Colorado is considerably more diverse than Wisconsin. On the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 diversity index, Colorado scored in the low 50s, while Wisconsin scored in the mid-30s, one of the lower scores outside northern New England and the Northern Plains. The national figure was about 61 percent. Colorado’s lead comes almost entirely from its large Hispanic population, while Wisconsin’s diversity is concentrated in Milwaukee and a few other cities, along with notable Hmong and Native American communities.
This guide explains how the index works, compares the two states, and looks at the specific places and communities behind each score.
What the diversity index measures
The Census Bureau’s Diversity Index (DI) gives the probability that two people picked at random from a place belong to different racial or ethnic groups. It runs from 0, where everyone belongs to one group, to 100, where every pair would be different.
The calculation uses 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.
A few points that matter for this comparison:
- When one group is a large majority, the index stays low. Around four in five Wisconsin residents are non-Hispanic White, compared with around two in three in Colorado.
- The index does not show national origin. Wisconsin’s Hmong residents appear only within the Asian category, and Colorado’s Hispano families with roots going back centuries are counted the same as recent arrivals from Mexico or Venezuela.
- Coding changes in the 2020 Census increased the multiracial count nationwide, so some of the change since 2010 is about measurement.
Wisconsin vs Colorado at a glance
These are rounded approximations from recent Census Bureau data, meant for comparison.
| Measure | Wisconsin | Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Population | About 5.9 million | About 5.8 to 5.9 million |
| 2020 diversity index | Mid-30s | Low 50s |
| Non-Hispanic White share | Around 80 percent | Around two thirds |
| Hispanic or Latino share | Around 7 to 8 percent | Around 22 percent |
| Black share | Around 6 percent | Around 4 percent |
| Asian share | About 3 percent | About 3 to 4 percent |
| Federally recognized tribes | 11 | 2 |
| Main diversity hubs | Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay | Denver, Aurora, Pueblo |
The two states have similar populations, and Wisconsin actually has a larger Black share. The difference is Colorado’s Hispanic population, roughly three times Wisconsin’s as a share of residents, which lifts its score by well over 15 points.
Diversity in Colorado
Hispanic roots that predate statehood
Hispanic heritage in southern Colorado is older than the state itself. San Luis, founded in 1851 in the San Luis Valley, is often described as the oldest continuously inhabited town in Colorado, settled by Hispano families from northern New Mexico. Many families in the valley and in towns like Trinidad and Walsenburg trace their ancestry to that era. Pueblo, a steel town, is close to half Hispanic.
Denver and Aurora
Denver has a large Mexican American community, with historic neighborhoods such as the Westside, Globeville and Elyria-Swansea, and a Black community historically centered on Five Points, once called the “Harlem of the West” for its jazz clubs. Aurora, just east of Denver, has become one of the most diverse cities in the Mountain West. Its East Colfax corridor and Havana Street are lined with Ethiopian, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Salvadoran and Middle Eastern businesses, and the city has resettled many refugees from Bhutan, Burma, Somalia and elsewhere. Denver also received many migrants from Venezuela and other countries in 2023 and 2024.
Mountain and rural communities
Resort towns such as Vail, Aspen and Breckenridge depend heavily on Hispanic workers, many of whom live in towns down valley. Fort Morgan and Greeley on the Eastern Plains have large Hispanic populations and sizable Somali and East African communities tied to meatpacking. Colorado’s two federally recognized tribes, the Southern Ute and the Ute Mountain Ute, are based in the southwest corner of the state.
Diversity in Wisconsin
Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the state’s most diverse city, roughly 40 percent Black and about one in five Hispanic, with a large Puerto Rican and Mexican community on the near South Side. It is also frequently ranked among the most residentially segregated metro areas in the country, which means the city’s overall diversity does not always translate into mixed neighborhoods. The broader metro, including suburbs in Waukesha County, is much less diverse.
