Generally speaking, college towns and metro areas have more vegans. Vegans in rural areas usually need to travel to nearby cities for groceries. Many vegans are isolated and don't know any other vegans but themselves. A popular response (from differing locations) was 'not enough!' in response to the amount of vegans in their area. The most responses came in from the United Kingdom, with the state of California following right behind. Around the globe, here is where the survey responses came in from along with some remarks from survey responders on the vegan population of that area.
CALIFORNIA (80 survey responses came in from the state California) |
19 | Los Angeles - Countless vegans/Many vegan restaurants/an amazing vegan community here |
8 | San Francisco - Great place to be vegan/an authority in area estimates about 1,000 in San Francisco Bay Area/Yes/There are completely vegan restaurants to patronize in Bay Area/ |
8 | San Diego - There's a vegan shop; All Vegan/There's a vegan meet-up group here/Yes, quite a few |
6 | Bay Area - Yes, lots/ Yes, Bay Area is a Vegan Mecca/Vegetarianism and Veganism are big here/Not in my area/ |
5 | Sacramento - Yes |
5 | Southern California - No, not many/Not in my city/enough to keep my vegan business afloat |
3 | Northern California - Yes, there are vegans/my small town has about 20 vegans/Good vegan community; could always be better |
2 | Orange County - There are vegan restaurants/More than in most places, more than you think |
2 | Mountain View - No, but yes in nearby Santa Cruz, San Fran, and Berkeley/There are vegan here. I work at the military facility and vegan diet is truly odd here! |
2 | Santa Rosa - 30-40 people come to our monthly potlucks/unknown; not enough/There's 4 vegetarian and 1 vegan restaurant in Sanoma County |
2 | Oakland - Many/Probably more than in most places; but not as many as its reputation claims/ |
1 | Van Nuys - Comparatively there are a lot of vegans; but I don't know any |
1 | Anza - No |
1 | Long Beach - A few in Long Beach; many in greater Los Angeles area |
1 | Fresno - No, but vegetarians yes, but yes vegans in L.A. area |
1 | E. Palo Alto - Not many |
1 | Santa Cruz - Yes, but surprisingly no vegan restaurants in town |
1 | Reseda - Yes many vegan restaurants nearby |
1 | Santa Barbara - No |
1 | Menlo Park - Some |
1 | Mendocino County - Not many |
1 | Santa Maria - No |
1 | Bakersfield - no vegans; the city is about meat and farming |
1 | Berkeley |
1 | Pacific Grove - A good number of Vegans here |
1 | Orland - A few and growing |
1 | W. Hollywood - I know a couple; lots in nearby Los Angeles |
1 | Southern California desert - No, many 'conscious', but not many vegans |
1 | Via Cervantes Yorba Linda |
OREGON (14 responses came in from the state of Oregon) |
7 | Portland - This is the vegan-friendliest city I've lived in so far/Portland boasts many vegans indeed; but I only know a few/A large vegan community/Tons in Portland; a vegan paradise/Tons of happy vegans here!/ |
2 | Eugene - A lot in town |
2 | Oregon state - Not really/Yes |
1 | Ashland - Lots of vegetarians; not many vegans |
1 | Salem - Not vegan-friendly; but Salem is between Portland and Eugene which are good places for vegan food and friends |
1 | Bend - I know 8 vegans |
FLORIDA (43 Responses came in from the state of Florida) |
7 | South Florida - Small % of vegans/Not many/Considerable # around/Yes/I suppose so |
5 | Boca Raton - Not enough/Quite a few; yes/ |
5 | Gainesville - More than in other areas, I believe/No active group/Many/Progressive College town with lots of vegans/pretty veg-friendly |
5 | Miami - A few of us; growing everyday/some of my best friends are vegan/Many vegetarians; some vegans/Not a lot |
4 | Ft. Lauderdale - Nice size community; but not as large as other areas/A few vegans; but definitely not a vegan-friendly city/ |
2 | Miami Springs - No |
2 | Daytona Beach - More than I once perceived/I imagine there's plenty around |
2 | Florida - No/don't know any others |
1 | Treasure Coast - |
1 | Windmere - |
1 | Orlando - Not that I know of |
