Santa's Favorites
Santa won’t admit it publicly, but he has favorite states—and a few he quietly complains about to the reindeer before every landing. Based on real data and Santa’s notes, here’s how the states rank on the big man's nice and naughty list. Starting with the nice...
20: Indiana
Christmas Spirit Index: Above-average participation and décor enthusiasm
Snowfall / White Christmas: Moderate odds with steady winter conditions
Airport Delays: Indianapolis is among the smoother holiday airports
Cookie & Bakery Density: High family-bakery concentration
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Suburban layouts perfect for sleigh landings
Weather Hazards: Occasional gusty winds
Xmas Factor: Indiana gives Santa solid spirit and dependable cookies with minimal chaos. A calm, efficient stop he consistently appreciates.
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
19: Virginia
Christmas Spirit Index: Strong statewide participation
Snowfall / White Christmas: Moderate odds, better in the mountains
Airport Delays: Northern Virginia congestion is the biggest hurdle
Cookie & Bakery Density: High across suburbs and small towns
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Suburban-friendly with good landing patterns
Weather Hazards: Pockets of coastal fog
Xmas Factor: Virginia blends spirit and charm with manageable weather. The fog slows him sometimes, but the cookies keep him motivated.
18: Missouri
Christmas Spirit Index: Steady traditions and décor participation
Snowfall / White Christmas: Moderate and reliable
Airport Delays: St. Louis can back up during holiday storms
Cookie & Bakery Density: Good variety across urban and rural areas
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Ideal suburban spread
Weather Hazards: Occasional ice storms
Xmas Factor: Missouri’s classic winter weather and strong traditions keep Santa cheerful. He just has to watch for slippery rooftops.
17: Nebraska
Christmas Spirit Index: Quiet but genuinely high
Snowfall / White Christmas: Very strong odds
Airport Delays: Low congestion and smooth holiday traffic
Cookie & Bakery Density: Solid in small towns
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Wide-open rooftops with easy access
Weather Hazards: Cold snaps and wind bursts
Xmas Factor: Nebraska offers Santa peaceful landings and real snow. The straightforward route makes it a stress-free favorite.
16: Idaho
Christmas Spirit Index: High participation in smaller communities
Snowfall / White Christmas: Excellent odds in most regions
Airport Delays: Light delays, manageable traffic
Cookie & Bakery Density: Moderate but reliable
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Ample suburban access with clean landings
Weather Hazards: Occasional mountain winds
Xmas Factor: Idaho’s reliable snow and low congestion make Santa’s night smoother. The scenery helps too.
15: Tennessee
Christmas Spirit Index: Strong decorations and charity turnout
Snowfall / White Christmas: Low to moderate odds
Airport Delays: Nashville congestion can slow him down
Cookie & Bakery Density: High due to strong bakery culture
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Excellent throughout suburbs
Weather Hazards: Stormy, inconsistent winter fronts
Xmas Factor: Tennessee nails the festive vibe and cookie spread, even without much snow. Santa just budgets extra time around Nashville.
14: New Hampshire
Christmas Spirit Index: Very high participation
Snowfall / White Christmas: Excellent odds statewide
Airport Delays: Minimal air traffic compared to other Northeast states
Cookie & Bakery Density: Strong in small towns
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Great landing access across rural areas
Weather Hazards: Occasional heavy snowfall
Xmas Factor: New Hampshire feels like classic Christmas, with easy rooftops and real snow. Santa considers it a smooth, scenic stop.
Mikespenard, Wikimedia Commons
13: Michigan
Christmas Spirit Index: Very strong holiday participation
Snowfall / White Christmas: High odds thanks to lake-effect snow
Airport Delays: Detroit can be congested
Cookie & Bakery Density: Excellent across suburbs
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Ideal in most regions
Weather Hazards: Sudden storms and heavy snowfall
Xmas Factor: Michigan overachieves on snow, cookies, and décor. Santa only slows down during sudden lake-effect bursts.
12: Wisconsin
Christmas Spirit Index: High and deeply rooted
Snowfall / White Christmas: Very high odds
Airport Delays: Mild to moderate delays
Cookie & Bakery Density: Very strong—lots of bakeries
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Great statewide access
Weather Hazards: Bitter cold snaps
Xmas Factor: Wisconsin offers near-perfect winter ambiance, strong spirit, and abundant cookies. The only issue is the cold, even for Santa.
