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2025 Data: Best Pizza Cities in the U.S., Ranked

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March 19, 2025

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Ranking 100 American Cities for Pizza | Top 20 Cities for Pizza in the U.S. | Best States for Pizza | How Much Americans Love Pizza  | Top Pizza Styles | Rankings by Category | Methodology | FAQ

Local pizza styles and trends can be like accents. Often, they can help immediately identify something’s origin but sometimes be strange or even incomprehensible to outsiders. 

From city to city and region to region, what you’ll find in the box when you order a pizza can vary quite a bit, from New York’s large, foldable slices to Chicago’s saucy deep dish and even more far-out versions like Colorado-style (served with honey), St. Louis-style (known for a thin, cracker crust), and Ohio Valley-style (with cold, uncooked shredded mozzarella added before serving).

Setting aside regional loyalties and personal biases, we once again set out to find America’s best pizza city, a spot Denver won in 2024 after two consecutive titles for Detroit in 2022 and 2023.

This year, Clever Real Estate evaluated 100 of America’s largest cities on factors including:

• The number of pizza restaurants per capita.
• The average price of large cheese and pepperoni pizzas on thousands of pizzeria menus (and how they compare to local incomes). 
• Clever’s Pizza Passion Score, which reflects Google searches related to pizza in various markets. 
• A city’s perceived pizza quality, as measured by a poll of 2,000 Americans.

After crunching the numbers, a new champion came out on top as the best pizza city in the United States for 2025. 

Rochester, New York, secured its spot as the Pizza Capital of America as a result of one of the highest Pizza Passion Scores (98 out of 100), a high number of pizza restaurants per capita (25 per 100,000 residents), and high average Yelp ratings for pizzerias (4.11 out of 5). 

Respondents also chose New York State as their top pizza state, with 77% saying it’s a top-five pizza state compared to 56% for Illinois and 45% for California. 

No. 2 Philadelphia and No. 3 Boston also take spots on the pizza podium, as Northeastern cities dominate the top 10 with eight spots overall. Only one Southern city ranked in the top 20, Washington, D.C., which is tied for No. 17.   

Keep reading to see where other top cities landed and why, as well as revealing survey results that show just how much Americans love pizza — including how many are willing to relocate to a better pizza city.

The 100 Best Pizza Cities in the U.S., Ranked

*Clever’s Pizza Passion Score is compiled using Google search data for pizza and pizza-related topics in a metro area. The score is out of 100.

**Percentage of the metro area’s median household income required to buy one large cheese and one large pepperoni pizza per week. 

The 20 Best Cities for Pizza in the U.S.

1. Rochester, New York

Score: 100/100

Rochester residents have good reason to be passionate about their local pies, too. Pizza restaurants in the city earn a typical Yelp score of 4.11 out of 5, above the national average of 3.93. Roughly 9% of Americans believe Rochester is a top-five pizza city, good for 12th place overall, an impressive showing for a relatively lesser-known metro. 

It’s an ideal place to try the distinctively delicious Western New York style of pizza. As opposed to its better-known New York City cousin, Western New York pizza differentiates itself with a thicker, chewy crust, a subtly sweeter sauce, and “cup-and-char” pepperoni, which curls into small cups as it crisps during baking. 

» Read More Stats on New York

2. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Score: 98.9/100

Residents of the City of Brotherly Love share a lot of that love with their local pizza joints, which earn an average Yelp rating of 4.19 out of 5, notably higher than the national average of 3.93. 

Philly also earns an above-average Pizza Passion Score of 76.3 out of 100, eight points higher than the country as a whole (68.3).  

Although it might not have the prominence of New York-, Chicago-, or Detroit-style pizza, Philadelphia boasts a respectable pizza heritage, particularly the city’s beloved tomato pies. Often served at room temperature, the thick, focaccia-like crust is topped with nothing other than quality tomato sauce and a shake or two of parmesan cheese. 

