National Neighborhood Survivability Rankings for Thrift Store

Name: National Neighborhood Survivability Dataset: Thrift Stores (2026)
Creator: StreetSpring
Published: 2026-05-18T00:00:00-05:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

StreetSpring's 2026 nationwide analysis ranks the top neighborhoods across the 22 US metros in this ranking for Thrift Stores. See which neighborhoods offer the highest Survivability Scores.

May 18, 2026•19 min read

Platt Park (Denver) ranks #1 nationally for Thrift Store survivability in 2026, with 84.5% survivability at a typical address. The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide span 12 different cities, demonstrating that exceptional opportunities for Thrift Stores exist across diverse markets. Rankings like this are a strong starting point, but the live survivability score in StreetSpring will reflect the most current competitor data for your exact address.

To understand the methodology behind these rankings, see our detailed guide: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-05 by Robert Koons, Founder & CEO, StreetSpring

Quick Summary

Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address

#1 Neighborhood: Platt Park, Denver: 84.5% survivability at a typical address for Thrift Store

What the figures measure: every figure in this ranking is the typical address, the neighborhood's average in its metro file, and the ranking orders on it

Ranked neighborhoods: 1,907 across 22 major US cities

Average across the 1,907 ranked neighborhoods: 69.9% at a typical address for Thrift Stores

Top-25 average: 82.9% at a typical address, 13.0 points above the average across all ranked neighborhoods

Data current as of: 2026 · Full methodology →

How neighborhoods compare nationwide
Top 25 neighborhoods in the US
Geographic patterns
How to use this ranking
Related resources
Frequently asked questions

How do neighborhoods compare across the United States for Thrift Stores?

Across 1,907 ranked neighborhoods in 22 major US cities, StreetSpring's 2026 data shows the top 25 neighborhoods for Thrift Stores averaging 82.9% survivability at a typical address, against 69.9% for the average across the 1,907 ranked neighborhoods.

This 13.0-point gap is the distance between those two averages, both at a typical address. It compares projections for neighborhoods; the projection for any one storefront is made at its own address.

For Thrift Stores specifically, StreetSpring's model reads competitive density within the immediate trade area alongside local consumer spending on the category. The 13.0-point gap between the top-ranked neighborhoods and the average across the 1,907 ranked neighborhoods, both at a typical address, shows how far the projection for Thrift Stores moves from one neighborhood to the next. StreetSpring's in-house models are trained on 570,000+ real business outcomes.

Importantly, top-performing neighborhoods aren't concentrated in just a few cities. The top 25 neighborhoods represent 12 different cities. This means entrepreneurs focused on Thrift Stores can find exceptional opportunities across the United States, not just in traditionally strong markets.

Every site-selection decision starts with location, the one factor you can check before you sign a lease.

What are the best neighborhoods in the United States to open a Thrift Store?

The first, middle and last neighborhood in the table below, with the same three figures the table prints from each metro file: the box runs from the lowest to the highest address, and the white line is the typical address. Platt Park, Denver leads at 84.5% at a typical address in 2026. Full methodology →

The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide for Thrift Stores are:

Scores for Thrift Stores run from 49.0% to 85.0% on this scale. The best address in 517 of the 1,907 ranked neighborhoods reaches the 85.0% ceiling, so the Best Locations column often shows that ceiling rather than a difference between places.

Neighborhoods are ordered on the typical address, the file's average for each neighborhood. Best Locations and Challenging Locations are the file's highest and lowest address.

#	Neighborhood	City	Avg Survival (Typical Address)	Tier	Best Locations	Challenging Locations
1	Platt Park	Denver	84.5%	Great	85.0%	82.3%
2	Lacy	Los Angeles	84.1%	Great	85.0%	82.3%
2	Palmer Square	Chicago	84.1%	Great	85.0%	77.4%
4	Montebello	Baltimore	83.8%	Great	84.6%	81.4%
5	Midtown	Houston	83.6%	Great	85.0%	69.2%
6	Colonial Town Center	Orlando	83.3%	Great	85.0%	76.4%
7	Tropico	Los Angeles	83.0%	Great	85.0%	75.6%
7	U Street Corridor	Washington DC	83.0%	Great	85.0%	70.2%
9	LeDroit Park	Washington DC	82.9%	Great	84.6%	79.6%
10	Heritage Eagle Bend	Denver	82.8%	Great	85.0%	75.1%
11	Porter Square	Boston	82.7%	Great	85.0%	76.9%
11	Willowbrook	Houston	82.7%	Great	85.0%	68.4%
11	Fitzsimons	Denver	82.7%	Great	84.6%	77.8%
11	South Orange	Orlando	82.7%	Good	85.0%	77.8%
15	Highland	Denver	82.6%	Great	85.0%	76.9%
15	Carroll Gardens	New York City	82.6%	Great	85.0%	76.4%
17	Tampa Heights	Tampa Bay	82.5%	Great	85.0%	76.0%
17	Neartown/Montrose	Houston	82.5%	Great	85.0%	68.8%
17	Winter Hill	Boston	82.5%	Great	85.0%	67.4%
17	Windsor Terrace	New York City	82.5%	Great	85.0%	71.0%
21	Larchmont	Los Angeles	82.4%	Great	85.0%	71.5%
21	Jefferson Park	Denver	82.4%	Great	85.0%	76.0%
23	Mount Pleasant	St. Louis	82.3%	Great	85.0%	76.9%
23	North Charlotte	Charlotte	82.3%	Great	85.0%	72.8%
25	Benton Park West	St. Louis	82.2%	Great	84.6%	75.6%

However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well.

For a full explanation of how survivability scores and ranges are calculated, see Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters.