11: Colorado
Christmas Spirit Index: High participation
Snowfall / White Christmas: Excellent odds in many regions
Airport Delays: Denver’s holiday congestion can be rough
Cookie & Bakery Density: Strong in mountain towns
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Good suburban access
Weather Hazards: High winds at elevation
Xmas Factor: Colorado shines with snow and spirit. Santa just braces for mountain gusts near the passes.
10: North Dakota
Christmas Spirit Index: Solid and consistent
Snowfall / White Christmas: Extremely high odds
Airport Delays: Low congestion statewide
Cookie & Bakery Density: Moderate but dependable
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Wide-open rooftops and easy landings
Weather Hazards: Harsh cold and wind
Xmas Factor: North Dakota’s simplicity and perfect snow make the route easy. The brutal wind is the only obstacle.
9: Minnesota
Christmas Spirit Index: Exceptionally strong
Snowfall / White Christmas: Very high, reliable every year
Airport Delays: Minneapolis sees moderate congestion
Cookie & Bakery Density: High, especially holiday tins
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Excellent suburban layout
Weather Hazards: Extreme cold
Xmas Factor: Minnesota is a Christmas powerhouse—spirit, snow, cookies, and easy landings. Santa just bundles up a little extra here.
Wikideas1, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
8: Maine
Christmas Spirit Index: Very high community participation
Snowfall / White Christmas: Consistent and heavy
Airport Delays: Low to moderate statewide
Cookie & Bakery Density: Strong in coastal towns
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Small towns make for smooth access
Weather Hazards: Coastal windstorms
Xmas Factor: Maine balances charm, snow, and quiet towns. The wind can be dramatic, but Santa still loves the vibe.
7: Vermont
Christmas Spirit Index: Extremely high
Snowfall / White Christmas: Excellent odds
Airport Delays: Light overall
Cookie & Bakery Density: High, especially local bakeries
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Ideal rural layouts
Weather Hazards: Harsh cold waves
Xmas Factor: Vermont is classic Christmas—snowy, cozy, and efficient for sleigh routes. Also: exceptional cookies.
6: Massachusetts
Christmas Spirit Index: Very strong participation
Snowfall / White Christmas: Moderate to high
Airport Delays: Boston is notoriously congested in winter
Cookie & Bakery Density: Extremely high
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Good in suburbs, tough downtown
Weather Hazards: Nor’easters
Xmas Factor: Massachusetts checks every box except air traffic. Santa loves the spirit but dreadfully watches Logan’s flight boards.
5: Utah
Christmas Spirit Index: Among the highest-ranked nationwide
Snowfall / White Christmas: Excellent odds
Airport Delays: Generally smooth
Cookie & Bakery Density: High quality and density
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Suburban layouts are ideal
Weather Hazards: Occasional mountain snowbursts
Xmas Factor: Utah blends spirit, snow, and smooth navigation. Santa calls it one of the easiest western states.
4: Pennsylvania
Christmas Spirit Index: Extremely strong traditions
Snowfall / White Christmas: Moderate to high
Airport Delays: Philadelphia is the main slowdown
Cookie & Bakery Density: Very high—cookie culture is huge
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Excellent in most regions
Weather Hazards: Mixed storms
Xmas Factor: Pennsylvania’s cookie tables alone win Santa over—add strong spirit and good rooftops, and it’s nearly perfect.
3: New York
Christmas Spirit Index: Off-the-charts high
Snowfall / White Christmas: Strong upstate, moderate downstate
Airport Delays: NYC airports are chaotic
Cookie & Bakery Density: Exceptionally high
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Great upstate, tough in the city
Weather Hazards: Nor’easters and ice
Xmas Factor: New York is magical for Santa—bright, festive, and full of cookies. Manhattan rooftops are the only headache.
King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2: Alaska
Christmas Spirit Index: Surprisingly strong
Snowfall / White Christmas: Nearly guaranteed
Airport Delays: Moderate due to winter storms
Cookie & Bakery Density: Moderate but heartfelt
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Easy in small towns
Weather Hazards: Extreme cold
Xmas Factor: Alaska is a snowy dream route for Santa. Cold aside, it feels like home turf.
Quintin Soloviev, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1: Ohio
Christmas Spirit Index: Extremely high and consistent
Snowfall / White Christmas: Moderate but reliable
Airport Delays: Manageable statewide
Cookie & Bakery Density: Extremely high across suburbs
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Perfect suburban layouts
Weather Hazards: Mild Midwest storms
Xmas Factor: Ohio blends spirit, cookies, and easy rooftops better than anyone. Santa calls it his most predictable—and pleasant—stop. And now for the states that make Santa's job much harder...
