The Most Popular Shoe Style in Every State in 2024
Spoiler alert: Americans are a lil’ shoe obsessed. In fact, a 2023 KURU Footwear survey found that US dwellers will spend a whopping average of $14,640 on footwear in a lifetime! Whew.
But which shoe styles do Americans favor most in each state? As the foot health lovers we are, we wanted to find out. And in our day and age, what better way to assess popularity than what we search for online?
Using Google Trends, we leveraged data from the past 12 months to discover which style of footwear Americans Google most in each state.
Take a peek at what we found:
Full List of State Results:
| State | Winner |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Cowboy Boots |
| Alaska | Boots |
| Arizona | Sandals |
| Arkansas | Cowboy Boots |
| California | Running Shoes |
| Colorado | Hiking Boots |
| Connecticut | Slippers |
| Delaware | Flip-Flops |
| District Of Columbia | High Heels |
| Florida | Sandals |
| Georgia | Slides |
| Hawaii | Running Shoes |
| Idaho | Boots |
| Illinois | Running Shoes |
| Indiana | Slippers |
| Iowa | Slippers |
| Kansas | Running Shoes |
| Kentucky | Boots |
| Louisiana | Slides |
| Maine | Hiking Boots |
| Maryland | Slides |
| Massachusetts | Slippers |
| Michigan | Slippers |
| Minnesota | Running Shoes |
| Mississippi | Cowboy Boots |
| Missouri | Slippers |
| Montana | Hiking Boots |
| Nebraska | Running Shoes |
| Nevada | High Heels |
| New Hampshire | Hiking Boots |
| New Jersey | Slippers |
| New Mexico | Boots |
| New York | Sneakers |
| North Carolina | Running Shoes |
| North Dakota | Boots |
| Ohio | Slippers |
| Oklahoma | Cowboy Boots |
| Oregon | Running Shoes |
| Pennsylvania | Slippers |
| Rhode Island | Slippers |
| South Carolina | Flip Flops |
| South Dakota | Running Shoes |
| Tennessee | Cowboy Boots |
| Texas | Slides |
| Utah | Hiking Boots |
| Vermont | Boots |
| Virginia | Running Shoes |
| Washington | Hiking Boots |
| West Virginia | Slippers |
| Wisconsin | Slippers |
| Wyoming | Boots |
Notable Highlights:
- Slippers lead in 13 states, making them the most popular style in terms of the number of states—possibly reflecting chilly climates or changing lifestyle patterns such as remote work.
- Running shoes come in second—winning in 11 states—suggesting that fitness and active lifestyles are significant factors influencing footwear interest.
Geographical Findings:
- Chilly States: Cold-weather friendly shoe styles—such as boots and slippers—dominate northern and midwestern states with long winters, including Alaska, Vermont, Maine, North Dakota, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin.
- Outdoor Adventure States: States with popular natural attractions or outdoor activities (think Colorado, Maine, Utah, Montana, New Hampshire, and Washington) show a preference for hiking boots.
- States with Popular Urban Cities: Washington, D.C. and Nevada stand out for favoring high heels, which could reflect professional or nightlife-focused shoe preferences in urban areas such as the nation’s capital and Las Vegas.
- Warm-Weather States: Perhaps unsurprisingly, sandals dominate southern and coastal states, including Arizona, Florida, and South Carolina.
- Southern States: Reflecting a Dixie culture, cowboy boots fill up the search engines of states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
- Active States: Running shoes are the most-searched style in more active states, from California and Hawaii to Oregon and Minnesota. Similarly, New York's sneakers preference reflects an urban lifestyle where comfortable, versatile footwear is essential for on-the-go city life.
Summary of Key Insights
Judging from the data, it turns out Americans’ choice of footwear styles can say a lot about where they live! In warm, sunny spots, people gravitate toward open, breathable shoes while people in chillier places want to snuggle up with cozy boots and slippers. In cities, Americans usually opt for trendy or practical shoes that work well in an urban environment.
Conclusion
So what do you think? Did your state’s results surprise you? Whatever footwear style you prefer, a high-quality, supportive pair will always make your feet the happiest—and healthiest. KURU’s line of ultra-supportive shoes come in a wide variety of styles, all built with patented heel tech for ultimate relief.
Methodology
We analyzed Google Trends data over the past year (11/12/23–11/12/24) to determine the most-searched shoe styles in each US state. The search terms included “cowboy boots,” “boot,” “high-heeled shoe,” “hiking boot,” “slide,” “running shoe,” “slipper,” “flip-flops,” “sandal,” and “sneakers.”
We then exported state-level Google Trends scores for each term and identified the style with the highest score per state. In cases where two or more styles tied, we re-compared them in Google Trends specific to that state, selecting the top-ranking style as the final result. By analyzing a full year of data, we minimized seasonal effects on search frequency, aiming for a balanced view of each state’s preferred shoe style.
About Us
At KURU, we’re on a mission to help you Heel Better™ with footwear technology designed to relieve foot pain, so you can live a life you love. Since launching our innovative technology in 2008, we’ve received more than 37,000 five-star reviews from thousands of customers who tell us their KURU shoes helped them with conditions (such as plantar fasciitis) and got them back to doing what they love.
Please direct all media inquiries to pr@kurufootwear.com.
