Do you dream about build-your-own burrito bowls? Does the thought of warm cilantro-lime rice piled high with tender chicken, fresh salsa and hand-made guac set your salivary glands on overdrive?
Yeah, us too.
The problem is, we're not alone. While Chipotle has more than 2,000 fast-casual eateries scattered across the country, you can generally expect a line (unless you've finally learned to order ahead online).
We've got good news for the burrito faithful. These 10 cities are pretty much a Mecca for Chipotle lovers. Why? You'll find more Chipotles per taco enthusiast in these cities than anywhere else in the country.
Translation: Shorter lines at the lunchtime rush.
This Twin City likes to call itself “The Most Livable City in America," and with nine Chipotles and one of the lowest rent prices on our list, we'd have to agree.
Living in Saint Paul will cost you around $1,292 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Located just outside Denver, it's no surprise why this Rocky Mountain town is on our list. After all, Chipotle was founded in Denver, and while headquarters were moved to Newport Beach, CA just last year, Colorado will always be the birthplace of those sustainably raised, non-GMO tacos.
Ready to relocate? A one-bedroom here in Lakewood will cost you around $1,353 per month.
Named the “food city of the year" for 2019, Pittsburgh is home to no fewer than 10 Chipotles. On the rare chance that you take a day off from those carnitas burritos, you'll have plenty of tasty backup eateries to choose from.
The price tag? Expect to spend around $1,311 on rent for a one-bedroom in Pittsburgh.
Related: The 10 Best Cities for Coffee Lovers in America
Saint Paul's twin one-ups its sister city with a cool 14 Chipotles, putting Minneapolis in the seventh slot on our list thanks to its per capita ratio. However, it's also a bit pricier than Saint Paul.
You'll have to spend about $200 more to live here on the western shore of the Mississippi, where a one-bedroom will run you around $1,462.
Home to a baker's dozen of Chipotles, Cleveland is also known for its pierogis and Polish Boys (think: sausage and French fries wrapped in a bun). So you may want to work some of Chipotle's tasty salads into your rotation.
The price tag for this flavor explosion of a city? Around $1,347 per month for a one bedroom.
Home of Harvard, MIT and five other colleges, Cambridge dishes out plenty of burritos and bowls to hungry co-eds. Good thing Chipotle makes it easy to fill up on quality food for less, as this studious city is the priciest on our top 10.
A one-bedroom here will run you around $2,824. The ivy costs extra.
Related: Diverse Cuisine in America: The 10 Best Cities for Adventurous Eaters
Located south of D.C. on the Potomac River, Arlington was once home to none other than George Washington. Too bad old George never got to sink his wooden teeth into a stacked steak burrito.
Living this close to the capital will cost around $1,830 per month. The view of the Washington Monument on the riverfront horizon? Priceless.
If golf, cacti and easy access to endless queso at Scottsdale's 10 Chipotles are on your wish list, this corner of the Arizona desert is worth considering.
Rent in this resort town will cost you around $1,538, but hey – it's kind of like you're on permanent vacation.
We all know about Orlando's reputation as theme park central, thanks to Disney World, University Studios and a slew of others. Perhaps those hungry park-goers get some credit for the city's 13 Chipotles.
If you want to settle down in this fun-filled town, expect to pay around $1,334 per month for a one-bedroom pad.
Related: The 10 Best Cities for Vegetarians in America
Cincy's 18 Chipotles are impressive, and you won't find a better per capita ratio in the entire country. Believe it or not, there's even better news. Two words: Drive-thru.
Cincinnati also boasts the least expensive rent on our top 10 list, with an average one-bedroom coming in at $1,027. Winner, winner, chicken (taco) dinner!
Related: The 10 Best Cities in America for Fast Food Lovers
Want to see how your favorite towns stack up in the tortilla department? You won't be without Chipotle in these 50 cities.
