O Canada…You’d Probably Like It Here
Turns out Americans love guessing which parts of the country Canadians would secretly move to if given the chance. And according to endless online debates, travel forums, expat discussions (and even a few cross-border stereotypes), a number of states keep coming up again and again. So, we ranked them…and yes, there are definitely a few surprises.
30: Pennsylvania
Americans often assume Canadians would appreciate Pennsylvania because it blends older cities, sports culture, and blue-collar friendliness in a way that feels familiar. Pittsburgh especially gets described as “sneaky Canadian” thanks to its hockey obsession, riverfront scenery, and surprisingly polite locals. Philadelphia is a little more chaotic, but Americans figure Canadians from Toronto or Montreal could handle it just fine.
Popscreenshot, Wikimedia Commons
29: South Carolina
A lot of Americans think Canadians eventually hit a breaking point with winter and start dreaming about places like South Carolina. Myrtle Beach has long been packed with Canadian tourists, while Charleston’s slower pace and coastal charm seem like exactly the kind of place Americans imagine Canadians retiring to after decades of shoveling snow.
28: Vermont
Americans are convinced Canadians would love Vermont because, honestly, Vermont already feels about 70% Canadian. Maple syrup, hiking, skiing, flannel, small towns, forests, and people who apologize when you bump into them—it checks every stereotype box imaginable. Americans basically see Vermont as “Canada, but with more Trader Joe’s.”
AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons
27: Illinois
Chicago carries this ranking almost entirely on its own. Americans often picture Canadians loving Chicago because it has Toronto energy turned up to maximum volume. Big skyline, lakefront views, sports culture, walkable neighborhoods, and surprisingly friendly Midwestern people all make Illinois feel like a state Canadians could settle into pretty quickly.
Andrew Horne, Wikimedia Commons
26: Oregon
Americans frequently assume Canadians would fit right into Oregon’s outdoorsy, coffee-fueled lifestyle. Portland’s bookstores, breweries, and laid-back vibe feel very “Pacific Northwest,” while the forests and coastline remind Americans of British Columbia. A lot of people basically describe Oregon as “Vancouver with slightly more pickup trucks.”
25: Virginia
Americans tend to think Canadians would appreciate Virginia because it feels balanced. You get seasons without endless blizzards, historic towns, mountains, beaches, and cities that feel organized without being overwhelming. Northern Virginia especially gets described as the kind of clean, educated, internationally connected area Canadians supposedly gravitate toward.
Bruce Emmerling, Wikimedia Commons
24: Tennessee
Americans often assume Canadians would love Tennessee simply because it seems fun. Nashville’s live music scene, barbecue culture, warmer weather, and outgoing people feel wildly different from stereotypical Canadian reserve. A lot of Americans picture Canadians visiting Tennessee and immediately wondering why everyone is so cheerful all the time.
Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons
23: Maine
Americans regularly joke that Maine and Canada are already basically cousins. Canadians from Quebec and the Maritimes especially get associated with loving Maine’s seafood, rugged coastline, slower pace, and cabin culture. Americans tend to think Canadians would feel at home there within about fifteen minutes.
Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons
22: Arizona
Americans absolutely associate Arizona with Canadian snowbirds. Every winter, Canadians flood Phoenix, Scottsdale, and surrounding areas looking for sunshine and golf courses. Americans are convinced Canadians love Arizona because it offers something magical: February without frostbite warnings.
The original uploader was Black-Velvet at English Wikipedia., Wikimedia Commons
21: Wisconsin
If Americans had to invent a state specifically designed for Canadians, Wisconsin might be pretty close. Hockey, beer, cold weather, lakes, cabin weekends, and aggressively friendly people all make Americans think Canadians would blend right in. Some even joke Wisconsin residents apologize almost as much as Canadians do.
20: New Jersey
Americans often assume Canadians would secretly enjoy New Jersey more than they’d ever admit. Between the beaches, diners, easy access to New York City, and dense suburban neighborhoods, it feels familiar to Canadians used to Ontario-style urban sprawl. Americans also think Canadians would appreciate a state where people sound rude but are usually weirdly helpful.
Praneeth Thalla, Wikimedia Commons
19: Georgia
A surprising number of Americans think Canadians would really enjoy Georgia—especially Atlanta. Americans often describe it as warm, welcoming, affordable compared to Toronto or Vancouver, and packed with great food. There’s also a belief that Canadians secretly enjoy Southern hospitality once they realize strangers being nice isn’t actually a scam.
JJonahJackalope, Wikimedia Commons
18: Montana
Americans picture outdoorsy Canadians absolutely loving Montana. Mountains, wildlife, skiing, hiking, fly fishing, and endless open space make it feel familiar to people from Alberta or British Columbia. Americans also think Canadians would appreciate Montana’s quieter lifestyle and general dislike of unnecessary drama.
Pruhter~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons
17: Colorado
Americans are convinced Canadians would love Colorado because it feels like one giant outdoor adventure commercial. Mountains, skiing, hiking, breweries, healthy lifestyles, and environmentally conscious cities all fit the image Americans have of modern Canadian culture. Denver especially gets viewed as “Calgary with better weather.”
