Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians

Adam McCann, Financial WriterSep 26, 2022

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Sep 26, 2022

About 15.5 million U.S. adults are vegan or vegetarian. Unfortunately, it’s not the easiest lifestyle to adopt, as finding meatless options at restaurants and supermarkets can be a challenge. That’s beginning to change, though, as more and more venues have begun to offer vegetarian or vegan meals, including many fast-food chains.

One of the biggest concerns people express about vegetarian or vegan diets is the cost. However, with meat costs rising faster than those of fruits and vegetables, Americans may find working some vegetarian or vegan meals into their diet to be an attractive option.

Fortunately, many U.S. cities offer plentiful and inexpensive options for budget-conscious herbivores. To determine the best and cheapest places for a plant-based diet, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 17 key indicators of vegan- and vegetarian-friendliness. We examined each city based on such metrics as the cost of groceries for vegetarians, the share of restaurants serving meatless options and salad shops per capita.

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Most Vegetarian- & Vegan-Friendly Cities

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Affordability	Diversity, Accessibility & Quality	Vegetarian Lifestyle
1	Portland, OR	61.15	38	5	27
2	Orlando, FL	56.49	37	2	15
3	Los Angeles, CA	52.97	45	17	2
4	Phoenix, AZ	52.81	19	13	65
5	Austin, TX	52.62	12	12	66
6	Seattle, WA	51.95	92	3	3
7	San Francisco, CA	51.74	99	1	1
8	Tampa, FL	50.90	62	9	5
9	San Diego, CA	50.78	35	8	19
10	Lexington-Fayette, KY	50.47	15	63	35
11	Boise, ID	49.89	25	25	44
12	Miami, FL	49.37	82	4	8
13	Cincinnati, OH	49.16	6	27	74
14	El Paso, TX	48.45	4	80	53
15	Plano, TX	48.13	9	50	52
16	Las Vegas, NV	47.84	26	16	26
17	Bakersfield, CA	47.47	27	33	97
18	Washington, DC	47.36	93	7	31
19	Fort Wayne, IN	47.25	8	74	70
20	Chicago, IL	47.19	28	19	25
21	Louisville, KY	46.98	16	49	73
22	Atlanta, GA	46.74	42	15	21
23	Oakland, CA	46.70	95	20	10
24	Houston, TX	46.51	13	53	64
25	Lincoln, NE	45.66	5	86	49
26	Tucson, AZ	45.52	40	22	96
27	Scottsdale, AZ	45.47	63	14	54
28	Chandler, AZ	45.36	60	26	47
29	Denver, CO	44.88	52	11	72
30	New York, NY	44.35	91	6	18
31	San Antonio, TX	44.29	10	59	77
32	Madison, WI	44.28	81	18	4
33	Fresno, CA	43.95	73	23	97
34	St. Louis, MO	43.70	68	29	63
35	Indianapolis, IN	43.40	30	46	12
36	Dallas, TX	43.15	32	40	16
37	Gilbert, AZ	42.98	51	42	45
38	Irving, TX	42.85	20	88	37
39	Lubbock, TX	42.83	17	73	97
40	Irvine, CA	42.65	70	39	39
41	Corpus Christi, TX	42.37	2	90	82
42	Long Beach, CA	42.13	79	38	34
43	Jersey City, NJ	41.73	31	89	33
44	Sacramento, CA	41.71	67	24	62
45	Laredo, TX	41.71	1	98	97
46	Raleigh, NC	41.65	47	54	42
47	Charlotte, NC	41.63	56	43	6
48	Mesa, AZ	41.45	33	61	57
49	Colorado Springs, CO	41.15	65	48	48
50	Birmingham, AL	40.68	55	28	88
51	Virginia Beach, VA	40.47	48	58	59
52	Nashville, TN	40.41	43	45	7
53	Pittsburgh, PA	40.37	74	30	22
54	Philadelphia, PA	40.26	64	34	69
55	Omaha, NE	40.23	57	62	61
56	Albuquerque, NM	40.12	44	37	20
57	Cleveland, OH	39.97	39	66	60
58	Oklahoma City, OK	39.90	14	67	29
59	Wichita, KS	39.82	18	77	84
60	Aurora, CO	39.37	11	93	50
61	St. Petersburg, FL	39.00	84	35	41
62	Tulsa, OK	38.96	7	76	85
63	Columbus, OH	38.49	29	69	75
64	Norfolk, VA	38.17	53	78	56
65	Glendale, AZ	38.11	60	72	46
66	Reno, NV	38.07	80	36	68
67	Riverside, CA	37.96	78	21	86
68	Garland, TX	37.84	24	99	40
69	Newark, NJ	37.48	90	96	17
70	Jacksonville, FL	37.42	69	55	14
71	Kansas City, MO	37.30	34	75	23
71	New Orleans, LA	37.30	59	32	32
73	St. Paul, MN	37.07	72	71	43
74	Honolulu, HI	36.98	96	10	89
75	Milwaukee, WI	36.96	36	70	80
76	Baton Rouge, LA	36.71	54	57	93
77	Minneapolis, MN	36.71	85	31	28
78	Arlington, TX	36.41	41	87	67
79	Detroit, MI	36.29	21	84	78
79	Buffalo, NY	36.29	75	44	24
81	Winston-Salem, NC	35.97	49	68	90
82	Chesapeake, VA	35.70	50	92	55
83	Fort Worth, TX	35.56	23	81	79
84	Anaheim, CA	35.53	88	65	36
85	Memphis, TN	34.96	46	79	81
86	Toledo, OH	34.07	3	83	87
87	Stockton, CA	33.95	76	41	95
88	Durham, NC	32.86	87	60	13
89	Boston, MA	32.48	98	47	11
90	Baltimore, MD	32.32	86	52	30
91	Santa Ana, CA	32.30	88	82	38
92	Henderson, NV	31.59	71	85	92
93	Greensboro, NC	31.30	58	56	91
94	Hialeah, FL	30.82	77	97	51
95	Anchorage, AK	30.21	94	64	58
96	North Las Vegas, NV	29.71	22	100	94
97	Fremont, CA	29.71	100	94	9
98	Chula Vista, CA	29.43	66	95	76
99	San Jose, CA	29.09	97	51	71
100	San Bernardino, CA	25.11	83	91	83

