10 Most and Least EV-Friendly Places To Live In America
The United States is projected to add 40,243 electric vehicle chargers in 2026, bringing the nationwide total to 299,798. Despite this expansion, annual charger growth is slowing significantly, and access remains uneven across the country.
San Francisco ranks as the most EV-friendly metropolitan area, with 334 residents per charger. Louisville ranks last, with only one charger for every 2,904 residents.
iSeeCars analyzed Level 2 and Level 3/DC fast-charging infrastructure data published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center to identify charging trends from 2025 to 2026.
“Charging infrastructure remains a primary concern for mainstream consumers considering an electric vehicle,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “This latest iSeeCars study confirms why, given the disparity in EV charger access across major metro areas.”
America’s EV Charger Expansion Is Losing Momentum
The long-term growth trend shows that the charging network expanded rapidly in 2011 and maintained annual growth above 30% throughout much of the following decade. By 2025, however, year-over-year growth had fallen to approximately 25%, less than half the 2021 rate. The projected 15.5% increase in 2026 would extend the slowdown.
“America’s EV charging network is still expanding, but the growth curve has changed substantially. A projected 15.5% increase for 2026 still adds tens of thousands of chargers, but it represents a much slower expansion rate compared to the average over the past decade,” Brauer said.
Slower Growth Still Adds More Than 40,000 Chargers
Despite the declining growth rate, the U.S. charging network continues to expand. The total number of chargers is projected to rise from 259,555 in 2025 to 299,798 in 2026, an increase of more than 40,000.
The national ratio of residents per charger is expected to improve from 1,317 to 1,143, a 13.2% improvement. Charging infrastructure is therefore becoming more plentiful relative to the population, even as the pace of expansion slows.
U.S. EV Charger Growth: 2025 to 2026, iSeeCars Study
| Year | Residents Per Charger | Total Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,317 | 259,555 |
| 2026 | 1,143 | 299,798 |
| Year-over-Year Improvement | 13.2% | 15.5% |
2026 figures are projections based on data through September 2026.
“The more than 40,000 projected EV chargers added in 2026 help address the concerns of consumers who are considering an electric vehicle but worry about charging access,” Brauer said.
Los Angeles Leads The Nation In Total EV Chargers
Los Angeles leads the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas with 36,318 chargers, followed by San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, New York, Boston and Denver.
The difference between the largest and smallest charging networks is substantial. Louisville has just 621 chargers, followed by Greensboro-Winston Salem with 700. Los Angeles has more than 58 times as many chargers as Louisville.
California accounts for four of the 10 metropolitan areas with the largest charging networks: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Sacramento. Combined, the 10 leading metropolitan areas have 134,800 chargers, approximately 45% of the projected national total.
Metro Areas With The Most And Fewest EV Chargers: 2026, iSeeCars Study
| Rank | Most Chargers: Metro Area | Total Chargers | Fewest Chargers: Metro Area | Total Chargers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | 36,318 | Louisville, KY | 621 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA | 22,430 | Greensboro-Winston Salem, NC | 700 |
| 3 | New York, NY | 19,036 | Milwaukee, WI | 852 |
| 4 | Boston, MA-Manchester, NH | 12,017 | Birmingham, AL | 857 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | 8,300 | Oklahoma City, OK | 867 |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 7,820 | Harrisburg-Lancaster-York, PA | 935 |
| 7 | Washington, DC (Hagerstown, MD) | 7,667 | San Antonio, TX | 1,112 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | 7,582 | Indianapolis, IN | 1,142 |
| 9 | Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, CA | 6,836 | Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, VA | 1,148 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | 6,794 | Cincinnati, OH | 1,165 |
2026 figures are projections based on data through September 2026.
“California’s EV-friendly weather and tech-oriented communities clearly contribute to the state’s EV demand and aggressive charging infrastructure buildout, but high-ranking New York, Boston, and Denver reflect strong EV charging support outside the Golden State,” Brauer said.
San Francisco Has More Than Three Times The National Charger Density
Total charger counts tell only part of the story. When population is considered, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose ranks first, with 334 residents per charger, 71% below the national ratio of 1,143. San Diego ranks second at 432 residents per charger, followed by Los Angeles at 500. Denver and Boston are nearly tied at 569 and 571, respectively.
