The Gist: Atlanta climbs the ranks in a new list that serves as a guide for herbivores, landing a spot in the top 20 U.S. cities for vegans and vegetarians.
The Report: WalletHub, a personal-finance website, released a comprehensive report that ranks the best and most budget-friendly U.S. cities for plant-based eaters. Atlanta claimed its place at number 19, with notable distinctions in specific categories like salad shops.
By The Numbers:
- Top 3 Cities: Portland, Oregon took the top spot, followed by Los Angeles and Orlando.
- Atlanta’s Special Mention: The city stood out for having the most salad shops per square root of population, boasting a rate of 0.2865.
- Contrast: Irving, Texas, led the way with the most restaurants offering vegetarian options at about 56 percent. Laredo, Texas lagged far behind at just 2.31 percent.
Why It Matters: For the estimated 15.5 million adults in the U.S. who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, the city in which they reside could significantly influence their lifestyle choices and costs. Atlanta’s appearance in the top 20 suggests an increasing shift toward more sustainable and health-conscious eating options, even in a region traditionally known for its Southern comfort food.
Go Deeper: To view the full WalletHub report, please visit: WalletHub’s Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians
Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.
