About the Report: This report analyzes the geographic spread of 19 major gym brands across the United States. The analysis examines the distribution of gyms in the U.S. by state and city and explores their correlation with factors such as household income, urban population, and obesity rates.
Gym Chains in Focus: Planet Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, F45 Training, LA Fitness, Snap Fitness, MOSSA, Stretch Zone, 24 Hour Fitness, The Exercise Coach, Gold’s Gym, KidStrong, Equinox, Esporta Fitness, SoulCycle, Athletic Republic, Barry’s, EXOS, TruFusion.
Data Source: Point-of-Interest (POI) data from 10,196 gym locations was analyzed using public and third-party datasets.
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Fitness in America by the Numbers
The U.S. fitness industry is booming, with over 10,000 gym locations, making it one of the largest global markets.
The variety spans from low-cost providers like Planet Fitness and Snap Fitness to high-end chains such as Equinox and Barry’s, reflecting the diverse options among gyms in the U.S.
Where Are Fitness Centers Concentrated in the U.S.?
Some states are saturated; others are underserved. Understanding where gyms are most common can help you identify market gaps, regional demand, and business opportunities.
A bar chart that shows the top states by the number of gyms.
It’s clear from the graph that California leads with 1,071 locations from the gym brands considered—primarily chain gyms with multi-location operations. Thanks to its large population, high-income levels, and fitness-forward lifestyle.
California is followed by Texas, with 989, and Florida, with 810. Other states showing strong representation among these major gym chains include New York (474), Illinois (423), Ohio (354), Pennsylvania (347), Minnesota (335), and Georgia (333).
Where Are Gyms in the US Scarce?
A surprising number of states have fewer than 35 gyms across these major chains.
Among the selected gym brands, you can see that Wyoming has the fewest gym locations, with only 12, followed by Vermont (15) and Puerto Rico (19).
Other states with relatively low counts include Montana (22), Alaska (22), Maine (29), Hawaii (30), North Dakota (30), South Dakota (31), Washington, D.C. (32), Delaware (33), and West Virginia (36).
The factors that limit gym presence across these areas might be lower population and income levels.
Note that these figures exclude independent and single-location gyms, which are not part of the dataset.
Who’s Winning the Gym Race?
Here are the top gym chains by number of U.S. locations:
Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness dominate the list. This may be due to affordability, accessibility, and aggressive expansion strategies.
Planet Fitness has the most locations in the U.S., with 2,607 gyms, followed by Anytime Fitness (2,328), Orangetheory Fitness (1,307), and F45 Training (780). This dominance highlights key players among the best gyms in the U.S.
Other gym chains with a significant presence include LA Fitness (654), Snap Fitness (495), MOSSA (427), and Stretch Zone (347). 24 Hour Fitness (270), The Exercise Coach (215), and Gold’s Gym (215) have fewer locations compared to the top gym brands.
Get the full list of all Gold’s Gym locations across the U.S. to find the nearest one to you.
Which Cities Sweat the Most?
Here are the cities with the highest number of gym locations from these major brands:
Cities with the highest number of gyms from the selected brands include New York (85 gyms), Houston (76), and Chicago (75), followed closely by San Antonio (74) and Austin (58).
Other major cities, such as Phoenix (54), San Diego (49), Charlotte (47), Miami (46), and Dallas (45), also have a significant number of gyms.
Urban Population Drives Gym Distribution
Urban population density continues to drive the distribution of gyms. That is, Gym locations tend to cluster in densely populated urban areas.
Higher foot traffic, larger customer bases, and the availability of commercial real estate make cities the primary targets for gym expansion.
Counties With the Highest Gym Density
Some counties host a much higher number of gyms than others.
The counties with the highest number of gym locations among these chains include Los Angeles County (268 gyms), Orange County, California (208), and Cook County, Illinois (182).
Other counties with a significant number of gyms are Maricopa County, Arizona (177), Montgomery County, Texas (142), and Harris County, Texas (126).
