first things that come to mind when people think about diversity, but there’s plenty more that makes this nation diverse,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. He added, “The most diverse states have above-average variety when it comes to people’s ages, birthplaces, languages, jobs, family structures and more. Moving to a diverse state can be an extremely enriching experience as it exposes you to new ideas and new ways of living.”
Other states taking the top spots include New Mexico, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Jersey. Check out the complete study here.
