Portland was one of the places I was thinking of - more diverse than it used to be but I still wouldn’t consider it very diverse.
If she is looking for ethnic diversity for the variety in a community, northern New England is still pretty homogeneous. If she is looking for ELL teaching, the Manchester NH area is a refugee relocation city and would provide opportunities and fit other wanted criteria.
+1 to Philly
I will add West Hartford, CT it is an up and coming place, St. Petersburg, FL, Raleigh/Durham, NC area. The rents around colleges and universities will be higher than other areas as will the rents in northern cities versus rents in midwest or south.
The OP said NY state, not NYC. So if they happen to reside in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany or the likes, they can handle cold weather!! Even if they were further downstate, closer to the CT cities mentioned (perhaps in the Catskills, or in Dutchess, Putnam or Westchester counties) it can get pretty cold and snowy.
There are beautiful areas in North Carolina that are close to mountains, etc, but may not be as diverse as she might like. But Asheville is great for young adults, and to a lesser degree, but still darling, is Hendersonville.
Again, thanks to all, and I’m glad at least one other person is finding this thread useful. Climate probably not a big consideration. The NY/Westchester suburbs are familiar - kind of in our backyard. I should add that if she’s still single when she comes back, a place with a mostly nuclear-family vibe probably wouldn’t suit.
The road trip idea is great and I think she’s already thought of it. She’s now in a city in Mexico that she didn’t see ahead of time, and it’s a lot different than she envisioned.
Ashville is very upcoming. Like the next big thing. Know people moving to retire there. Everyone that goes there tends to like it
@Rae1958. These discussions are always fun. As I am detailing and scrubbing my shower, I can dream of all those places in the mountains I would rather be at right now… Lol 
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My daughter is Latina and this has been interesting to hear about potential areas where she may feel more comfortable attending college as well.
Durham NC should definitely go on the list. Fun, young, vibrant, pretty diverse, excellent food scene, decent career opportunities. Very close to hiking and whatnot. I also like Nashville quite a lot. I’ve heard good things about Chattanooga as well for young people but I’ve only been there once, years ago.
Whenever I come back to Colorado from, say, the East Coast or California, I’m shocked by how WHITE this state and the Denver/Boulder/Fort Collins areas are. Yes, there are many Latinos, but that’s about it for “diversity.”
I already suggested Asheville ( agree with @Knowsstuff ) and will add Greenville SC to the mix. Also, if she would enjoy the coast, Wilmington NC is a great place. Nashville TN is awesome but also expensive.
Yep, Asheville has gotten lots of votes. Add Atlanta! Its a great city for young adults, and not far from the mountains, lakes, and a few hours from the coast. Its not a “small city” but areas/towns inside Atanta (Decatur, etc) are fabulous for young adults.
And way more affordable than CH! Although the entire Triangle area has alot of diversity in housing from large McMansions to townhouses to apartments. CH also has a rule that any new single family home subdivisions has to also include a certain number of affordable housing units. These are usually townhouses w/in the subdivision that can be applied for by local teachers/firefighters/police/etc. They go very quickly!! The subdivision where we’re building has approx 12 THs. They were full before the first SF home was even completed!
My vote would be a triangle drawn between Raleigh NC, Charleston, SC, and Nashville. I really like the Smokey Mountains. After that it would be Colorado or Utah. I like Ithaca NY too but not sure I’d want to live there as a 30 something.
If I was looking outside the US but still close then Montreal would be 1st on my list.
I’m gonna plus another for Philly. It’s pretty darn affordable for a big city and is incredibly diverse with a lot of culture at your fingertips.
@doschicos , Portland has been very welcoming to asylum seekers and apparently has experienced a swell on immigrants. There’s been a lot of press on it in the last year. I think it’s about 15% who are foreign born?
Not sure it’s apparent in the parts of the city where most visitors end up. I was a bit surprised myself.
And +1 on philly! Some interesting programs there (global guides at the art museum!).
Asheville is nice. It’s fairly liberal and has an artsy vibe, which I find appealing, plus some good dining. However, once you get out of the general Asheville area, it is QUITE a different vibe.
It also isn’t overly diverse. From this article: “Asheville is the second-whitest city in the state, with 86 percent of the metro population counted as Caucasian, topped only by Boone at 91 percent. By comparison, Charlotte has a population that is 57 percent nonwhite.”
https://mountainx.com/news/visiting-diversity-the-changing-face-of-tourism-in-a-mostly-white-city/
I know the city pretty well having many family members who make Portland their home, including some who have worked with immigrants in both Portland and Lewiston. Definitely more diverse than it used to be. Changing like many northern New England cities but still wouldn’t call it diverse but I guess it is all relative. I have family in Philly as well and family in Atlanta, Charleston, and DC, places that are very diverse. But a wonderful place to live, lots of younger people, very vibrant. It is worth checking out for sure.
Seconding Montreal and Twin Cities.
Cheap, yes. But
Cleveland was right behind, 58th and 59th of 61 large cities.
I’d suggest Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquerque.
Agree, @doschicos . Portland is not diverse like some of the more metro areas. But since OP is actually looking for ELL teaching opportunities (more than diversity), figured it might the bill.