America’s 15 Most Pizza-Obsessed States

Regardless of whether you believe pineapple belongs on pizza, it’s safe to say Americans love a good slice of pizza. But not all of us have access to plentiful pizza shops.

Based on a study by Zippia, these are the 15 states where appeasing your pizza craving is the easiest.

The Cheesy Stats

Cheese pizza.
Photo Credit: AePatt Journey via stock.adobe.com.

Zippia used a combination of data about nationwide pizza orders from Yelp and pizza restaurants per capita from PMQ Magazine to determine which states love pizza the most. Here’s what they found.

1: Connecticut

Pizzas.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Make no mistake: Connecticuters are pizza lovers. Connecticut is the most pizza-loving state in the US, with three pizza stores per capita. That’s the highest pizza store per capita number, though several states join Connecticut in this ranking. So, what’s Connecticut’s favorite pizza flavor? Good ol’ cheese.

2: Pennsylvania

Pizza coming out of the oven.
Photo Credit: pressmaster via stock.adobe.com.

The Keystone State might want to take on the nickname pizza state, for it’s the second most pizza-loving state in America. Pennsylvania also has three pizza shops per capita, and its favorite pizza flavor is cheese.

3: Rhode Island

Pizza boxes.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, Rhode Islanders love cheese more than any other topping on their pizza. And they have plenty of pizza parlor options, given that there are three pizza shops per capita.

4: New Jersey

Cheese pizza slice.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

You guessed it: New Jersey has the same pizza stats as the top three pizza-loving states on this list. You read that right—New York has yet to make this list.

5: Iowa

Taco pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Can I get a Hallelujah? Iowans’ favorite pizza topping is …. get ready for it … taco. Iowa strays far from the pack in traditional American pizza toppings, but pizza shops there must remain competitive, given that there are three per capita.

6: Delaware

Buffalo chicken pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Delaware is a bad place to be a chicken; buffalo chicken is the First State’s favorite pizza topping. Its three pizza shops per capita help it snag the title of the sixth-most pizza-loving state in the US.

7: Massachusetts

Cheese pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Massachusetts is back at it, with cheese being the most popular pizza flavor among its residents. The Bay State has three pizza shops per capita.

8: New Hampshire

People taking slices of pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

New Hampshire ties with Massachusetts for being one of the most pizza-loving states in the US. Yes, cheese is also its residents’ favorite pizza topping.

9: Ohio

Cheese pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Shall we say ditto, Ohio? It’s a cheese topping and three pizza shops per capita situation for the Buckeye State too.

10: West Virginia

Meat pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Everyone except vegetarians and vegans can breathe a sigh of relief. “Meat Lovers” is the favorite pizza topping among residents in West Virginia. It’s reasonable to expect to find this topping in most of the three shops per capita across the state.

11: New York

Making pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

New York was bound to join the Northeast in its pizza-loving ways. But perhaps surprising to many, it only has two pizza shops per capita. The Empire State’s favorite pizza topping is cheese.

12: Indiana

Cheese pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Indiana’s stats mirror that of New York, but without the fame that New York has for its pizza.

13: Michigan

Bbq chicken pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Michiganders spice things up with BBQ chicken being their favorite pizza topping. Their two pizza shops per capita keep them firmly in the top 15 list of the most pizza-loving states.

14: South Dakota

Chicken bacon ranch pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

South Dakota ties with Michigan for how much its residents love pizza. And while they both adore chicken, these states butt heads on the best pizza topping; Chicken bacon ranch is The Mount Rushmore State’s pizza topping of choice.

15: North Dakota

Hawaiian pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

North Dakota also mixes things up; the state’s preferred pizza topping is Hawaiian. North Dakotans have a comfy two pizza shops per capita, ensuring many have access to pizza when the craving strikes.

Not So Hawaiian

Caprese pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Hawaii’s favorite pizza flavor is caprese. It gets even more surprising: A Greek immigrant founded the Hawaiian pizza topping in Canada in 1962.

Where Are You, Illinois?

Deep dish pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Chicago is famous for its deep-dish pizza, as it was the birthplace of this extra-filling pizza version. But Illinois didn’t come close to making the list of states that love pizza the most; it came in 29th place.

Cheese It Is

Personal cheese pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Zippia found that 29 states prefer a cheese topping over any other kind. Some unique outliers include Alaskans preferring white pizza and Maine preferring grilled chicken white pizza.

Pepperoni? No Thanks

Pepperoni pizza.
Photo Credit: Xhico via stock.adobe.com.

While pizza and pepperoni seem like they should be two peas in a pod, only Montana and Oregon reported that this apparently not-so-popular classic is their favorite pizza topping.

Want Pizza? Head North

Arrows pointing in two directions.
Photo Credit: runrun2 via stock.adobe.com.

The most pizza-loving states have a clear trend: They’re all in the north. The northeast and northern midwest, to be exact.

Business Is Good

People picking up pizza.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

Zappia found that the top three pizza shops that make the most sales are Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Little Caesar’s.

American Pizza Consumption

American flag painted on hands.
Photo Credit: Svetlana via stock.adobe.com.

Americans consume the equivalent of 100 acres of pizza per day, according to the Washington Post. That equates to about 350 slices of pizza being sold every second.

An Annual Perspective

Friends eating pizza.
Photo Credit: Vasyl via stock.adobe.com.

So, what do these numbers look like from an annual perspective? Americans eat three billion pizzas per year, which equates to every person in the U.S. eating 23 pounds worth of pizza every 12 months.

From Sea to Shunned

Basket of beets.
Photo Credit: ulada via stock.adobe.com.

Taste is subjective. But when it comes to food, residents of many states appear to agree that some foods are downright gross. These are the most hated foods in each state.

From Sea to Shunned: The Most Hated Food by State

24 Foods Americans and Brits Totally Clash On

Photo Credit: Monkey Business via stock.adobe.com.

In this culinary clash, we examine 12 distinctly British and 12 entirely American foods that fall short across the pond. How many of these gross British foods have you tried?

24 Foods Americans and Brits Totally Clash On

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *