The Best US Cities for Book Lovers
Explore.com just shared new research on the best US cities for book lovers to live and visit. Using the “Top 100 Best American Cities” list, they took a look at several factors to determine what cities were ones that readers will love. Those factors included the number of bookstores and libraries per 10,000 people, as well as local literary landmarks, history, and events.
It might surprise many to learn that the top US city for book lovers is Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Out of a possible 100 points, Lancaster tied with New York City in points. Lancaster, however, far more bookstores and libraries for every 10,000 people than the Big Apple, whereas New York boasts more literary landmarks and events.
The top 10 best US cities for book lovers are:
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- New York City, New York
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Pensacola, Florida
- Poughkeepsie, New York
- Portland, Oregon
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Birmingham, Alabama
- St. Louis, Missouri
Check out the full list of best US locales for readers, as well as the breakdown of their library, bookstore, and event offerings, right here. The statistics on the uptick in searches about literary tourism are impressive!
Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.
More breaking news here
- Matt Damon as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s THE ODYSSEY
- The Most Read Books on Goodreads This Week
- The New York Public Library Names The Best New Romance for Adults
- The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists
- Margaret Atwood’s First Memoir Announced
- The 2025 Libby Award Finalists
- The Most Popular Romance Books of the Last Few Years, According to Goodreads
- We Need Diverse Books Announces the Winners of the 2025 Walter Dean Myers Awards
- The Book Trends of 2025, According to Goodreads
- The First Trailer for The Adaptation of Judy Blume’s Forever . . . Is Here!
