Best Cities for Pizza
Best Cities for Pizza – Running a presidential campaign is a lot like making a pizza.
Both require a lot of dough, rely heavily on cheesiness, and inevitably, things get heated.
Americans, however, are generally less interested in political parties than pizza parties.
In fact, demand for pizza is so strong that pizza prices are rising faster than overall inflation — 4.0% compared to 3.5%.
To decide 2024’s best city for pizza, the data team at Clever Real Estate analyzed a multitude of mouthwatering metrics.
They ranked the 50 biggest metro areas in the U.S. using the following parameters for each city:
Pizza reputation, based on a survey of 1,000 Americans
Rate of pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents
Pizza passion, based on local internet search activity for 34 pizza-related terms (e.g., “pizza near me,” “pizza delivery,” “pan pizza,” etc.)
Average Yelp rating for pizza restaurants
Average price of a large cheese pizza
Average price of a large pepperoni pizza
Share of median annual income required to purchase one cheese pizza each week for a year
Share of median annual income required to purchase one pepperoni pizza each week for a year
Denver Colorado
Denver is America’s best city for pizza.
Pizza restaurants in the Colorado capital average 4.05 stars out of 5 on Yelp — one of the highest averages in the country.
The Mile High City is at the top of the mountain when it comes to the best pizza cities.
In addition to earning positive Yelp reviews, Denver pizza is easily affordable for the typical resident.
Buying a cheese pizza each week for a year in Denver requires 1.03% of the median annual income — 30% less than the income required in the average city we reviewed (1.47%).
Denver scored an 82 out of 100 in our pizza passion metric, which measures how often locals are searching Google for pizza-related terms.
Denver’s score is 14% higher than the average city’s score of 72 and includes ranking No. 1 out of 50 cities for online search interest in pan pizza.
Good Pizza in Denver: Beau Jo’s & Angelo’s Taverna
Buffalo New York
Buffalo makes a strong case for being the best pizza city in the Empire State.
Buffalo has 17.8 pizza restaurants per 100,000 people — more than any other city in our rankings and double the average city’s rate of 8.4 per 100,000 people.
Buffalo’s pizza scene has climbed in our rankings each year, from No. 17 in 2022 to No. 9 in 2023.
Now, it’s earned the title of the second-best pizza city in the U.S.
Buffalo scored a 92 out of 100 in our pizza passion metric based on local Google search activity, which is 28% higher than the average city’s score of 72.
The city ranked first nationwide in online searches for several types of pizza, including brick oven pizza, breakfast pizza, taco pizza, and tomato pie.
Buffalo had a chance to earn the No. 1 spot overall but was hurt by low affordability.
Buying a weekly cheese pizza costs typical residents 1.91% of their annual income — 30% more than the average city’s cost of 1.47%.
Good Pizza in Buffalo: Daddio’s Pizza & Vice Restaurant
Boston Massachusetts
Frequent pizza parties won’t break your budget in Boston.
Buying a cheese pizza each week costs the typical resident 1.09% of their annual income — 26% cheaper than 1.47% in the average city.
In addition to affordability, Boston has 12.3 pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents — 46% more than the typical city’s rate of 8.4 per 100,000 residents.
Boston scored an 88 out of 100 in our pizza passion metric, based on how often locals search the web for pizza-related terms.
That’s 22% higher than the average city’s score of 72. Specifically, Boston ranks No. 1 in online search interest for flatbreads and No. 2 for search interest in Greek pizza.
Good Pizza in Boston: Santarpio’s Pizza & Regina Pizzeria
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
This historic city’s pizza scene will impress tourists and residents alike, ranking among our top 10 pizza cities for the third year in a row.
In Philadelphia, you can feel the weight of America’s history — without waiting too long for a slice.
Philadelphia has 11.2 pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents — 33% more than the average city’s 8.4 per 100,000.
Pizza lovers won’t go broke here either.
Buying a cheese pizza once per week for a year in Philadelphia costs 1.21% of the typical resident’s annual income — 18% cheaper than the typical city’s cost of 1.47% of annual income.
Philadelphia scored an 86 out of 100 in our pizza passion metric, based on Google search activity for pizza terms.
That’s 19% higher than the average city’s score of 72 and includes ranking No. 2 in online search interest for varieties such as pizza margherita, pizza bagels, and tomato pie.
San Diego CA
About 24% of Americans consider San Diego a top five pizza city in the U.S. — the fourth-highest percentage among all 50 cities in our analysis, behind only New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
San Diego is the best pizza city on the West Coast.
Pizza restaurants here average 4.13 stars on Yelp, the second-best average of any city.
Plus, you won’t have to choose between quality and quantity.
The city has 9.4 pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents — 12% more than the typical city, which averages 8.4 per 100,000 people.
San Diego earned a high overall ranking but was hurt by high pizza prices.
A large cheese pizza in San Diego costs about $22.70 — the seventh-highest price point of any city in their study.
Good Pizza in San Diego: Regents Pizzeria & Pizzeria Luigi
San Francisco CA
High local incomes make San Francisco the most affordable city for pizza in the U.S.
Affording one cheese pizza each week for a year costs just 0.9% of the typical resident’s annual income.
That’s 39% less than the income required in the average city (1.47%).
San Francisco’s pizza prowess doesn’t stop with pricing.
Local pizza restaurants average 4.03 stars on Yelp, better than the typical city’s average of 3.89 and the eighth-best mark of any metro we analyzed.
Word of San Francisco’s pizza scene has spread.
