This Is the Most Diverse Suburb in the U.S.

Diversity in the United States is at an all-time high. According to U.S. Census data, the number of racial and ethnic minorities has risen faster than previously expected, and it accounts for our nation’s overall population growth. And while Hawai’i ranked first for diversity, a small community in California topped the list of most diverse suburbs in the country, as reported by Niche.com.

Rodeo, a coastal census-designated place in Contra Costa County, just 25 miles north of San Francisco, is home to about 9,500 residents. The community grew during the California Gold Rush of the 1800s and is now a popular place to live in the Bay Area.

Niche.com gave Rodeo a perfect A+ grade for ethnic and economic diversity, as U.S. Census data shows that the town has 27 percent Hispanic, 24 percent White, 22 percent Asian, and 14 percent African-American population. Foreign-born residents accounted for a little less than a quarter of its population.

Rodeo is also a town of high earners, as the median household income in 2022 was $91,875, compared to $74,580 for the country. 

However, the cost of living and housing was also significantly higher than the nation’s average. Rodeo residents pay 23 percent more for expenses than the rest of the country, and the median home value was about $200,000 more than the nation’s median, which is $420,800. And real estate prices have continued to rise, with current values at almost $700,000, according to Zillow.

The quaint community is close to many recreational facilities such as golf courses, hiking trails, parks, and, of course, beaches. 

Another city in California ranked second on Niche.com’s list of most diverse communities: Vallejo. Just eight miles north of Rodeo, it has a population of 125,000. Thanks to its proximity to San Francisco, Napa Valley, and relatively low housing costs, the city has become a sought-after relocation destination for many urbanites in the Bay Area.

And third is Marin City, also a suburb of San Francisco, which was established as a residential community in the early 1940s to provide housing for employees in a nearby shipyard but is now considered part of upscale Sausalito, with median housing prices well above $1 million.

You can check out the full list of the most diverse communities on niche.com.