Louisville ranks at the opposite end, with 2,904 residents per charger, meaning nearly nine times as many residents compete for each charger as in San Francisco. Indianapolis has the second-worst ratio, followed closely by Milwaukee, Greensboro-Winston Salem and San Antonio.
Several metropolitan areas combine extensive charging networks with relatively low residents-per-charger ratios, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Denver. Other markets, including Louisville, Milwaukee and Greensboro-Winston Salem, rank poorly on both measures.
Most And Least EV-Friendly Metro Areas: 2026, iSeeCars Study
| Rank | Most EV-Friendly Metro Area | Residents Per Charger | Total Chargers | Least EV-Friendly Metro Area | Residents Per Charger | Total Chargers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA | 334 | 22,430 | Louisville, KY | 2,904 | 621 |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | 432 | 7,582 | Indianapolis, IN | 2,758 | 1,142 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | 500 | 36,318 | Milwaukee, WI | 2,716 | 852 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | 569 | 8,300 | Greensboro-Winston Salem, NC | 2,669 | 700 |
| 5 | Boston, MA-Manchester, NH | 571 | 12,017 | San Antonio, TX | 2,666 | 1,112 |
| 6 | Hartford and New Haven, CT | 611 | 4,351 | Houston, TX | 2,453 | 3,170 |
| 7 | Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, CA | 659 | 6,836 | Cleveland-Akron (Canton), OH | 2,393 | 1,615 |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 716 | 7,820 | Birmingham, AL | 2,355 | 857 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | 885 | 3,951 | Oklahoma City, OK | 2,337 | 867 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | 919 | 2,840 | Harrisburg-Lancaster-York, PA | 2,243 | 935 |
| National Average | 1,143 | 299,798 |
2026 figures are projections based on data through September 2026.
“Total charger count can obscure how accessible a charging network really is. Looking at residents per charger provides a clearer measure of how much infrastructure is available to local EV drivers,” Brauer said.
Minneapolis And Seattle Show The Greatest Improvement In Charger Access
Minneapolis-St. Paul has the largest projected year-over-year improvement in charger access, with residents per charger falling 22.5%, from 2,478 to 1,921.
Seattle ranks second with a 19.7% improvement, while Milwaukee improves 18.4%. Boston, Denver, Sacramento and New York also improve by at least 17.9%, well above the national average improvement of 13.2%.
Rapid improvement, however, does not necessarily mean a market already offers strong charging access. Milwaukee has the third-largest improvement but remains the third least EV-friendly metropolitan area, with 2,716 residents per charger. Oklahoma City improves 17.6% but also remains among the 10 least EV-friendly metropolitan areas.
Las Vegas has the smallest improvement, at 5%, although its ratio of 1,054 residents per charger remains slightly better than the national average. Birmingham presents the opposite situation, with only a 6.2% improvement and 2,355 residents per charger.
Most And Least Improved Metro Areas For EV Infrastructure: 2025-2026, iSeeCars Study
| Rank | Most Improved Metro Area | Improvement | Residents Per Charger, 2026 | Residents Per Charger, 2025 | Least Improved Metro Area | Improvement | Residents Per Charger, 2026 | Residents Per Charger, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN | 22.5% | 1,921 | 2,478 | Las Vegas, NV | 5.0% | 1,054 | 1,109 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 19.7% | 716 | 892 | Birmingham, AL | 6.2% | 2,355 | 2,512 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | 18.4% | 2,716 | 3,327 | Baltimore, MD | 6.8% | 923 | 991 |
| 4 | Boston, MA-Manchester, NH | 18.3% | 571 | 699 | Washington, DC (Hagerstown, MD) | 7.3% | 952 | 1,027 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | 18.1% | 569 | 694 | Nashville, TN | 7.4% | 1,633 | 1,764 |
| 6 | Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto, CA | 17.9% | 659 | 803 | Kansas City, MO | 7.8% | 1,034 | 1,122 |
| 7 | New York, NY | 17.9% | 1,145 | 1,395 | Phoenix, AZ | 8.7% | 1,352 | 1,481 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | 17.9% | 1,784 | 2,172 | Houston, TX | 9.2% | 2,453 | 2,701 |
| 9 | Oklahoma City, OK | 17.6% | 2,337 | 2,835 | Greensboro-Winston Salem, NC | 9.4% | 2,669 | 2,947 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | 17.4% | 964 | 1,166 | Hartford and New Haven, CT | 9.6% | 611 | 676 |
| National Average | 13.2% | 1,143 | 1,317 |
2026 figures are projections based on data through September 2026.