In a Clever poll of 1,000 Americans, 24% say they consider San Francisco among the top five pizza cities in the U.S. — a higher share than 45 of the 50 cities included in the survey.
San Francisco also ranks No. 1 in the country for online search interest in vegetarian pizza.
Good Pizza in San Francisco: Little Star Pizza & Pizzetta 211
Hartford Connecticut
Hartford scored a 99 out of 100 in our pizza passion metric, based on how often residents search Google for pizza-related terms.
Hartford’s score is the second-highest score of any city, trailing only Detroit.
You won’t have to search long to find pizza in this Connecticut city.
Hartford has 15.1 pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents, the fourth-highest rate of any metro and nearly twice as many as the average city (8.4 per 100,000).
Although best known for its ties to the insurance industry, Hartford is starting to get some recognition nationwide for its pizza scene.
About 8% of Americans say they consider Hartford a top five pizza city in the U.S.
Hartford residents seem to have two favorite varieties based on Google Trends data, with the city ranking first in online search interest for Greek pizza and New Haven-style pizza.
Good Pizza in Hartford: Savoy Pizzeria & Craft Bar & Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
Washington D.C.
Neapolitan pizza is a favorite in the nation’s capital.
In fact, this metro ranks second nationwide for Google search volume of Neapolitan pizza, behind only Milwaukee.
D.C. made one of the biggest jumps in our rankings this year, graduating into the top 10 from No. 24 overall in 2023.
This metro has both taste and affordable pricing on its side. Pizza restaurants here are well-reviewed — averaging 3.93 stars on Yelp, just above the typical city’s average of 3.89 stars.
Plus, Washington, D.C., is one of the most affordable cities for pizza lovers.
Buying a cheese pizza each week for a year costs 1.2% of the local median annual income.
That makes D.C. 18% more affordable than the average city, where it costs 1.47% of annual income.
Good Pizza in Washington, D.C.: Pupatella & Wiseguy Pizza
Detroit Michigan
After back-to-back years as America’s best city for pizza, Detroit slipped from No. 1 to No. 9 in 2024.
But Dough-Town still has an admirable pizza scene.
For starters, no city is more passionate about pizza than Detroit. Residents search Google for pizza-related terms more often than in any other city we reviewed.
That includes ranking No. 1 in online search interest for BBQ chicken pizza and, of course, Detroit-style pizza.
Buying pizza in Detroit won’t hurt your wallet.
The average cost for a large cheese pizza here is $16.36 — the eighth-cheapest price in the U.S. and 15% cheaper than the average city’s price of $19.34.
Unfortunately, however, Detroit’s pizzeria reviews have dropped off since our 2023 list of the best pizza cities.
Pizza restaurants here average 3.77 stars out of 5 on Yelp — below the typical city’s score of 3.89 stars.
Good Pizza in Detroit: Ottava Via & Buddy’s Pizza
Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh has 14.4 pizza restaurants per 100,000 residents — the fifth-highest rate in the U.S. and 71% more than the average city (8.4 per 100,000 residents).
In addition to hosting plenty of pizza places, Pittsburgh has some of the nation’s best prices for pizza.
A large cheese pizza in Pittsburgh averages about $15.90, the fourth-lowest price in our analysis and 18% cheaper than the typical city’s price of $19.34.
Pittsburgh scored a 90 out of 100 in our pizza passion metric, based on the volume of local Google searches for pizza-related terms.
Pittsburgh’s score is 25% higher than the average city’s pizza passion score of 72.
That includes ranking No. 2 nationally for search interest in French bread pizza and No. 3 for interest in tomato pie.
Good Pizza in Pittsburgh: Proper Taproom & Piccolo Forno
Chicago Illinois
Pricy pies prevented Chicago from ranking higher.
A large cheese pizza in Chicago costs about $27.66 — 43% more than it costs in the typical city ($19.34).
Purchasing a pepperoni pizza each week for a year in the Windy City would cost 2.19% of the local median annual income, making Chicago the third-least affordable city in the country by that metric.
On the bright side, Chicago scored a 93 out of 100 in our pizza passion metric, which measures the local volume of Google searches for pizza terms.
That’s the fourth-highest score in the country and 29% higher than the average score of 72.
Chicago has the third-best reputation of any pizza city, according to a Clever poll of 1,000 Americans.
About 35% of Americans say they consider Chicago a top five pizza city, behind New York (41%) and Los Angeles (40%).
It’s tough to see Chicago beaten by L.A. — a city that considers dairy a dirty word.
Good Pizza in Chicago: Pequod’s Pizza & Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
New York NY
Pizza prices are a pitfall for New York in 2024.
The city has the highest average prices in the nation for both a large cheese pizza ($28.60) and a large pepperoni pizza ($33.65).
Even with a massive population, New York still has more pizza restaurants per capita than the average city on our list.
The city has 9.7 pizza restaurants per 100,000 people — 15% more than the typical 8.4 per 100,000.
New York City also has the country’s best reputation for quality pizza, according to Clever’s polling.
About 41% of Americans say they consider NYC among the top five pizza cities in the U.S. — more than any other metro.
Although it has a strong reputation for prime pies, pizza joints in the city average just 3.93 stars out of 5 on Yelp.
That’s still above average (3.89 stars) but not the type of results you’d expect from a city known for its pizza.
Nineteen cities in our rankings have a better average score.
Despite finishing below Chicago this year, New Yorkers can feel vindicated, knowing that Americans are on their side when it comes to preferring thin crust over deep dish.
Good Pizza in New York: Prince Street Pizza & Grimaldi’s Pizzeria
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