Costco's Highest-Rated Stores Across the U.S., According to Shoppers

Costco consistently leads in customer satisfaction, competing with top retailers like Amazon and Apple. But what if we take a more granular look at Costcos across the country? That’s precisely what Finance Buzz did in an October survey, which asked more than 6,000 Costco customers to rank their local warehouse store in six categories: cleanliness, friendliness, stock availability, the quality of samples, the quantity of samples, and parking lot availability. Using those scores, Finance Buzz determined the states with the highest-rated Costco locations. We’ve collected the top 10 states below, highlighting some of the most salient data points.

Related: I Shopped at Costco for the First Time and This Is What I Learned

Warehouses: 6

Cleanliness: 9/10

Friendliness: 9/10

Stock: 8.9/10

Total Score: 51.1

Costco stores in South Carolina rank among the friendliest in the country, collectively earning the only 9/10 score in that category. The samples in South Carolina must have been extra delicious, too, as the state topped both sample rankings. The Palmetto state isn’t perfect, however: South Carolina’s six Costco warehouses averaged just under 8/10 for its parking lots, lagging behind Wisconsin and Ohio.

Related: The 25 Best Finds at Costco

Warehouses: 12

Cleanliness: 8.9/10

Friendliness: 8.9/10

Stock: 8.9/10

Total Score: 50.6

Costco warehouses in Ohio receive plaudits for their parking lots, winning the top spot in the category. That might not be the most glamorous accolade … but hey, Ohio did well across the board, only lagging behind in the variety of its samples. 

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Warehouses: 6

Cleanliness: 9/10

Friendliness: 8.9/10

Stock: 8.8/10

Total Score: 50

According to Finance Buzz’s data, Costco shoppers in Tennessee can expect some of the friendliest employees and cleanest warehouses in the country. If it weren’t for Tennessee’s low parking lot score, a 7.5/10, the Volunteer State would nab the top spot.

Warehouses: 8

Cleanliness: 8.9/10

Friendliness: 8.8/10

Stock: 8.5/10

Total Score: 49.9

While Costcos in Missouri might skimp on samples, the stores are among the cleanest in the country. The Show Me State also boasts a high friendliness score, competing with the top 3.

Warehouses: 8

Cleanliness: 8.8/10

Friendliness: 8.5/10

Stock: 8.5/10

Total Score: 49.7

An 8.5/10, while still respectable, is among the lowest friendliness scores among the top 10, placing Connecticut at the bottom of that category. That said, its employees serve plenty of high-quality samples, according to survey data. 

Warehouses: 10

Cleanliness: 8.7/10

Friendliness: 8.6/10

Stock: 8.4/10

Total Score: 49.5

Although not a leader in any category, Wisconsinites enjoy respectable scores across the board, beating out most states in parking lot and sample quality. However, the store suffers when it comes to the availability and variety of its stock, tying Washington for last place in the category. 

Warehouses: 8

Cleanliness: 8.8/10

Friendliness: 8.6/10

Stock: 8.6/10

Total Score: 49.4

Indiana doesn’t really have any standout scores, earning middling ratings in most categories. It does, however, punch above its weight when it comes to its stock, meaning the state’s stores have a wide selection of products.

Warehouses: 13

Cleanliness: 8.7/10

Friendliness: 8.6/10

Stock: 8.5/10

Total Score: 49.3

Like Indiana, Minnesota scores in the middle of the pack in most categories. While we don’t have access to all of Finance Buzz’s data, Google Maps reviews show that one of the state’s highest-rated locations is its Minneapolis business center, which consumers give 4.7/5 stars. 

Warehouses: 36

Cleanliness: 8.8/10

Friendliness: 8.5/10

Stock: 8.5/10

Total Score: 48.9

Texas finds itself at the bottom of the top 10 list, tying with Connecticut for the lowest friendliness score. And yet, the Lone Star State also boasts two of the highest-rated individual stores in Finance Buzz’s analysis. The state’s northwest San Antonio location earned scores of 9/10 or higher in three different categories, scoring an impressive 9.7/10 in cleanliness. Houston’s Galleria warehouse also made the top 5, earning 9s or higher across three sections.

Warehouses: 32

Cleanliness: 8.7/10

Friendliness: 8.7/10

Stock: 8.4/10

Total Score: 48.6

Given that Washington is home to Costco headquarters, one should expect the state to perform well. And it did receive high scores compared to the 37 states that didn’t make the top 10 list. But compared to heavy hitters like Costco South Carolina and Ohio, the Evergreen State received the lowest sample and parking scores, sending it to the bottom of Finance Buzz’s top 10.