Chick-fil-A vs. Popeyes: The Best Cities for Chicken Sandwiches

With the August 12 launch of its new chicken sandwich, Popeyes has triggered the ultimate chicken sandwich war between them and other fast-food restaurants like Chick-fil-A, Wendy's and others.

The one with Chick-fil-A was especially funny as they posted a seemingly unrelated tweet about their chicken sandwich, only to have Popeyes come for them via Twitter.

… y’all good? https://t.co/lPaTFXfnyP

— Popeyes Chicken (@PopeyesChicken) August 19, 2019

While people think chicken sandwich when they hear Chick-fil-A — they have 27.9 percent of the chicken market share, after all — Popeyes' great feedback grew louder. Even The New Yorker caught on.

The Popeyes chicken sandwich, available in regular and spicy, was so popular that it sold out after just two weeks.

So, what side are you on? Whether you're Team Chick-fil-A or Team Popeyes, we've ranked the top five cities for each to get your chicken sandwich fix.

Team Chick-fil-A

Have you woken up on a Sunday craving that crispy chicken sandwich with a side of waffle fries and immediately realized what day it is? We understand your pain.

If you're Team Chick-fil-A, we put together the five best cities for Chick-fil-A goodness per capita — that's the number of stores per 100,000 residents. It's our pleasure. Scroll down to see who took the number one spot. Hint: It's famous for peaches.

5. Orlando, FL

• Chick-fil-A restaurants per 100,000 people: 5.25
• Average 1-BR rent price: $1,383

Mickey Mouse, Universal Studios and chicken sandwiches — Orlando has it all. The Florida city boasts 15 Chick-fil-A stores for 285,713 residents. While you're considering the best neighborhood to live in, take into account how far you are from fulfilling a chicken sandwich crazy.

Peruse the 25 most popular apartments in Orlando to make your decision, all with an average one-bedroom rent of $1,383.

4. Tyler, TX

• Chick-fil-A restaurants per 100,000 people: 5.67
• Average 1-BR rent price: $868

Tyler is at the center of rose cultivation in Texas. Its 14-acre beautiful rose gardens, housed in an 1859 mansion, bloom every season. To see the more than 38,000 rose bushes bloom, you can rent a one-bedroom apartment on average for $868 a month.

The small town of only about 105,729 residents, also offers one more thing — six Chick-fil-As. That's 5.6 stores per 100,000 residents, taking No. 4 on our list.

3. Knoxville, TN

• Chick-fil-A restaurants per 100,000 people: 5.87
• Average 1-BR rent price: $926

If you prefer the Chick-fil-A sandwich to the state's hot chicken offering, Knoxville is a good spot to live as they have 5.8 stores per 100,000 residents. The East Tennessee city's Historic Market Square is the culture and food hub with live music on most nights.

Wake up to the Sunsphere every day — a staple on the Knoxville skyline — by renting a one-bedroom for $926 a month.

2. Columbia, SC

• Chick-fil-A restaurants per 100,000 people: 7.49
• Average 1-BR rent price: $972

The 133,451 residents of Columbia get to enjoy their chicken sandwich at 10 locations around the city. That's 7.4 stores per 100,000 residents. The capital of South Carolina has made several lists as the best place to live, and this is just one more reason.

A one-bedroom apartment will set you back $972 a month.

1. Atlanta, GA

• Chick-fil-A restaurants per 100,000 people: 8.23
• Average 1-BR rent price: $1,508

The city too busy to hate takes the No. 1 spot for most Chick-fil-As per capita. It's not surprising as Atlanta is home to the headquarters of the restaurant. You can even book a tour for a behind-the-scenes of the brand.

Atlanta has 41 stores — that's 8.2 Chick-fil-A per 100,000 residents. Those residents get to have their chicken and their dream home, too, as one-bedroom apartments average $1,508 a month.

The top 50 Chick-fil-A cities

Didn't make the top five? See how your city ranks in this top 50 cities across the U.S. and how likely you are to pair your chicken sandwich with waffle fries.

