Market rankings · Pennsylvania
Fast food and sandwich shops in Pennsylvania
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Pennsylvania, ranked by the Groundwork market score for fast food and sandwich shops, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 5,801
- 3,887 chain locations (67%)
- Official establishments
- 9,802
- All limited-service restaurants · +2.2% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $21B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 11.0
- 17% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $3.6M
- 18% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #15 of 51
- Market score 62 · Upper middle
A site report maps the fast food and sandwich shops on map listings around any address in Pennsylvania by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Pennsylvania has 5,801 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 67% of them, against 79% across the U.S. That is 11.0 per 10,000 households, 17% below the U.S. rate of 13.3.
Household spending on food away from home in Pennsylvania comes to about $21B a year: $3,973 per household, 2% below the U.S. average. That is about $3.6M of household spending for each shop on map listings, 18% above the U.S. figure of $3.1M. The spending figure covers all food away from home, not only fast food and sandwich shops.
In 2023, official counts showed 9,802 businesses with payroll in Pennsylvania classed as limited-service restaurants, up 2.2% from 2019. That is one for every 538 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.1% over the same years. That count covers all limited-service restaurants (pizza places included), not only fast food and sandwich shops. Since fiscal 2022, 338 SBA-backed loans worth $122.6M have gone to businesses classed as limited-service restaurants in Pennsylvania.
Among the 50 states and DC, Pennsylvania ranks #15 for fast food and sandwich shops, with a Groundwork market score of 62 (upper middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in Pennsylvania, the Lancaster metro area scores highest (79). Of the 20 scored small-town markets in or partly in Pennsylvania, the Hemlock Farms area scores highest (94).
Every market in Pennsylvania for fast food and sandwich shops
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Pennsylvania, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Lancaster, PA | 79 | 193 | 9.1 | $4.6M | +1.9% | #28 of 387 |
| 2Chambersburg, PA | 78 | 61 | 9.6 | $4M | +3.0% | #33 of 387 |
| 3Gettysburg, PA | 77 | 33 | 8.1 | $5M | +3.6% | #35 of 387 |
| 4Reading, PA | 77 | 165 | 10.1 | $3.9M | +2.7% | #37 of 387 |
| 5York-Hanover, PA | 76 | 184 | 10.1 | $4M | +3.6% | #39 of 387 |
| 6Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 72 | 402 | 11.8 | $3.5M | +3.0% | #63 of 387 |
| 7Lebanon, PA | 69 | 64 | 11.3 | $3.4M | +2.2% | #74 of 387 |
| 8Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 68 | 286 | 11.6 | $3.4M | +4.2% | #85 of 387 |
| 9Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 66 | 2,777 | 11.3 | $3.9M | +1.4% | #98 of 387 |
| 10Pittsburgh, PA | 63 | 1,110 | 10.5 | $3.7M | −1.3% | #112 of 387 |
| 11State College, PA | 48 | 80 | 13.6 | $2.9M | −0.4% | #209 of 387 |
| 12Erie, PA | 45 | 125 | 11.3 | $3.1M | −1.8% | #225 of 387 |
| 13Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA | 44 | 330 | 14.1 | $2.5M | +1.4% | #236 of 387 |
| 14Johnstown, PA | 43 | 67 | 12.0 | $2.8M | −3.2% | #239 of 387 |