» Read More Stats on Pennsylvania

3. Boston, Massachusetts

Score: 97.7/100

This affordable pizza doesn’t compromise on quality either, with Boston’s pizzerias earning an above-average Yelp rating of 4.09 out of 5 stars. Altogether, it helps this historic Northeastern city earn an 80.4 out of 100 Pizza Passion Score, almost 18% higher than average. 

Boston’s contribution to the world of pizza comes in the form of Greek-style pizza, which, despite its name, doesn’t usually include typical Greek flavors such as feta or gyro meat. Instead, it’s characterized by an olive oil-enriched crust and a rich tomato sauce and is proofed and cooked in a shallow pan. 

Despite this style not being common outside New England, 14% of Americans selected Boston as a top-five pizza city, coming in at 7th overall.  

» Read More Stats on Massachusetts

4 (tie). Detroit, Michigan 

Score: 97.4/100

Detroit also earns a strong Pizza Passion score of 80.6 out of 100. That can be explained in part by Detroit pizza’s rise into the national spotlight in recent years. The thick, chewy, rectangular pies are cooked in high-sided pans like the type once designed as a parts tray for the auto industry. Sauce is applied in dollops or stripes, and cheese spread to the edge of the crust helps create a crispy, lacy texture. 

Despite its popularity and filling nature, pizza in Detroit is also more affordable than average for typical large cheese pies ($16.25 vs. $18.02) and large pepperoni pies ($17.86 vs. $20.42). 

Detroit’s high score is particularly impressive, considering it only has 6.8 pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents, barely half the national average (12.4). 

» Read More Stats on Michigan

4 (tie). Buffalo, New York

Score: 97.4/100

Buffalo seems to love its pizza nearly as much as its namesake wings, and the evidence is more than just online. There are 30 pizza restaurants in Buffalo per 100,000 residents, roughly 2.5x the national average of 12.4. 

The city is known for the same Western New York style that’s so beloved in nearby No. 1 Rochester, alongside the more traditional New York City style. 

Americans agree that Buffalo has supreme pizza, as it ranks No. 6 in the survey of top pizza cities, with about 16% saying it belongs in the top five nationally.

6. New Haven, Connecticut 

Score: 96.7/100

One of the few pizza styles that can directly trace its roots to a single pizzeria, New Haven-style was born at the famous Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana a century ago and has become known around the pizza world for the coal-fired charring and relatively scant amount of cheese. 

This pizza heritage has made an impact. About 1 in 11 (9%) picked it as a top five American pizza city, better than all but nine other cities. It’s one of the many ways New Haven’s reputation looms much larger than the town of roughly 135,000 residents itself. 

Of course, it helps that New Haven residents are truly dedicated to their pizza. They helped their city earn an 89.7 out of 100 Pizza Passion Score, a level bested by only two other metros, Buffalo (100) and Rochester (98).

» Read More Stats on Connecticut

7. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Score: 96.6/100

Pittsburgh is known for its reasonable cost of living, a trait that extends to its pizza prices. Residents pay below-average prices for typical large cheese ($15.94) and pepperoni ($17.86) pizzas compared to $18.02 and $20.42 in the average city, respectively. 

The Steel City is also home to 1.4x more pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents (17.4) than the national average (12.4).

Pittsburgh isn’t closely linked to one type of pizza, though it offers the opportunity to sample one specific regional style that’s as beloved to some locals as it is bizarre to outsiders: cold cheese pizza. Popularized by the restaurant Beto’s, cold shredded cheese is sprinkled on top of the pizza after it comes out of the oven and only partially melts from the residual heat before serving. It’s similar to the Ohio Valley style that hails from just over the border in Steubenville, Ohio.

8. New York, New York

Score: 95.5/100

According to Yelp, the Big Apple’s pizzerias live up to their reputation, earning an average rating of 4.19 out of 5, substantially higher than the average of 3.93 across the country. 

