In 2019, 4.5 million Caribbeans packed their bags and moved to the United States, according to the Migration Policy Institute. That number only increases as the years march steadily ahead.
For Caribbeans who want to live in the United States, looking at such a large country, it can be overwhelming to decide where to reside.
So, allow me to straighten my tour-guide badge and take you on a tour of the United States to uncover the six best American cities for Caribbeans to live in.
Miami, Florida
You just can’t have a list like this without putting Miami on it. The jewel of South Florida, Miami is probably the most colorful city in the country, bar none.
With its tropical, balmy, weather, even in December, Miami feels like summer. Sound familiar? The city is close to the Caribbean, in more than just location (and climate). Enclaves, or nestled ethnic communities, give Miami a lot of its vibrancy. For instance, the Little Haiti neighborhood, made up of native Haitians, is famous for its historic architecture and close-knit community, giving a feel of home away from home.
Little Havana is another welcoming neighborhood situated downtown that is less of an enclave and more the heart of Miami, as it is considered by many. Little Havana houses some of the best restaurants in the city, like Versailles Restaurant, the best cup of coffee you can get in Miami. The annual Carnaval, a bursting, bustling celebration of Caribbean culture, is even held in the area.
But no matter what part of Miami you’re in, you are sure to feel the warmth and connection of our community. As the US Census affirms, 72.3% of the city is Hispanic/Latino, and 14.1% is black. Wherever you go, you’re sure to never feel like an outsider– the whole city is like one neighborhood. This is especially true considering the easygoing nature of most Miamians that will make you feel like you’re living in a city of old friends.
As for the lifestyle and available activities in the area, the city is filled to the brim. You can visit the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor museum displaying vivid graffiti masterpieces muraled on several storied walls. There’s also bundles of mouth-watering cuisine, like the highly appraised Jrk! and Milly’s Restaurant for traditional Caribbean dishes.
And all of this is not to mention the job opportunities in Miami: such a grand city is home to a plethora of different careers.
Miami is a place where dreams come true.
New Orleans, Louisiana
If Miami is the most colorful city in the country, then New Orleans is the most musical. Music is woven through every brick-lain building, every terraced street, through the smell of fresh-baked, honeyed beignets wafting on the breeze. Okay, but enough with convoluted metaphors: musicians are really on every street corner, playing sunny jazz soundtracks to daily life.
That is who New Orleans is. Easy going, easy breezy, often affectionately referred to as the Big Easy. Likely, the 9% lower cost of living and 17% lower cost of rent, as found in some measures, is part of this laid-back attitude. (Read: https://www.rentcafe.com/cost-of-living-calculator/us/la/)
However, it’s more than just being affordable to live in that makes New Orleans, New Orleans. The city has its own island off the coast of Louisiana, meaning it’s not only extremely coastal but also an enclosed community of its own mind separate from its mother state. You can’t go a day without hearing a kindly “How you doin’, darling” or a warm “Good morning”. Crescent City is a place you’ll always feel welcomed, always feel at home.
Speaking of, there’s tastes of home all over the city. Restaurants like Afrodisiac and Yawdi Jamaican Restaurant make authentic Caribbean cuisine, like their renowned jerk chicken, fried plantains, soft-baked coco bread… my mouth is watering as I’m writing this.
And of course, the Cajun and Creole dishes all over are equally delectable. Of course, the best place to get authentic gumbo or Jambalaya, or crawfish, would be the place that coined those dishes. New Orleans is just a haven for amazing cuisine of all kinds, making it a truly edible– I mean, incredible place to live.
Finally, the diaspora. New Orleans is often called the northernmost point of the Caribbean, and for good reason. Of course, there’s the culture and lifestyle, following the easygoing vibes of the Caribbean, but demographically, New Orleans is a multicultural city. EMSI data shows that about 59% of New Orleans is black, with a stew of other races and ethnic backgrounds blended throughout the region– making it more diverse than the United States as a whole itself.
Clearly, New Orleans is a land woven with vibrant music and color and pizzazz like no other, making it a perfect place of residence for Caribbeans.
Houston, Texas
It may seem a bit unorthodox, but Houston is boots-down one of the best cities for the Caribbean diaspora to reside.
It’s a southern pearl, sat cozily near the picturesque, white-sand Gulf coast that brings to mind sunny beaches from the islands back home.
Sure, Texas definitely isn’t what first comes to mind for a list like this, I’ll admit it. But there is a bustling Caribbean community hidden beneath the yee-haw facade (no offense to any Texans reading).
Houston hosts a vast number of Caribbean events annually, especially June, Caribbean heritage Month. There’s a film festival, street parties with lively soca and reggae, art and craft fairs, marketplaces, and just general joy all around. There’s also the Caribbean Rum Fest later in the year that appreciates island flavors. In every season, Houston is dedicated to holding festivals to celebrate its approximate 200,000 Caribbean residents, as says the city’s own Style Magazine. (Read: Houston Texas Caribbean Heritage Month to Honor Community Visibility, Growth and Celebrate Progress)
More than just festivals show the active presence of Caribbeans in Houston, however. There’s the Taste of Caribbean Buffet restaurant, with piquant, savory, all-you-can-eat Caribbean-style cuisine. And you don’t need to worry about it being pricey, as Houstonians lead the nation in dining out due to the region’s lower cost for the average meal.
