Mahjong has a way of bringing people together. For some, it is a familiar game from childhood. For others, it is a newer hobby that combines strategy, conversation, and a little friendly competition. As more Americans look for ways to stay social and active in retirement, mahjong has become an appealing pastime for older adults who want something fun to do with friends, neighbors, and local community groups.
To see where mahjong lovers may have the most opportunities to play, we ranked 50 of the largest U.S. cities using seven factors tied to the game’s growing popularity and community appeal. Our study looked at things like the population of people of retirement age, search interest for mahjong, online group sizes, and local meetups, as well as libraries and social clubs to act as a proxy of places to play. Together, those factors helped us identify the cities where mahjong culture appears to be especially strong.
Which Cities Stand Out For Mahjong Players?
- St. Louis, MO – 76.3
- Atlanta, GA – 70.9
- Cincinnati, OH – 69.7
- Cleveland, OH – 62.1
- Kansas City, MO – 61.9
St. Louis earned its No. 1 finish by combining a strong library presence with one of the highest mahjong event counts in the study. That mix suggests a city where the game is not only visible, but supported by the kinds of community spaces where people can gather regularly.
Atlanta’s second-place spot points to clear demand. It recorded one of the highest search-interest scores in the study and had a Facebook group with more than 800 members, indicating that interest in the game extends well beyond casual curiosity.
Cincinnati stood out as one of the best places in the country to find actual play opportunities. It ranked first for mahjong events per 100,000 residents and also placed near the top for meetup activity. That makes it a strong city for players who want to move from searching for the game to actually sitting down at a table.
Cleveland’s ranking was boosted by its strong social club scene and a notably high share of residents age 65 and older. For a hobby like mahjong, that combination can matter. A city with more social spaces and a larger older population can create more opportunities for the game to take root.
Kansas City finished fifth overall, supported by strong search interest and a solid number of mahjong events. It may not have the same level of national attention as some larger metros, but the data shows a real local appetite for the game.
The Best Cities for Mahjong Events, Meetups, and Interest
When we narrow the focus to the factors that speak most directly to active play, a few cities continue to rise to the top.
Cincinnati led the study in mahjong events per 100,000 people with 8.1, far above the study average of 1.6. St. Louis followed at 6.5, then Kansas City at 4.8, Cleveland at 4.3, and Atlanta at 3.4. That list points to a Midwest and Southern cluster of cities where in-person mahjong activity appears especially strong.
Meetups tell a slightly different story. Minneapolis came out on top with 3.8 mahjong meetups per 1 million residents, well above the study average of 0.8. Seattle followed at 1.8, then Richmond and Atlanta at 1.7, and Cincinnati at 1.6. These cities suggest that mahjong communities are not limited to one region. They are showing up in both large metro areas and mid-sized cities where social groups can grow quickly.
Search interest offers another view of where the game is getting attention. Birmingham had the highest search interest score at 88, nearly 36 points above the study average of 52.1. Boston followed at 67, then Atlanta and New Orleans at 66, and Louisville at 65. That kind of search behavior points to real curiosity, whether people are looking for local clubs, learning resources, or simply a place to play.
These results show that the cities with the strongest mahjong scenes are not always the biggest cities. In many cases, they are the places where people can most easily find a group, an event, or a welcoming community space.
Closing Thoughts
Mahjong is more than a game. For many older adults and retirees, it is a reason to get out, meet new people, and build a routine around something enjoyable. That matters because retirement is often the time when people finally have more freedom to pursue hobbies, social activities, and experiences they may not have had time for before.
At Coventry Direct, we believe that kind of freedom can make a real difference. If you own a life insurance policy you no longer need, a life settlement may help you unlock cash that could support the next chapter of life, whether that means exploring a new hobby, joining a local club, or simply having more flexibility in retirement.
If you are curious whether your policy may qualify, Coventry can help you get started.
Methodology
To determine the best cities for mahjong lovers, we ranked 50 of the largest U.S. cities based on factors that would matter to people looking for community while playing the game.
We collected data across seven categories that relate to mahjong interest and participation. Those categories included search interest for “mahjong,” the number of Facebook group members, the share of the population age 65 and older, libraries per 100,000 residents, social clubs per 100,000 residents, mahjong events per 100,000 residents, and mahjong meetups per 1 million residents.
Each factor was weighted based on its importance to the final score.
A full list of factors is here:
| Ranking Factor | Source | Weight |
| Search Interest for Mahjong | Google Trends | 3.00 |
| Population 65+ | Census | 2.00 |
| Number of Mahjong FB Groups | 3.00 | |
| Mahjong Events | Event Brite | 4.50 |
| Mahjong Groups | Meet Up | 4.50 |
| Libraries | IMLS | 1.50 |
| Social Clubs | Census | 1.50 |
Fair Use
You are welcome to use, reference, and share non-commercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.
