New York is often considered a vegan paradise. The city is home to more than 600 vegan- and vegetarian-friendly restaurants (according to HappyCow) and has rolled out several plant-based initiatives in recent years. Every Friday, for example, schools across the city serve vegan meals, and starting next year, processed meats will be off the menu in city agencies, replaced with more plant-based whole foods.
Photo by Kevin Pineda-Gould, photo illustration by Richard Bowie
So why, in a recent WalletHub survey ranking the 100 most vegan- and vegetarian-friendly cities in the US, did New York fail to crack the top 10? In fact, the Big Apple landed at number 15, trailing behind much smaller cities like Madison, WI, and Lexington, KY. Let’s take a closer look at why. Plus, we’ll break down the top three cities for vegans and vegetarians in the country.
Why New York City ranks poorly for vegans and vegetarians
The new survey from WalletHub evaluated three key categories to determine the most vegan- and vegetarian-friendly cities: diversity, accessibility, and quality; vegetarian lifestyle; and affordability.
New York scored highly on diversity, accessibility, and quality, thanks to its abundance of restaurants with plant-based options, along with numerous farmers’ markets, salad shops, community gardens, and juice and smoothie bars.
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However, it lost ground on vegetarian lifestyle. WalletHub’s analysis suggests that New Yorkers don’t order vegan meals as frequently as residents in other cities, and they don’t consume fruits and vegetables at especially high rates. The city also doesn’t host as many vegan events and festivals as some of its competitors.
But it was affordability that really sank New York’s ranking. While the city boasts hundreds of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, many are prohibitively expensive. Meal and grocery costs were also significantly higher than in other cities on the list, limiting access for much of the population.
This reflects a broader issue: earlier this year, New York was named the world’s second-most expensive city to live in.
The most vegan- and vegetarian-friendly cities, according to WalletHub
So while New York fell short, Portland, Los Angeles, and Austin fared far better, coming in first, second, and third place, respectively.
Portland earned the crown for its wide range of affordable restaurants, as well as its high number of organic farms, community gardens, farmers’ markets, and vegetable nurseries. “Many Portland residents embrace the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, with residents ordering this type of cuisine 148 percent more often than the US average,” explains WalletHub. “Portland also has the ninth-highest percentage of people who consume vegetables daily.”
Los Angeles restaurant Hey, Sunshine Kitchen | James Michael Juarez
The situation in Los Angeles is similar, with frequent vegan events and festivals like Vegandale and Vegan Street Fair. “Residents who prefer the veggie lifestyle have plenty of ways to meet like-minded people,” adds WalletHub. Austin’s restaurant scene isn’t quite as affordable, but the city still ranked well for grocery costs.
“While vegetarians and vegans are still a relatively small share of the population, businesses are recognizing their impact on their market,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Just look at businesses like McDonald’s and Burger King incorporating Beyond Meat and Impossible burgers into their menus. With meat prices rising significantly faster than vegetable prices, too, we may see a lot more people taking a foray into a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle in the near future.”
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