America’s pizza scene was born in the Big Apple, with Lombardi’s widely accepted as the country’s first pizzeria. From these early Neapolitan-inspired pies, New York-style pizza was born: large, hand-tossed pies with a distinctive combination of a substantial crust and a thin, foldable interior. 

The style’s characteristic size is one reason why average prices are the highest in the country ($26 for a large cheese and $29.75 for a large pepperoni on average), along with the general cost of living in the city. 

This price issue, along with a merely average number of pizzerias per capita (12.3), is what kept this iconic pizza city from a higher ranking. 

9. Albany, New York

Score: 94.8/100

New York’s capital also provides cheaper-than-average pizza, with large cheese pies costing $16.37 and large pepperoni ones selling for $18.54.  

Although it may not be particularly well known, Albany still earned a respectable 15th place among the top pizza cities from survey respondents, with around 7% picking it in their top five. 

Albany pizza lovers will find primarily New York City-style pies, though the metro’s pizza scene is also influenced by nearby Utica and its “upside-down”-style pizza popularized by O’Scugnizzo Pizza, with sauce applied on top of the cheese. 

10. Chicago, Illinois

Score: 94.7/100

As the home of America’s second-favorite pizza style (per the Clever survey), this reputation makes sense, particularly considering Chicago’s significant contribution to America’s pizza scene: deep dish. Crafted in a high-edged pan with extensive amounts of cheese and toppings placed under a thick layer of chunky tomato sauce, it’s a far cry from typical pizza and can be somewhat polarizing for this reason.

Chicagoans’ love for their unique pizza is as deep as the dish it’s baked in, earning the Windy City a significantly above-average Pizza Passion Score of 83.1 out of 100, compared to 68.3 nationally. 

However, like New York, this beloved pizza city was held back in the rankings by high prices: $22.73 for a typical large cheese pizza and $26.10 for a large pepperoni, compared to the national averages of $18.02 and $20.42, respectively. 

Although the ingredient-heavy nature of Chicago-style pizza can explain some of these extra costs, it still adds up to an above-average 2.92% of the city’s median household income to buy weekly cheese and pepperoni pizzas. 

» Read More Stats on Illinois

11. Syracuse, New York

Score: 94.6/100

It’s likely this may help keep prices down, as Syracuse diners spend an average of $16.60 for a large cheese pie (vs. $18.02 nationally) and $19.00 for a large pepperoni (vs. $20.42 nationally). 

Perhaps from its association with New York State or other popular pizza cities in the region, Syracuse came in 13th when Americans were surveyed about their top picks, with just over 7% selecting it as a top-five choice. 

Syracuse also earned an 82.7 out of 100 Pizza Passion Score, well above average (68.3).

12. Los Angeles, California

Score: 94.2/100

From high-end spots to neighborhood restaurants, L.A. pizzerias earn an average of 4.3 out of 5 Yelp stars. That’s nearly 10% above the national average of 3.93, good for third-best in the nation.  

Unfortunately, it may be relatively hard to find pizza in Los Angeles, with just five pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents compared to 12.4 in the typical city. 

Los Angeles is a great spot to try the Golden State’s contribution to the pizza world, known as California style. On top of a traditionally thin, tossed crust, adventurous chefs forged a new variety by adding sophisticated or unusual toppings such as sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, goat cheese, prosciutto, and more.  

» Read More Stats on California

13. Las Vegas, Nevada

Score: 94.1/100

Though not typically an area known for pizza, Las Vegas, somewhat surprisingly, ranked ninth when Americans were asked to name the best U.S. pizza cities, with over 10% putting it in the top five. In addition to being home to plenty of pizza-loving transplants from the Northeast and Chicago areas, Vegas’ status as an entertainment destination has also lured higher-end chefs and restaurants for those looking for an upscale pie. 

Unfortunately, local salaries don’t seem to have kept up with pizza costs. Buying one large pepperoni pizza and one large cheese pizza per week costs 3.56% of the area’s median household income, more than any other city studied. 

