Wendy’s is the world’s third-largest hamburger fast food chain, after Burger King and McDonald’s, with almost 6,000 outlets in North America. As well as burgers it’s known for the Frosty, a soft-serve ice cream treat, and it’s the only major fast food chain that has chili on the menu as a regular side dish. (These are the best burgers you can get at a fast food restaurant.)
24/7 Tempo has ranked the chain’s presence in all 50 states to identify the Wendy’s capitals of America. To determine the ranking, we reviewed data collected by NiceRx, a patient assistance program and medication access company, using numbers for total fast-food restaurants taken from the U.S. Census Bureau and tracking the nation’s ten most popular chains as determined by ScrapeHero.com. (Population figures are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.)
We then ranked the states by their per capita Wendy’s population per 100,000 residents, lowest to highest. Ties were broken using the total number of Wendy’s restaurants in the state.The results revealed that West Virginia is the No. 1 Wendy’s capital of America, with 3.9 outlets per 100,000 people. It ranks very high for almost all fast-food chains, in fact. It’s also one of the poorest states and scores badly when it comes to health outcomes. (It ranks No. 2, as an example, on the list of states where children are struggling with obesity.)
Click here to see the Wendy’s capitals of America
Behind West Virginia comes Wendy’s home state, Ohio, with 3.5 outlets. The company was founded in Columbus in 1969 and moved its headquarters to nearby Dublin in 2006. There are a total of 409 Wendy’s in Ohio.
Vermont is the state with the smallest number of Wendy’s, both in total numbers (there are four) and per capita (which works out to 0.6 outlets per 100,000 people). The state is famously inhospitable to large chains in general, preferring to encourage smaller businesses instead. Montpelier boasts that it’s the only state capital without a McDonald’s — and it doesn’t have a Wendy’s either.
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
50. Vermont
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 0.6
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 4 — the lowest
> Total population in 2019: 623,989 — 2nd lowest
[in-text-ad]
Source: okimo / iStock via Getty Images
49. Hawaii
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 0.7
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 10 — 5th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 1,415,872 — 11th lowest
24/7 Wall St.
Source: choness / Getty Images
48. California
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 0.7
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 277 — 5th highest
> Total population in 2019: 39,512,223 — the highest
Source: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images
47. South Dakota
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 0.8
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 7 — 2nd lowest
> Total population in 2019: 884,659 — 5th lowest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
46. Wisconsin
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 0.9
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 52 — 19th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 5,822,434 — 20th highest
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
45. North Dakota
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.0
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 8 — 3rd lowest
> Total population in 2019: 762,062 — 4th lowest
[in-text-ad]
Source: 4nadia / Getty Images
44. Oregon
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.0
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 42 — 16th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 4,217,737 — 24th lowest
Source: RudyBalasko / Getty Images
43. Minnesota
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.0
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 56 — 21st lowest
> Total population in 2019: 5,639,632 — 22nd highest
Source: aiisha5 / iStock via Getty Images
42. Washington
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.0
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 76 — 25th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 7,614,893 — 13th highest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: FilippoBacci / Getty Images
41. New York
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.1
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 214 — 10th highest
> Total population in 2019: 19,453,561 — 4th highest
Source: Chilkoot / Getty Images
40. Alaska
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.2
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 9 — 4th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 731,545 — 3rd lowest
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
39. Delaware
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.2
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 12 — 6th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 973,764 — 6th lowest
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
38. Maine
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.2
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 16 — 9th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 1,344,212 — 9th lowest
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
37. Oklahoma
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.2
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 47 — 18th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 3,956,971 — 23rd lowest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
36. Nebraska
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.3
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 25 — 12th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 1,934,408 — 14th lowest
Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images
35. Iowa
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.3
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 41 — 14th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 3,155,070 — 20th lowest
[in-text-ad]
Source: 4kodiak / Getty Images
34. Nevada
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.4
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 43 — 17th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 3,080,156 — 19th lowest
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
33. Massachusetts
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.4
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 96 — 23rd highest
> Total population in 2019: 6,892,503 — 15th highest
Source: Dreamframer / Getty Images
32. Arizona
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.4
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 102 — 19th highest
> Total population in 2019: 7,278,717 — 14th highest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: peeterv / Getty Images
31. Montana
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.5
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 16 — 8th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 1,068,778 — 8th lowest
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
30. Connecticut
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.5
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 53 — 20th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 3,565,287 — 22nd lowest
