A new study reveals the most vegan and vegetarian-friendly cities in the United States.
The study, from personal finance website WalletHub, compiled the rankings based on a variety of factors, such as the cost of vegetable-based groceries and the availability of vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
About 4% of Americans are vegetarian and 1% are vegan, according to a 2023 Gallup poll.
In light of rising meat prices, more people may be opting for a meat-free lifestyle, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement.
"While vegetarians and vegans are still a relatively small share of the population, businesses are recognizing their impact on their market," Lupo said.
Here's a look at WalletHub's findings for which cities are the best for vegans and vegetarians.
Which cities are the best for vegans and vegetarians?
According to WalletHub's findings, the top three best cities for vegans and vegetarians are Portland, Oregon, Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas.
Among the key factors for Portland, Oregon, coming in at No. 1 on the list is that the city has the third-largest number of affordable restaurants with vegetarian or vegan options that have at least 4.5 stars on Yelp. The city also has a high number of organic farms, community gardens, farmers markets and vegetable nurseries per capita, according to WalletHub's finding.
At No. 2 on the list, Los Angeles ranked high in part because its residents eat vegan and vegetarian food 187% more often the the national average. The city also has a variety of farmers markets, organic farms, community gardens and vegetable nurseries, making buying or growing fresh produce much more accessible, WalletHub said.
Austin, Texas, came in third on the list partially because of its low food prices; it's one of the cheapest cities for eggs, which is a common protein choice for vegetarians, WalletHub's analysis said.
How WalletHub ranked vegan and vegetarian-friendly cities
WalletHub said it compiled the ranking of the most vegan and vegetarian-friendly cities in the country by looking at the 100 most populated cities across three key categories: affordability; diversity, accessibility and quality; and vegetarian lifestyle.
These categories were broken down further into more specific metrics. For example, one metric in the affordability category was the cost of groceries, excluding all animal products except dairy and eggs. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, then calculated into the city's weighted average score.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. Keep up with her on X @melinakh and Instagram @bymelinakhan.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vegan or vegetarian? These are the best cities for you, study finds
