These MD Towns Among Top 10 Most Ethnically Diverse U.S. Cities

MARYLAND — Four towns in Montgomery County were recently named among the top 10 most ethnically diverse cities in the United States, according to a new ranking. Three other Maryland cities also made the top 100 rankings.

Finance and credit website WalletHub recently took a snapshot of America’s current cultural profile, comparing more than 500 of the largest U.S. cities across three key indicators of ethnic diversity. Analysts examined each city based on the ethnicity and race, language and birthplace of its residents.

Germantown took the No. 1 spot for 2025, according to the ranking released Tuesday. Gaithersburg and Silver Spring ranked No. 3 and 4, respectively, followed by Rockville at No. 9.

"Living in an ethnically diverse city can be an economic benefit, as people bring a wide range of skill sets and approaches to solving problems from their own cultures and national origins," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement.

Lupo continued, "People who live in ethnically diverse cities have the opportunity to learn a lot about people different from themselves, which is not only an enriching experience but also a good way to break down walls of prejudice."

According to the study, Germantown's population is split nearly equally among the major ethnic groups: Around 24% of the population is white, 25% is Black, 24% is Hispanic and 22% is Asian.

Meanwhile, Gaithersburg has rich diversity when it comes to the languages spoken by residents. Just 47% of the population speaks only English at home. Around 25% speak Spanish at home, 12% speak other Indo-European languages, and 13% speak Asian or Pacific Islander languages.

Other Maryland cities in the top 100 are:

• No. 62 Columbia
• No. 64 Ellicott City
• No. 82 Frederick

Here are the top 10 most ethnically diverse cities in the U.S., according to WalletHub:

1. Germantown, MD
2. Jersey City, NJ
3. Gaithersburg, MD
4. Silver Spring, MD
5. Kent, WA
6. New York, NY
7. Spring Valley, NV
8. Federal Way, WA
9. Rockville, MD
10. Oakland, CA

Take a look at the full ranking at WalletHub.com.

"Diversity fosters creativity, innovation, community, compassion, and critical thinking. When exposed to multiple perspectives, we are encouraged to consider more viewpoints," WalletHub analyst Julia Marin Hellwege said in a statement.

"Our perspectives are shaped by what we are exposed to; thus, if we encounter fewer perspectives and types of people, our thinking becomes comparatively limited. It becomes very challenging to think innovatively about things to which we have never been exposed," Marin Hellwege added. "Living in an ethnically diverse city allows this mindset to grow, benefiting both individuals and society by fostering more innovation."