New Hampshire Claims Crown as America’s Pizza Capital, Study Says

Forget New York, ditch Chicago – a new champion has emerged in the American pizza landscape. According to recent research, the state with the biggest appetite for pizza isn’t where you might expect. Step aside, culinary titans, because New Hampshire is officially the number one pizza destination in the United States.

This surprising revelation comes from a study conducted by Maine Lobster Now, a company more commonly associated with seafood than slices. The study employed a unique methodology, analyzing several key factors to determine each state’s pizza affinity. These included the number of pizzerias per 100,000 residents, the level of local interest in pizza based on Google search data, and the average price of a pizza pie in each state.

Travel + Leisure magazine reported on the study, including statements from Maine Lobster Now explaining their findings. The results paint a clear picture: New Hampshire is a pizza paradise.

"New Hampshire is the ultimate destination for pizza lovers," Maine Lobster Now stated, highlighting the state’s impressive 1,022 pizzerias. This equates to a remarkable 72.73 pizzerias per 100,000 residents, a figure that topped all other states in the dataset.

Beyond sheer quantity, New Hampshire also boasts significant local enthusiasm for pizza. The state recorded 22,512 pizza-related Google searches per 100,000 residents, demonstrating a high level of engagement with the cheesy dish. Coupled with an average pizza price of $15.74, New Hampshire offers both plentiful options and affordable prices for pizza aficionados.

"Add in the high pizza enthusiasm of 22,512 pizza-related searches per 100,000 residents and a wallet-friendly average pizza price of $15.74, and youve got a state that ensures pizza enthusiasts have ample options at relatively affordable prices," Maine Lobster Now explained.

While New Hampshire grabbed the top spot, other states also made a strong showing in the rankings. Ohio emerged as another pizza hotspot, boasting a total of 4,150 pizzerias across the state. What truly set Ohio apart, however, was its remarkable number of pizza-related searches – a staggering 28,563 per 100,000 residents. This represents the highest search ratio among the top five states, indicating an intense craving for pizza among Ohioans.

Following New Hampshire and Ohio, the remaining states in the top five were Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, further showcasing the diverse geography of American pizza love. The rest of the top ten included Kansas, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Indiana, solidifying the notion that pizza passion spans the nation.

Kansas, in particular, stood out for its affordability. The average price of a pizza pie in Kansas was a mere $14.96, making it one of the most budget-friendly states for pizza consumption.

Perhaps the most surprising result of the study was the relatively low ranking of New York, a state synonymous with pizza. New York landed in a shocking 29th place, a position that seems almost impossible to reconcile with its iconic status in the pizza world.

The study attributed New York’s low ranking to a combination of factors. First, the average price of a pizza pie in New York is significantly higher than in other states, averaging $19.73. This makes New York pizza one of the most expensive in the dataset. Second, New York has a relatively low density of pizzerias, with only approximately 19 pizzerias per 100,000 residents.

"Its hard to reconcile these numbers with New Yorks cultural dominance in the pizza world, but its iconic, thin, foldable slices continue to shape Americas love for pizza, regardless of the rankings," the report acknowledged.

Despite its lower ranking, New York’s influence on American pizza culture remains undeniable. The state’s signature thin-crust, foldable slices have become a defining characteristic of American pizza, inspiring countless imitations and variations across the country. While New Hampshire may currently hold the title of America’s pizza capital, New York’s legacy continues to shape the way Americans think about and enjoy pizza.

The Maine Lobster Now study provides a fascinating glimpse into the diverse and evolving landscape of American pizza consumption. While New York and Chicago may have long reigned as the undisputed kings of pizza, this research suggests that a new champion has emerged, and that pizza love is flourishing in unexpected corners of the United States. Whether you prefer a classic New York slice, a deep-dish Chicago pie, or a New Hampshire-style creation, one thing is clear: America’s passion for pizza is alive and well.