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The Black community is one of the fastest growing communities in America this decade.
There are now 42 million people who identify as Black or African American living in America, making up 12% of the total population. According to the most recent American Community Survey, the Black population in New York is 2,797,225 - at 13.9% of the total population of New York.
The percentage growth of Blacks in America is the third largest percentage change for any race according to the Census's race and ethnicity definition. As most scholars and historians agree, an increase in the diversity in America is a good thing.
We agree.
But how has the increase in the black population impacted New York? Which cities and towns in New York have seen the greatest increase in its Black population?
We broke down the most recent census data to determine the cities in New York with the largest African American population in 2023:
What's the blackest city in New York? Mount Vernon took the number one over all spot for the largest Black population in New York for 2023. See if it ranked as one of the most african american cities in America.
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked.
To see where New York ranked as a state on diversity, we have a ranking of the most diverse states in America.
And if you already knew these places were Black, check out the best places to live in New York or the most diverse places in New York.
The 10 Blackest Cities In New York For 2023
1. Mount Vernon
/10
Population: 72,855
% African American: 58.21%
# Of African American Residents: 42,408
Percent Change Since 2010: 5.97%
More on Mount Vernon: Real Estate | Data | Photos
2. Hempstead
/10
Population: 58,532
% African American: 46.3%
# Of African American Residents: 27,102
Percent Change Since 2010: 3.1%
More on Hempstead: Real Estate | Data | Photos
3. Rochester
/10
Population: 211,100
% African American: 36.26%
# Of African American Residents: 76,538
Percent Change Since 2010: -8.15%
More on Rochester: Real Estate | Data | Photos
4. Spring Valley
/10
Population: 32,953
% African American: 33.09%
# Of African American Residents: 10,903
Percent Change Since 2010: -1.72%
More on Spring Valley: Real Estate | Data | Photos
5. Buffalo
/10
Population: 276,011
% African American: 32.31%
# Of African American Residents: 89,189
Percent Change Since 2010: -11.11%
More on Buffalo: Real Estate | Data | Photos
6. Poughkeepsie
/10
Population: 31,475
% African American: 30.9%
# Of African American Residents: 9,725
Percent Change Since 2010: -17.11%
More on Poughkeepsie: Real Estate | Data | Photos
7. Freeport
/10
Population: 44,328
% African American: 29.75%
# Of African American Residents: 13,187
Percent Change Since 2010: 4.58%
More on Freeport: Real Estate | Data | Photos
8. Syracuse
/10
Population: 146,781
% African American: 27.54%
# Of African American Residents: 40,430
Percent Change Since 2010: -0.47%
More on Syracuse: Real Estate | Data | Photos
9. Valley Stream
/10
Population: 40,304
% African American: 26.52%
# Of African American Residents: 10,689
Percent Change Since 2010: 76.21%
More on Valley Stream: Real Estate | Data | Photos
10. Albany
/10
Population: 99,402
% African American: 26.17%
# Of African American Residents: 26,018
Percent Change Since 2010: -7.48%
More on Albany: Real Estate | Data | Photos
Methodology: How We Determined The Cities In New York With The Largest Black Population For 2023
We still believe in the accuracy of data -- especially from the census. So that's where we went to get the breakdown of race across New York.
That lead us to the Census's most recently available data, the 2017-2021 American Community Survey data from the US Census.
Specifically, we looked at table B03002: Hispanic OR LATINO ORIGIN BY RACE. Here are the category names as defined by the Census:
- Hispanic or Latino
- White alone*
- Black or African American alone*
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone*
- Asian alone*
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone*
- Some other race alone*
- Two or more races*
Our particular column of interest here was the number of people who identified as Black or African American.
We limited our analysis to non-CDPs with a population greater than 5,000 people. That left us with 164 cities.
We then calculated the percent of residents that are Black or African American. The percentages ranked from 58.2% to 0.0%.
Finally, we ranked each city based on the percent of Black population with a higher score being more Black than a lower score. Mount Vernon took the distinction of being the most Black, while Lancaster was the least African American city. You can download the data here.
Read on for more information on how the cities in New York ranked by population of African American residents or, for a more general take on diversity in America, head over to our ranking of the most diverse cities in America.
Summary: Black Populations Across New York
If you're looking for a breakdown of African American populations across New York according to the most recent data, this is an accurate list.
