America likes to snack. That’s not a big revelation. But a 2024 study by data firm HubScore tried to make sense of who snacks on what, and where. Using geotagged online reviews, search trends, and consumer behavior data, the study determined the most popular snack in every U.S. state.
Here are the most popular snacks in America, per state.
Rice Krispies Treats
Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
If you grew up with sticky fingers and cereal-based desserts at bake sales, this tracks. Rice Krispies Treats are the most beloved snack in the country, taking the top spot in 18 states. Kellogg’s started mass-producing them in 1995, but the homemade version — marshmallows, melted butter, and cereal in a pan — was already a PTA legend. Nobody eats these because they’re hungry. You eat them because you are sad. Or bored. Or six.
Doritos
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C.
Doritos dominate the South and Mid-Atlantic, where people clearly respect a snack that kicks back. From their 1966 debut at Disneyland to the Flamin’ Hot cultural takeover, Doritos have mastered the formula: artificial cheese, aggressive crunch, and marketing that screams at you.
Cheetos
Arizona, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas
Cheetos are the snack of choice in the Southwest and parts of the Midwest, which makes sense — this is Flamin’ Hot country. Originally launched in 1948, Cheetos now move over a billion dollars in annual sales, with spinoffs ranging from puffs to mac and cheese.
Chex Mix
Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota
Doubt that anybody’s picking Chex Mix as their last meal, but here it is — ranked first in three states.
Fritos
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming
If Doritos are the frat boy of snacks, Fritos are your grandpa’s glovebox snack. Fritos first launched in the 1930s and haven’t changed much since, which is part of the reason they’ve held on in places like Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The ingredients are minimal — corn, oil, and salt — and the shape is built for dipping or topping.
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Lay’s
Connecticut, New York
It’s somewhat surprising that the undisputedly safest snack in the game will have loyal fans in only two states. The khakis of snacks, you bring Lays to parties when you don’t want to be judged and eat them when you’re too tired to flavor. That’s probably why New York and Connecticut chose them — they’re risk-averse.
Cheerios
New Jersey
New Jersey said no to chips, cheese, and chocolate — and yes to plain cereal. Respect, but also, are you okay? Not Honey Nut. Not Multi-Grain. Regular Cheerios. Either it’s the strongest flex of self-control in snack history, or New Jersey misunderstood the assignment.
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