| 15Williamsport, PA | 38 | 61 | 13.0 | $2.7M | −1.3% | #270 of 387 |
| 16Altoona, PA | 21 | 70 | 13.8 | $2.5M | −2.5% | #354 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hemlock Farms, PA | 94 | 23 | 9.5 | $4.2M | +7.2% | #2 of 537 |
| 2Pottsville, PA | 79 | 55 | 9.5 | $3.7M | +1.5% | #33 of 537 |
| 3Lock Haven, PA | 76 | 12 | 7.8 | $4.4M | +1.3% | #49 of 537 |
| 4Sayre, PA | 72 | 22 | 8.9 | $3.9M | −0.6% | #73 of 537 |
| 5Sunbury, PA | 68 | 39 | 8.5 | $4.1M | −1.7% | #98 of 537 |
| 6Oil City, PA | 66 | 17 | 7.9 | $4.1M | −2.0% | #118 of 537 |
| 7Huntingdon, PA | 66 | 15 | 9.2 | $3.8M | −2.4% | #120 of 537 |
| 8St. Marys, PA | 64 | 13 | 9.8 | $3.5M | −3.3% | #140 of 537 |
| 9Meadville, PA | 62 | 27 | 8.0 | $4.1M | −2.4% | #159 of 537 |
| 10Somerset, PA | 62 | 30 | 10.2 | $3.3M | −2.7% | #160 of 537 |
| 11Warren, PA | 59 | 14 | 8.7 | $3.8M | −3.8% | #183 of 537 |
| 12DuBois, PA | 59 | 29 | 8.9 | $3.7M | −2.9% | #184 of 537 |
| 13Bradford, PA | 58 | 12 | 7.3 | $4.6M | −3.5% | #195 of 537 |
| 14Selinsgrove, PA | 57 | 16 | 11.0 | $3.2M | −0.2% | #210 of 537 |
| 15East Stroudsburg, PA | 57 | 88 | 14.4 | $2.8M | −0.7% | #215 of 537 |
| 16Indiana, PA | 55 | 36 | 11.1 | $3M | −0.3% | #229 of 537 |
| 17Lewisburg, PA | 54 | 19 | 13.1 | $2.9M | −0.8% | #238 of 537 |
| 18Lewistown, PA | 52 | 25 | 13.5 | $2.5M | 0.0% | #262 of 537 |
| 19Hermitage, PA | 46 | 64 | 13.8 | $2.4M | −2.4% | #312 of 537 |
| 20Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA | 39 | 45 | 17.1 | $2M | +2.3% | #373 of 537 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Pike County, PA | 86 | 23 | 9.5 | $4.2M | +7.2% | #45 of 2,222 |
| 2Chester County, PA | 85 | 155 | 7.6 | $6.9M | +4.2% | #51 of 2,222 |
| 3Perry County, PA | 84 | 7 | 3.8 | $10.1M | +2.1% | #64 of 2,222 |
| 4Butler County, PA | 78 | 78 | 9.7 | $4.4M | +3.2% | #163 of 2,222 |
| 5Susquehanna County, PA | 74 | 12 | 7.7 | $4.7M | −0.3% | #243 of 2,222 |
| 6Lancaster County, PA | 74 | 193 | 9.1 | $4.6M | +1.9% | #245 of 2,222 |
| 7Franklin County, PA | 74 | 61 | 9.6 | $4M | +3.0% | #250 of 2,222 |
| 8Adams County, PA | 73 | 33 | 8.1 | $5M | +3.6% | #272 of 2,222 |
| 9Northampton County, PA | 73 | 129 | 10.5 | $4M | +3.7% | #281 of 2,222 |
| 10Juniata County, PA | 72 | 6 | 6.6 | $5.3M | −0.3% | #296 of 2,222 |
| 11Wyoming County, PA | 72 | 8 | 7.3 | $5M | −0.9% | #299 of 2,222 |
| 12Berks County, PA | 72 | 165 | 10.1 | $3.9M | +2.7% | #309 of 2,222 |
| 13York County, PA | 71 | 184 | 10.1 | $4M | +3.6% | #330 of 2,222 |
| 14Montgomery County, PA | 70 | 377 | 11.2 | $4.4M | +2.4% | #351 of 2,222 |
| 15Schuylkill County, PA | 70 | 55 | 9.5 | $3.7M | +1.5% | #360 of 2,222 |
| 16Carbon County, PA | 68 | 26 | 9.5 | $3.7M | +1.7% | #433 of 2,222 |
| 17Clinton County, PA | 67 | 12 | 7.8 | $4.4M | +1.3% | #460 of 2,222 |
| 18Cumberland County, PA | 67 | 129 | 12.1 | $3.5M | +6.5% | #478 of 2,222 |
| 19Beaver County, PA | 66 | 64 | 8.9 | $4.2M | −1.1% | #501 of 2,222 |
| 20Lebanon County, PA | 66 | 64 | 11.3 | $3.4M | +2.2% | #517 of 2,222 |
| 21Armstrong County, PA | 65 | 21 | 7.5 | $4.6M | −2.7% | #538 of 2,222 |
| 22Bradford County, PA | 64 | 22 | 8.9 | $3.9M | −0.6% | #571 of 2,222 |
| 23Northumberland County, PA | 63 | 28 | 7.4 | $4.6M | −1.8% | #596 of 2,222 |
| 24Washington County, PA | 63 | 98 | 11.1 | $3.6M | +0.7% | #612 of 2,222 |
| 25Bucks County, PA | 61 | 315 | 12.6 | $3.9M | +0.3% | #681 of 2,222 |