Or maybe it’s just that the city hosts immense economic opportunity, to the point that the average salary for a Caribbean worker (as reported by ZipRecruiter) is nearly $95,000 with such buoyant job opportunities.
Take that and the lush suburban greenery, and Houston practically sells itself.
Atlanta, Georgia
With one of the largest black populations across the country, Caribbean immigration to Atlanta has been steadily marching forward since the seventies. Atlanta takes pride in serving its Caribbean community of 85,000 (Read: Atlanta is a pepper pot of Caribbean cultures – Atlanta Magazine) — 2024 will mark its 37th anniversary of a lively Carnival, filled with festive performances, bright colors, and upbeat music intertwined with the percussive sound of laughter.
And with one of the largest black populations in the country, Atlanta has an incredibly welcoming community. That mix of southern hospitality culture and Caribbean friendliness creates an environment where everyone feels like a close friend.
The city is also renowned for being family-friendly, which essentially just means that in terms of enjoyable activities, Atlanta is home to an abundance. From the beautiful blue marine displays of the Atlanta Aquarium to the city’s grammy-winning orchestra, there is a whole world ingrained in the town, just waiting for you to come and find it.
In this world, technology and opportunity go hand in hand. As a tech-involved city and a hub of finance, Atlanta hosts financial opportunity in a way unlike many other American cities. Being an international city as well as a vast one, Atlanta is a great place to go for the opportunity to improve one’s station in life.
And on your way home from working at one of the many established businesses in the city, you can stop for a taste of the Caribbean at All-Island Cafe, a top-rated restaurant that serves authentic Caribbean cuisine from each of the islands in our beloved corner of the ocean. There’s a slew of delicious restaurants to try– and there’s more than good ol’ Caribbean cooking to enjoy, too. Atlanta has some of the best soul food in the country, like the signature butter pound cake or mac n’ cheese from the Busy Bee Cafe nestled near the center of the city.
It’s also worth mentioning that Atlanta has sunny, warm summers and relatively mild, not-too-snowy winters, mellow weather comforting to those from the tropical Caribbean. All in all, Atlanta is a wonderful place to call home.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
With a community of 30,000 Caribbeans (Read: African and Caribbean immigrant communities demonstrate leadership during COVID-19 | Office of Immigrant Affairs | City of Philadelphia), the historic city of Philadelphia welcomes those from the West Indies with open arms.
The significant Caribbean presence in Philadelphia is just one part of the city’s vast cultural diversity, allowing anyone of any background to find a place they belong. And with such a multicultural urban environment, there’s an array of events to attend, like a free weekly Samba Series, or the Philly Afro-Caribbean Wine Food & Music Festival organized by the community.
The gastronomy of Philly is just as diverse as its culture– there’s familiar flavors in restaurants like 5-star eatery Solange Caribbean Cuisine, but also the unique Philadelphian foodscape of cultivated dishes. The best Philly Cheesesteaks are sure to be found in their namesake city, after all.
Philadelphia’s economic landscape is as rich as its delectable culinary delights. As such a central city in American history, Philadelphia remains a major hub for job prospects and those looking to establish a professional career. Additionally, Philadelphia is close to major cities like American capital Washington D.C. and New York City (which is next on this list, by the way), allowing for networking capability and connection to other commercial centers.
With it’s beautiful historic architecture, cultural focus, and bountiful opportunity, Philadelphia is a wonderful place for anyone to live. And with it’s significant West Indian population and support of Caribbean culture, it’s a wonderful place for any Caribbean to live.
New York City, New York
There’s a reason New York has such a substantial Caribbean population. With such a rich and bustling atmosphere, it’s easy to understand why 817,082 Caribbean-born immigrants call the Big Apple home– about 27% of the total population. (Read: New York City (NYC) Foreign-Born Population By Country of Birth 2019 Estimates)
Taking pride in its Caribbean population, New York City fosters the community, with their Caribbean Culture Center supporting the telling of our own stories, like in storytelling workshops held for Latin and Caribbean voices. The Center also holds cultural festivals and events on a regular basis, allowing one to cultivate a sense of community and get involved with local affairs.
From the Little Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn to Jackson Heights in Queens, the city is a multicultural stew with a lot of Caribbean flavor. Speaking of flavor, New York City’s gastronomy is truly beloved among the community, with restaurants like Peppa’s Jerk Chicken!, the best jerk chicken in town, or delicious Latin food in Forest Hills, Queens.
While NYC is one of the more expensive places to live in the U.S., the boroughs of Queens or the Bronx can be a more affordable city to live in within New York. And with New York’s renown for being a fast-paced land of opportunity, it’s a great place to further a career.
Although, it feels almost wrong to call New York City “great” when it is so much more than that. Neon nightlife, color and art lining the walls of skyscrapers, the living city just feels like a place where dreams come true. It is that culture that is the true sell of New York– that same breath-of-life as we are so accustomed to in the islands we call home.
The hustle, the bright life, the city never sleeping, truly, New York City is an exciting, joyous place to live in.
While each city has its own distinct culture and personality, no matter where you choose to make your home, as long as you fill it with love, it will be the perfect place.
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