Charlotte named one of the most diverse cities in the country. Here’s why.

Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and now one of the most diverse, according to a new study.

In WalletHub’s list of 2023’s Most Diverse Cities in the U.S., Charlotte ranked 8th overall and 4th among the largest cities.

Recently released census data shows nearly every county in the Charlotte area added residents over the last year, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

Mecklenburg grew by 1.74% over the last year and now has a population of 1.1 million, making it the second-largest county in North Carolina behind Wake.

In order to determine the rankings, WalletHub compared 501 of the most populated cities across five levels of diversity that included socioeconomic, cultural, economic, household, and religious affiliation.

“We live in a very diverse world. There are numerous people from a variety of cultures, races, and social backgrounds,” Abel Bartley, a Clemson University professor, said in the WalletHub report.

“The more diverse the city you live in, the more ready you are to engage with the rest of the world.”

Here’s how Charlotte’s diversity compared to other cities across the country:

Most Diverse Cities in America

1. Gaithersburg, MD

2. Germantown, MD

3. Silver Spring, MD

4. Houston, TX
5. Arlington, TX
6. New York, NY

7. Jersey City, NJ

8. Charlotte, NC

9. Dallas, TX

10. Los Angeles, CA

Other findings from study

Diversity in Charlotte (1=Most diverse; 250=Avg.):

• 40th – Income diversity

• 61st – Educational-attainment diversity

• 38th – Racial & ethnic diversity

• 142nd – Linguistic diversity

• 64th – Birthplace diversity

• 35th – Industry diversity

This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 1:23 PM.

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription