Father’s Day is just around the corner, and while every dad may be different, some states have a deeper “American dad culture” than others.
From lawn care and grilling to cargo shorts and weather radar obsession, researchers analyzed search behavior across the U.S. to uncover where peak American dad energy thrives.
Using Google Trends, Google Shopping insights, and U.S. Census household data, BetMGM created the American Dad Score — a weighted index designed to identify which states most embody classic American dad culture.
The study analyzed search interest and shopping behavior across several iconic dad categories, including:
- DIY Dad: DIY, including garage projects, deck building, home improvement, and power tools.
- Lawn Dad: Lawn care, including lawnmowers, growing grass, and yard maintenance.
- Grill Dad: Barbecue and grilling.
- Dad Humor: Dad jokes, funny dads, and classic cringe-worthy humor.
- Dad Style: Cargo shorts, polo shirt, baseball cap, white socks, sneakers, and sunglasses.
- Dad Traits: Weather radar, utility bills, recliners, NFL schedules, gas prices, bug spray, and other unmistakably “dad-coded” queries.
Researchers also factored in U.S. Census Bureau data, including:
- Dad households with children under 18: To help measure where dads live.
- Households with at least one vehicle: Reflecting the classic role of “Dad’s Taxi” in American family life.
Each category was normalized and combined to create an overall ranking of America’s ultimate dad states.
The Top 5 Most Dad-Like States in America
| Rank | State | American Dad Score |
| 1 | Wyoming | 100 |
| 2 | Texas | 89.4 |
| 3 | Kansas | 89.2 |
| 4 | North Carolina | 84.1 |
| 5 | South Carolina | 82.1 |
America’s Grill Dad Capitals
Some states stood out for their love of barbecue culture and grilling season.
The top states for Grill Dad behavior were:
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Wyoming |
| 2 | South Dakota |
| 3 | Kansas |
Where Lawn Dad Culture Thrives
From perfectly striped lawns to weekend mower maintenance, these states ranked highest for Lawn Dad behavior:
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Wyoming |
| 2 | Oklahoma |
| 3 | Kansas |
The States Most Obsessed With DIY Dad Projects
Garage projects, deck building, and home improvement searches were especially popular in these states:
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Wyoming |
| 2 | Washington |
| 3 | Kentucky |
The Dad Joke Capitals of America
When it comes to cringe-worthy humor and classic dad jokes, these states ranked highest:
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Kentucky |
| 2 | Oklahoma |
| 3 | Kansas |
The States Keeping Classic Dad Style Alive
Cargo shorts. White socks. Polo shirt. Baseball cap. White sneakers. Sunglasses.
These states ranked highest for classic dad fashion searches:
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Wyoming |
| 2 | South Carolina |
| 3 | New York |
Typical Dad Things
Beyond grilling and lawn care, researchers also tracked the everyday searches that humorously associate with modern American dads — from checking weather radar and NFL schedules to searching utility bills and recliner chairs.
The states that ranked highest were:
| Rank | State |
| 1 | Alabama |
| 2 | North Carolina |
| 3 | Georgia |
Methodology
To create the American Dad Score, researchers analyzed Google Trends and Google Shopping data over the past 12 months (May 2025 to May 2026) alongside U.S. Census household data to identify which states most strongly reflect classic American “dad culture.”
The final ranking was based on a weighted index using the following factors and weights:
- Dad culture searches (Google Trends & Google Shopping): 70% including search interest related to grilling, lawn care, DIY projects, dad fashion, dad jokes, weather radar, gas prices, NFL schedules, and other recognizable “dad-coded” behaviors.
- Households with children under 18 (U.S. Census): 20% used to help measure where family-oriented dad culture is most prevalent.
- Households with at least one vehicle (U.S. Census): 10% included as a proxy for “Dad’s Taxi” culture and everyday family driving habits.
As “dad culture” is not a directly measurable concept, this analysis uses a combination of search interest and household data as indicators of activities, interests and behaviours commonly associated with modern fatherhood. The rankings are intended as a light-hearted Father’s Day snapshot and should not be interpreted as a definitive measure of parenting or fathers in any given state.
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