Show all 67 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Delaware County, PA | 61 | 256 | 11.8 | $3.7M | +0.8% | #685 of 2,222 |
| 27Lehigh County, PA | 61 | 182 | 12.6 | $3.2M | +2.7% | #702 of 2,222 |
| 28Wayne County, PA | 61 | 24 | 11.5 | $3M | +1.1% | #708 of 2,222 |
| 29Venango County, PA | 60 | 17 | 7.9 | $4.1M | −2.0% | #730 of 2,222 |
| 30Potter County, PA | 60 | 6 | 8.6 | $3.8M | −3.0% | #732 of 2,222 |
| 31Huntingdon County, PA | 59 | 15 | 9.2 | $3.8M | −2.4% | #775 of 2,222 |
| 32Westmoreland County, PA | 59 | 166 | 10.7 | $3.6M | −1.4% | #777 of 2,222 |
| 33Elk County, PA | 58 | 13 | 9.8 | $3.5M | −3.3% | #813 of 2,222 |
| 34Crawford County, PA | 56 | 27 | 8.0 | $4.1M | −2.4% | #883 of 2,222 |
| 35Allegheny County, PA | 56 | 592 | 10.8 | $3.7M | −2.0% | #888 of 2,222 |
| 36Tioga County, PA | 56 | 16 | 9.6 | $3.6M | −1.3% | #892 of 2,222 |
| 37Dauphin County, PA | 56 | 150 | 12.4 | $3.1M | +2.3% | #904 of 2,222 |
| 38Somerset County, PA | 55 | 30 | 10.2 | $3.3M | −2.7% | #941 of 2,222 |
| 39McKean County, PA | 54 | 12 | 7.3 | $4.6M | −3.5% | #970 of 2,222 |
| 40Warren County, PA | 54 | 14 | 8.7 | $3.8M | −3.8% | #973 of 2,222 |
| 41Clearfield County, PA | 53 | 29 | 8.9 | $3.7M | −2.9% | #1,008 of 2,222 |
| 42Snyder County, PA | 50 | 16 | 11.0 | $3.2M | −0.2% | #1,126 of 2,222 |
| 43Monroe County, PA | 49 | 88 | 14.4 | $2.8M | −0.7% | #1,177 of 2,222 |
| 44Centre County, PA | 48 | 80 | 13.6 | $2.9M | −0.4% | #1,215 of 2,222 |
| 45Montour County, PA | 48 | 11 | 14.0 | $2.8M | −1.4% | #1,218 of 2,222 |
| 46Luzerne County, PA | 48 | 193 | 14.3 | $2.5M | +2.1% | #1,234 of 2,222 |
| 47Lawrence County, PA | 47 | 40 | 11.1 | $3.1M | −2.4% | #1,250 of 2,222 |
| 48Indiana County, PA | 47 | 36 | 11.1 | $3M | −0.3% | #1,254 of 2,222 |
| 49Union County, PA | 46 | 19 | 13.1 | $2.9M | −0.8% | #1,300 of 2,222 |
| 50Fayette County, PA | 45 | 51 | 9.2 | $3.6M | −4.3% | #1,330 of 2,222 |
| 51Erie County, PA | 45 | 125 | 11.3 | $3.1M | −1.8% | #1,332 of 2,222 |
| 52Mifflin County, PA | 43 | 25 | 13.5 | $2.5M | 0.0% | #1,407 of 2,222 |
| 53Philadelphia County, PA | 42 | 763 | 11.2 | $3.2M | −1.6% | #1,427 of 2,222 |
| 54Cambria County, PA | 42 | 67 | 12.0 | $2.8M | −3.2% | #1,430 of 2,222 |
| 55Lycoming County, PA | 40 | 61 | 13.0 | $2.7M | −1.3% | #1,490 of 2,222 |
| 56Lackawanna County, PA | 39 | 129 | 14.6 | $2.5M | +0.5% | #1,530 of 2,222 |
| 57Mercer County, PA | 39 | 64 | 13.8 | $2.4M | −2.4% | #1,531 of 2,222 |
| 58Bedford County, PA | 39 | 32 | 16.2 | $2.1M | −0.2% | #1,548 of 2,222 |
| 59Clarion County, PA | 37 | 22 | 14.6 | $2.3M | −1.4% | #1,610 of 2,222 |
| 60Jefferson County, PA | 35 | 22 | 12.0 | $2.7M | −2.8% | #1,664 of 2,222 |
| 61Columbia County, PA | 34 | 45 | 17.1 | $2M | +2.3% | #1,720 of 2,222 |
| 62Greene County, PA | 32 | 17 | 11.9 | $3M | −5.5% | #1,765 of 2,222 |
| 63Blair County, PA | 28 | 70 | 13.8 | $2.5M | −2.5% | #1,890 of 2,222 |
| Fulton County, PA | Not scored | 4 | 6.3 | $5.6M | −0.6% | |
| Forest County, PA | Not scored | 2 | 10.4 | $2.9M | −5.1% | |
| Sullivan County, PA | Not scored | 3 | 11.8 | $3.1M | +0.6% | |
| Cameron County, PA | Not scored | 2 | 9.0 | $3.3M | −7.0% |
Markets with fewer than 5 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many fast food and sandwich shops are in Pennsylvania?