Rank | City, State | Chipotles per Resident |
|---|---|---|
1 | Cincinnati, OH | 1 per 16,739 |
2 | Orlando, FL | 1 per 21,558 |
3 | Scottsdale, AZ | 1 per 24,995 |
4 | Alexandria, VA | 1 per 26,673 |
5 | Cambridge, MA | 1 per 28,408 |
6 | Cleveland, OH | 1 per 29,656 |
7 | Minneapolis, MN | 1 per 30,167 |
8 | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 per 30,241 |
9 | Lakewood, CO | 1 per 30,992 |
10 | Saint Paul, MN | 1 per 34,069 |
11 | Atlanta, GA | 1 per 34,735 |
12 | Tampa, FL | 1 per 35,039 |
13 | Dayton, OH | 1 per 35,093 |
14 | Lewisville, TX | 1 per 35,340 |
15 | Knoxville, TN | 1 per 37,469 |
16 | Las Vegas, NV | 1 per 37,746 |
17 | Clearwater, FL | 1 per 38,504 |
18 | Arvada, CO | 1 per 39,602 |
19 | Allentown, PA | 1 per 40,428 |
20 | Ann Arbor, MI | 1 per 40,492 |
21 | Berkeley, CA | 1 per 40,775 |
22 | Washington, D.C. | 1 per 40,822 |
23 | Rochester, NY | 1 per 41,609 |
24 | Santa Clara, CA | 1 per 42,378 |
25 | Vancouver, WA | 1 per 43,918 |
26 | Columbus, OH | 1 per 43,959 |
27 | Denver, CO | 1 per 44,039 |
28 | Gainesville, FL | 1 per 44,083 |
29 | Rancho Cucamonga,CA | 1 per 44,363 |
30 | Columbia, SC | 1 per 44,371 |
31 | Kansas City, MO | 1 per 44,449 |
32 | Tucson, AZ | 1 per 44,640 |
33 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1 per 45,018 |
34 | Roseville, CA | 1 per 45,110 |
35 | Richmond, VA | 1 per 45,406 |
36 | Denton, TX | 1 per 45,423 |
37 | Tempe, AZ | 1 per 46,260 |
38 | Overland Park, KS | 1 per 47,820 |
39 | Irving, TX | 1 per 48,075 |
40 | Bellevue, WA | 1 per 48,148 |
41 | Torrance, CA | 1 per 48,919 |
42 | Glendale, AZ | 1 per 49,342 |
43 | Akron, OH | 1 per 49,462 |
44 | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1 per 50,144 |
45 | Escondido, CA | 1 per 50,656 |
46 | South Bend, IN | 1 per 51,123 |
47 | Buffalo, NY | 1 per 51,722 |
48 | Rialto, CA | 1 per 51,781 |
49 | San Mateo, CA | 1 per 52,374 |
50 | Aurora, CA | 1 per 52,375 |
If you're just looking for the cities with the most Chipotles, here's how the top 10 would have been dished out.
Rank | City, State | Total Chipotles |
|---|---|---|
1 | New York, NY | 50 |
2 | Chicago, IL | 35 |
3 | Houston, TX | 25 |
4 | Columbus, OH | 20 |
5 | Cincinnati, OH | 18 |
6(t) | Las Vegas, NV | 17 |
6(t) | Washington, D.C. | 17 |
8(t) | Denver, CO | 16 |
8(t) | Phoenix, AZ | 16 |
8(t) | Los Angeles, CA | 16 |
We took cities with populations more than 100,000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau and used 8 million commercially available business listings to count the number of Chipotle locations with a mailing address in each city. We then divided each location's population by this total to determine a ratio of the number Chipotle restaurants for each resident to come up with our quantitative ranking. These listings may not reflect recent restaurant openings or closings.
The rent information included in this article is based on February 2019 multifamily rental property inventory on ApartmentGuide.com and Rent.com and is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein does not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.
Felix is an SEO Analyst specializing in demographics, rent trends, economic data and measuring user intent. He primarily focuses on the retail, transportation and real estate industries, and his work has appeared in the Stanford Undergraduate Economics Journal. Felix holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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