North Carolina is the more diverse of the two states on the U.S. Census Bureau’s diversity index. In the 2020 Census, North Carolina scored in the high 50s, a little below the national figure of about 61 percent, while Michigan scored noticeably lower, in the mid-40s. North Carolina’s edge comes from a larger Black population spread across the state plus fast Hispanic growth, while Michigan’s diversity is concentrated in metro Detroit and a handful of other cities.
This comparison uses North Carolina for “Carolina,” since that is the state most people mean when they compare it with Michigan (South Carolina has its own, different profile, covered briefly in the FAQ). Here is what the index measures, how the numbers stack up, and what they look like on the ground.
What the diversity index measures
The Census Bureau’s Diversity Index (DI) is the probability that two people chosen at random from a place belong to different racial or ethnic groups. A score of 0 means no diversity at all; a score close to 100 means almost any two people would come from different groups.
It is built from the census race and Hispanic origin categories: Hispanic or Latino, and non-Hispanic White, Black, Asian, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, some other race, and multiracial. Before comparing states, it helps to know what the index leaves out:
- It does not measure religion, language, income or national origin within a group.
- Until recently, Middle Eastern and North African residents were counted as White, which matters a lot in Michigan (more on that below).
- Changes in how the 2020 Census coded race responses increased the number of multiracial people, so part of the jump since 2010 is about measurement.
North Carolina vs Michigan at a glance
The figures below are rounded approximations from recent Census Bureau releases, meant for comparison rather than precise counts.
| Measure | North Carolina | Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | About 10.5 to 11 million | About 10 million |
| 2020 diversity index | High 50s | Mid-40s |
| Black share | Around one in five | Around 13 to 14 percent |
| Hispanic or Latino share | Around 10 to 11 percent | Around 5 to 6 percent |
| Asian share | About 3 percent | About 3 to 4 percent |
| American Indian population | Among the largest east of the Mississippi | Smaller, with 12 federally recognized tribes |
| Population trend | Fast growth since 2010 | Slow growth, roughly flat |
The biggest single difference is growth. North Carolina has been one of the fastest growing states in the country, drawing people from other states and from abroad. Michigan’s population has barely changed, so its demographic mix has shifted more slowly.
Diversity in North Carolina
North Carolina’s diversity is more evenly spread across the state than Michigan’s, but it still varies a great deal by region.
The Black Belt and Piedmont
North Carolina has a long-standing Black population, not only in cities but also in rural counties of the northeastern coastal plain, historically part of the South’s Black Belt. Durham, Charlotte, Greensboro and Fayetteville all have large Black communities and historically Black colleges and universities, including North Carolina A&T State University and North Carolina Central University.
Hispanic and Asian growth
The state’s Hispanic population grew rapidly from the 1990s onward, drawn by jobs in construction, poultry and meat processing, agriculture and services. Charlotte, Raleigh and smaller towns such as Siler City now have well-established Mexican, Salvadoran, Honduran and Guatemalan communities. The Research Triangle (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) has attracted Indian, Chinese and other Asian residents through tech, pharmaceutical and university jobs.
American Indian communities
North Carolina has one of the largest American Indian populations in the eastern United States. The Lumbee Tribe, centered in Robeson County, is the largest tribe east of the Mississippi River, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based in the western mountains around Cherokee. Robeson County is one of the most racially mixed rural counties in the country, with large Native American, Black and White populations.
Diversity in Michigan
Michigan’s statewide score is pulled down by large, mostly White regions in the north and west, but its southeastern corner is one of the most culturally distinctive places in the Midwest.
Detroit and its suburbs
Detroit is majority Black, roughly three quarters, a result of the Great Migration and decades of White movement to the suburbs. Southwest Detroit, around Mexicantown, has a large Mexican American community. Metro suburbs such as Southfield are also majority Black, while Troy and parts of Oakland County have large Indian, Chinese and other Asian populations.
Arab American communities
Dearborn, next to Detroit, has one of the largest Arab American communities in the country, with deep Lebanese, Yemeni and Iraqi roots, and metro Detroit also has a large Chaldean community. Hamtramck, once a Polish American enclave, now has large Yemeni and Bangladeshi populations. Because the census counted Middle Eastern and North African residents as White until the recent federal standards change, Michigan’s diversity index has historically understated how diverse these communities are. The new Middle Eastern or North African category, adopted in 2024, should make future data more accurate.
West Michigan and the north
Grand Rapids has a strong Dutch Reformed heritage and a growing Hispanic population. Holland, as its name suggests, also has Dutch roots and a sizable Latino community. The northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula are much less diverse, though the Upper Peninsula has deep Finnish and Scandinavian roots and several tribal nations, including the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
Why the gap exists
A few forces explain why North Carolina outscores Michigan:
- A larger, more widely distributed Black population in North Carolina.
- Rapid Hispanic migration to the Southeast since the 1990s, which largely bypassed Michigan’s slower economy.
- Population growth: new arrivals in North Carolina are more diverse than long-time residents, so growth itself raises the score.
- Measurement: Michigan’s Arab American communities have not shown up in the index as distinct groups.
Following news about each state
Census numbers tell you who lives where. Local reporting tells you what is actually happening: new businesses, cultural festivals, school changes, and community programs. Carolina PR Posts publishes news and releases from around North Carolina, which is a handy way to follow organizations and events in fast-changing places like Charlotte and the Triangle.
For Michigan, Michigan PR Diary covers state news and announcements, including the businesses, nonprofits and community groups active across metro Detroit, West Michigan and beyond.
When reading any diversity coverage, check which dataset and year a figure comes from, and whether it describes a whole state or a specific county or city. American Community Survey figures are estimates with margins of error, especially for small groups.
What to watch next
North Carolina’s rapid growth means its score will probably keep climbing, and it could reach the national average within a decade or so if current migration patterns hold. Michigan’s future depends heavily on immigration into metro Detroit and on how the new federal race and ethnicity standards change the way Arab American and Chaldean residents are counted. The first data under those standards should make a real difference in how Michigan compares with other Midwestern states.
For more comparisons, see Pennsylvania vs Illinois, another pairing of a large Eastern state and a Midwestern one, and Tennessee vs Indiana. You can find the full series in the Daily Bites category.
Frequently asked questions
Is North Carolina more diverse than Michigan?
Yes. North Carolina scored in the high 50s on the 2020 Census diversity index, while Michigan scored in the mid-40s. North Carolina has larger Black and Hispanic shares of its population.
What about South Carolina?
South Carolina has a larger Black share than North Carolina, roughly a quarter of residents, but a smaller Hispanic population, so its overall diversity index generally lands somewhat below North Carolina’s but still above Michigan’s.
What is the most diverse part of Michigan?
Metro Detroit, including Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck, Southfield and parts of Oakland County, is the most diverse region. Much of northern Michigan is far less diverse.
Why doesn’t the diversity index show Michigan’s Arab American population?
Until the federal standards changed in 2024, Middle Eastern and North African residents were classified as White in census data, so they did not register as a separate group in the index.
Which tribe is the largest in North Carolina?
The Lumbee Tribe, based mainly in Robeson County, is the largest tribe in North Carolina and the largest east of the Mississippi River.