» Read More Stats on Nevada

14. San Francisco, California

Score: 94/100

This is solely due to the area’s sky-high median income, as typical cheese ($20.79) and pepperoni ($23.44) pizzas cost more than the national average ($18.02 and $20.42, respectively).

As the home region of California-style pizza, hungry diners are sure to find plenty of that type on local menus. However, San Francisco’s vibrant food scene and numerous transplants from other regions have helped it develop a diverse and noteworthy pizza culture, too. San Francisco ranks No. 8 in the survey of Americans’ top pizza cities, thanks to nearly 14% selecting it as a top-five choice.

San Francisco pizza restaurants are well-reviewed by diners, too, with a 4.31 out of 5-star average rating on Yelp, the second-highest in the country.

15. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Score: 93.5/100

Milwaukee pizza restaurants earn an average of 4.08 out of 5 stars on Yelp, above the national average of 3.93. In addition, over 7% of Americans selected Milwaukee as a top-five pizza, placing the city at No. 14.

Stylewise, Milwaukee is known for pizza that’s about as far from nearby Chicago’s deep dish as possible. The thin, sometimes cracker-like crust is topped with Wisconsin cheese and often enhanced with sausage, mushroom, and peppers. 

» Read More Stats on Wisconsin

16. Phoenix, Arizona

Score: 93.3/100

Phoenix residents also won’t have to bust their budget to enjoy a delicious pie. Large cheese pizzas average $16.83 each, compared to $18.02 nationally, and large pepperoni pizzas average $19.46, lower than $20.42 nationally

Relatively strong local salaries also mean buying one pepperoni pizza and one cheese pizza per week costs just 2.2% of the area’s median income. 

Another city rich in transplants, Phoenix’s pizza scene includes a diverse mix of styles, from New York-, Chicago-, and California-influenced pies to pizzas with Southwestern flair typical of the region’s cuisine. 

» Read More Stats on Arizona

17 (tie). Washington, D.C.

Score: 93.1/100

Washington’s pizza restaurants are also well-reviewed, earning 4.14 out of 5 Yelp stars, higher than the national average of 3.93. In addition, pizza prices are narrowly lower than national averages: $17.80 for a typical large cheese compared to $18.02 nationally and $20.31 for a pepperoni pie vs. $20.42 nationally. 

Stylistically, D.C. offers something for all kinds of pizza lovers. Those looking for sophisticated, high-end pies will find a variety of premium pizzerias throughout the District, while late-night revelers and truly hungry diners can grab a jumbo slice, a gargantuan (if sometimes only middling-quality) piece of pizza that can stretch more than a foot in length.  

17 (tie). St. Louis, Missouri

Score: 93.1/100

St. Louis pizza is characterized by its ultra-thin, crispy, cracker-like crust topped with a blend of cheddar, provolone, and Swiss known as Provel cheese. It was popularized by the legendary local chain Imo’s Pizza but has since spread to numerous competitors. 

There’s little doubt St. Louis residents are pleased with their local options. Area pizza restaurants score 4.2 out of 5 stars on Yelp, significantly higher than the 3.93 national average. 

Despite this quality, prices are right in line with national average pizza prices, at $18.03 for large cheese, just a penny more than the country as a whole. 

» Read More Stats on Missouri

19 (tie). Denver, Colorado

Score: 93/100

Denver pizza joints earn an average Yelp rating as lofty as the elevation, 4.22 out of 5, compared to 3.93 across all U.S. pizza restaurants surveyed. 

Denver is also right in line with the typical American city’s Pizza Passion Score, earning a 67.1 out of 100, just slightly lower than the 68.3 national average. 

The Mile High City is one of the best places for pizza aficionados to try the regional version known as Colorado-style pizza. Originating at the popular chain Beau Jo’s, the so-called “mountain pies” stand out for their thick, slightly sweet crust made from whole-wheat flour. Not only is the dough infused with honey, it’s often served with extra for drizzling on the crust, creating a savory-sweet combo beloved by millions in the Mountain West.  

