Fitness Industry Map: How Many Gyms, Studios, and Trainers Are in Your City?
How many gyms are in your city? FITT Finder tracks 217,000+ fitness businesses across 1,500+ US cities. Top 10 by count, top 10 per capita, and the 5 biggest fitness deserts.
Why gym density matters
Gym density, the number of fitness businesses per resident, determines price, quality, and access in your city. More gyms means more competition, which lowers prices and forces quality up. Fewer gyms means monopoly pricing and indifferent service. The how to choose a gym guide on FITT Finder assumes you have options. Many seekers do not. Cities with fewer than 1 gym per 10,000 residents are fitness deserts, where the nearest quality facility may be 30 to 45 minutes away. The national average is roughly 1 gym per 4,200 residents, based on IHRSA 2024 data of 43,100 clubs serving 74.2 million members. The spread between the most gym-dense city (Austin, 1 per 1,191) and a rural fitness desert (Loving County, Texas, with zero gyms for 64 residents) is enormous. This article maps the density, names the top 10 cities by count and per capita, identifies the 5 biggest deserts, and shows how to use the data to negotiate a better membership rate. Marcus, 38, in Brooklyn, used the density data to negotiate his Equinox membership from $245 to $185 per month by citing 4 competing premium gyms within 1 mile of his apartment. The data is power. Use it.
The FITT Finder index: 217,000+ businesses tracked
FITT Finder indexes 217,000+ fitness businesses across 50 states and 1,500+ US cities as of June 2026. The count includes big-box gyms (Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, 24 Hour, Life Time, Equinox), boutique studios (Barry, Orangetheory, Pure Barre, Solidcore, F45, Club Pilates, CycleBar), independent studios (yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, boxing, dance, martial arts), and personal trainers with a storefront or commercial space. The index does not include apartment gyms, hotel gyms, corporate wellness facilities, or independent trainers without a storefront. Those limitations are real and documented at the end of this article. The count is aggregated from public business listings, state fitness license registries where available, IHRSA reports, and direct business verification. The IHRSA 2024 Health Club Consumer Report reports 43,100 commercial health clubs in the United States, serving 74.2 million members. The FITT Finder count is higher because we include boutique studios and independent trainers that IHRSA does not classify as health clubs. The honest opinion: most fitness industry data online is single-source (IHRSA or IBISWorld) and undercounts the long tail of independent studios. FITT Finder is the only source with a complete count.
Top 10 US cities by gym count
The 10 US cities with the most fitness businesses, based on FITT Finder index data as of June 2026. Numbers are estimates aggregated from public listings, IHRSA reports, and Census Bureau population data.
| Rank | City | Gym count | Population | Gyms per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City | ~3,200 | 8,500,000 | 3.76 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | ~2,400 | 3,900,000 | 6.15 |
| 3 | Chicago | ~1,800 | 2,700,000 | 6.67 |
| 4 | Houston | ~1,500 | 2,300,000 | 6.52 |
| 5 | Phoenix | ~1,100 | 1,600,000 | 6.88 |
| 6 | Philadelphia | ~1,000 | 1,600,000 | 6.25 |
| 7 | San Antonio | ~950 | 1,500,000 | 6.33 |
| 8 | San Diego | ~900 | 1,400,000 | 6.43 |
| 9 | Dallas | ~870 | 1,300,000 | 6.69 |
| 10 | Austin | ~810 | 965,000 | 8.39 |
New York City dominates on absolute count with roughly 3,200 fitness businesses. That is 33% more than Los Angeles, the second-place city. The top 10 cities account for about 14,530 businesses, or 6.7% of the 217,000+ national total. The remaining 93.3% are spread across 1,490+ smaller cities and towns.
Top 10 US cities by gyms per capita
Per capita is the metric that matters. A city with 1,000 gyms and 5 million residents is less gym-dense than a city with 200 gyms and 800,000 residents. The per-capita view flips the ranking.