Rank	City	State	Population	Chick-fil-A restaurants	Chick-fil-As per 100k people
1	Atlanta	GA	498,044	41	8.23
2	Columbia	SC	133,451	10	7.49
3	Knoxville	TN	187,500	11	5.87
4	Tyler	TX	105,729	6	5.67
5	Orlando	FL	285,713	15	5.25
6	Tuscaloosa	AL	101,113	5	4.94
7	Richmond	VA	228,783	11	4.81
8	Birmingham	AL	209,880	10	4.76
9	North Charleston	SC	113,237	5	4.42
10	Lubbock	TX	255,885	11	4.30
11	Mobile	AL	189,572	8	4.22
12	Tallahassee	FL	193,551	8	4.13
13	San Angelo	TX	100,215	4	3.99
14	Lafayette	LA	126,143	5	3.96
15	Chattanooga	TN	180,557	7	3.88
16	Lakeland	FL	110,516	4	3.62
17	Baton Rouge	LA	221,599	8	3.61
18	West Palm Beach	FL	111,398	4	3.59
19	Savannah	GA	145,862	5	3.43
20	Evansville	IN	117,963	4	3.39
21	Beaumont	TX	118,428	4	3.38
22	Pearland	TX	122,149	4	3.27
23	Abilene	TX	122,999	4	3.25
24	Columbus	GA	194,160	6	3.09
25	Tampa	FL	392,890	12	3.05
26	Greensboro	NC	294,722	9	3.05
27	Jackson	MS	164,422	5	3.04
28	Little Rock	AR	197,881	6	3.03
29	Montgomery	AL	198,218	6	3.03
30	Pittsburgh	PA	301,048	9	2.99
31	Gainesville	FL	133,857	4	2.99
32	Waco	TX	138,183	4	2.89
33	Denton	TX	138,541	4	2.89
34	Midland	TX	142,344	4	2.81
35	Newport News	VA	178,626	5	2.80
36	Raleigh	NC	469,298	12	2.56
37	Durham	NC	274,291	7	2.55
38	Huntsville	AL	197,318	5	2.53
39	Sugar Land	TX	118,600	3	2.53
40	Charlotte	NC	872,498	22	2.52
41	Richardson	TX	120,981	3	2.48
42	Chesapeake	VA	242,634	6	2.47
43	Plano	TX	288,061	7	2.43
44	Fayetteville	NC	209,468	5	2.39
45	Springfield	MO	168,122	4	2.38
46	Houston	TX	2,325,502	54	2.32
47	Cincinnati	OH	302,605	7	2.31
48	Hampton	VA	134,313	3	2.23
49	Brownsville	TX	183,392	4	2.18
50	Dayton	OH	140,640	3	2.13

Team Popeyes

Louisiana-style fast-food spot Popeyes has always flown under the radar when it comes to big fast-food chains. With a focus on fried chicken, seafood and Cajun-style sides, Popeyes flavors are a bit different from what you'd find at Chick-fil-A.

Their new chicken sandwich comes from the brain of chef Kim Sánchez, the owner of California-based Sweet Dixie Kitchen. The creamy mayo, crunchy pickles and juicy fried chicken make for a perfect combo inside the brioche bun.

Keep an eye for the return of the sandwich on social media, and when it drops, these five cities have the upper hand with the most Popeyes per capita.

5. St. Louis, MO

• Popeyes restaurants per 100,000 people: 3.63
• Average 1-BR rent price: $1,188

St. Louis is synonymous with the iconic Gateway Arch and the merge of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers at the top of the city. Home to major corporations and Fortune 500 companies, it's a great place to live with an average rent for a one-bedroom of $1,188 a month.

St. Louis has public green spaces along the river, the perfect spot to picnic with your Popeyes chicken sandwich. There are 3.63 Popeyes per 100,000 people with a total of 11 locations around the city.

4. Jackson, MS

• Popeyes restaurants per 100,000 people: 3.65
• Average 1-BR rent price: $846

Named after former president Andrew Jackson, the city of Jackson has deep roots in American and Native American history, going all the way back to the War of 1812.

The city has matured over the centuries with a new wave of restaurants and boutiques. Living costs remain affordable with average one-bedroom rent hovering around $846 a month.

Stop by Lucky Town Brewing Company, the only brewery in town, for a cold beer along with your Popeyes chicken sandwich. With 3.64 locations per 100,000 residents, you won't have any trouble finding one.

3. Orlando, FL

• Popeyes restaurants per 100,000 people: 3.85
• Average 1-BR rent price: $1,383

Orlando caters to both chicken sandwich camps, as there's a large concentration of Popeyes in the city, too. There are 11 locations with 3.85 Popeyes per 100,000 people — your family won't have to pick just one chicken sandwich.

Orlando continues to grow and is quickly becoming more expensive. Find a one-bedroom apartment in the area for $1,383.

2. Baton Rouge, LA

• Popeyes restaurants per 100,000 people: 5.42
• Average 1-BR rent price: $929

Built on the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge holds 221,599 residents as the capital city of Louisiana. Its industrial and manufacturing-based economy continues to thrive, along with its growing arts and music scenes. The city remains budget-friendly as a one-bedroom apartment goes for $929 a month.