“A high growth rate can represent a city trying to catch up versus leading in EV charger access. Milwaukee and Oklahoma City are adding charger access faster than the national average, but both still have more than twice as many residents per charger than several of the highest-ranked markets,” Brauer said.
California Has Three Times More EV Chargers Than Second-Place New York
California dominates the state rankings with 81,932 chargers, more than three times New York’s second-place total of 24,519. California alone accounts for more than one-quarter of all projected U.S. chargers.
Florida ranks third with 17,069 chargers, followed by Texas with 14,345 and Massachusetts with 13,280. Together, the 10 states with the largest charging networks account for 195,111 chargers, approximately 65% of the national total.
At the other end of the rankings, Alaska has just 227 chargers, followed by North Dakota with 288, South Dakota with 345 and Wyoming with 349. The 10 states with the fewest chargers collectively account for less than 2% of the national total, fewer than the 7,100 chargers in Illinois alone.
U.S. States With The Most And Fewest EV Chargers: 2026, iSeeCars Study
| Rank | State With Most Chargers | Total Chargers | State With Fewest Chargers | Total Chargers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 81,932 | Alaska | 227 |
| 2 | New York | 24,519 | North Dakota | 288 |
| 3 | Florida | 17,069 | South Dakota | 345 |
| 4 | Texas | 14,345 | Wyoming | 349 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 13,280 | Montana | 502 |
| 6 | Washington | 10,489 | West Virginia | 600 |
| 7 | Colorado | 9,242 | Mississippi | 834 |
| 8 | Georgia | 8,860 | Nebraska | 842 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 8,275 | Delaware | 843 |
| 10 | Illinois | 7,100 | Idaho | 854 |
2026 figures are projections based on data through September 2026.
Vermont Edges California For The Best Statewide Charger Access
Vermont ranks as the most EV-friendly state based on charger density, with 450 residents per charger. California follows at 480, while Massachusetts ranks third at 539.
Louisiana has the highest residents-per-charger ratio, at 4,717. That is more than four times the national average and more than 10 times Vermont’s ratio. Mississippi ranks second-worst, followed by Kentucky and Alaska.
The state rankings reinforce the geographic disparities seen across metropolitan areas. Charger access can vary dramatically depending on where an EV is driven, even as the nationwide network continues to expand.
Most And Least EV-Friendly U.S. States: 2026, iSeeCars Study
| Rank | Most EV-Friendly State | Residents Per Charger | Total Chargers | Least EV-Friendly State | Residents Per Charger | Total Chargers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 450 | 1,432 | Louisiana | 4,717 | 979 |
| 2 | California | 480 | 81,932 | Mississippi | 3,541 | 834 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 539 | 13,280 | Kentucky | 3,270 | 1,409 |
| 4 | Colorado | 651 | 9,242 | Alaska | 3,254 | 227 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 677 | 5,448 | West Virginia | 2,942 | 600 |
| 6 | Washington | 763 | 10,489 | North Dakota | 2,776 | 288 |
| 7 | Maine | 793 | 1,784 | South Dakota | 2,710 | 345 |
| 8 | New York | 816 | 24,519 | Indiana | 2,623 | 2,659 |
| 9 | Oregon | 894 | 4,781 | Arkansas | 2,572 | 1,211 |
| 10 | Maryland | 981 | 6,389 | Nebraska | 2,398 | 842 |
| National Average | 1,143 | 299,798 |
2026 figures are projections based on data through September 2026.
“The difference between Vermont’s 450 residents per charger and Louisiana’s 4,717 illustrates how uneven EV infrastructure remains. National growth is meaningful, but local charger availability can have a major impact on how comfortable a buyer is making an EV purchase,” Brauer said.