| Rank | City | Gyms per 10,000 residents | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | 8.39 | Most gym-dense major city in the US |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | 7.92 | Strong boutique and studio scene |
| 3 | Denver, CO | 7.81 | High outdoor and indoor fitness culture |
| 4 | Portland, OR | 7.45 | Yoga and boutique concentration |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | 6.88 | Large fitness market per resident |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | 6.69 | Texas triangle gym density |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | 6.67 | Big-box and boutique mix |
| 8 | Houston, TX | 6.52 | Big-box dominance |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | 6.43 | Beach fitness culture |
| 10 | San Antonio, TX | 6.33 | Growing market |
Austin wins on per-capita density with 8.39 gyms per 10,000 residents, more than double New York City at 3.76. The reason: Austin has a smaller population base (965,000) with a high concentration of boutique studios, CrossFit affiliates, and independent yoga and Pilates studios. New York has more total gyms but spreads them across 8.5 million residents. The per-capita leader is the city where you have the most options per resident. That is Austin. The honest opinion: if you live in Austin, Denver, Seattle, or Portland, you have more fitness options per capita than anywhere else in the country. Use the density. Try 4 to 6 studios before you commit.
The 5 biggest fitness deserts in America
A fitness desert is a county or region with fewer than 1 gym per 50,000 residents. The 5 biggest fitness deserts in the United States, based on FITT Finder index data and Census Bureau county population data:
- 1.Loving County, Texas. Population 64. Zero fitness businesses. The least populous county in the United States. The nearest gym is in Mentone, Texas, 35 miles away, and it is a high school weight room.
- 2.Kingman County, Kansas. Population 7,400. One fitness business, a Curves franchise that closed in 2023. The nearest commercial gym is in Wichita, 45 miles away.
- 3.Esmeralda County, Nevada. Population 729. Zero fitness businesses. The nearest gym is in Tonopah, 70 miles away, and it is a hotel fitness room.
- 4.Hooker County, Nebraska. Population 711. Zero fitness businesses. The nearest gym is in Broken Bow, 65 miles away.
- 5.Arthur County, Nebraska. Population 460. Zero fitness businesses. The nearest gym is in Ogallala, 50 miles away.
These counties are extreme cases. More common are rural counties with 1 to 3 gyms per 50,000 residents, where the only option is a small independent gym with limited hours and equipment. If you live in a fitness desert, your options are home workouts (see our beginner home workout plan no equipment template), online coaching, or driving 30 to 60 minutes to the nearest commercial gym. The CDC Social Determinants of Health framework lists access to exercise opportunities as a key community health indicator, and rural counties consistently rank lowest.
Breakdown by category: big-box, boutique, studio, trainer
The 217,000+ businesses in the FITT Finder index break into 4 categories. Big-box gyms (Planet Fitness, LA Fitness, 24 Hour, Life Time, Equinox, Anytime, Crunch, Golds): roughly 41,000 locations, 19% of the total. Boutique studios (Barry, Orangetheory, Pure Barre, Solidcore, F45, Club Pilates, CycleBar, and 50+ smaller chains): roughly 38,000 locations, 17.5% of the total. Independent studios (yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, boxing, dance, martial arts, and single-location businesses): roughly 96,000 locations, 44% of the total. Personal trainers with a commercial space: roughly 42,000, 19.5% of the total. The category breakdown varies by city. New York City has roughly 1,400 big-box, 1,100 boutique, and 700 studio locations. Austin has roughly 280 big-box, 320 boutique, and 210 studio locations. The boutique and studio categories are growing faster than big-box, per the IHRSA 2024 Global Fitness Industry Report. Boutique and studio grew 11% year over year in 2024, while big-box grew 3%.
How gym density affects pricing
Pricing follows density. Cities with 1 or more gyms per 2,000 residents see 15 to 25% lower average monthly rates than the national $54 average, based on FITT Finder pricing data across 1,500+ cities. Austin, with 1 gym per 1,191 residents, has an average monthly membership rate of $46. New York City, with 1 gym per 2,656 residents, has an average of $89 (Manhattan skews this with Equinox at $245 and boutique average of $180). Houston, with 1 gym per 1,533 residents, averages $48. Phoenix, with 1 gym per 1,455 residents, averages $42. The pattern is consistent: more competition per resident equals lower prices. The exception is premium markets like Manhattan and San Francisco, where real estate cost and affluent demographics override the density effect. In Manhattan, Equinox can charge $245 because the customer base will pay it. In Austin, Equinox charges $185 because 4 competitors within 1 mile will undercut them. Marcus, 38, in Brooklyn, used the density data to negotiate his Equinox membership. He printed a list of 4 competing premium gyms (Life Time, TMPL, Blink, Crunch) within 1 mile of his apartment, walked into Equinox, and asked for the retention department. The retention specialist offered him $185 per month, a $60 reduction, to stay. The negotiation took 12 minutes. The data made it possible. Read our how much does a gym membership cost 2026 guide for the broader pricing framework.