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Cost of Groceries for Vegetarians

Lowest

Lowest
1. Fort Wayne, IN
2. Kansas City, MO
3. Corpus Christi, TX
4. Oklahoma City, OK
5. Lexington-Fayette, KY

Highest

Highest
96. New York, NY
97. Oakland, CA
98. Fremont, CA
99. San Francisco, CA
100. Honolulu, HI

% of Restaurants Serving Vegetarian Options

Highest

Highest
T-1. Plano, TX
T-1. Chandler, AZ
3. Scottsdale, AZ
4. St. Petersburg, FL
5. Washington, DC

Lowest

Lowest
96. Stockton, CA
97. North Las Vegas, NV
98. San Bernardino, CA
99. Newark, NJ
100. Laredo, TX

% of Restaurants Serving Vegan Options

Highest

Highest
T-1. Scottsdale, AZ
T-1. St. Petersburg, FL
T-1. Washington, DC
T-1. New Orleans, LA
T-1. New York, NY

Lowest

Lowest
96. Garland, TX
97. Hialeah, FL
98. Newark, NJ
99. Laredo, TX
100. North Las Vegas, NV

Farmers Markets & CSA Programs per Capita

Most

Most
1. Miami, FL
2. San Francisco, CA
3. New York, NY
4. Portland, OR
5. San Diego, CA

Fewest

Fewest
94. Fort Wayne, IN
95. Irving, TX
96. North Las Vegas, NV
97. Newark, NJ
98. Lincoln, NE

Juice & Smoothie Bars per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Las Vegas, NV
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Honolulu, HI
T-1. San Diego, CA

Fewest

Fewest
96. Winston-Salem, NC
97. Henderson, NV
98. Milwaukee, WI
99. Toledo, OH
100. Chesapeake, VA

Salad Shops per Capita

Most

Most
T-1. Atlanta, GA
T-1. San Francisco, CA
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Orlando, FL
T-1. Pittsburgh, PA

Fewest

Fewest
96. Henderson, NV
97. Garland, TX
98. Laredo, TX
99. North Las Vegas, NV
100. San Bernardino, CA

Vegetable Nurseries per Capita

Most

Most
1. Miami, FL
2. Orlando, FL
3. Tampa, FL
4. Tucson, AZ
5. Portland, OR

Fewest

Fewest
96. Laredo, TX
97. Henderson, NV
98. Jersey City, NJ
99. Boston, MA
100. Newark, NJ

Ask the Experts

Cutting meat from your diet requires commitment and, in some cases, extra cash. To help you switch successfully to a vegan or vegetarian diet while sticking to your budget, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What tips do you have for someone who wishes to adopt a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle while on a budget?
Should the government subsidize the purchase of fruits and vegetables by discounting the price for people using food stamps?
What can parents do to encourage children to consume more veggies?
What tips do you have for someone who wishes to become a vegetarian? How can the transition be made smoother?
What are the most common mistakes people make when being on a vegan or vegetarian diet, and how can they avoid them?

