The 10 States With the Most Gyms (And the Least)
The state with the most gyms is Minnesota, boasting 10 gyms per 100,000 residents.
New York has the fewest gyms, with only 3 gyms per 100,000 residents.
6% of American workers consider a paid gym membership one of their top job benefits.
As of 2026, only 51% of Americans engage in physical activity at least 3 days a week for 30 minutes.
Gyms currently employ around 829,491 individuals across the US. For many, these facilities represent not just places to exercise but also career opportunities that can help pay bills and fulfill professional aspirations. Fortunately, the fitness industry continues to offer a variety of well-paying and fulfilling jobs.
However, the number of gyms varies significantly across different states.
Below, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of the states leading in gym availability, along with insights on how this data was collected.
Interestingly, Minnesota ranks highest in gym density, with 10 gyms per 100,000 residents. This may be attributed to the state’s active lifestyle, often motivated by the cold climate.
Where do you find the least gyms?
New York, with its high population density, has the fewest gyms per capita, resulting in approximately 32,106 residents for every gym. This might reflect a trend where urban dwellers find it challenging to access fitness facilities.
Read on to discover how your state measures up.
How We Determined This
The data collection process was straightforward. We consulted fitness experts from Exercise.com. The organization analyzed the locations of the 14 largest gym chains across each state:
- 24 Hour Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- CrossFit
- Crunch Fitness
- Curves Fitness
- Equinox
- Gold’s Gym
- LA Fitness
- Life Time Fitness
- Orange Theory Fitness
- Planet Fitness
- Snap Fitness
- World Gym
- YMCA
They compared the total number of gyms in each state against the resident population to arrive at the metrics presented here.
Considering a Career in Fitness?
If you are passionate about fitness and thrive in a gym environment, a career in the fitness industry might be your calling.
Despite challenges faced during the pandemic, the fitness sector has rebounded and remains ripe with job opportunities. Roles range from personal trainers and fitness instructors to essential business positions in accounting, management, and marketing.
Create an account on Zippia to explore job openings in your area.
States with Most (and Least) Gyms
| State | Gyms Per Capita (100K) | People Per Gym |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 10 | 9,667 |
| Connecticut | 7 | 13,149 |
| Wisconsin | 7 | 13,408 |
| Iowa | 7 | 13,512 |
| New Hampshire | 7 | 13,761 |
| Louisiana | 7 | 13,770 |
| Rhode Island | 7 | 13,900 |
| Colorado | 7 | 14,062 |
| Nebraska | 7 | 14,127 |
| South Dakota | 6 | 14,424 |
| North Dakota | 6 | 14,576 |
| Virginia | 6 | 14,732 |
| Washington | 6 | 15,606 |
| Delaware | 6 | 15,868 |
| Alaska | 6 | 16,128 |
| Wyoming | 6 | 16,264 |
| Indiana | 6 | 16,459 |
| Idaho | 6 | 16,501 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | 16,533 |
| Maine | 5 | 17,070 |
| Georgia | 5 | 17,565 |
| Hawaii | 5 | 17,637 |
| Montana | 5 | 17,670 |
| Kansas | 5 | 17,727 |
| Oregon | 5 | 18,113 |
| Alabama | 5 | 18,147 |
| Utah | 5 | 18,492 |
| Missouri | 5 | 18,520 |
| South Carolina | 5 | 18,581 |
| Vermont | 5 | 18,927 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | 18,968 |
| Illinois | 5 | 18,993 |
| Michigan | 5 | 19,241 |
| Ohio | 5 | 19,422 |
| Tennessee | 5 | 19,448 |
| Texas | 5 | 19,775 |
| District of Columbia | 4 | 20,034 |
| Kentucky | 4 | 20,260 |
| Florida | 4 | 20,429 |
| Nevada | 4 | 20,705 |
| New Mexico | 4 | 20,810 |
| Arizona | 4 | 21,003 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | 21,919 |
| Mississippi | 4 | 21,976 |
| West Virginia | 4 | 22,061 |
| New Jersey | 4 | 22,085 |
| California | 4 | 22,113 |
| Maryland | 4 | 22,283 |
| Arkansas | 4 | 22,300 |
| North Carolina | 4 | 22,498 |
| New York | 3 | 32,106 |
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
