America is often referred to as a melting pot – people from all over the world have come to the U.S. in search of personal freedom, safety, and economic opportunity. More than 44 million people living in the U.S., or 13.6% of the total population, were born in another country.
These immigrants tend to move to certain areas. This may be for a number of reasons. Some want to move somewhere with plentiful job opportunities, while others want to live somewhere with a large community of immigrants from the same place that can make the transition to life in America easier. In these areas, odds are very high that two randomly selected people would be from different parts of the world.
To determine America’s melting pot cities, 24/7 Wall St. used Census Bureau data to rank metropolitan areas based on the likelihood that two residents picked at random would be from two different world regions: the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America, and other parts of North America.
America’s melting pot cities tend to concentrate in states that make up at least part of the country’s southern border. California metro areas account for 12 of the 25 cities on the list. Texas, with five, and Florida, with two, are the only two other states with multiple metro areas to rank among America’s melting pot cities. Many of these cities are popular destinations for Americans as well as immigrants. These are the cities Americans are flocking to.
In the vast majority of America’s melting pot cities, people from Mexico make up the largest share of foreign-born residents. Mexican immigrants account for about a quarter of all foreign-born American residents. However, more immigrants have come from both India and China than Mexico in recent years.
Click here to see America’s melting pot cities
Methodology
To determine America’s melting pot cities, 24/7 Wall St. ranked metro areas based on the likelihood that two residents picked at random would be from two different world regions: the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America, and other parts of North America. The measure refers to the birthplace of the current residents.
The index is based on the share of residents of a specific national origin with data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and is the sum total of the individual probabilities that two residents will not share a national origin. The same method is used in the USA Today Diversity Index.
Source: MattGush / Getty Images
25. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 35.6%
> Residents born abroad: 21.3%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 50.3%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (57.7% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
24. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 35.9%
> Residents born abroad: 23.0%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 33.2%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (91.9% of foreign-born pop.)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Motionshooter / iStock via Getty Images
23. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 36.5%
> Residents born abroad: 21.8%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 49.9%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (56.5% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: latypova / Getty Images
22. Napa, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 37.0%
> Residents born abroad: 22.1%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 48.4%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (56.8% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
21. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 37.3%
> Residents born abroad: 22.0%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 48.4%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: India (6.9% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
20. El Paso, TX
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 37.5%
> Residents born abroad: 24.2%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 47.5%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (90.7% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad]
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
19. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 37.5%
> Residents born abroad: 22.2%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 49.9%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (36.8% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: bpperry / Getty Images
18. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 37.8%
> Residents born abroad: 23.0%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 34.3%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (67.0% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
17. Laredo, TX
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 38.7%
> Residents born abroad: 25.9%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 29.8%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (94.6% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
16. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 38.7%
> Residents born abroad: 22.8%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 51.8%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: El Salvador (13.8% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: Bill_Dally / Getty Images
15. Stockton, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 38.8%
> Residents born abroad: 23.3%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 49.6%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (46.7% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
14. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 38.9%
> Residents born abroad: 23.4%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 39.5%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (38.0% of foreign-born pop.)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: ChrisBoswell / Getty Images
13. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 38.9%
> Residents born abroad: 22.9%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 48.0%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: India (17.7% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: dancestrokes / Getty Images
12. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 39.1%
> Residents born abroad: 23.4%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 54.4%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (43.4% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
11. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 39.7%
> Residents born abroad: 26.8%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 28.0%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (93.4% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: ianmcdonnell / Getty Images
10. Yuma, AZ
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 40.2%
> Residents born abroad: 26.3%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 44.9%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (86.5% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad]
Source: benedek / Getty Images
9. Naples-Marco Island, FL
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 40.5%
> Residents born abroad: 25.4%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 45.7%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Cuba (20.5% of foreign-born pop.)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: diegograndi / Getty Images
8. Merced, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 41.3%
> Residents born abroad: 26.3%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 39.3%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (73.2% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: peeterv / Getty Images
7. El Centro, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 43.3%
> Residents born abroad: 30.7%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 51.3%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (92.7% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Solidago / Getty Images
6. Salinas, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 44.8%
> Residents born abroad: 29.8%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 27.8%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (74.4% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
5. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 47.1%
> Residents born abroad: 29.5%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 57.2%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Dominican Republic (11.3% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad]
Source: bluejayphoto / iStock via Getty Images
4. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 48.1%
> Residents born abroad: 30.7%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 56.6%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (16.0% of foreign-born pop.)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Melpomenem / Getty Images
3. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 50.5%
> Residents born abroad: 33.1%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 52.8%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (36.5% of foreign-born pop.)
Source: ULora / Getty Images
2. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 52.2%
> Residents born abroad: 40.7%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 57.7%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Cuba (32.0% of foreign-born pop.)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: SpVVK / Getty Images
1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Odds two random residents are from different world regions: 54.9%
> Residents born abroad: 38.6%
> Foreign born residents with U.S. citizenship: 53.1%
> Origin of largest immigrant group: Mexico (18.2% of foreign-born pop.)
Sponsored: Attention Savvy Investors: Speak to 3 Financial Experts – FREE
Ever wanted an extra set of eyes on an investment you’re considering? Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply
clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help guide you through the financial decisions you’re making. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