Nicholas J. Klein, Adobe Stock
10: South Carolina
Christmas Spirit Index: High and enthusiastic
Snowfall / White Christmas: Very low
Airport Delays: Moderate
Cookie & Bakery Density: Good
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Mixed but workable
Weather Hazards: Coastal storms
Xmas Factor: South Carolina has great spirit, but the lack of snow and tricky coastal weather knock it down. Santa likes the people—less so the landing conditions.
9: Georgia
Christmas Spirit Index: Strong
Snowfall / White Christmas: Very low
Airport Delays: Atlanta’s congestion is infamous
Cookie & Bakery Density: High in suburbs
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Mixed
Weather Hazards: Stormy patterns
Xmas Factor: Georgia is festive and friendly, but Atlanta alone tanks its ranking. Santa loses huge chunks of time navigating that airport’s flight paths.
8: Texas
Christmas Spirit Index: High
Snowfall / White Christmas: Low except in the Panhandle
Airport Delays: High in major metro areas
Cookie & Bakery Density: Very strong
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Urban areas difficult
Weather Hazards: Sudden cold snaps
Xmas Factor: Santa loves Texas cookies, but the sprawl, traffic, and weather swings make Christmas Eve tougher than it should be.
Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons
7: Louisiana
Christmas Spirit Index: High party energy
Snowfall / White Christmas: Extremely rare
Airport Delays: Moderate
Cookie & Bakery Density: High and delicious
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Flat rooftops are a challenge
Weather Hazards: Humidity and storms
Xmas Factor: Louisiana is festive and flavorful, but Santa really misses the snow. Landing on flat, humid rooftops isn’t his favorite workout.
6: New Mexico
Christmas Spirit Index: Culturally strong
Snowfall / White Christmas: Low to moderate
Airport Delays: Generally smooth
Cookie & Bakery Density: Moderate
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Mixed and often tricky
Weather Hazards: Wind bursts
Xmas Factor: New Mexico brings beautiful traditions, but Santa struggles with the rooftop layouts and gusty winds. He loves the luminarias—just not the delivery logistics.
5: California
Christmas Spirit Index: High in many regions
Snowfall / White Christmas: Low except in the Sierra Nevada
Airport Delays: Among the worst in the country
Cookie & Bakery Density: Very high
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Difficult in dense cities
Weather Hazards: Fog and winter storms
Xmas Factor: California has high spirit and legendary cookies, but the airport gridlock and rooftop challenges exhaust Santa every year.
christophotograph, Adobe Stock
4: Arizona
Christmas Spirit Index: Good participation
Snowfall / White Christmas: Very low except northern areas
Airport Delays: Moderate
Cookie & Bakery Density: Good but spread out
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Challenging around major metros
Weather Hazards: Gusty desert winds
Xmas Factor: Arizona’s festive energy is strong, but the heat and desert winds wear Santa out. He also jokes he “sweats through half the state.”
3: Nevada
Christmas Spirit Index: Moderate
Snowfall / White Christmas: Very low
Airport Delays: Las Vegas congestion is intense
Cookie & Bakery Density: Decent but not very holiday-focused
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Casino rooftops are complicated
Weather Hazards: Desert winds
Xmas Factor: Nevada’s spirit varies and the skies are chaos. Santa struggles with the bright lights, busy airspace, and lack of snow.
Rmvisuals, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2: Hawaii
Christmas Spirit Index: Cheerful but low in classic décor
Snowfall / White Christmas: None at typical elevations
Airport Delays: Holiday tourism strains airports
Cookie & Bakery Density: Moderate
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Dense urban layouts are difficult
Weather Hazards: Rain bursts
Xmas Factor: Hawaii has joy, but Santa’s sleigh simply isn’t built for humid, rain-heavy Christmas deliveries. The flight delays don’t help.
1: Florida
Christmas Spirit Index: High enthusiasm but inconsistent décor
Snowfall / White Christmas: None statewide
Airport Delays: Among the highest holiday congestion rates
Cookie & Bakery Density: High but climate-challenged
Population Density & Rooftop Access: Flat roofs and dense cities complicate landings
Weather Hazards: Storms and humidity
Xmas Factor: Florida is Santa’s trickiest stop—no snow, steamy rooftops, intense airport traffic, and weather that melts cookie icing. He appreciates the spirit, but the logistics make it his least favorite state to deliver in.
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