Which States Are the Most Obsessed with Cheese in 2024?

Cheese is a quintessential part of American cuisine, but interest in it isn’t equally distributed across the country. While some states are hotbeds of cheese passion, others seem to have a milder taste for this dairy delight.

At AnyCheese, we analyzed Google search volume data over the last year for 50 cheese-related keywords and combined it with population statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. This gave us a clear view of which states are most and least obsessed with cheese, normalized to searches per 100,000 residents.

Our study uncovers a staggering 252,365 monthly searches across the nation for cheese-related terms. This massive number highlights the country’s undeniable love for cheese, though some regions clearly stand out.

Texas, despite its vast population, manages to secure the top spot, while other states like Mississippi and South Dakota rank at the bottom.

---

Key Findings

• Nationwide, 252,365 monthly searches for cheese showcase the nation’s collective cheese enthusiasm.
• Texas leads the pack with 1,178 searches per 100,000 residents, demonstrating widespread interest in cheese.
• Tennessee and Florida follow closely, with 1,099 and 1,038 searches per 100,000 people, respectively.
• The bottom states include Mississippi, South Dakota, and Wyoming, each showing notably lower search interest in cheese.

---

Ranking the U.S. States by Cheese Interest, 2024 (Table)

Rank	State	Annual Searches	Monthly Searches	Population	Annual Searches Per 100,000 People	Monthly Searches Per 100,000 People
1	Texas	359,404	29,950	30,503,301	1,178	98
2	Tennessee	78,327	6,527	7,126,489	1,099	92
3	Florida	234,600	19,550	22,610,726	1,038	86
4	Delaware	10,577	881	1,031,890	1,025	85
5	New York	189,779	15,815	19,571,216	970	81
6	Massachusetts	66,284	5,524	7,001,399	947	79
7	Indiana	63,336	5,278	6,862,199	923	77
8	Kentucky	41,483	3,457	4,526,154	917	76
9	Colorado	53,820	4,485	5,877,610	916	76
10	Nebraska	17,988	1,499	1,978,379	909	76
11	Washington	70,649	5,887	7,812,880	904	75
12	Virginia	78,350	6,529	8,715,698	899	75
13	Illinois	110,234	9,186	12,549,689	878	73
14	Oklahoma	34,822	2,902	4,053,824	859	72
15	Arizona	63,505	5,292	7,431,344	855	71
16	Georgia	93,132	7,761	11,029,227	844	70
17	North Carolina	90,654	7,555	10,835,491	837	70
18	Missouri	50,814	4,235	6,196,156	820	68
19	California	317,262	26,439	38,965,193	814	68
20	Kansas	23,937	1,995	2,940,546	814	68
21	Oregon	34,193	2,849	4,233,358	808	67
22	Nevada	25,716	2,143	3,194,176	805	67
23	Vermont	5,140	428	647,464	794	66
24	Connecticut	28,450	2,371	3,617,176	787	66
25	New Jersey	73,011	6,084	9,290,841	786	65
26	Maryland	48,536	4,045	6,180,253	785	65
27	Hawaii	11,204	934	1,435,138	781	65
28	Wisconsin	46,063	3,839	5,910,955	779	65
29	Utah	26,273	2,189	3,417,734	769	64
30	Rhode Island	8,374	698	1,095,962	764	64
31	Maine	10,639	887	1,395,722	762	64
32	Minnesota	43,356	3,613	5,737,915	756	63
33	Pennsylvania	97,071	8,089	12,961,683	749	62
34	New Mexico	15,806	1,317	2,114,371	748	62
35	Ohio	85,452	7,121	11,785,935	725	60
36	Michigan	70,405	5,867	10,037,261	701	58
37	New Hampshire	9,829	819	1,402,054	701	58
38	Iowa	22,083	1,840	3,207,004	689	57
39	West Virginia	12,119	1,010	1,770,071	685	57
40	South Carolina	34,890	2,908	5,373,555	649	54
41	Arkansas	19,633	1,636	3,067,732	640	53
42	Alabama	30,282	2,524	5,108,468	593	49
43	Idaho	11,383	949	1,964,726	579	48
44	Louisiana	26,215	2,185	4,573,749	573	48
45	Montana	6,486	541	1,132,812	573	48
46	Alaska	4,158	347	733,406	567	47
47	North Dakota	4,239	353	783,926	541	45
48	Wyoming	3,069	256	584,057	525	44
49	South Dakota	4,376	365	919,318	476	40
50	Mississippi	12,131	1,011	2,939,690	413	34
	United States	3,028,380	252,365	334,914,895	904	75

