Surprising Cities Top List of Best Pizza Cities in the U.S.

Who has the best pizza in America? Would you believe Buffalo, NY, Hartford, CT, and Birmingham, AL? That’s the results found in Clever Real Estate’s annual rankings .

When it comes to pizza, most people think of New York City or Chicago as the best. However, a recent survey reveals the unexpected contenders for the title of best pizza city in the United States.

Buffalo, NY, Hartford, CT, and Birmingham, AL boast affordability, passionate pizza-loving residents, an abundance of pizzerias, and consistently high restaurant ratings. Despite debates over unconventional toppings like pineapple or honey, these cities prove that a good, affordable pizza is a universal delight.

Best Cities for Pizza

Denver, CO, tops the list with the highest Yelp restaurant ratings. The city boasts increased pie affordability — a large cheese pizza costs $16.79, around 15% less than the national average.

Buffalo, NY; Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA; and San Diego, CA, round out the top five.

San Francisco is headed towards the top, as the city and its pizza lovers rank sixth. San Francisco claimed the No. 15 spot just last year. Traditional pizza topping fans should not get too excited, as many San Franciscans prefer vegetarian pies.

WhatTheFab travel blogger Elise Armitage shares her favorite San Francisco pizzeria, Tony’s Pizza. “Tony’s is an iconic spot in North Beach, and their Neapolitan pizza is mouth-watering. They even import their ingredients from Naples!”

Washington, D.C., jumped to the eighth slot this year despite being No. 24 last year. The nation’s capital offers high-quality pizza at an affordable price, with the typical large pie costing around $19.10.

Detroit, the top pizza city for the previous two years, falls to No. 9 this year. Despite Detroit-style pies’ popularity, data cites recent quality control issues as score-impacting factors. Still, plenty of spots to get a good pie in the city exist. RootedWanderings.com travel writer Ashley Pichea says, “Buddy’s Pizza in Detroit is the best—they created the Detroit-style pizza, and nothing is better than that crispy crust and gooey cheese!”

Most Expensive Cities To Buy a Large Pizza

Inflated pie prices push consumers away despite the dish’s quality. The country’s average large pie runs buyers about $19.34, with a large pepperoni costing customers around $22.22. Though a classic New York City slice is a city staple, pizzas cost hungry New Yorkers more than any other U.S. city. A plain cheese in the Big Apple runs patrons around $28.60. Chicago follows closely behind, with a price of $27.66. Orlando ranks third, with an average price of $25.35.

Fast food restaurants remain the cheapest places to eat out , thanks partly to cost-cutting value menus. But in some cities, buying a pizza is more affordable when feeding a family. The cheapest city to buy a large pizza is Richmond, VA, at $14.75. Cleveland steals the second spot with a price of $15.64. Pittsburgh, PA, ranks No. 3 with a typical pizza price of $15.90.

Consumer creativity can yield significant savings for city-dwellers combating high pie prices. Warehouse chain Costco’s famed in-store concession stand maintains its affordability despite inflated food costs nationwide. Not only is the bulk grocer’s large pizza two inches larger than the average pie, but a large cheese or pepperoni pie costs food court guests only $9.95.

Buyers can save money without sacrificing their slices by opting for frozen pizzas. While freezer aisle patrons run the risk of buying low-quality pies, tried-and-true frozen pizzas — Red Baron Classic Crust Four Cheese Pizza, Amy’s Cheese Pizza, and Screamin’ Sicilian Bessie’s Revenge Cheese Pizza — all rate highly, according to Consumer Reports , and cost less than $10 in most stores.

Worst Pizza Cities

It’s not all good news for the hungry consumers in the lowest-ranking cities. Hangry residents in these cities will be hard-pressed to savor their slices. Memphis, Tennessee, tops the worst pizza city list, followed by San Antonio, TX, and Oklahoma City, OK. Cincinnati, OH, and Charlotte, NC, round out the top five.

It isn’t that these cities offer low-quality pizza. Many of the residents prefer other foods instead. Memphis, for example, is a barbecue hotbed. The town lacks appetite for pizza, with only 3.5 pizza restaurants per 100,000 people, well below the national average.

Pizza Preferences

Consumers’ pizza feelings vary greatly. More than three-quarters of pizza fans (76%) say a slice is an acceptable breakfast food. Only 63% of those who enjoy leftover pizza prefer it warmed; 27% of leftover pizza lovers skip the microwave. Most people (55%) do not think pineapple belongs on a pizza , and only 21% feel that honey should be on a pizza. A majority (65%) enjoy ranch dressing with their pie.

This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks .

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