1 | Lauderdale Lakes - NO |
1 | Casselberry (Central FL.) - I work at a health food store; there seems to be lots of vegans |
1 | Sarasota - No veg/vegan restaurants here, but a few vegans |
1 | Melbourne - Healthy Planet of Brevard is based here |
1 | Pompano Beach, South Florida - Not many |
1 | Palm Beach County - Some around; but not like N.Y.C., L.A. or San Fran |
1 | S.W. Florida - Vegan Population is small |
1 | N.W. Florida - Probably many |
TEXAS (28 Responses came in from the state of Texas) |
8 | Houston - I make a point to meet other vegans, and in my view, there are many/I don't think there are many in my area/Yes; Houston's Vegan meet-up and Society of P.E.A.C.E Organization and World Vegan Radio Show (www.VeganWorldRadio.org) are all in Houston/Yes, growing all the time/Yes/ |
5 | Dallas/Fort Worth - Very few in Ft. Worth/Some/No, most don't even know what the word means |
4 | Austin - There's a huge local vegan group with 600 members; Vegans Rock Austin/I don't feel alone in my beliefs here/There's a huge raw and living food community here in Austin |
1 | Major Metro Texas - |
1 | Ft. Worth - Yes; there's a vegan diner chosen as best eatery here, but few vegans |
1 | W. Columbia - There's a few scattered, but mostly in Houston |
1 | Boyd - NO |
1 | Midland - Very few |
1 | Keene - |
1 | College Station - No, this is the meat-eating capital |
1 | Wichita Falls - I've met two |
1 | Arlington - Yes |
1 | West Texas - I'm an oddity; this is a huge meat-eating BBQ area |
1 | Texas - Not in my community |
MASSACHUSETTES (29 Responses came in from MA.) |
13 | Boston - Active Vegan Community/fairly good number/Boston Vegan Society is here; an abolitionist group/an amazing vegan organization/a couple good vegan restaurants/decent vegan population/I live in a dorm at Emerson College; there is a good amount of vegans in my area, most of my friends both on and off campus are vegan. |
4 | Massachusetts (one rural) - I wish there were more |
2 | Salem - Not many/ Home of the Salem Vegan Society |
1 | Lynn - No |
1 | Cambridge - Not sure; don't know any others |
1 | Western MA. - There are restaurants and stores that cater to vegans, but I don't know any |
1 | Northampton - A progressive community with many vegans & even more vegetarians |
1 | Worcester - A bunch; there's a meetup group and restaurant in area |
1 | Norton - No |
1 | Waymouth |
1 | Waltham - Outside of Boston; must be some, there's a vegan restaurant near my house |
1 | Lowell/Boston - A few; and a few more in Boston |
1 | Cape Cod - A few |
NEW JERSEY (9 responses to survey came in from New Jersey) |
2 | Northern New Jersey/near N.Y.C. - Vegan-friendly/half hour drive to vegan restaurants |
1 | New Jersey - A lot of vegans |
1 | S.W. New Jersey - (outside Philadelphia) - None |
1 | Jersey Shore - Seems to be a lot in my area |
1 | S. Jersey - despite the presence of the American Vegan Society in my backyard; not many vegans |
1 | Central New Jersey - I know 30 or so |
1 | Toms River - An ever-growing # thanks to the NJ Veg Social Group |
1 | Clifton/Montclaire - Lots of progressives, but vegans are still underground |
NEW YORK (26 Responses came in from New York state) |
6 | New York City - I have dozens of vegan friends/lots |
3 | New York state - There are many vegetarians/vegans in the region |
3 | Upstate New York - No/I know few vegans/ Yes, because of the proximity of FARM SANCTUARY |
1 | Upstate New York/Central Jersey - Seems to be no vegans |
1 | Johnstown (upstate N.Y.) - Dairy country, not many here, but they are out there |
1 | Ithaca - Lots of vegans |
1 | Syracuse - Yes, more than in similar sized U.S. cities |
1 | Brooklyn - Vegan Heaven |
1 | Rochester - a good deal of vegans here |
1 | Bronx - All the vegan restaurants are in Manhattan; a half hour or more away |
1 | Long Island - No, probably the same as the national average & that's not encouraging |
1 | Mahopac - NO |
1 | Manhattan - Yes |
1 | Fredonia/Jamestown - Not many |
1 | Warwick - I encounter other vegans on occasion |
1 | Potsdam - very few |