Hmong communities
Wisconsin has one of the largest Hmong populations in the United States, behind only California and Minnesota. Hmong families began arriving as refugees after the Vietnam War, many because of their role supporting U.S. forces in Laos, and settled in Milwaukee, Wausau, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Sheboygan, Green Bay and Madison. In Wausau and some other central Wisconsin cities, Hmong residents are a sizable share of school enrollment.
Tribal nations
Wisconsin has 11 federally recognized tribes, including the Menominee, Oneida, Ho-Chunk, Forest County Potawatomi, Stockbridge-Munsee and six Ojibwe (Chippewa) bands. Menominee County, which largely overlaps the Menominee Reservation, is majority American Indian.
Farm country and smaller cities
Dairy farming has drawn a growing Hispanic workforce to rural Wisconsin, and Green Bay, Racine and Kenosha have sizable Hispanic populations. Madison, with its university and state government jobs, has growing Asian and international communities. Still, much of northern and western Wisconsin remains overwhelmingly non-Hispanic White.
What the difference means for residents
- Language: Spanish is Colorado’s dominant second language by a wide margin, and many state services are offered in Spanish by default. In Wisconsin, Spanish and Hmong are the most common non-English languages.
- Schools: Denver and Aurora schools serve students speaking many dozens of home languages. Milwaukee has large numbers of English learners, but most rural Wisconsin districts have few.
- Culture: Colorado’s Hispanic heritage shows up in food, festivals such as Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Denver, and Spanish place names. Wisconsin’s cultural identity is heavily shaped by German, Scandinavian and Polish heritage, alongside Milwaukee’s Black and Latino communities and Hmong New Year celebrations around the state.
How to dig into local numbers
Statewide averages hide a lot. To see what the index looks like where you live, use the Census Bureau’s 2020 diversity index map and zoom to the county level. Compare Denver, Adams and Arapahoe counties with rural counties on Colorado’s Western Slope, or Milwaukee County with neighboring Waukesha and Ozaukee. For small places, the American Community Survey’s five-year estimates are the best option, but treat small group numbers carefully because of their margins of error.
Following local news
Census data is a snapshot; local reporting tells you what is happening now. Wisconsin PR Index publishes news and releases from across Wisconsin, useful for following businesses, community groups and cultural events from Milwaukee to Wausau.
For Colorado, Colorado PR Alerts covers state news and announcements, a practical way to track organizations and events in Denver, Aurora and around the state.
What to watch next
Colorado’s score is likely to keep rising as its Hispanic, Asian and immigrant populations grow, especially in the Denver metro. Wisconsin is diversifying more slowly, mainly through Hispanic growth in cities and dairy regions and continued growth in Hmong and other Asian communities. The 2024 federal update to race and ethnicity standards will also change how future scores are calculated.
For more comparisons, read Missouri vs Maryland for another wide gap between two states of similar size, or Berlin vs Paris for a look at how diversity is measured in Europe. The full series is in the Daily Bites category.
Frequently asked questions
Is Colorado more diverse than Wisconsin?
Yes. Colorado scored in the low 50s on the 2020 Census diversity index, while Wisconsin scored in the mid-30s. Colorado’s large Hispanic population is the main reason.
What is the most diverse city in Colorado?
Aurora is generally considered the most diverse city in Colorado, with large Hispanic, Black, Asian and immigrant communities. Denver is also highly diverse.
Why does Wisconsin have a large Hmong population?
Many Hmong families came to Wisconsin as refugees after the Vietnam War, having supported U.S. forces in Laos. Churches and community groups sponsored resettlement, and families later joined relatives already there.
How many Native American tribes are in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has 11 federally recognized tribes, including the Menominee, Oneida, Ho-Chunk and six Ojibwe bands.
What is the most diverse city in Wisconsin?
Milwaukee is the most diverse city in Wisconsin, with large Black and Hispanic populations, although it is also one of the most residentially segregated metro areas in the country.