Ask the Experts

Robin M. Tucker
Ph.D., RD, FAND – Associate Professor, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition – Michigan State University
Read More

Heidi Lynch
Ph.D., RDN – Associate Professor, Kinesiology Department – Point Loma Nazarene University
Read More

Jane Burrell
M.S., RD, CDN – Associate Teaching Professor, Nutrition Science & Dietetics Program, David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics – Syracuse University
Read More

Alisa Dodds
MS, RDN – Senior Lecturer, Department of Health and Human Sciences – Loyola Marymount University
Read More

Lisa Herzig
RDN, CDCES – Professor/DPD Director – California State University, Fresno
Read More

Enette Larson-Meyer
Ph.D., RD, CSSD, FACSM – Professor, Director, Master in Nutrition and Dietetics Program, Graduate Program Faculty, Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for vegans and vegetarians in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 100 most populated cities across three key dimensions: 1) Affordability, 2) Diversity, Accessibility & Quality and 3) Vegetarian Lifestyle.

We evaluated those dimensions using 17 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for vegans and vegetarians. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we calculated the population size using the square root of the population in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In constructing our sample, we considered only the “city proper” in each case and excluded surrounding cities in the metro area.

Affordability – Total Points: 33.33

Cost of Groceries for Vegetarians: Full Weight (~11.11 Points)
Note: “Groceries” excludes all animal products, except dairy and eggs.
Availability of Affordable, Highly Rated Restaurants Serving Vegan & Vegetarian Options: Full Weight (~11.11 Points)
Note: “Highly Rated” refers to a rating of at least 4.5 stars.
Average Meal Cost: Full Weight (~11.11 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated using the following formula: Average Dollar Amount Spent on Food per Week by Food-Secure Individuals / 21 Meals (three meals per day X seven days per week).

Diversity, Accessibility & Quality – Total Points: 33.33

Share of Restaurants Serving Vegetarian Options: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Share of Restaurants Serving Vegan Options: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Farmers Markets & CSA Programs per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: “CSA” refers to community-supported agriculture.
Certified Organic Farms per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Juice & Smoothie Bars per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Salad Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Vegetable Nurseries per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Community Gardens per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Access to Fresh Vegetarian Food*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)
Note: “Fresh Vegetarian Food” refers to vegetable, melon, potato, sweet potato, fruit, tree-nut, berry and cow-milk production per capita.
Vegetarian Cooking Classes per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.33 Points)

Vegetarian Lifestyle – Total Points: 33.33

Ranking on Grubhub’s List of Cities Most Likely to Order Vegetarian or Vegan: Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
Note: This metric was used as a proxy for the vegetarian population and is based on GrubHub’s data analysis of “more than 30,000 restaurants’ pickup and delivery orders” to determine where customers are most likely to order vegetarian or vegan options.
Vegetable & Fruit Consumption: Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of adults who consumed vegetables and fruits one or more times per day and was used as a proxy for the vegetarian population. A lower share of adults who consume fruits and vegetables daily indicates a lower probability of vegetarian prevalence.
Vegan & Vegetarian Meetups per Capita*: Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
Availability of Vegan & Vegetarian Festivals: Full Weight (~8.33 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of vegan and vegetarian festivals, as follows:
1 – The city hosts a vegan and vegetarian festival.
0 – The city does not host a vegan and vegetarian festival.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Feeding America, Yelp, TripAdvisor, USDA Organic INTEGRITY Database, The Trust for Public Land, United States Department of Agriculture, Vegan.com, GrubHub and Meetup.

Supporting Video Files:

Questions & Answers(3 questions)

How many people are vegetarian/vegan for humanitarian reasons vs. health reasons?

Upvotes

Love the information and promotion of the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. Why was Salt Lake City not included?

Upvotes

Which cities are embracing a whole food plant-based lifestyle which is much healthier than even vegan diets?

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