1 | Nineveh - No; but 2 hours away is Watkins Glen, home of FARM SANCTUARY, where there are many |
WASHINGTON D.C., USA (8 Responses came in from D.C.) |
7 | Washington D.C. - Yes; plenty of vegans, but not well known as a vegan area |
1 | Lots in Metro area of Washington D.C., but not PG County, MD., where I am from |
PENNSYLVANIA-USA (8 Responses came in from PA.) |
5 | Philadelphia - Yes, a lot in suburbs and lots in downtown Philly/none in my town, but I have vegan friends in Boston |
1 | Malvern - Some; I live near a vegan restaurant |
1 | Harrisburg - 50-100 vegans altogether |
1 | PA. - I keep learning of more of them |
ILLINOIS - USA - 15 Responses came in from the state of Illinois) |
10 | Chicago - Vegan restaurants/large vegan community/yes; pretty vegan-friendly city/I think there are a lot/N.W. side of Chicago, there are none/Western suburbs of Chicago there is the Borrowed Earth; raw restaurant |
1 | E. Central Illinois - I don't know any other vegans |
1 | Suburban Illinois - No; I know four others |
1 | Small town in Southern Illinois - I've never met another vegan; I'm 25 miles east of St. Louis, MO. |
1 | Illinois - Very rare to find vegans |
1 | S. Suburban Illinois - no other vegans |
MISSOURI, USA (13 Responders from the state of Missouri) |
4 | St. Louis - No; a few in metro area, but not well organized |
3 | Kansas City - Not in suburbs; but yes in metro area/several vegan groups, not a lot, but some |
2 | Missouri (the state) - The only ones I know are 30+ miles from me/No |
1 | Brookside, Kansas City - apparently there are many |
1 | Florissant - No, but in St. Louis metro area surprisingly yes |
1 | Blue Springs - I'm the only vegan I know |
1 | Springfield - about 10 vegans |
ARIZONA - USA (22 Responders from the state of Arizona) |
7 | Arizona state - More than where I came from in Illinois/I've not met many/There is some awareness growing/ |
6 | Phoenix - (Metro) - The vegan scene is growing/Two strict vegan restaurants; there's an AZ. Vegan website/Not a Mecca for Veganism/Some; not many/Yes; good number of vegans here |
2 | Tempe - This is a vegan-friendly town; people know what a vegan is here/I know a couple, but I know some from Vegetarian Society of Phoenix |
2 | Patagonia - Many vegans, specifically, the part of town with a concentration of vegans, because it's home of a world renowned retreat center; TREE of LIFE/There are about 60 vegans living around me in this town of 1,000 people |
1 | Gilbert - I don't know any other vegans |
1 | Scottsdale - A few here and there. Arizona is still a conservative meat-eating state. |
1 | Yuma - No |
1 | Prescott - Not really |
1 | Rural S.E. Arizona - No vegans; ranching area and farm animals are not treated kindly. |
NEVADA, USA - (7 Responses came in from the state of Nevada) |
3 | Reno - Haven't met any/Not many; but small growing raw food community/Very few |
3 | Las Vegas - Not many that I know of/Not a lot/2 strictly vegan places to eat in Las Vegas |
1 | Pahrump - NO |
UTAH, USA - (4 Responses came in from the state of Utah) |
3 | Salt Lake City - Used to be none; popularity is growing. There are so many veg-friendly restaurants and stores around/No, there aren't many vegans; I find more often the liberal people are into veganism, but conservative Christians (which I am) are not, so I'm an unusual blend/pretty good amount of vegans |
1 | Utah (the state) - A few |
OHIO, USA (10 Responses came back from the state of Ohio) |
3 | Ohio (the state) - Not many/NO |
2 | Columbus - I think a lot; but don't know any/No |
2 | Cleveland - Some; not a lot/ There's a vegan drinking group |
1 | Akron, N.E. Ohio - I know maybe 10 vegans in the area |
1 | Bowling Green - University town, which has a local vegetarian café/bakers/heath food stores. Not as many is in more urban areas |
1 | N.E. Ohio - I know 1 other here in the meat and fried foods, big belly, capital of the world. |
CONNECTICUT, USA (6 Responses came in from Connecticut) |
1 | Glastonbury - |
1 | New Haven - I know 6 others |
1 | Wallingford - A few; and a few more if you extend to New Haven County |