» Read More Stats on Colorado

19 (tie). Seattle, Washington

Score: 93/100

Local pizza joints in Seattle score an average of 4.12 out of 5 Yelp stars, above the national average (3.93). Similarly, the median income required to buy two weekly large pizzas (one cheese and one pepperoni) is slightly under the typical percentage, 2.39% vs 2.51%. 

Seattle earned a spot in the top 20 despite not having a particularly defined pizza style unique to the city. However, top local pizza joints often serve pies with a heavy focus on local, farm-to-table ingredients, a nod to the city’s overall status as a haven for foodies. 

» Read More Stats on Washington

Honorable Mentions

21. Madison, Wisconsin (92.7/100): Madison benefits from pizza affordability, with the lowest average price for a cheese pizza in the country, $13.77. It also has a strong Pizza Passion Score of 81.1 out of 100. 

22. Cleveland, Ohio (92.3/100): Cleveland has one of the highest rates of pizzerias per capita, with 34 per 100,000 residents, in addition to a high Pizza Passion Score (83.2 out of 100). 

23. Orlando, Florida (92/100): Orlando’s pizza restaurants are apparently well-liked by people who have eaten there, earning an above-average 4.15 out of 5 stars on Yelp. 

24. San Diego, California (91.4/100): This Southern California city earned the highest average Yelp score of any of the 100 metros studied, 4.35 out of 5 stars. 

25. Houston, Texas (90.7/100): Despite a relatively low number of pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents (3.9), typical Houston pizzas are cheaper than average: $16.62 for large cheese and $18.70 for large pepperoni, versus $18.02 and $20.42 nationally, respectively. 

New York Is America’s Best Pizza State

More than three-quarters of Americans (77%) listed the Empire State as one of America’s five best pizza states, more than any other. Five New York cities rank in our top 20: Rochester (No. 1), Buffalo (No. 5), New York (No. 8), Albany (No. 9), and Syracuse (No. 11). Poughkeepsie also came in at No. 33, rounding out the top third. 

Second-place Illinois, home to No. 10 Chicago’s iconic deep dish, is more than 20 percentage points behind in American pizza views, listed by 56% of Americans as a top-five pizza state. 

California (45%) and New Jersey (33%) also stand out, as well as Pennsylvania (23%). In fifth place, the Keystone State is the only one other than New York to have multiple top 10 cities: No. 2 Philadelphia and No. 7 Pittsburgh. 

Things are considerably more grim for pizza lovers in the northern plains, with just 1% each saying North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Idaho are top pizza states. 

Out of the top 20 pizza cities in the U.S., nine are in the Northeast, evidence that the region still “has the sauce,” with the country’s longest and most diverse pizza heritage. Six are located in the West, beating out the four found in the Midwest, which includes iconic pizza cities No. 4 Detroit and No. 10 Chicago. 

Only one Southern city, No. 17 Washington, D.C., ranks in the top 20 American pizza cities. 

1 in 3 Americans Love Pizza Enough to Move to Better Pizza Cities

Although there might be more important things to consider when evaluating a city, there may not be any more important food to check out than pizza. A majority of Americans (59%) say pizza is their favorite food, with Gen Z (73%), millennials (65%), Gen X (63%), and those from the Northeast (62%) most likely to say so. 

The latter group makes sense, considering the significant number of Northeastern cities near the top of our rankings. Two-thirds of people from the Northeast (67%) also believe their area has above-average pizza, far higher than any other region and 25 percentage points higher than the South (42%). 

The vast majority (87%) of Americans say they prefer to get their pizza from small, independent pizza places over large chains. However, this ranges from 90% of boomers down to just 77% of Gen Z. 

America’s passion for pizza goes a lot further than just frequent orders from their neighborhood spot. More than a third (35%) would even consider moving to a city with better pizza, including around half of younger generations, such as millennials (52%) and Gen Z (48%). 

