Quick answer: The fastest growing pickleball states over the past 12 months, measured by new DUPR users, are Washington, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Nevada, Oregon, Connecticut, Virginia, Michigan and Indiana. The list was published by The Dink using DUPR data. Connecticut is the only New England state on it. No New England city made DUPR’s separate top 10 for fastest-growing cities.
The 30-second version
- Connecticut ranks No. 7. It is the only New England state among DUPR’s 10 fastest-growing states.
- The growth is large. The Dink says the top 10 grew by roughly 40% to more than 50% in DUPR users over 12 months.
- No New England cities made the top 10. Cleveland ranked first on the city list.
- DUPR users are not all players. The data counts people with DUPR ratings, who tend to play leagues, ladders and events.
- Our finding: Connecticut has few courts for its population. Our directory shows about 27 courts per 100,000 residents there, second-lowest in New England.
- What it means for you: expect busier rated play in Connecticut, and plan court time ahead.
Most pickleball growth headlines are about Florida, Arizona and Utah. The latest DUPR numbers include a surprise for our region: Connecticut ranks among the ten fastest-growing pickleball states in the country. Here is what the lists say, what they do not measure, and what our own New England court directory adds.
Which are the fastest growing pickleball states?
On September 1, 2026, The Dink published a ranking based on new DUPR participation over the previous 12 months. DUPR runs the rating system used across much of rec and competitive pickleball. The ten states, from fastest-growing down:
- Washington
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Nevada
- Oregon
- Connecticut
- Virginia
- Michigan
- Indiana
The Dink’s text says the group grew by “anywhere from around 40% to a more than 50%.” The percentage for each state appears only in image graphics, so we are not quoting a Connecticut-specific number. What we can say is that Connecticut sits in the middle of a list where even tenth place grew by roughly 40%.
Did any New England cities make the list?
No. On September 15, The Dink published a companion ranking of the ten fastest-growing cities by DUPR users: Cleveland, Huntsville, Seattle, Philadelphia, Fremont, Ashburn (Virginia), Lexington, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Cumming (Georgia). Philadelphia is the closest to us.
One likely reason Connecticut appears on the state list but not the city list is that its growth is spread across many towns rather than concentrated in one city. Our directory lists pickleball venues in 105 different Connecticut towns. Stamford has the most, with 12, and no other town has more than eight. That pattern fits a state-level jump with no single breakout city, though the DUPR data does not tell us the cause.
What does “DUPR users” actually measure?
This part matters before anyone reads too much into the rankings:
- It counts rated players, not all players. Many casual players never create a DUPR account. People who join leagues, ladders, clinics and tournaments are much more likely to have one.
- It measures growth rate, not size. A state starting from a smaller base can post a bigger percentage. Florida and Arizona are not on this list, but that does not mean they have fewer players.
- It reflects adoption as well as play. A state where clubs have recently started requiring DUPR ratings for leveled play can grow quickly in DUPR users without a matching rise in total players.
So the fair reading is that organized, rated pickleball is growing fast in Connecticut. That is useful news in itself, because rated play is what fills league nights and tournament draws. For the national picture, our look at the fastest-growing pickleball countries covers the SFIA participation figures, which put U.S. players at 24.3 million in 2025.
Does Connecticut have enough courts for that growth?
This is where our own data adds something new. We compared the venues in our New England court directory with each state’s 2020 Census apportionment population:
| State | Venues listed | Courts listed | Courts per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 108 | 387 | 60.1 |
| Maine | 176 | 652 | 47.8 |
| New Hampshire | 121 | 505 | 36.6 |
| Massachusetts | 437 | 1,964 | 27.9 |
| Connecticut | 227 | 979 | 27.1 |
| Rhode Island | 66 | 279 | 25.4 |
Connecticut has the second-lowest court density in New England in our directory, ahead of only Rhode Island, and well under half of Vermont’s. Of its 227 venues, 89 are indoor and 136 are outdoor. That leaves the state with a relatively thin supply of winter courts just as rated play is growing fastest.
Please read these figures with care. Our directory is a large, curated list, not an official count of every court. Some listings are tennis courts lined for pickleball, and a few venues have no court count, so these numbers are a lower bound. Population comes from the 2020 Census apportionment counts. The comparison is still useful: in Connecticut, more rated players are competing for relatively few courts.
What should Connecticut players do with this?
- Book ahead. Leveled open play and league nights fill first when rated play grows. Reserve indoor time early in the fall.
- Get your rating in order. More clubs are sorting play by DUPR. Our ratings guide explains how the number works, and DUPR’s AI video rating covers the newest way to earn one.
- Look beyond your own town. Venues are spread across more than 100 towns. Start with the Connecticut hub, then check our guides for Hartford, Stamford, New Haven, Danbury, West Hartford, Wallingford and Vernon.
- Enter an event. Rated players tend to play tournaments. See Connecticut pickleball tournaments.
- Push for courts. If your town is short on courts, our court grants guide shows how other towns have paid for new ones.
Frequently asked questions
What are the fastest growing pickleball states?
According to DUPR data published by The Dink on September 1, 2026, the ten fastest-growing states by DUPR users over 12 months are Washington, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Nevada, Oregon, Connecticut, Virginia, Michigan and Indiana.
Is Connecticut one of the fastest-growing pickleball states?
Yes. Connecticut ranks seventh on the DUPR list and is the only New England state in the top ten. The top ten states grew by roughly 40 to more than 50 percent in DUPR users.
What are the fastest-growing pickleball cities?
The Dink’s September 15 list, also based on DUPR users, ranks Cleveland first, followed by Huntsville, Seattle, Philadelphia, Fremont, Ashburn, Lexington, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Cumming, Georgia. No New England city made the top ten.
Does DUPR growth mean more people are playing pickleball?
Not exactly. DUPR counts people with ratings, who lean toward leagues, ladders and tournaments. A jump in DUPR users shows organized play is growing, but it does not measure every casual player.
How many pickleball courts does Connecticut have?
Our New England court directory lists 227 Connecticut venues with 979 courts, or about 27 courts per 100,000 residents. That is second-lowest in New England. The directory is not an official census, so treat the count as a minimum.
Sources: The Dink, 10 States Where Pickleball Is Growing Fastest, Based on DUPR Users (Sept. 1, 2026) and Top 10 Fastest-Growing US Pickleball Cities, Ranked by DUPR Users (Sept. 15, 2026), both using data from DUPR; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census apportionment results. Court counts come from the Regan Family Pickleball court directory as of September 16, 2026. We have no relationship with DUPR or The Dink.
Written by Jason Regan, who runs Regan Family Pickleball out of Leominster, Massachusetts, and maintains the New England court directory used in this analysis.