New Jersey Claims Unexpected National Title in Food Category

Clear Facts

• New Jersey ranks as America’s most ice cream-obsessed state based on Google search data from April 2025 to April 2026
• Seven of the top 10 states for ice cream enthusiasm are located on the East Coast
• Vermont has the highest concentration of ice cream shops in America with 18.51 shops per 100,000 residents

Americans love their ice cream, but some states take that passion to another level. A new analysis of consumer search behavior reveals surprising regional patterns in the nation’s dessert preferences.

Examining Google search trends from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., between April 2025 and April 2026, Innerbody Research found that New Jersey leads the nation in ice cream enthusiasm. The Garden State’s closest neighbors share this passion, with Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York rounding out the top five states for ice cream search interest.

The East Coast’s dominance is clear. Seven of the top 10 most enthusiastic states were located along the Atlantic seaboard, with New Hampshire claiming the No. 6 spot and Maine at No. 8.

The bottom five states for ice cream enthusiasm, according to the search data, were Arkansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Regarding flavor preferences, strawberry emerged as the most searched-for ice cream flavor nationwide, dominating searches in California, Texas and Michigan. Chocolate chip and cookie dough surpassed traditional favorites like plain chocolate and vanilla in search volume.

However, search behavior doesn’t always match actual purchasing patterns. Instacart reported in 2025 that vanilla was the most-ordered ice cream flavor in summer 2024, accounting for 27% of all ice cream sold during that season, followed by chocolate and cookies and cream.

The International Dairy Foods Association’s biannual National Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey, released in April, currently lists chocolate as America’s favorite flavor. Butter pecan ranked second, followed by vanilla.

Steve Christensen, executive director of the North American Ice Cream Association, offered insight into the regional patterns.

“I wasn’t surprised that New England and the broader Northeast ranked high on the list of ice cream searches,” Christensen told Fox News Digital.

He explained that the region has some of the highest concentrations of ice cream shops per capita. Vermont leads the nation with 18.51 shops per 100,000 residents, according to an analysis by Daily Herd. Rhode Island, New Hampshire and New York also rank in the top 10.

The seasonality of many Northeast ice cream stores might contribute to search intensity.

“They have a big launch at the beginning of the season and a big, grand finale at the end,” Christensen said.

Christensen, based in St. Louis, Missouri, questioned the Midwest’s lower ranking in the Innerbody research.

“The Midwest didn’t really feature highly in some of the stats here,” he said. “They love their butterfat. They love their sugar and their sweet things. They may have been misrepresented. The Midwest needs a little bit of an oomph when it comes to the ice cream stats in the study.”

Regional flavor preferences show distinct patterns, according to the association’s observations. Midwesterners and Southerners favor rich flavors like butter pecan and black walnut.

Northeast consumers tend to prefer “more crisp, clean flavors, like mint,” while the West Coast shows strong interest in “new-trend flavors like matcha and ube,” Christensen noted.

Internet search data reveals “people are very passionate about their local brand and some of the origin states where their ice creams come from,” Christensen said.

A growing trend toward natural ingredients is reshaping the industry. Brands using less-processed, more natural sweeteners are gaining popularity, reflecting Americans’ increasing health consciousness.

“There’s a movement of people using raw, bespoke ingredients and making ice cream with a very clean label,” Christensen said.

More Americans are making ice cream at home and selling it at local farmers markets and in their communities, he noted.

Despite health trends, ice cream remains a high-fat, high-sugar indulgence.

“Making good health choices should perhaps be done before you step into the ice cream store,” Christensen advised.

The average American consumes about 18 pounds of ice cream, or approximately 4 gallons, each year, according to the IDFA.

“Going to an ice cream shop is like a 15-minute vacation,” Christensen said. “You don’t have to pack the kids up and go to Disney. You don’t even have to pack the car up.”

Ice cream shops serve as community gathering places, bringing together young people and families alike, Christensen noted.

His advice for ordering ice cream is straightforward.

“Try the vanilla first. If the vanilla’s good, then everything’s good.”

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