9 States With the Highest Pumpkin Spice Search Interest
Pumpkin spice returns to menus and store shelves each fall, but interest in the seasonal flavor varies nationwide. West Virginia leads LendingTree’s latest state ranking, followed by Maine and Pennsylvania, with Arizona and Indiana tied for fifth.
In its report updated Oct. 5, LendingTree analyzed Google Trends data for “pumpkin spice” from Sept. 1, 2021, through Sept. 1, 2026. The comparison covers all 50 states and the District of Columbia. West Virginia received the highest relative search-interest score, establishing the benchmark of 100 against which the others were indexed. LendingTree’s full report includes the rankings and methodology.
These are not counts of shoppers, cups of coffee, or purchases. They describe the search term’s relative prominence in each location. Here are the top nine states.
West Virginia
West Virginia ranks first, retaining the position it held in LendingTree’s previous annual analysis. Its score of 100 represents the highest relative search interest in this comparison, not universal enthusiasm among its residents.
There is also an older purchasing finding worth distinguishing from the search data. In August 2021, Instacart identified West Virginia as the leader in the relative share of pumpkin-spice items purchased through its platform. The company measured those purchases against its national average. Instacart’s original analysis explains the calculation.
Allrecipes also reported that finding in 2021. It is historical context, not confirmation of statewide sales in 2026.
Maine
Maine takes second place with an index score of 93. The latest ranking places it ahead of Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and the other states in the top nine.
The study’s separate metro analysis also puts Presque Isle, Maine, third among the 209 metros examined. That is another search-interest finding, not evidence that Maine residents buy more pumpkin-spice products than residents elsewhere.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania completes the top three with a score of 91. Pittsburgh also appears among the leading metros, tied for eighth with Harrisonburg, Virginia, in that separate comparison.
The state result does not establish that every Pennsylvania community shares the same level of interest. It is a statewide measure, with local variation visible in the metro data.
Wyoming
Wyoming ranks fourth statewide. Its capital, Cheyenne, leads LendingTree’s separate metro ranking, where it receives the benchmark score of 100.
The two scores belong to different comparisons. Cheyenne’s metro result should not be treated as interchangeable with Wyoming’s statewide score.
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Arizona
Arizona ties for fifth, placing it firmly inside the top tier.
Its position is a useful reminder not to turn this list into an explanation about weather. LendingTree identifies where relative search interest is highest, but the ranking doesn’t explain why residents searched.
Indiana
Indiana shares fifth place with Arizona. Neither state ranks ahead of the other in the published results.
For a reader comparing states, that tie matters. The list includes nine states, but not nine distinct scores.
Idaho
Idaho follows the fifth-place tie with a score of 86.
That puts it one index point behind Arizona and Indiana. That doesn’t mean one percentage point fewer residents enjoy pumpkin spice. The score measures relative search interest, not the share of people who like the flavor.
Colorado
Colorado ranks eighth at 85. Its place in the top nine is supported by the current table, without needing a story about mountain temperatures or changing leaves.
Those associations may be appealing, but the analysis does not test them as explanations.
Utah
Utah closes the top nine with a score of 84. It remains a high-ranking state, but it is not third in LendingTree’s current results.
That distinction matters when older coverage circulates alongside an updated report. Rankings should always be tied to the analysis period being discussed.
What the ranking actually tells us
At the other end of the table, Mississippi records the lowest score, at 40. Louisiana and the District of Columbia are tied immediately above it, at 49.
Lower search interest does not demonstrate dislike. Someone can buy a seasonal drink without searching for it, while another person might search for a recipe, product price, or ingredient list without buying.
The study also does not explain individual motivations. It cannot establish that pumpkin spice represents nostalgia in one state, cold-weather comfort in another, or an attempt to recreate autumn somewhere warmer.
What it does offer is a specific, dated picture of online interest. West Virginia leads, Maine and Pennsylvania round out the top three, and the remaining six states broaden the map beyond any single region.
For food enthusiasts, that is an interesting starting point rather than a verdict on where fall matters most. When the seasonal flavor returns, what draws you in: a favorite recipe, a familiar coffee order or the pleasure of trying something new?