If you're curious enough, here are the least African American places in New York:
- Lancaster
- New Square
- East Hills
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
- Best Places To Live In New York
African American Population By City In New York
| Rank | City | % African American |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon | 58.21% |
| 2 | Hempstead | 46.3% |
| 3 | Rochester | 36.26% |
| 4 | Spring Valley | 33.09% |
| 5 | Buffalo | 32.31% |
| 6 | Poughkeepsie | 30.9% |
| 7 | Freeport | 29.75% |
| 8 | Syracuse | 27.54% |
| 9 | Valley Stream | 26.52% |
| 10 | Albany | 26.17% |
| 11 | Monticello | 23.31% |
| 12 | Newburgh | 21.49% |
| 13 | New York | 21.11% |
| 14 | Hudson | 20.77% |
| 15 | Peekskill | 20.39% |
| 16 | Niagara Falls | 19.73% |
| 17 | Middletown | 19.36% |
| 18 | Nyack | 19.13% |
| 19 | New Rochelle | 19.03% |
| 20 | Westbury | 18.9% |
| 21 | Schenectady | 17.8% |
| 22 | Troy | 16.43% |
| 23 | Walden | 16.27% |
| 24 | Yonkers | 15.63% |
| 25 | Lackawanna | 14.8% |
| 26 | Kingston | 14.61% |
| 27 | Utica | 14.55% |
| 28 | West Haverstraw | 14.01% |
| 29 | Suffern | 13.84% |
| 30 | Beacon | 12.75% |
| 31 | Binghamton | 12.46% |
| 32 | White Plains | 11.93% |
| 33 | Chestnut Ridge | 11.85% |
| 34 | New Hempstead | 11.84% |
| 35 | Elmira | 11.66% |
| 36 | Ossining | 11.07% |
| 37 | Amityville | 10.94% |
| 38 | Wappingers Falls | 10.87% |
| 39 | Washingtonville | 9.58% |
| 40 | Watervliet | 9.28% |
| 41 | Ogdensburg | 9.26% |
| 42 | Endicott | 9.18% |
| 43 | Lockport | 9.12% |
| 44 | Woodbury | 9.08% |
| 45 | Albion | 8.77% |
| 46 | East Rockaway | 8.66% |
| 47 | Auburn | 7.79% |
| 48 | Webster | 7.49% |
| 49 | Brockport | 7.37% |
| 50 | Monroe | 7.33% |
| 51 | Watertown | 7.16% |
| 52 | Pelham | 7.1% |
| 53 | Canton | 6.96% |
| 54 | Dunkirk | 6.9% |
| 55 | Geneva | 6.77% |
| 56 | Cohoes | 6.68% |
| 57 | Port Jervis | 6.68% |
| 58 | Potsdam | 6.37% |
| 59 | Kenmore | 6.37% |
| 60 | Solvay | 6.32% |
| 61 | Haverstraw | 5.82% |
| 62 | Mount Kisco | 5.77% |
| 63 | Rome | 5.75% |
| 64 | Glen Cove | 5.72% |
| 65 | Amsterdam | 5.68% |
| 66 | Bath | 5.61% |
| 67 | Long Beach | 5.45% |
| 68 | Batavia | 5.28% |
| 69 | Port Chester | 5.24% |
| 70 | Johnson City | 5.2% |
| 71 | Rensselaer | 5.16% |
| 72 | Farmingdale | 5.1% |
| 73 | Tuckahoe | 5.01% |
| 74 | Oneonta | 4.96% |
| 75 | Rockville Centre | 4.95% |
| 76 | Harrison | 4.9% |
| 77 | Fredonia | 4.78% |
| 78 | New Paltz | 4.77% |
| 79 | Ithaca | 4.48% |
| 80 | Malverne | 4.32% |
| 81 | Pelham Manor | 4.25% |
| 82 | Depew | 4.21% |
| 83 | Pleasantville | 3.96% |
| 84 | Geneseo | 3.82% |
| 85 | Patchogue | 3.78% |
| 86 | Dobbs Ferry | 3.75% |
| 87 | Sleepy Hollow | 3.72% |
| 88 | Lynbrook | 3.67% |
| 89 | Croton-On-Hudson | 3.64% |
| 90 | Newark | 3.49% |
| 91 | Saratoga Springs | 3.42% |
| 92 | Cortland | 3.41% |
| 93 | Plattsburgh | 3.39% |
| 94 | Lindenhurst | 3.17% |
| 95 | Tarr | 3.16% |
| 96 | Hilton | 3.11% |
| 97 | Williamsville | 3.08% |
| 98 | Airmont | 3.06% |
| 99 | Mamaroneck | 3.05% |
| 100 | Herkimer | 2.71% |