To be sure, the idea of uprooting your life for pizza may sound a bit cheesy. But in reality, many see more benefits to premium pizza proximity than just a delicious slice now and then. 

A majority of Americans (58%) believe being close to popular restaurants, including pizzerias, increases property values, including two-thirds of millennials (67%) and 62% of those in the South. That’s backed up by the fact that 42% say that if a neighborhood had multiple top-rated pizza places, it would make them more likely to move there. 

About 1 in 4 (25%) would even pay more for a home close to popular pizza places, with 47% of Gen Z saying so. It’s particularly important for homeowners and potential buyers to take these preferences into consideration, as these younger generations will be the majority of buyers in the years ahead.

From New York-Style to Clam-Topped: America’s Favorite and Least Favorite Pizza Styles 

Our tour of the best pizza cities in the U.S. exposed a dizzying array of styles and presentations for this deceptively complex food. However, despite the many options, the country’s most beloved style is a familiar one. 

New York-style pizza, known for its thin, foldable crust and large slices, is America’s favorite, loved by 51% of respondents and liked by 38% more. Just 5% feel negatively about it.

Thick, saucy Chicago-style pizza came in second (40% love, 40% like), followed by two more authentic varieties: bready Sicilian (36% love, 41% like) and traditional Neapolitan (36% love, 39% like). 

Three-quarters of Americans or more view all four styles positively. Four others earn positive reviews from a majority of Americans: fresh, foldable California-style (63%), thick, rectangular Detroit-style (63%), St. Louis-style’s thin cracker crust (55%), and even the controversial Hawaiian pizza (56%), often criticized for the unusual pairing of ham and pineapple toppings. 

America’s least favorite style is clam pizza, a unique variety hailing from Connecticut made without red sauce and with plenty of its namesake seafood. Although 51% admit never having tried it, only about 1 in 6 (16%) have any positive feelings toward it, half as many as feel negatively (33%). 

Clam pizza isn’t the only notable style that’s seemingly unknown to many Americans. Over half (54%) had never heard of Ohio Valley-style pizza, which hails from the small town of Steubenville. Sometimes compared to a Lunchable, it’s marked by cold toppings sprinkled just before serving on top of a square crust baked with sauce. 

A similar number (48%) have never heard of thick-crusted, honey-forward Colorado pizza, while 38% aren’t familiar with coal-fired New Haven-style pizza.

As much as we love pizza as a nation, not every pizza opinion is a positive one. About 1 in 3 think either New York-style (32%) or Chicago-style pizza (33%) is overrated. Those in the Midwest are most likely to say that about New York pizza (42%), while Northeasterners are most likely to say the same about Chicago pizza (36%). 

Rankings by Category

Methodology

Data for this study was obtained from the US Census, American Community Survey, Yelp, and more than 1,000 pizza restaurant websites.  

In addition, we conducted a survey of 2,000 American adults, asking them about their pizza preferences.

To obtain our ranking, data points were weighted as follows:

• Pizza Reputation (survey of 2,000 Americans): 43%
• Pizza Passion (analysis of Google search trends): 27%
• Pizza Availability (analysis of pizza restaurants): 20% (8% pizza restaurant counts and 12% Yelp ratings)
• Pizza Affordability (cost analysis): 10% (4% cheese pizza prices, 4% pepperoni pizza prices, and 2% affordability on a median household income)

Scores were indexed on a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 indicates the best pizza city overall across these metrics, and 0 indicates a theoretical worst pizza city.

About Clever

Since 2017, Clever Real Estate has been on a mission to make selling or buying a home easier and more affordable for everyone. Twelve million annual readers rely on Clever’s library of educational content and data-driven research to make smarter real estate decisions — and to date, Clever has helped consumers save more than $180 million on realtor fees. Clever’s research has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Inman, Housing Wire, and many more.

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