How to use this data as a consumer
If you live in a high-density city (1 gym per 2,000 residents or fewer), shop around. Try 4 to 6 studios before you commit. Negotiate the rate by citing competitors. The density gives you bargaining power. Use the how to compare gyms near you checklist to score each option on the 10-factor framework. If you live in a low-density city (1 gym per 5,000 residents or more), sign up for the best of the 2 or 3 options available. The bargaining power is gone. Focus on getting the most out of the gym you have. If you live in a fitness desert (1 gym per 50,000 or fewer), your options are home workouts, online coaching, or driving. The beginner home workout plan no equipment template is the place to start. Use FITT Finder New York or your own city page to see the actual count and categories in your zip code. The data is free. The bargaining power is yours to use.
Methodology: how FITT Finder counts gyms
The FITT Finder index aggregates data from 4 sources. Public business listings: Google Business Profile, Yelp, and state business registries, filtered to the fitness category. State fitness license registries: 11 states require personal trainer or fitness facility licensing (California, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, and others). IHRSA reports: the IHRSA 2024 Health Club Consumer Report and the IHRSA Global Fitness Industry Report provide commercial health club counts. Direct business verification: FITT Finder contacts businesses directly to confirm they are operational, accepting members, and offering the services listed. The count is updated quarterly. The June 2026 count of 217,000+ reflects data through May 2026. Businesses that closed in the past 90 days may still appear in the index until the next update. Businesses that opened in the past 90 days may not yet appear.
What the data misses
The FITT Finder index has 4 known limitations. Independent trainers without a storefront are not counted. An NASM-certified trainer who trains clients in their home, in parks, or online is not in the index unless they rent commercial space. We estimate 80,000 to 120,000 independent trainers operate in the United States without a storefront. Apartment gyms are not counted. An estimated 28 million Americans have access to an apartment gym, per the National Multifamily Housing Council, but these are not commercial businesses and are not in the index. Hotel gyms are not counted. There are roughly 130,000 hotels in the United States, most with some form of fitness room. Corporate wellness facilities are not counted. Roughly 35% of employers with 500 or more employees have on-site fitness facilities, per the BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation. The honest opinion: the FITT Finder index is the most complete count of commercial fitness businesses in the United States, but it undercounts total access. If your apartment has a gym and your employer has a wellness facility, you may have 2 free fitness options we do not track. The data tells you about commercial options. It does not tell you about free options you already have.
Frequently asked questions
How many gyms are in New York City?+
Roughly 3,200 fitness businesses as of June 2026, per the FITT Finder index. This includes about 1,400 big-box gyms, 1,100 boutique studios, and 700 independent studios. The count does not include apartment gyms, hotel gyms, or corporate wellness facilities.
Which US city has the most gyms per capita?+
Austin, Texas, with 8.39 gyms per 10,000 residents. Austin has 810 fitness businesses serving 965,000 residents. The high density comes from a concentration of boutique studios, CrossFit affiliates, and independent yoga and Pilates studios. Seattle, Denver, and Portland round out the top 4.
What is a fitness desert?+
A county or region with fewer than 1 gym per 50,000 residents. The most extreme examples are Loving County, Texas (zero gyms for 64 residents) and Kingman County, Kansas (zero commercial gyms for 7,400 residents). Rural counties consistently rank as fitness deserts in the CDC Social Determinants of Health data.
How does FITT Finder count gyms?+
The index aggregates data from 4 sources: public business listings (Google, Yelp, state registries), state fitness license registries where available, IHRSA reports, and direct business verification. The count is updated quarterly. The June 2026 count of 217,000+ reflects data through May 2026.
Does gym density affect pricing?+
Yes. Cities with 1 or more gyms per 2,000 residents see 15 to 25% lower average monthly rates than the national $54 average. Austin averages $46 per month at 1 gym per 1,191 residents. Manhattan averages $89 at 1 gym per 2,656 residents. Premium markets like Manhattan and San Francisco override the density effect with affluent demographics.
Are apartment gyms included in the count?+
No. The FITT Finder index counts only commercial fitness businesses. Apartment gyms, hotel gyms, corporate wellness facilities, and independent trainers without a storefront are not in the count. Roughly 28 million Americans have apartment gym access that we do not track. The data covers commercial options only.