Flickr user: Larry Johnson https://www.flickr.com/people/drljohnson/, Wikimedia Commons
16: Minnesota
This is the state Americans mention constantly when talking about Canadians. The accents sound similar, the winters are brutal, everyone loves hockey, and people are famously polite. Americans basically see Minnesota as “the state most likely to already own a Team Canada jersey.”
15: North Carolina
Americans often picture Canadians loving North Carolina because it offers warm weather without going full tropical. The combination of beaches, mountains, growing cities, and lower costs feels appealing to Americans imagining Canadians looking for a softer landing than Florida.
Abhiram Juvvadi, Wikimedia Commons
14: Massachusetts
Americans tend to think Canadians would appreciate Massachusetts because it values education, healthcare, history, and walkable cities more than much of the country. Boston especially gets compared to Toronto and Montreal constantly. Plus, New England sarcasm translates surprisingly well across the border.
Sharon Hahn Darlin, Wikimedia Commons
13: Alaska
Americans assume Canadians who already enjoy rugged parts of Canada would feel instantly comfortable in Alaska. The lifestyle feels familiar: long winters, dramatic scenery, wildlife everywhere, and people who casually own snowmobiles. Americans often joke that Alaska is just “Canada with U.S. paperwork.”
12: Nevada
Americans often think Canadians would love Nevada for one very simple reason: sunshine. Las Vegas has long been a favorite getaway spot, and Americans imagine Canadians enjoying the dry heat, entertainment, golf courses, and complete absence of snow shovels. Reno also gets described as surprisingly appealing to outdoorsy Canadians who want mountains without brutal winters.
11: Idaho
Idaho surprises people, but Americans increasingly think Canadians would enjoy it because of the scenery, smaller cities, and outdoor lifestyle. It gets described as peaceful, affordable, and nature-focused—basically the kind of place Americans imagine Canadians choosing after getting tired of crowded urban areas.
10: Michigan
Americans often see Michigan and Ontario as culturally connected already. Hockey culture, Great Lakes life, cabin trips, and Midwestern friendliness all make Americans think Canadians would feel comfortable there immediately. Detroit and Windsor being so closely tied together only reinforces that idea.
9: Utah
Americans picture Canadians loving Utah mainly because of the scenery. The national parks, mountains, skiing, and clean cities all line up with the image Americans have of Canadians enjoying organized, outdoorsy places. Even people who know nothing about Canada somehow assume Canadians appreciate efficient hiking trails.
Invictus323, Wikimedia Commons
8: Hawaii
Americans absolutely believe Canadians adore Hawaii because Canadians are constantly there during winter. Beaches full of visitors escaping snowstorms have created a permanent stereotype that Canadians see Hawaii as paradise. Americans also assume Canadians appreciate being somewhere tropical where nobody needs to discuss wind chill ever again.
7: New York
Americans think Canadians love New York because it offers both extremes: New York City’s nonstop energy and upstate New York’s lakes and forests. Canadians visiting Manhattan are often stereotyped as slightly overwhelmed but extremely excited. Americans also believe Canadians secretly enjoy yelling “I’m walkin’ here!” at least once.
6: Florida
No state screams “Canadian snowbird destination” more than Florida. Americans joke that parts of Florida temporarily become Canadian territory every winter. Between the beaches, golf courses, retirement communities, and warm weather, Americans are fully convinced Canadians would happily trade snow boots for flip-flops forever.
Andrew Heneen, Wikimedia Commons
5: New Hampshire
Americans often describe New Hampshire as exactly the kind of quiet, outdoorsy state Canadians would appreciate. Lakes, mountains, skiing, hiking, and cozy small towns all fit the stereotype perfectly. Americans basically picture Canadians walking into New Hampshire and immediately saying, “Yeah, this feels right.”
Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons
4: Texas
Americans love the idea of Canadians visiting Texas and unexpectedly loving it. The barbecue, live music, friendliness, and larger-than-life personality tend to surprise people from outside the South. Austin especially gets mentioned as a city Americans think Canadians would find creative, welcoming, and weird in a good way.
Jason Villanueva, Wikimedia Commons
3: California
Americans genuinely think Canadians can’t resist California. Whether it’s Los Angeles, San Diego, or wine country, Americans picture Canadians seeing sunshine in February and immediately questioning every life decision that kept them living near snowbanks.
Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons
2: Washington
Americans consistently rank Washington near the top because it already feels culturally connected to western Canada. Seattle and Vancouver share similar vibes, weather, and lifestyles, and Americans assume Canadians would settle into Washington faster than almost anywhere else in the country. It’s familiar, just slightly more American.
Iamnoone069, Wikimedia Commons
1: Minnesota
More than any other state, Americans believe Canadians would absolutely love Minnesota. The hockey obsession, endless lakes, cold-weather resilience, and famously polite people make it feel almost comically Canadian already. Americans basically see Minnesota as the state where Canadians would arrive and immediately say, “Wait… are we sure this isn’t still Canada?”
AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons
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