The Only U.S. States Without A Single Costco

Costco seems to be everywhere. There are more than 800 locations worldwide and just over 600 locations in the U.S. Surprisingly, three states do not have big box retailer, as West Virginia, Rhode Island, and Wyoming lack a Costco store. The states with the most Costco stores, on the other hand, are California and Texas, and they even have new stores opening in 2025. This beloved chain is well known for placing more locations in the same states year after year. That's because those states have growing populations that can support the new stores. 

Of the three states without a store, Rhode Island meets the Costco location requirements. In fact, the town of Cranston was surprised that the retailer withdrew plans, with local officials hinting at issues between Costco and the land developer. However, the reason for the withdrawal was never disclosed. The plans were scrapped for that particular location, but future plans are always possible. While Costco is open to putting a store in every state, it must adhere to standards that determine where it places a store.

The requirements for a Costco store are put in place to ensure that every location will be profitable. The company looks at an area's economics, the average income of the people living in the region, the number of people within 20 minutes of an area, and the potential for population growth. Wyoming does not meet these requirements because it is one of the least populated states in the country, with approximately 580,000 people spread over 100,000-square-miles, which means the state has many rural areas. 

West Virginia has economic issues, with the state's declining coal and manufacturing industries. The most populated areas are also located on terrain that may be better for the logistics Costco needs to ship and receive goods for the stores. Rhode Island was a state that had too small of an area for a store. However, that had changed. The local governments hope the retailer chooses another location for the next store, while the Cranston city government hasn't given up on the fight, either. 

There is still hope for Rhode Island. Until last year, Maine was also on that list of states without a Costco location. However, the retailer opened a location in Scarborough, Maine, in November 2023. It was approved, and construction began in 2022.