Jersey City is back in the #1 spot. For the third year in a row, Jersey City has been ranked as the number one most ethnically diverse city in the country.
Hoboken’s neighboring city — whose current mayor is Steven Fulop, with a population of 264,000 — is no stranger to the honor presented by database WalletHub. Since 2017, JC has nabbed the title regularly. But back in 2015, Jersey City also took number one, before slipping to second place the following year in ’16. Now with a three-year streak under its belt, JC has ranked highest in three main subcategories: ethnoracial, linguistic, and birthplace diversity.
Overall, Jersey City received an ethnic diversity score of 72.41 out of a possible 100, according to a WalletHub study. For context, New York City came in at #6 and received a score of 69.4. In the first category — ethnoracial diversity — Jersey City ranked second. In birthplace diversity, Jersey City was ranked 155th and in linguistic diversity, JC was ranked first.
According to the most recent available data from DataUSA, 54.4% of Jersey City residents speak a non-English language. The same data reports the most common foreign languages spoken in Jersey City are Spanish {with 54,247 speakers}, Tagalog {with 12,961 speakers}, and Hindi {with 9,600 speakers}. However, data also suggests that compared with other places, JC has a particularly high number of Gujarati, Hindi, and Urdu speakers.
It’s a feat Mayor Fulop is certainly proud of. Taking to his official Twitter account earlier on Wednesday, Fulop shared the article and wrote, “With all the great things happening in Jersey City and our growth, we really are an example of how our diversity is such a great strength and a key part in creating a desirable city. We are #1 in the entire country.”
Ethnically, the Jersey City population varies greatly. With a composition made up of 28% Hispanic residents, 25.3% Asian residents, 21.6% Black residents, 20.8% white residents, and 2.84% 2+ residents, Jersey City is home to many different cultures, languages, and backgrounds.
The most recent data available {which dates back to 2016} shows that when it comes to global diversity, the most common places of origin Jersey City residents come from include India, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. Data also suggests relatively high numbers of origin from Portugal, Uruguay, and Ecuador.
According to a Brookings article by William H. Frey, America is on track to become the ultimate melting pot by the year 2045. Current projections surmise that racial minorities will shift to the primary demographic of the US in less than 30 years. The nation is largely thought to become “minority white” by then.
JC residents, what’s your favorite thing about living Jersey City? Comment below!
Have you joined our Facebook group yet? Request here to gain access to even more local tips, and connect with fellow Hudson County residents.
