Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s and dirty soda shops seem to lurk around every corner on the streets of Utah, which could lead some to believe the state is a fast-food mecca of the nation.
However, a recent study by Seating Masters suggests otherwise. Utah doesn’t even crack the top 10. In fact it isn’t even in the top 25, ranking 43rd nationwide for fast-food restaurants per capita.
The study found Utah had 32.77 establishments per 100,000 residents. West Virginia claims the crown, with 49.04.
To put that in perspective, that’s like West Virginia having three burger spots for every two in the Beehive State.
Behind the study
Researchers analyzed 22 major fast-food chains — including McDonald’s, In-N-Out, Taco Bell and Chipotle — comparing location data against U.S. Census Bureau population statistics.
While Utah’s numbers may seem low to locals, the study limited its numbers to national fast-food giants. Homegrown favorites like Cafe Rio, Costa Vida, Kneaders and Café Zupas were excluded because they lacked the national footprint needed to be considered.
The Beehive State’s popular chains are listed as Subway, McDonald’s and Taco Bell, according to the study.
“We all love fast-food, whether it’s after a long day at work or grabbing it with a friend, but this study shows which states love fast-food just that little bit more,” Amy Hoffman of Seating Masters said.
“These findings highlight where the demand is much higher and that fast-food chains are seeing the highest return on investment in their stores. What is interesting is the sheer difference between the top state of West Virginia where there are nearly double the number of fast-food stores per 100,000 people compared to Vermont, the lowest ranking state.”
Top 10 states (outlets per 100,000 people)
- West Virginia: 49.04
- Kentucky: 47.21
- Kansas: 47.1
- Mississippi: 46.71
- Ohio: 46.43
- Indiana: 46.37
- Arkansas: 46.19
- Louisiana: 45.41
- Tennessee: 44.72
- Wyoming: 44.34
Utah’s neighbor, Wyoming, sneaked into 10th place, bolstered by its 59 Subway locations. That averages out to about 10 Subways per 100,000 residents. So, safe to say if you find yourself hungry in Wyoming, you can probably find a Subway close by.
The bottom group
- Hawaii: 34.07
- Pennsylvania: 33.74
- Washington: 33.09
- Utah: 32.77
- New Jersey: 31.45
- Alaska: 30.82
- California: 30.05
- Idaho: 29.78
- New York: 29.47
- Vermont: 27.65
Subway emerged from the study to be the most influential franchise in the U.S. It claims over 50% more restaurants than McDonald’s nationwide, a number that might not surprise some Midwest locals.