1 | Hartford - Not a lot, more than in the past, but no hardcore abolitionists like we are |
2 | Connecticut state - NO |
1 | Griswold - Very few vegetarians, let alone vegans |
GEORGIA, USA (6 Responders came in from Georgia state) |
1 | Atlanta - Extremely vegan-friendly; south of Atlanta there are very few |
1 | N.E. Georgia - about a dozen vegans who meet regularly |
1 | Athens - Yes, and all but a few are activists |
1 | Jasper - I know of 2 vegans |
1 | Savannah - NO |
1 | Suburban Georgia - No |
COLORADO, USA (9 Responses came back from Colorado state) |
3 | Denver - Yes, we meet many/A few |
2 | Boulder - Some; more than in other places; but some claim to be vegan, but really are not/ Some |
1 | Parker - Not a lot, but some |
1 | Rocky Mountains - NO |
1 | Colorado Springs - Not aware of any vegans here |
1 | Colorado (the state) - Numerous vegans here |
MICHIGAN, USA - (7 Responses came in from the state of Michigan) |
3 | Michigan (the state) - NO |
2 | Detroit/Ann Arbor - Growing number of vegans |
1 | Detroit - A fair number of vegans around |
1 | Rochester Hills; suburb of Detroit - No, most Michiganers love meat |
1 | Royal Oaks - Seems to be a lot around here; lots of places to shop for vegan-friendly products. |
WASHINGTON STATE (7 Responses came in from the state of Washington) |
1 | Seattle, Foothills of the Cascades - Yes, in greater Seattle |
1 | Seattle - Not many outside the city; quite a few in the city |
1 | Central Washington State - NO |
1 | Outside Seattle - many |
1 | S.W. Washington State - There are few vegetarians, let alone vegans |
1 | Snoqualine - Not many in my town, but I'm 30 minutes outside Seattle; some in Seattle. |
1 | State of Washington - No |
NORTH DAKOTA (3 Responses came in from North Dakota) |
3 | Fargo - Yes, there's a vegan group (FM Veg); small but active vegan group/Vegan-unfriendly territory/I know 5 vegans |
DELEWARE, USA - (4 Responses came in from Delaware) |
2 | Wilmington - Not many vegans, but lots in Philly |
1 | Newark - Some vegans |
1 | Delaware, the state - a fair amount |
ASSORTED STATES IN THE U.S. bringing in responses to The Vegan Relationship Survey |
1 | Augusta, Maine - No vegans |
1 | Bottom of Alabama State - No vegans |
1 | Indiana - No |
1 | Oklahoma - No, but I met a few |
1 | Nashville, Tennessee - Very few vegans |
1 | Falls Church, Virginia - Relatively speaking, there's a lot of vegans, but still a small % compared to general population. |
2 | Minneapolis, Minnesota - Quite a lot here/yes |
1 | Madison, Wisconsin - Yes, some |
1 | Iowa City, Iowa - We have one vegan restaurant, vegan bakery and a co-op that stocks plenty of vegan stuff |
1 | Boise, Idaho - 45-50 people on a mailing list for vegan potlucks |
2 | Bloomington, Indiana - Good number of vegans here and growing/Half of the population is students |
1 | Northern Kentucky - 15 minutes to Cincinnati, Ohio; actually a lot of vegans, colleges nearby/raw food meet-up group |
1 | Kentucky - a few |
1 | Pikesville, Kentucky - Not Vegan-friendly |
2 | Hawaii - Yes, on Maui/Not nearly enough |
1 | New Mexico - Many in my immediate circle |
1 | Kenosha, Wisconsin - No; big meat and cheese eaters |
1 | Williams Bay, Wisconsin - Meat and dairy land |
1 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin - There are vegan restaurants |
1 | Wisconsin - No, but growing |
2 | New Orleans, Louisiana - there's a new meetup group |
2 | Santa Fe, New Mexico - lots of vegetarians; a handful of vegans |
1 | S.E. Idaho (Pocatello) - Not many; small handful |
1 | middle of Minnesota - NO |
1 | Virginia - Definitely not vegan-friendly |
1 | Indiana - Not that I know of |
1 | E. Tennessee - We're a tiny minority here |
1 | Winston/Salem, North Carolina - No |
1 | Richmond, Virginia - Yes, fair amount; perhaps 10% of the population |
1 | Memphis, Tennessee (rural, north of it) - VERY few vegans, this is BBQ hell, not even a vegetarian restaurant in a metro area of one million people |
1 | Cecil County, Maryland - No |
