Bakersfield Among Top 50 Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians

(Photo credit El Portal)

In recognition of World Vegetarian Day on October 1 and World Vegan Day on November 1, we check in with the personal-finance website, WalletHub, to see where Bakersfield ranks this year on the list of the Best Cities for Vegans & Vegetarians. Per the last report issued on September 25, 2023, Bakersfield ranks 30th among the nation's 100 largest cities. Nine California cities ranked within the top 50, including Los Angeles (No. 2), San Diego (No. 4), San Francisco (No, 6), Oakland (No. 10), Sacramento (No. 28), Fresno (No. 39), Riverside (No. 40), and Long Beach (No. 45).

To determine the best and cheapest places for following a plant-based diet, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 3 key categories of vegan- and vegetarian-friendliness, 1) Affordability, 2) Diversity, Accessibility, Quality, and 3) Vegetarian lifestyle. The data set ranges from the share of restaurants serving meatless options to the cost of groceries for vegetarians to salad shops per capita.

With 1 = Best, and 50 = Average, Bakersfield ranked above average in most of the key categories:

36th – Affordability
37th – Diversity, Accessibility, & Quality
96th – Vegetarian Lifestyle - Tied with 4 other cities

Although the city is a traditional meat-eating community, from these rankings, you can see that it is adapting to accommodating alternate eating styles. As time goes by, we foresee the city experiencing a greater shift toward healthier living! We salute you, Bakersfield, and welcome all vegetarians and vegans alike!