Survivability Rankings for Grocery Store in Boston
StreetSpring's 2026 analysis ranks the best and worst neighborhoods in Boston to open a Grocery Store, from Assembly Square (79% survival) to Chinatown ...
By Robert Koons | Last reviewed: September 2026 | Methodology
Quick Summary
- Survivability Score: the projected chance a business type lasts two or more years at a specific address
- #1 Neighborhood: Assembly Square: 79% average survivability for Grocery Store
- Neighborhoods at or above 70%: 51 of 52 analyzed
- City-wide average: 77% for Grocery Stores
- Most challenging area: Chinatown at 74%
- Revenue advantage (top vs. avg location): ~5.3% more expected revenue in Assembly Square
- Data freshness: 2026 data · Full methodology →
Table of Contents
- Summary
- 10 Best Neighborhoods
- Where Would a Grocery Store Make the Most Money?
- What Should I Consider?
- Where Should I Start?
- FAQ: Best Neighborhoods
- FAQ: Can a Grocery Store Succeed in Lower-Ranked Areas?
- FAQ: How Often Are Rankings Updated?
- FAQ: Is a Grocery Store a Good Tenant?
- Landlord Survivability Data
- Best Neighborhoods for Any Business
Summary
Assembly Square leads Boston's 2026 survivability rankings for Grocery Store operators with 79% average chance of surviving more than 2 years, with the best locations offering 81% and the most challenging locations in Assembly Square at 76%. The worst neighborhoods include Chinatown with 74% average chance. A low-ranking neighborhood can still contain high-potential storefronts: the address matters most.
What Are the 10 Best Neighborhoods in and Around Boston to Open a Grocery Store?
Assembly Square ranks #1 of 52 neighborhoods analyzed in and around Boston for Grocery Store survivability, with a 79% chance of lasting two or more years as of 2026. The top 10 neighborhoods are:
| Rank | Neighborhood | At a good address | Average Locations | Best Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assembly Square | 81.0% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 76.0% to 77.0% |
| 2 | Allston | 80.9% | 76.0% to 81.0% | 81.0% to 83.0% | 74.0% to 76.0% |
| 3 | Mid-Cambridge | 80.6% | 76.0% to 81.0% | 81.0% to 82.0% | 75.0% to 76.0% |
| 4 | Fenway | 80.5% | 76.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 74.0% to 76.0% |
| 5 | Wellington-Harrington | 80.4% | 76.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 74.0% to 76.0% |
| 6 | Porter Square | 80.4% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 75.0% to 76.0% |
| 7 | Mission Hill | 80.1% | 77.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 82.0% | 75.0% to 77.0% |
| 8 | Riverside | 80.1% | 76.0% to 81.0% | 80.0% to 81.0% | 75.0% to 77.0% |
| 9 | West Roxbury | 80.1% | 75.0% to 80.0% | 82.0% to 84.0% | 69.0% to 71.0% |
| 10 | Strawberry Hill | 80.0% | 76.0% to 80.0% | 79.0% to 81.0% | 75.0% to 76.0% |
Remember that a neighborhood average smooths over wide variation: your exact block could significantly outperform. Because local conditions evolve weekly, the live survivability tool offers a more current snapshot than any published ranking.
Survivability ranges reflect best and worst storefront conditions within each neighborhood. See our full methodology →
Try StreetSpring to see if this location is still the best and see if there are locations to rent in this area right now.
Where in or Around Boston Would a Grocery Store Make the Most Money?
In Assembly Square, the best possible location offers the opportunity of making ~5.3% more than the average location in or around Boston.
On the other hand, in Chinatown, the worst possible location could result in making ~10.3% less than the average location in the city.
Location selection is the most consequential decision any new business owner makes. Opening a Grocery Store in Boston requires careful location choice. Across 52 neighborhoods analyzed, the overall average survival chance for a new Grocery Store is 77% for lasting more than 2 years, due to a combination of many factors across competition, consumer spending, and location dynamics. The same location can be excellent for one business type and poor for another.