1 | Madison, Wisconsin suburbs - I have to drive 10-15 miles to go to vegan-friendly restaurant and co-op/Many more in the university area |
1 | Columbus City, Indiana - I know a few in Ft. Wayne |
1 | Las Cruces, New Mexico - a few; not many |
1 | N.E. Alabama - no |
1 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Not that I know of |
1 | Meband, North Carolina - Not a single vegan she is aware of |
|
Some quotes describing the vegan population of United Kingdom: "U.K. is mostly vegetarian; not vegan" or "The U.K. is relatively vegan-friendly; it's harder in continental Europe". The most responses came in from the United Kingdom, where the word 'vegan' and the first Vegan Society originated! There is conflicting views on the vegan population of London; it may depend on where in London. |
25 | London - I've a large circle of vegan friends; one of the best places in the world to be vegan/You need to actively seek them out; but they are there/London web search shows a lot, but I never meet them/ Vegan heaven/more than in other parts of the country/ yes, relative to other places/Not that I know of/I'm in Brixton; a few vegans/In Dalston there are not many, but a vegan café near Pogo/I'm in Ilford, E. London, there are very few vegans; yes vegetarians |
4 | Manchester - Loads of vegans/Two great Vegetarian & Vegan Groups based here/Load of vegans here; vegan restaurants, active and friendly groups; with friends like this who needs family? |
2 | Bristol - Loads of Vegans, VIVA! (Everyone there is vegan!)/Home of Bristol Vegan Fayre, so there must be plenty of vegans |
2 | Hertfordshire - I've met about 20 vegans in the area |
2 | Lincolnshire (one Scotland, too) - A few vegans; more vegetarians |
2 | Yorkshire - Not many; I think there is approximately 250,000 vegans in U.K./YES |
2 | Worcestershire - No, but yes in Birmingham |
2 | E. Midlands - No |
2 | Cornwall - There's a few, but we're a rare species |
2 | Reading - Yes, hundreds, perhaps a thousand |
1 | Bracknell, near Reading - Yes vegetarians; haven't met another vegan |
1 | Swansea - When I ran Swansea Vegans, I sent a newsletter to 100 people |
1 | Harrow, England - |
1 | Heywood, United Kingdom - |
1 | Parkview, United Kingdom - |
1 | Northolt, United Kingdom - |
1 | Barnoldswick, near Skipton - None outside my family |
1 | Pinner - Don't know of any nearby (mentioned Jain Vegan Group) |
1 | Bexley - Yes, and I meet them often |
1 | New Cross Gate - A reasonable scattering of veggies and vegans live here |
1 | Kennington, S.E. London - A great place to be vegan with a large array of vegan restaurants, café's and health food shops, along with many vegans |
1 | Leicester - Yes, many vegans |
1 | Wiltshire (in Bristol) - 20 miles away there are many |
1 | Bolton, Lancashire - I know a couple |
1 | Cheshire - I don't know any |
1 | Anglia - No |
1 | Edgeware - I imagine about 50 vegans |
1 | Dorset - I don't know another vegan in the area |
1 | Castlemorton - quite a few, I believe |
1 | Swindon - I know 20 beside my family |
1 | Ashford, Kent, England - I know of know others beside me and my spouse |
1 | Hartlepool, N.E. England - a few; not many |
1 | Cambridgeshire, England - none here |
1 | Cockermouth, Cumberland, England - I know quite a few |
1 | Doncaster, England - No |
1 | York, England - a dozen or so |
1 | Hertz, England - I know two others |
1 | E. Coast of England - I don't know any |
1 | S.E. of England - No, but I don't have to travel far to meet other vegans as London and Brighton are easily reachable by public transport |
1 | Blackpool, N.W. of England - a handful |
1 | Newcastle upon Tyne - not many vegans |
1 | Richmond, Surrey - No |
1 | Lincoln - There's a Lincoln veg/vegan group; don't know how many |
1 | Leeds - less now; most have become veggies |
1 | Basildon, Essex - a few |
1 | Nayland, near Colchester, Essex - Less than a dozen |
1 | Suffolk - very few |
1 | Birmingham - lots |
1 | Glastonbury - there's a vegan Ashram, local vegan-friendly guest houses and café |
1 | S. Denbighshire, United Kingdom - There are more than we know |
1 | Sunderland - No |