You might think you know the American map, but the numbers coming out of the Census Bureau lately are honestly a bit of a curveball. We often talk about the "melting pot," yet if you drive through certain pockets of New England or the rural West, that pot looks pretty uniform. People ask about what are the whitest states for all sorts of reasons—maybe they’re planning a move, doing a school project, or just trying to understand how migration is actually changing the country in 2026.
The truth is, the list hasn't changed much at the very top, but the percentages are dipping everywhere. Even in places that feel like a time capsule from the 1950s, the "Diversity Index" is creeping up.
The Leaders: Where 9 Out of 10 People are White
Maine is usually the first name on everyone's lips. Honestly, it makes sense. According to the latest 2025 and 2026 demographic estimates, Maine remains the least diverse state in the union. We're talking about a population that is roughly 91.8% white.
Why? It’s a mix of history and geography. Maine isn't exactly a massive hub for international flights, and its economy has traditionally been built on industries like timber and fishing that don't always attract a high volume of new, diverse labor from out of state. Plus, it has the oldest median age in the country—around 45 years old. Younger, more diverse generations just aren't moving there in droves yet.
Vermont and West Virginia are right behind. Vermont sits at about 93% to 94% white, depending on which specific survey you’re looking at (the American Community Survey or the Decennial Census). West Virginia is a similar story, hovering around 92%.
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A Quick Look at the Top Five (By Percentage)
- Maine: The reigning champ of demographic consistency.
- Vermont: Tiny, rural, and incredibly homogenous.
- West Virginia: A state where the "Multiracial" category is actually the fastest-growing group, even though the total white population is still massive.
- New Hampshire: Another New England entry, coming in at roughly 91%.
- Wyoming: The first Western state on the list, mostly because of its low population density and historical settlement patterns.
Why Some States Stay This Way
It isn’t just a coincidence. You’ve got to look at "cohort succession." That’s just a fancy way of saying that older generations (which are statistically more white in the U.S.) are staying put, while younger, more diverse families are heading toward "Sun Belt" states like Texas, Florida, or Arizona.
In Maine and New Hampshire, the "Baby Boomer" effect is huge. About 28% of Maine's population is part of that generation. When you have an aging population and a lower birth rate, the demographic needle doesn't move very fast.
Then there’s the "in-migration" factor. States like Idaho and Utah are growing like crazy, but for a long time, the people moving there were coming from places like California or Washington—and they were often white families looking for a different lifestyle. However, even Idaho is starting to see that change as the tech sector in Boise attracts a more global workforce.
The Surprising Flip Side: Most White Residents vs. Highest Percentage
This is where people get confused. If you ask what are the whitest states in terms of pure numbers, the answer is California.
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Wait, what?
Yeah, California has over 23 million white residents. That is more than the entire population of many other states combined. But because California has such a massive total population and is so incredibly diverse, white people make up a much smaller percentage of the total—roughly 34% to 58%, depending on whether you count Hispanic/Latino white residents or only "White alone, non-Hispanic."
Texas and Florida follow the same pattern. They have huge white populations, but they are also "minority-majority" or rapidly heading that way because their growth is driven by Hispanic, Black, and Asian communities.
The Changing Face of Rural America
Even in the whitest states, things are shifting. Take Iowa, for example. It’s still about 88% white, but it’s one of the only states where the proportion of children under five is actually expanding. A lot of that growth is coming from immigrant communities moving to rural towns for meatpacking or agricultural jobs.
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West Virginia is another interesting case. The total population is actually shrinking slightly—it lost about 92 residents last year—but the diversity index still went up. This happens because the white population is aging out, while the small minority communities are either staying or growing slightly.
The Top 10 List (Rough Estimates for 2026)
- Maine (~91.8%)
- Vermont (~93%) - Note: Vermont and Maine often flip-flop based on the specific year's migration.
- West Virginia (~92.5%)
- New Hampshire (~91%)
- Wyoming (~90%)
- Montana (~87-88%)
- Iowa (~88%)
- Idaho (~88%)
- Nebraska (~84-85%)
- North Dakota (~85%)
What This Means for You
If you're looking at these stats for a move or for business, keep in mind that "white" is a broad category. The Census recently changed how they collect this data. Now, people can write in their specific ancestry—like German, Irish, Lebanese, or Egyptian.
In fact, the 2020 Census showed that English, German, and Irish are the three largest groups. If you're in the Northeast, you’ll find a lot more people with French-Canadian or Italian roots. In the Midwest, it's heavily German and Scandinavian.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights
If you are using this data to make decisions, don't just look at the state level. Geography is local.
- Check the "Diversity Index": A state might be 90% white, but a specific city (like Burlington, VT or Portland, ME) will be much more diverse than the surrounding counties.
- Look at the "Median Age": If you want to live in a place with more young families, look at Utah or South Carolina, even if they aren't at the top of the "whitest" list. Maine is beautiful, but it's very "gray."
- Follow the Jobs: Demographic shifts always follow the money. If a new factory opens in a rural "white" state, expect that state’s diversity to jump in the next five years.
The map of what are the whitest states is essentially a map of American history—showing where European settlers clustered and where the modern economy hasn't yet forced a major demographic reshuffle. It's stable, sure, but in 2026, even the "whitest" corners of the country are starting to show a few more colors.
To get the most accurate, hyper-local data for a specific move, you should look up the "QuickFacts" for individual counties on the Census Bureau website. This will give you a better idea of the neighborhood feel than a statewide average ever could.