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
29. Texas
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.5
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 435 — 2nd highest
> Total population in 2019: 28,995,881 — 2nd highest
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
28. Maryland
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.6
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 97 — 22nd highest
> Total population in 2019: 6,045,680 — 19th highest
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
27. Missouri
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.6
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 98 — 20th highest
> Total population in 2019: 6,137,428 — 18th highest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
26. New Jersey
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.6
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 142 — 15th highest
> Total population in 2019: 8,882,190 — 11th highest
Source: marchello74 / Getty Images
25. Illinois
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.6
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 203 — 11th highest
> Total population in 2019: 12,671,821 — 6th highest
[in-text-ad]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
24. Rhode Island
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.7
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 18 — 10th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 1,059,361 — 7th lowest
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
23. New Hampshire
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.7
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 23 — 11th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 1,359,711 — 10th lowest
Source: vkbhat / Getty Images
22. Idaho
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 1.7
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 30 — 13th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 1,787,065 — 12th lowest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: ferrantraite / Getty Images
21. New Mexico
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.0
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 42 — 15th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 2,096,829 — 15th lowest
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
20. Alabama
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.0
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 98 — 21st highest
> Total population in 2019: 4,903,185 — 24th highest
[in-text-ad]
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
19. Pennsylvania
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.0
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 256 — 7th highest
> Total population in 2019: 12,801,989 — 5th highest
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
18. Arkansas
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.1
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 63 — 22nd lowest
> Total population in 2019: 3,017,804 — 18th lowest
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
17. Colorado
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.3
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 132 — 16th highest
> Total population in 2019: 5,758,736 — 21st highest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: aoldman / Getty Images
16. Wyoming
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.4
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 14 — 7th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 578,759 — the lowest
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
15. Kansas
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.4
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 70 — 24th lowest
> Total population in 2019: 2,913,314 — 16th lowest
[in-text-ad]
Source: pawel.gaul / Getty Images
14. Michigan
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.4
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 240 — 8th highest
> Total population in 2019: 9,986,857 — 10th highest
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
13. South Carolina
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.5
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 129 — 17th highest
> Total population in 2019: 5,148,714 — 23rd highest
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
12. Tennessee
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.5
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 171 — 13th highest
> Total population in 2019: 6,829,174 — 16th highest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
11. North Carolina
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.5
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 262 — 6th highest
> Total population in 2019: 10,488,084 — 9th highest
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
10. Florida
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.5
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 537 — the highest
> Total population in 2019: 21,477,737 — 3rd highest
[in-text-ad]
Source: Adventure_Photo / Getty Images
9. Utah
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.6
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 83 — 25th highest
> Total population in 2019: 3,205,958 — 21st lowest
24/7 Wall St.
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
8. Virginia
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.6
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 222 — 9th highest
> Total population in 2019: 8,535,519 — 12th highest
Source: f11photo / Getty Images
7. Louisiana
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.7
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 126 — 18th highest
> Total population in 2019: 4,648,794 — 25th highest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
6. Indiana
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.7
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 182 — 12th highest
> Total population in 2019: 6,732,219 — 17th highest
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
5. Georgia
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 2.7
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 287 — 4th highest
> Total population in 2019: 10,617,423 — 8th highest
[in-text-ad]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
4. Mississippi
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 3.2
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 95 — 24th highest
> Total population in 2019: 2,976,149 — 17th lowest
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
3. Kentucky
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 3.2
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 143 — 14th highest
> Total population in 2019: 4,467,673 — 25th lowest
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
2. Ohio
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 3.5
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 409 — 3rd highest
> Total population in 2019: 11,689,100 — 7th highest
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
1. West Virginia
> All Wendy’s restaurants per 100K people: 3.9
> Total Wendy’s restaurants: 70 — 23rd lowest
> Total population in 2019: 1,792,147 — 13th lowest
Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored
A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