What Should I Consider When Opening a Grocery Store in or Around Boston?
When selecting a location for a Grocery Store in or around Boston, it is crucial to select a location with a very high Survivability Score. No other single metric predicts business longevity as reliably as Revenue Capture Score. StreetSpring computes this by projecting the business's market share, which is based on the quality and quantity of primary, secondary, and tertiary competitors. StreetSpring has analyzed hundreds of thousands of business outcomes across major US metros. A certain density of competitors signals strong demand and can benefit all businesses. StreetSpring's predictions leverage proprietary datasets covering competition, spending, and mobility. 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.
This can be summarized as:
Revenue Capture Score = Projected Market Share × Forecasted Spend on Specific Business
Related: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Real-time data from StreetSpring accounts for recent openings, closures, and seasonal shifts that static rankings cannot.
Where in or Around Boston Should I Start a Grocery Store?
Our data ranks the top-performing neighborhoods as Assembly Square, Allston, and Mid-Cambridge, while the most challenging neighborhoods would be Chinatown, Germantown, and Davis Square. However, individual locations vary widely, and even in lower-scoring neighborhoods there are pockets that perform exceptionally well. Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.
Related Articles:
- Business Survivability Rankings: Boston
- Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Boston
- National City Survivability: Grocery Store
- National Neighborhood Survivability: Grocery Store
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in Boston to Open a Grocery Store?
Based on StreetSpring's 2026 analysis, the top neighborhood for a Grocery Store in Boston is Assembly Square with 79% average survivability, followed by Allston and Mid-Cambridge. 51 of 52 neighborhoods analyzed exceed 70% two-year survival.
Market dynamics shift frequently; validate these insights with real-time data from StreetSpring.
Can a Grocery Store Succeed in Lower-Ranked Neighborhoods in Boston?
Yes, neighborhood averages mask significant block-by-block variation. Even in neighborhoods ranked outside the top 10, individual storefronts with strong foot traffic, low direct competition, and favorable lease terms can outperform the area average. Our data shows that roughly 15% of top-performing locations sit in neighborhoods ranked below the city median. Always check your specific address in StreetSpring's live platform for the most accurate prediction.
How Often Are Grocery Store Rankings in Boston Updated?
StreetSpring recalculates survivability scores regularly using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data. Rankings are updated quarterly; the live tool always reflects the most current predictions for any address in Boston.
Is a Grocery Store a Good Tenant for Boston Landlords?
In Assembly Square, StreetSpring forecasts a 77.0% to 81.0% average chance for a new Grocery Store to survive more than 2 years, depending on the exact storefront. Check the current Survivability Score for any address instantly.
Landlord Survivability Data for Grocery Store in Boston
The data tells a clear story for Grocery Store tenants across Boston's top neighborhoods. Assembly Square leads with 77.0% to 81.0% average survivability, with best-case storefronts reaching 80.0% to 82.0%. Allston averages 76.0% to 81.0%, and Mid-Cambridge comes in at 76.0% to 81.0%. Our tool shows the survivability outlook for any business type at your exact address, updated weekly.
Our tool delivers pinpoint accuracy down to the exact storefront location for any business category.
Related: How Landlord Representatives Can Reduce Vacancy & Increase Tenant Longevity
What Are the Best Neighborhoods in or Around Boston for My Business Overall?
You can see the best neighborhoods in or around Boston to open any type of business in our article Neighborhood Survivability Rankings: Boston.
Related Resources
- Business Survivability Rankings: Boston: See how Grocery Store compares to all other business types in Boston
- Best Cities to Open a Grocery Store in the US: National city-level survivability rankings for Grocery Store
- Business Survivability in Assembly Square, Boston: All business types ranked in the #1 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Allston, Boston: All business types ranked in the #2 neighborhood
- Business Survivability in Mid-Cambridge, Boston: All business types ranked in the #3 neighborhood
Technical note: Aggregated survivability rankings for Boston are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.
View technical data for Boston
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.