The Louisiana city also has many Popeyes — 12 to be exact. That's 5.41 locations per 100,000 people.

1. Lafayette, LA

• Popeyes restaurants per 100,000 people: 5.55
• Average 1-BR rent price: $856

Known as the land of cajun and creole, Lafayette is the epicenter of the most Popeyes per capita — taking the No. 1 spot. While headquartered in Miami, the fast-food chain was founded in Louisiana and inspired by its cajun style food. It has seven locations — that's 5.54 stores per 100,000 residents.

The small coastal town has music, architecture, history and, of course, food. The average monthly rent of a one-bedroom apartment is $856.

The top 50 Popeyes cities

Looking for some Louisiana-style chicken beyond the top five? See how your city ranked below for Popeyes availability.

Rank	City	State	Population	Popeyes restaurants	Popeyes per 100k people
1	Lafayette	LA	126,143	7	5.55
2	Baton Rouge	LA	221,599	12	5.42
3	Orlando	FL	285,713	11	3.85
4	Jackson	MS	164,422	6	3.65
5	Saint Louis	MO	302,838	11	3.63
6	Shreveport	LA	188,987	6	3.17
7	Laredo	TX	261,639	8	3.06
8	Columbia	SC	133,451	4	3.00
9	Birmingham	AL	209,880	6	2.86
10	New Orleans	LA	391,006	11	2.81
11	Savannah	GA	145,862	4	2.74
12	West Palm Beach	FL	111,398	3	2.69
13	Cincinnati	OH	302,605	8	2.64
14	Atlanta	GA	498,044	13	2.61
15	Beaumont	TX	118,428	3	2.53
16	Las Vegas	NV	644,644	16	2.48
17	Vallejo	CA	121,913	3	2.46
18	Corpus Christi	TX	326,554	8	2.45
19	Cleveland	OH	383,793	9	2.35
20	Chattanooga	TN	180,557	4	2.22
21	Richmond	VA	228,783	5	2.19
22	Houston	TX	2,325,502	49	2.11
23	Montgomery	AL	198,218	4	2.02
24	Pasadena	TX	153,219	3	1.96
25	Lubbock	TX	255,885	5	1.95
26	Tyler	TX	105,729	2	1.89
27	Jersey City	NJ	265,549	5	1.88
28	Minneapolis	MN	425,403	8	1.88
29	Lewisville	TX	106,586	2	1.88
30	Tacoma	WA	216,279	4	1.85
31	Memphis	TN	650,618	12	1.84
32	Bakersfield	CA	383,579	7	1.82
33	Lakeland	FL	110,516	2	1.81
34	Pueblo	CO	111,750	2	1.79
35	Tampa	FL	392,890	7	1.78
36	North Charleston	SC	113,237	2	1.77
37	Springfield	IL	114,694	2	1.74
38	Sugar Land	TX	118,600	2	1.69
39	Newport News	VA	178,626	3	1.68
40	Baltimore	MD	602,495	10	1.66
41	Jacksonville	FL	903,889	15	1.66
42	Ontario	CA	181,107	3	1.66
43	Vancouver	WA	183,012	3	1.64
44	Pearland	TX	122,149	2	1.64
45	Abilene	TX	122,999	2	1.63
46	Columbia	MO	123,180	2	1.62
47	Tempe	AZ	192,364	3	1.56
48	Round Rock	TX	128,739	2	1.55
49	Tallahassee	FL	193,551	3	1.55
50	Huntsville	AL	197,318	3	1.52

The verdict

While the hype was high surrounding the Popeyes' chicken sandwich, the majority of those that stood in line for hours at their local drive-thru had positive feedback. Everyone has a different opinion, though, but mainly:

• The brioche bun gathered mixed reviews as it was too dry at some locations
• The pickle slices and creamy spicy cajun sauce were a hit among fans
• At only $4, Popeyes' chicken sandwich was the most affordable option

The chicken sandwich battle was mostly fought in the South as most cities in the top 50 are below the Mason-Dixon line — with Orlando taking a top-five spot on both lists.

Taste the chicken and pick a side as the sandwich war is far from being over.

Methodology

We took cities with populations of more than 100,000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2018 estimates and used 8 million commercially available business listings to count the number of Chick-fil-A and Popeyes locations with a mailing address in each city. We then divided each location's population by this total and multiplied by 100,000 to determine a ratio of the number of restaurants per 100,000 residents in each city to come up with our quantitative ranking. These listings may not reflect recent stores openings or closings.

The rent information included in this article is based on August 2019 multifamily rental property inventory on Apartment Guide and Rent.com and is used for illustrative purposes only. The data contained herein does not constitute financial advice or a pricing guarantee for any apartment.

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