New Jersey And Washington Lead States For EV Infrastructure Improvement
New Jersey has the largest projected improvement in residents per charger, at 22.2%, with the ratio falling from 1,483 in 2025 to 1,154 in 2026. Washington is nearly tied at 22.1%, improving from 979 to 763 residents per charger.
Minnesota ranks third, followed by Illinois, Idaho, Utah, Wisconsin and Colorado. North Dakota shows no improvement, remaining at 2,776 residents per charger in both years. Wyoming improves by just 2.8%.
Considering current charger access alongside the improvement rate provides additional context. Washington and Colorado already rank among the most EV-friendly states and continue to improve faster than the national average. North Dakota and West Virginia remain among the least EV-friendly states while also recording some of the smallest year-over-year gains.
Most And Least Improved U.S. States For EV Infrastructure: 2025-2026, iSeeCars Study
| Rank | Most Improved State | Improvement | Residents Per Charger, 2026 | Residents Per Charger, 2025 | Least Improved State | Improvement | Residents Per Charger, 2026 | Residents Per Charger, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 22.2% | 1,154 | 1,483 | North Dakota | 0.0% | 2,776 | 2,776 |
| 2 | Washington | 22.1% | 763 | 979 | Wyoming | 2.8% | 1,689 | 1,737 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 21.7% | 1,943 | 2,482 | West Virginia | 3.9% | 2,942 | 3,061 |
| 4 | Illinois | 19.3% | 1,792 | 2,219 | Alaska | 4.2% | 3,254 | 3,398 |
| 5 | Idaho | 18.3% | 2,376 | 2,908 | Nevada | 5.6% | 1,046 | 1,108 |
| 6 | Utah | 18.2% | 992 | 1,212 | Tennessee | 6.5% | 2,077 | 2,222 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | 17.7% | 2,320 | 2,820 | Mississippi | 6.7% | 3,541 | 3,797 |
| 8 | Colorado | 17.5% | 651 | 789 | Alabama | 7.6% | 2,286 | 2,474 |
| 9 | Nebraska | 17.0% | 2,398 | 2,887 | Maryland | 7.9% | 981 | 1,065 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 16.7% | 539 | 647 | Kansas | 8.2% | 1,792 | 1,951 |
| National Average | 13.2% | 1,143 | 1,317 |
2026 figures are projections based on data through September 2026.
“While states like California and New York are clearly ‘all in’ on EV infrastructure, it’s difficult to imagine North Dakota, Wyoming or West Virginia ever making a big push to support electric vehicles,” Brauer said. “The combination of colder temperatures and dominant rural landscape in those states is counter to an electric vehicle’s best use case and charging process.”
“There’s a growing divide between electric vehicle proponents and traditional, internal combustion buyers, and the disparity between the most- and least-friendly EV cities and states seems to reflect it,” Brauer said. “If you’re shopping for your next car, and seriously considering an EV, local charging access and competition should be a primary consideration. This is especially important today, given the slowing buildout of EV infrastructure in recent years.”
Methodology
iSeeCars Research analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center through September 23, 2026. Level 2 EVSE and Level 3/DC fast EVSE ports were aggregated nationally, by metropolitan area and by state.
For 2026, the total number of chargers for the full year was projected linearly using the available daily data. Charger counts were also normalized using population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and expressed as residents per charger.
For national data, the latest available population figures from 2025 and 2026 were used for the corresponding charger data from each year. For state and metropolitan-area comparisons, population figures from 2025 and 2024, respectively, were used because those were the latest available data at each geographic level.
About iSeeCars
iSeeCars helps millions of people make smarter car-buying decisions and find the best deals through data-driven research and unbiased analysis. iSeeCars Research conducts independent studies that provide insights into vehicles, market trends and the automotive industry, including its Best Cars Rankings and annual Longest Lasting Cars Study.
To make car shopping easier and more transparent, iSeeCars.com analyzes millions of vehicle listings and provides resources including iVIN Reports, Window Stickers and Build Sheets. The company reports that it has saved users more than $451 million using over 25 billion data points and proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze vehicles and automotive markets.
Electric Vehicle Marketing Consultant, Writer and Editor. Publisher EVinfo.net.
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