Map listings as of September 2026 show 5,801 fast food and sandwich shops in Pennsylvania. 3,887 of them (67%) are chain locations. The listings count fast food, sandwich shops, delis and bagel shops. Official counts show 9,802 businesses with payroll classed as limited-service restaurants in 2023, up 2.2% from 2019. The official count takes in all limited-service restaurants, not only fast food and sandwich shops: pizza places are counted too. Official counts list 2,416 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Pennsylvania spend on food away from home?
About $21B a year, or $3,973 per household. That is 2% below the U.S. average (an index of 98, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 5,801 fast food and sandwich shops on map listings, it comes to $3.6M per shop. That spending covers all food away from home, which fast food and sandwich shops share with other businesses in the trade. It is estimated from the incomes of the 5,274,853 households in Pennsylvania and national spending patterns by income.
How does Pennsylvania compare with the U.S. for fast food and sandwich shops?
Pennsylvania has 11.0 fast food and sandwich shops per 10,000 households, 17% below the U.S. rate of 13.3. Spending per shop is $3.6M, 18% above the U.S. figure of $3.1M. At the U.S. ratio of fast food and sandwich shops to household spending, Pennsylvania would have about 6,869, against 5,801 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 538 households, against one for every 478 across the U.S. The official count rose 2.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.1% for the U.S.
Which market in Pennsylvania has the highest market score for fast food and sandwich shops?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in Pennsylvania, the Lancaster metro area scores highest, at 79 (high). Among 20 scored small-town markets in or partly in Pennsylvania, the Hemlock Farms area scores highest, at 94 (very high). Among 63 scored counties in Pennsylvania, Pike County scores highest, at 86 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Pennsylvania scores 62 for fast food and sandwich shops (upper middle), #15 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Pennsylvania. It maps the fast food and sandwich shops on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Fast food and sandwich shops in other states
All 51 states
- Alabama
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- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
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- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
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- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
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- Michigan
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- Mississippi
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- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
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- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for fast food and sandwich shops across the U.S. · All business types in Pennsylvania
Related business types in Pennsylvania
- Restaurants and cafes52,828 listings
- Sit-down restaurants28,334 listings
- Pizza5,451 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes4,524 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops5,464 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Pennsylvania?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.