The Most And Least Sweet-Obsessed States In America for 2024

A new study ranks the most and least sweet-obsessed states in America for 2024 and I thought it would be fun to share!

According to sweet experts at Taffyshop.com, Pennsylvania is the most obsessed with sweets, earning a Sweet Obsession Score of 80.

This is because people in the state search for sweets online a lot, and kids eat an average of 22.86 sugary snacks per week.

Pennsylvania also has 12 candy shops for every 100,000 people, and its sugar industry makes about $6 billion every year.

On the other hand, West Virginia is the least sweet-obsessed, with a score of 50. People search for sweets less, and kids eat only 8.12 sugary snacks a week.

West Virginia has fewer candy shops—just 1.6 per 100,000 residents—and its sugar industry makes a smaller $30 million each year.

How the Study Was Done:

Taffyshop.com ranked all 50 states by looking at how often people search for sweets, how many sugary snacks kids eat per week, how many candy shops there are, and how much money the sugar industry makes. The data came from places like Yelp, 24/7 Wall St, and Google.

Key Findings:

- Pennsylvania, with a score of 80, is the most sweet-obsessed state.

- West Virginia, with a score of 50, is the least sweet-obsessed.

- California has the most people searching for sweets online (8.6 million), while Wyoming has the fewest (1 million).

- Kids in Pennsylvania eat the most sugary snacks per week (22.86), while kids in Utah eat the least (4.83).

- Hawaii has the most candy shops (12 per 100,000 people), while North Dakota has the fewest (1.6).

- California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania make the most money from their sugar industries ($6 billion each), while Wyoming makes the least ($30 million).

- Utah has a low average of sugary snacks eaten each week (4.83) but still has a lot of candy shops (4.5 per 100,000 people), which may be because tourists buy a lot of sweets.

- Southern states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky have higher sugary snack consumption, showing a strong love for sweets in that region.

- New York and Ohio have high numbers of people searching for sweets online but don’t eat as many sugary snacks each week, likely because of their urban areas.

- Hawaii’s many candy shops seem to cater to tourists, even though the locals eat a moderate amount of sweets.

- Idaho and Kentucky, despite their smaller populations, rank high in how many sugary snacks their residents eat per week, with averages of 16.44 and 17.76 snacks.

10 Most Sweet-Obsessed States in the USA 2024

10 Most Sweet-Obsessed States in the USA 2024Photo byThe Taffy Shop

1. Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is the most sweet-obsessed state with a score of 80. The state sees 3.7 million online searches for sweet snacks and kids (ages 1-17) eat an average of 22.86 sugary snacks per week. Pennsylvania has about 3.3 candy and chocolate shops per 100,000 people, and its sugar industry generates $6 billion.

2. Illinois

Illinois ranks second with a sweet obsession score of 70.56. The state has 3.85 million searches for sweet snacks and kids consume an average of 13.69 sugary snacks per week. There are 3.5 candy shops per 100,000 people, and Illinois' sugar industry also makes $6 billion a year.

3. California

California is third with a score of 66.83. It leads the country in sweet snack searches, with 8.6 million, and kids eat 9.74 sugary snacks per week. California has 3.8 candy shops per 100,000 residents, and its sugar industry makes $6 billion, like Pennsylvania and Illinois.

4. Vermont

Vermont scores 66.15 and has the second-highest number of candy shops (11.5 per 100,000 people). It has fewer searches for sweet snacks (1.13 million), and kids eat 9.6 sugary snacks per week. Vermont's sugar industry brings in $226 million, which is lower than other top states.

5. Hawaii

Hawaii ranks fifth with a score of 65.79. It has 1.4 million searches for sweet snacks, and kids eat 8.12 sugary snacks per week. Hawaii has the most candy shops per person (12 per 100,000) and a sugar industry worth $433 million.

6. New York

New York has a sweet obsession score of 61.98. It sees 4.75 million sweet snack searches and kids eat 13.95 sugary snacks per week. There are 3.3 candy shops per 100,000 people, and the sugar industry generates $2 billion.

7. Kentucky

Kentucky scores 61.58. It has 2.03 million searches for sweet snacks and kids eat a high average of 17.76 sugary snacks per week. The state has 2.7 candy shops per 100,000 residents, and the sugar industry makes $354 million.

