Ever wonder where everyone is actually living these days? We talk a lot about the "melting pot" of America, and yeah, that's real. But if you look at the raw data from the Census Bureau and recent 2024-2025 estimates, the geographic spread of the highest white population in us tells a pretty specific story about where people are clustered.
It's not just about one list. Honestly, you've gotta look at it two ways: where are the most people, and where is the highest percentage? Those are two very different maps.
The big numbers: Where the most people live
If you’re looking for sheer volume, you have to go to the big states. California, Texas, and Florida. It sounds counterintuitive to some because these states are famous for their diversity, but because they are so massive, they hold the largest raw numbers of white Americans.
As of the latest data hitting the desks in early 2026, California still leads the pack with over 23 million people identifying as white. Texas follows closely behind with roughly 21.4 million. Florida is right there too, sitting at about 16.4 million.
These states are huge. Basically, if you have 40 million people in a state, even a "minority" percentage is still a massive number of human beings. But when we talk about the highest white population in us, most people are actually searching for the "whitest" places—the spots where the percentage is highest.
The "Whitest" states by percentage
This is where the map shifts north and east. If you want to find the states where the vast majority of the population is white, you're looking at New England and the Midwest.
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West Virginia and Vermont usually battle it out for the top spot. According to recent World Population Review and Census figures, West Virginia sits at about 95.8% white. Vermont is a hair behind at 95.6%.
- Maine: 93.3%
- New Hampshire: 91.8%
- Wyoming: 90.8%
Maine and New Hampshire have stayed consistently at the top of this list for decades. Why? A lot of it is historical migration patterns and, quite frankly, the lack of massive urban industrial centers that drew diverse immigrant populations during the 20th century.
What’s happening in the cities?
Cities are a different beast. You might think the "whitest" cities would be in those states mentioned above, but the data has some surprises.
Hialeah, Florida, often shows up at the very top of lists for "white population" percentage—sometimes over 92%. But there's a catch. Most of that population identifies as White Hispanic. If you're looking for non-Hispanic white populations, the list changes completely.
In that case, you're looking at places like Lincoln, Nebraska (88%), Boise, Idaho (87.9%), and Scottsdale, Arizona (80.1%).
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It's sorta fascinating how much "White" as a category has expanded. The 2020 Census made it easier for people to identify as multi-racial, which actually "shrank" the white-alone population on paper. But when you add in people who identify as "White in combination" with another race, the numbers jump back up.
The 2026 demographic shift
We're at a turning point. The Congressional Budget Office and the Census Bureau have been tracking a "long-term decline" in the white-alone population share. It's not that people are disappearing; it's that other groups are growing much faster, and more people are identifying as multi-racial.
The "tipping point"—where the U.S. becomes "minority white"—is currently projected for around 2045.
But check this out: that already happened for people under age 18 back in 2020. Younger generations are way more diverse. The highest white population in us is increasingly concentrated in older age brackets. In fact, for those 65 and older, the population remains over 70% white and is expected to stay that way for a long time.
Regional deep dive: The Midwest and Northwest
You can't talk about these demographics without hitting the "Lily White" reputation of the Great Lakes and the Pacific Northwest. States like Iowa (88%) and Montana (87%) are still very much in that high-percentage bracket.
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However, even there, things are moving.
Boise, Idaho is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. While it's still 87.9% white, the sheer number of people moving there is changing the culture of the Northwest. People are fleeing high-cost areas in California and bringing a different vibe to the mountains.
Why these numbers matter for 2026
If you're a business owner or a researcher, these stats aren't just trivia. They dictate where hospitals are built, where retail chains open new spots, and how political campaigns are run.
- Healthcare: An aging white population in states like Maine or West Virginia means a massive need for geriatric care and specialized services.
- Marketing: You can't use a "one size fits all" strategy. The "white population" in Hialeah, FL, has almost nothing in common culturally with the white population in Burlington, VT.
- Real Estate: We're seeing a "move to the middle." People are leaving the ultra-dense coastal hubs for the mid-sized, majority-white cities like Madison, WI, or Colorado Springs.
Actionable insights for navigating the data
If you're trying to make sense of the highest white population in us for a project or just curiosity, here's how to handle the info:
- Distinguish between "White Alone" and "White in Combination." The latter includes multi-racial individuals and is the only part of the white demographic that is actually growing.
- Check the "Hispanic" overlay. Always look for "Non-Hispanic White" if you are trying to understand traditional European-descended demographics.
- Look at the age split. If your target is Gen Z, the "whitest state" lists don't really apply. You need to look at school district-level data because the youth population looks nothing like the senior population.
- Use the 2024 ACS Estimates. Don't rely solely on the 2020 Census. The pandemic caused massive internal migration that changed the "whitest city" rankings significantly in just four years.
To stay updated on these shifts, the best move is to monitor the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates, which usually drop every September. They provide the most granular look at how these populations are moving in real-time.