Oh Canada’s Favorite States South of the Border
When Canadians head south, they don’t just come for sunshine or shopping sprees—many put down roots, buy homes, and even build entire snowbird communities. But which U.S. states truly win Canadian hearts?
To find out, we ranked all 50 using a weighted system that prioritizes where Canadians actually live (45%), where they own property (30%), where they travel most often (25%), and overall cultural/lifestyle appeal (5%).
The result? A list that reveals not just the states Canadians visit, but the ones they really call their second home. Some are obvious—others will definitely surprise you.
30: Louisiana
Canadian-born residents: ~5,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Small
Popular activities: Mardi Gras and jazz tourism
New Orleans is a Canadian bucket-list trip, though permanent ties are modest.
holga_new_orleans, Wikimedia Commons
29: Kentucky
Canadian-born residents: ~6,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Small
Popular activities: Bourbon and horse racing
Cultural tourism brings some Canadians, but few settle here.
28: Alaska
Canadian-born residents: ~2,500
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Minimal
Popular activities: Cruises and wildlife tours
Alaska is spectacular for one-time Canadian vacations.
Travis Wise from Bay Area, California, United States, Wikimedia Commons
27: Rhode Island
Canadian-born residents: ~4,000
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Coastal vacations
Small but charming, Rhode Island punches above its weight in tourism.
26: Vermont
Canadian-born residents: ~3,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Small
Popular activities: Skiing and foliage tours
Beloved by Quebec skiers, but few Canadians settle permanently.
EgorovaSvetlana, Wikimedia Commons
25: Maine
Canadian-born residents: ~4,500
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Small
Popular activities: Lobster and seaside towns
Close to Quebec, Maine is a popular drive-in destination.
Bd2media, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
24: Indiana
Canadian-born residents: ~7,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Small
Popular activities: Indy 500
Event tourism outweighs long-term ties.
Staff Sgt. Lonnie Wiram, Wikimedia Commons
23: Wisconsin
Canadian-born residents: ~6,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Small
Popular activities: Hockey and lakes
Sports culture makes it familiar, though connections are limited.
22: South Carolina
Canadian-born residents: ~9,500
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Golf and beaches
Snowbirds love South Carolina’s coasts and courses.
danperry.com, Wikimedia Commons
21: Oregon
Canadian-born residents: ~9,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium-high
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Outdoors and coastlines
Oregon draws adventurous Canadians who love its rugged beauty.
20: Minnesota
Canadian-born residents: ~8,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Small
Popular activities: Hockey and shopping
Border proximity and hockey pride keep ties strong.
ElkRiverCommunications, Wikimedia Commons
19: Pennsylvania
Canadian-born residents: ~10,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium
Canadian property ownership: Small
Popular activities: Philly history and sports
Tourism is steady, but settlement is modest.
18: Maryland
Canadian-born residents: ~10,000
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Chesapeake Bay and D.C. access
Its proximity to D.C. helps Maryland keep a Canadian presence.
17: Virginia
Canadian-born residents: ~11,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium-high
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Colonial sites and beaches
Virginia’s balance of culture and coast secures its spot.
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons
16: Tennessee
Canadian-born residents: ~9,000
Canadian visitors per year: Very high
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Nashville and Memphis music
Music keeps Canadian visitors flowing in.
15: Nevada
Canadian-born residents: ~13,000
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Las Vegas
Vegas alone puts Nevada high on Canadian travel lists.
King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons
14: Georgia
Canadian-born residents: ~14,000
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Atlanta and Savannah
Southern charm keeps Georgia in demand.
13: North Carolina
Canadian-born residents: ~12,500
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Outer Banks and mountains
Retirees and snowbirds are flocking to North Carolina.
Precisionviews, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
12: Colorado
Canadian-born residents: ~12,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium-high
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Skiing and outdoors
Mountains make Colorado a lifestyle favorite.
CarTick at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
11: Massachusetts
Canadian-born residents: ~16,000
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Boston and Cape Cod
Culture and sports keep Canadians coming back.
10: Hawaii
Canadian-born residents: ~5,000
Canadian visitors per year: Very high
Canadian property ownership: High
Popular activities: Beaches and surfing
Hawaii is the dream destination many Canadians splurge on.
9: New Jersey
Canadian-born residents: ~12,000
Canadian visitors per year: Very high
Canadian property ownership: High
Popular activities: Beaches and NYC access
Proximity to New York City makes New Jersey a popular choice.
8: Washington
Canadian-born residents: ~18,000
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Seattle trips and hiking
Cross-border ties with Vancouver make Washington a Canadian hub.
7: Michigan
Canadian-born residents: ~15,000
Canadian visitors per year: Medium-high
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Border shopping and sports
Detroit–Windsor ties keep Michigan closely linked to Canada.
6: Illinois
Canadian-born residents: ~20,000
Canadian visitors per year: High
Canadian property ownership: Moderate
Popular activities: Chicago
Chicago’s cultural pull secures Illinois a high spot.
5: Arizona
Canadian-born residents: ~25,000
Canadian visitors per year: Very high
Canadian property ownership: High
Popular activities: Golf and retirement
Arizona is Canada’s winter escape, with huge snowbird communities.
4: Texas
Canadian-born residents: ~40,000
Canadian visitors per year: Very high
Canadian property ownership: High
Popular activities: Big cities and Gulf Coast
Texas combines size, business, and climate to stay near the top.
75316serk, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
3: New York
Canadian-born residents: ~80,000
Canadian visitors per year: Extremely high
Canadian property ownership: Very high
Popular activities: NYC and Niagara Falls
From border crossings to Broadway, New York is a top Canadian destination.
2: California
Canadian-born residents: ~70,000
Canadian visitors per year: Extremely high
Canadian property ownership: Very high
Popular activities: Beaches and Hollywood
California blends culture, sun, and opportunity like no other.
Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1: Florida
Canadian-born residents: ~120,000
Canadian visitors per year: Extremely high
Canadian property ownership: Highest in the U.S.
Popular activities: Sunshine, retirement, Disney
Florida is the undisputed #1 state for Canadians—it’s practically Canada South.
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