Your store regularly get dozens of participants at your group runs, you sell a lot of running shoes and socks and your 5Ks regularly sell out. Great, but is your store located in one of America’s healthy cities? Let’s see.
A recent report revealed what it is calling “the wellness capitals of America,” ranking each area in terms of various factors, from yoga-packed states to those overflowing with hiking and running trails and healthy food.
Wellness has become a lifestyle priority for millions of Americans. With stress levels rising, chronic illness on the rise and the cost of healthcare pushing people toward prevention, more residents are turning to running, hiking, yoga, healthy food options and mental-wellness practices to stay balanced.
A recent Gallup poll shows Americans are spending more time and money on activities tied to longevity and self-care, from morning Pilates classes to weekend hiking trips. Wellness has quietly become part of the national culture.
Here are some of the results:
- California ranks No. 1 for wellness-oriented living, scoring especially high in hiking trails and wellness search interest.
- Colorado places second, driven by abundant spas, yoga/Pilates studios, and the second-highest wellness search engagement nationwide.
- Utah ranks third, leading the entire country in yoga and Pilates studio density. Delaware and Connecticut round out the top five, each offering strong access to healthy food and fitness facilities.
- States in the top 10 tend to combine outdoor recreation –including running trails – with a culture that actively seeks wellness information online. Healthy food access varied widely, with Vermont and Delaware far ahead of many larger states.
- The western states dominate hiking access, while mid-Atlantic states score higher for healthy food and fitness studios.
But not every place in the US makes living this way equally easy. Some states are packed with hiking trails, healthy restaurants, spas, and meditation spaces, while others offer only limited access to these amenities.
New York ranks sixth overall, and despite having fewer yoga and Pilates centers (33rd), it is third for spas, fourth for hiking trails, and tied for second in wellness interest. The state’s rural and suburban regions help offset the dense urban areas where healthy food access can be limited.
Florida finishes seventh, offering a high number of spas and strong yoga/Pilates access. Even though it ranks 45th for healthy food availability, the state’s warm climate and outdoor culture help keep it wellness-friendly, with nearly 3000 hiking/running trails supporting healthy living.
Massachusetts ranks ninth overall and shines with 4189 hiking/running trails, one of the highest in the nation.
Oregon completes the top 10, bolstered by its spa access (8th) and 3615 hiking/running trails, which help maintain one of the strongest outdoors-driven wellness cultures in the Pacific Northwest.