10 Most Cheese-Obsessed States

1. Texas
   With an incredible 1,178 annual searches per 100K residents, Texas tops the list. The state generates a massive 29,950 monthly searches, reflecting its strong appetite for cheese in everything from Tex-Mex to classic barbecue dishes.
2. Tennessee
   Tennessee secures second place with 1,099 annual searches per 100K. Its 6,527 monthly searches demonstrate an increasing love for cheese, likely influenced by hearty Southern cuisine.
3. Florida
   Florida ranks third, boasting 1,038 annual searches per 100K residents. Despite its vast population, the state manages an impressive 19,550 monthly cheese-related searches fueled by diverse culinary trends.
4. Delaware
   Delaware follows with 1,025 annual searches per 100K residents. The state’s 881 monthly searches reflect significant interest, especially given its smaller population of just over 1 million.
5. New York
   New York, with 970 annual searches per 100K, brings in 15,815 monthly searches. The state’s vibrant food culture, from New York pizza to artisanal markets, drives this engagement.
6. Massachusetts
   Massachusetts garners 947 annual searches per 100K residents, totaling 5,524 monthly searches. Its historic cheese-making heritage likely contributes to this strong interest.
7. Indiana
   Indiana ranks seventh, with 923 annual searches per 100K residents. The state logs 5,278 monthly searches, reflecting a notable appreciation for cheese in local cuisine.
8. Kentucky
   With 917 annual searches per 100K, Kentucky has 3,457 monthly searches. The state’s love for cheese is evident in its fondness for comfort food dishes that often feature-rich, cheesy ingredients.
9. Colorado
   Colorado shows strong interest, with 916 annual searches per 100K. The state’s 4,485 monthly searches highlight an engaged community, perhaps drawn to artisanal and specialty cheeses.
10. Nebraska
    Rounding out the top 10, Nebraska records 909 annual searches per 100K residents. The state’s 1,499 monthly searches suggest a growing appreciation for cheese, perhaps inspired by its agricultural ties.

---

10 Least Cheese-Obsessed States

1. Arkansas
   Arkansas has only 640 annual searches per 100K residents. The state’s 1,636 monthly searches reflect a more modest interest in cheese compared to other regions.
2. Alabama
   Alabama comes in with 593 annual searches per 100K residents, totaling 2,524 monthly searches. Despite its rich culinary traditions, cheese doesn’t seem to be a major focus.
3. Idaho
   Idaho shows limited interest, with 579 annual searches per 100K residents. The state’s 949 monthly searches suggest a relatively mild curiosity about cheese.
4. Louisiana
   Louisiana records 573 annual searches per 100K residents. Its 2,185 monthly searches reflect a lukewarm engagement, even though the state has a rich food culture.
5. Montana
   Montana has only 573 annual searches per 100K, with 541 monthly searches. The state’s sparse population may contribute to the lower engagement.
6. Alaska
   Alaska ranks low, with 567 annual searches per 100K. The state logs 347 monthly searches, reflecting minimal interest in cheese.
7. North Dakota
   North Dakota shows even less curiosity, with just 541 annual searches per 100K residents. Despite its population of 783,926, there are only 353 monthly searches.
8. Wyoming
   Wyoming has 525 annual searches per 100K residents, translating to 256 monthly searches. The state’s remote and rural nature may contribute to this lower search frequency.
9. South Dakota
   South Dakota records 476 annual searches per 100K, with 365 monthly searches. Interest in cheese here remains low despite the state’s agricultural roots.
10. Mississippi
    Mississippi comes in last with only 413 annual searches per 100K. The state logs 1,011 monthly searches, marking it as the least cheese-obsessed state in the nation.

---

Methodology

Data Collection

We collected search volume data for 50 cheese-related keywords from Google Keyword Planner. Population statistics for each state were sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Data Analysis

To compare states fairly, we calculated annual searches per 100,000 residents. This metric allowed us to rank states based on their relative cheese interest, balancing search volume with population size.

This comprehensive analysis paints a vivid picture of America’s diverse cheese culture.

The keywords used are as follows. We felt these were some of the most commonly searched and relevant keywords related to all things cheese. 

• Aged cheese
• Artisanal cheese
• Asiago
• Blue cheese
• Brie
• Burrata
• Cheddar
• Cheese
• Cheese board
• Cheese cellar
• Cheese curds
• Cheese fondue
• Cheese grater
• Cheese knife
• Cheese monger
• Cheese pairing
• Cheese platter
• Cheese shop
• Cheese slicer
• Cheese wheel
• Chèvre
• Colby
• Cottage cheese
• Cream cheese
• Emmental
• Feta
• Fontina
• Gorgonzola
• Gouda
• Gruyère
• Halloumi
• Hard cheese
• Havarti
• Limburger
• Manchego
• Mascarpone
• Monterey Jack
• Mozzarella
• Muenster
• Paneer
• Parmesan
• Pecorino
• Provolone
• Queso
• Raw milk cheese
• Ricotta
• Smoked cheese
• Soft cheese
• Stilton
• Swiss cheese