8. Ohio

Ohio ranks eighth with a score of 61.07. The state has 5.33 million searches for sweet snacks and kids eat 12.95 sugary snacks per week. It has 3.4 candy shops per 100,000 people, and the sugar industry makes $2 billion, like New York.

9. Idaho

Idaho is ninth with a sweet obsession score of 60.1. The state sees 1.52 million searches for sweet snacks, and kids eat 16.44 sugary snacks per week. There are 3 candy shops per 100,000 residents, and Idaho's sugar industry is worth $100 million.

10. New Jersey

New Jersey ranks tenth with a score of 60.03. It has 2.78 million sweet snack searches and kids eat 13.99 sugary snacks per week. The state has 2 candy shops per 100,000 people, and the sugar industry generates $2 billion, like Ohio and New York.

10 Least Sweet-Obsessed States in the USA 2024

10 Least Sweetest States In The USA 2024Photo byThe Taffy Shop

1. West Virginia

West Virginia ranks lowest in sweet obsession, with a score of 50. The state has about 1.5 million online searches for sweet snacks and kids (ages 1-17) eat an average of 8.34 sugary snacks per week. There are 2.1 candy shops per 100,000 people, and the sugar industry makes $46 million.

2. Wyoming

Wyoming has the second lowest score of 50.18. The state has 1 million searches for sweet snacks, and kids eat 7.38 sugary snacks weekly, the third lowest in the country. Wyoming has 2.9 candy shops per 100,000 residents, and the sugar industry makes $30 million, the least in the nation.

3. Connecticut

Connecticut’s sweet obsession score is 50.49. The state has the second lowest number of candy shops (1.9 per 100,000 people) but its sugar industry contributes $407 million. Connecticut has 2 million searches for sweet snacks, and kids eat 8.36 sugary snacks per week.

4. Utah

Utah scores 50.73 and sees 2 million searches for sweet snacks. Kids in Utah eat the least amount of sugary snacks, averaging only 4.83 per week, but the state has 4.5 candy shops per 100,000 people. The sugar industry makes $407 million, the same as Connecticut.

5. Kansas

Kansas has a sweet obsession score of 50.9. It sees 1.8 million searches for sweet snacks, and kids eat an average of 8.47 sugary snacks per week. Kansas has 2.3 candy shops per 100,000 people, and its sugar industry makes $257 million.

6. Nebraska

Nebraska scores 51.05. The state has 1.6 million searches for sweet snacks, and kids eat 8.53 sugary snacks per week. Nebraska has 2.6 candy shops per 100,000 people, and its sugar industry generates $85 million.

7. Delaware

Delaware’s sweet obsession score is 51.2. It has 1.35 million sweet snack searches, and kids eat 7.71 sugary snacks weekly. Delaware has 3.3 candy shops per 100,000 residents, and its sugar industry brings in $58 million.

8. Nevada

Nevada ranks eighth with a score of 51.67. The state has 1.96 million sweet snack searches, and kids eat 7.87 sugary snacks per week. Nevada has 3.3 candy shops per 100,000 people, and the sugar industry makes $201 million.

9. Montana

Montana scores 51.7 with 1.26 million sweet snack searches. Kids eat 8.3 sugary snacks per week. The state has 3.2 candy shops per 100,000 residents, and the sugar industry makes $71 million.

10. Florida

Florida rounds out the list with a score of 52.01. The state has 4.2 million sweet snack searches, and kids eat 7.87 sugary snacks per week. Florida has 2.4 candy shops per 100,000 people, and its sugar industry generates a huge $1 billion.

Experts from Taffyshop.com shared their thoughts on the study:

"The study shows big differences in America's love for sweets, with Sweet Obsession Scores ranging from 80 to 50. These differences are more than just about taste—they affect the economy too. Some states make as much as $6 billion from the sugar industry, while others only make $30 million. The number of candy shops and how often people eat sugary snacks also changes from state to state. States that really love sweets see benefits like more jobs and a stronger economy, but they also have to deal with health issues, like higher obesity rates. This data shows how important it is to find a balance between growing the economy and staying healthy."

Here is the full study

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