What patterns emerge from the top-performing neighborhoods nationwide?

City Concentration

The top 25 neighborhoods span 12 different cities, with Denver claiming 5 of the top spots (20%).

Breakdown of top 25 neighborhoods by city:

Denver: 5 neighborhoods (20% of top 25)
Los Angeles: 3 neighborhoods (12% of top 25): View city guide
Houston: 3 neighborhoods (12% of top 25): View city guide
Orlando: 2 neighborhoods (8% of top 25): View city guide
Washington DC: 2 neighborhoods (8% of top 25): View city guide
Boston: 2 neighborhoods (8% of top 25): View city guide
New York City: 2 neighborhoods (8% of top 25): View city guide
St. Louis: 2 neighborhoods (8% of top 25): View city guide
Chicago: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25): View city guide
Baltimore: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25): View city guide
Tampa Bay: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25): View city guide
Charlotte: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25): View city guide

This distribution has practical implications for Thrift Stores operators: cities with multiple neighborhoods in the top 25 offer more site options within a single market, reducing relocation or expansion cost. Cities with a single top-25 neighborhood require more precise site selection: the advantage is concentrated in one area rather than spread across the metro.

The relatively even distribution of top neighborhoods across the 12 cities represented in the top 25 is consistent with a category where consumer demand is broadly distributed rather than concentrated in specific metros. For Thrift Stores operators, this means strong site opportunities exist in multiple markets: the key variable is neighborhood-level competitive conditions rather than city-level market size.

How can I use this neighborhood ranking to find the best location for a Thrift Store?

Use this ranking to shortlist neighborhoods, then drill down to specific addresses. StreetSpring's AI predictions show real estate professionals and business owners the projected two-year chance at an address before they sign a lease. The difference between the best and worst blocks within a single top-ranked neighborhood can be as large as the gap between the #1 and #25 neighborhoods on this list.

For the most accurate assessment:

Consider neighborhoods in the top 25 as strong starting points
Examine city-specific guides for additional neighborhood options in your target markets
Use StreetSpring's address-level tool to evaluate specific storefronts within these neighborhoods
Factor in your budget, operational requirements, and target demographics

Each neighborhood has detailed analysis available through its city guide, providing block-by-block survivability data for Thrift Stores.

See also: Best Cities for Thrift Store: our city-level comparison ranks which metros offer the strongest overall conditions for Thrift Stores.

Explore top cities represented in these neighborhoods:

National city rankings: Best cities for Thrift Stores

Essential resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical survivability range for Thrift Stores in top neighborhoods?

The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide for Thrift Stores average 82.9% survivability at a typical address. The average across the 1,907 ranked neighborhoods is 69.9%, also at a typical address. The gap between the two is 13.0 points. Each neighborhood's lowest and highest address are in the table above.

How often do neighborhood rankings change?

StreetSpring updates rankings quarterly as new data on business openings, closures, and market conditions becomes available. The current analysis reflects 2026 data. Because competitive conditions shift as new businesses enter or exit a neighborhood, the specific rankings for any given business type can shift between updates, which is why we recommend verifying specific addresses in StreetSpring's live tool before making a final site selection decision.

What makes Platt Park in Denver the best neighborhood for Thrift Stores?

Platt Park in Denver ranks #1 for Thrift Stores with 84.5% survivability at a typical address (the average in each metro file, which is what this ranking orders on). StreetSpring's model weighs competitive dynamics (direct competitors relative to available consumer spending), demographic alignment with Thrift Store customers and local spending patterns for every ranked neighborhood nationwide.

Are there good opportunities outside the top 25 neighborhoods?

Absolutely. This ranking covers 1,907 ranked neighborhoods across 22 cities. Many neighborhoods outside the top 25 have excellent individual locations for Thrift Stores. Neighborhood-level rankings reflect averages: specific addresses within any neighborhood can score well above or below the neighborhood mean. Use city-specific guides and StreetSpring's address-level tool to explore options beyond the top 25.

Where can I download the underlying data?

How does StreetSpring calculate survivability for Thrift Stores specifically?

StreetSpring's model calculates survivability for Thrift Stores by analyzing the competitive density of existing Thrift Stores within each distance band around the address, the projected consumer spending on Thrift Stores in that location, the housing vacancy rate and business mix around the site, and hundreds of additional factors. The resulting survivability score reflects the estimated probability of a new Thrift Store surviving two or more years at that specific address.

Which cities appear most frequently in the top 25 neighborhoods for Thrift Stores?

The cities most represented in the top 25 for Thrift Stores are Denver (5), Los Angeles (3), Houston (3). City-specific guides provide deeper analysis of each city's neighborhoods.

Is the competitive environment for Thrift Stores stronger in some markets than others?

Yes, competition density for Thrift Stores varies significantly by market. StreetSpring's model reads the number of direct competitors against the consumer spending available to them at each address. StreetSpring's address-level tool shows the exact competitive environment at any specific location.

Technical note: Aggregated national survivability rankings across the metros in this ranking are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.

View national technical data

The table above reproduces from these metro files, one per city: Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore, Houston, Orlando, Washington DC, Boston, New York City, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Charlotte.

StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.

Methodology: Neighborhoods are ranked on the typical address: the average Survivability Score for Thrift Stores across the scored locations within each neighborhood, as its metro file publishes it. The average across all ranked neighborhoods is the plain mean of those figures, not the national average on the city ranking, which averages metros. Rankings represent neighborhood-level conditions but do not account for block-by-block variation. Coverage includes 1907 neighborhoods across 22 major US cities. StreetSpring scores 500+ business types: 153 base business types, most of them at 5 price points, which is 569 type-and-price combinations you can choose in the tool.

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