This clustering around urban centers reinforces the link between gym locations in the U.S. and population density.
Again, these numbers reflect only national and regional chains, not the full market of local gyms.
Planet Fitness: The Undisputed Leader
Planet Fitness tops the list. It not only leads in overall gym count—it dominates in central states and cities alike.
Planet Fitness has the most locations among gym chains in the U.S. It has the highest number of gyms in California (211), Texas (204), and Florida (172), followed by New York (148) and Pennsylvania (137).
Other states with a strong presence include Ohio (111), Illinois (104), Georgia (96), Michigan (95), and North Carolina (90).
The pattern shows a clear focus on high-density and high-growth states. The high concentration of Planet Fitness locations in these states indicates the brand’s focus on densely populated areas, making it one of the most accessible gym chains in the country.
Instantly access Planet Fitness location in the U.S. in one easy list.
Planet Fitness has the most locations in several major U.S. cities. The cities with the highest number of Planet Fitness gyms include Philadelphia (18), Houston (18), Jacksonville (15), Las Vegas (15), and Chicago (15).
These are specific to Planet Fitness and do not account for other gym brands or independent locations.
Does Income Predict Gym Access?
Yes, to a point.
States like California ($13.7 million in household income) and Texas ($11.2 million) have the most gyms on the considered list. Wealth enables access, but that doesn’t always mean usage.
What Factors Influence Gym Locations in the U.S.?
1. Household Income
Source : U.S. Census Bureau
States with the most gyms, like California (1,071 gyms), Texas (989), and Florida (810), also have the highest household incomes—$13.7 million in California, $11.2 million in Texas, and $8.9 million in Florida.
This means that the higher the income level, the more gyms there are, as people have more money to spend on fitness.
On the other hand, states with the fewest gyms, such as Wyoming (12 gyms), Vermont (15), and Puerto Rico (19), do not rank among the top-income states. This could mean that lower-income states have fewer gyms due to lower demand for them.
2. Obesity Rate
Source : stateofchildhoodobesity
The correlation between the number of gyms and the obesity rate across states indicates a very weak negative relationship. This suggests that the number of gyms in a state has no direct impact on its obesity rate.
States with more gyms, like California (1,071 gyms), do not always have lower obesity rates, while states with fewer gyms, like West Virginia (41.2% obesity), tend to have higher obesity rates.
However, states with the highest obesity rates, such as West Virginia, Mississippi, and Arkansas, have fewer gyms compared to larger states.
Increasing the number of gyms in these high-obesity states could help improve access to fitness facilities and promote healthier lifestyles.
3. Urban Population
Source : U.S. Census Bureau
States with the most significant urban populations, such as California (37.2 million), Texas (24.4 million), and Florida (19.7 million), also have the highest number of gyms. This suggests that gyms are more concentrated in urban areas, where demand is higher due to higher population density.
Urban areas offer the foot traffic and customer base needed for fitness centres in the U.S.A to thrive.
The presence of gyms in urban areas also aligns with accessibility, as people in cities are more likely to have gym memberships compared to those in rural regions.
Do More Gyms Mean Less Obesity?
Not really. Gyms help—but they’re not the only factor influencing health.
Our review of the U.S. fitness market reveals clear patterns in the distribution of gyms across the country.
While the U.S. is home to over 10,000 gym locations, they’re not spread evenly. States like California, Texas, and Florida have the most gyms—driven by urban population, income levels, and demand. Counties such as Los Angeles, Cook, and Maricopa lead in facility count, showing a strong urban bias.
But more gyms don’t automatically translate to better public health. Overall, the market favors dense, high-income areas—leaving rural and low-income regions underserved. That means growth opportunities exist in untapped areas where competition is low but need is high.
Understanding these market dynamics is essential, mainly if your business is concentrated in the fitness industry. ScrapeHero can help you with detailed location data in the fitness space.
Our custom web scraping service can also provide accurate, current data on gym locations, market saturation, and brand presence—without requiring any technical setup on your end. Reach out to ScrapeHero to get started.
