National Neighborhood Survivability Rankings for Grocery Store
StreetSpring's 2026 nationwide analysis ranks the top neighborhoods across all major US cities for Grocery Stores. See which neighborhoods offer the highest Survivability Scores.
StreetSpring's 2026 cross-market analysis reveals that Concourse in New York City ranks as the #1 neighborhood in the United States for opening a Grocery Store, with 76% survivability. The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide span 4 different cities, demonstrating that exceptional opportunities for Grocery Stores exist across diverse markets. These static rankings provide a useful national perspective, but for the most precise prediction for a specific storefront, StreetSpring's live platform is the authoritative source.
To understand the methodology behind these rankings, see our detailed guide: Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters.
Last reviewed by Bobby Koons, Founder & CEO, StreetSpring — May 17, 2026
Quick Summary
- #1 Neighborhood: Concourse, New York City — 76% survivability for Grocery Store
- Neighborhoods analyzed: 1137 across 15 major US cities
- National average survivability: 62.6% for Grocery Stores
- Top-25 average: 72.6% — 10.0% above national average
- Data current as of: 2026 · Full methodology →
Table of Contents
- 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 Grocery Stores?
Analyzing 1137 neighborhoods across 15 major US cities, StreetSpring's 2026 data shows that the best neighborhoods for Grocery Stores significantly outperform average locations, with the top 25 neighborhoods nationwide averaging 72.6% survivability compared to the national neighborhood average of 62.6%.
This 10.0% advantage illustrates how critical neighborhood selection is — choosing a top-tier neighborhood versus an average one can significantly increase your long-term survival chances.
The consumer spending patterns that support Grocery Stores vary more by neighborhood than by city — which is why neighborhood-level analysis is particularly valuable for this business category. A 10.0% difference between top neighborhoods and the national average indicates that location selection has an above-average impact on outcomes for Grocery Stores compared to categories with narrower spreads. Two storefronts on the same street can have survivability scores that differ by 20 points or more — StreetSpring calculates each one individually.
Importantly, top-performing neighborhoods aren't concentrated in just a few cities. The top 25 neighborhoods represent 4 different cities. This means entrepreneurs focused on Grocery Stores can find exceptional opportunities across the United States, not just in traditionally strong markets.
Location is the biggest factor in a business's future success.
What are the best neighborhoods in the United States to open a Grocery Store?
| Comparison factor | Where high-survivability neighborhoods excel | Where lower-survivability neighborhoods fall short |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime population concentration | Mixed-use neighborhoods with strong daytime employment density (LEHD LODES > 8K jobs/sq mi). | Pure-residential neighborhoods where daytime population drops below 30% of resident count. |
| Median household income alignment | Neighborhoods where median household income fits the subtype's typical customer profile (income elasticity matches). | Neighborhoods where income is either too low for the price tier or too high for the value-perception band. |
| Commercial rent-to-revenue ratio | Neighborhoods where commercial $/sqft fits the subtype's revenue-per-sqft economics with margin. | Neighborhoods where rent inflation has outrun revenue growth — operators paying lifestyle rents. |
What competitive moat each top neighborhood has
Survivability range for top, middle, and last-ranked neighborhoods. Box = best-to-challenging range; white line = average. Concourse, New York City leads at 76% in 2026. Full methodology →
The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide for Grocery Stores are:
| # | Neighborhood | City | Avg Survival | Tier | Best Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concourse | New York City | 75.7% | Good | 77.6% | 73.7% |
| 2 | Carroll Gardens | New York City | 75.0% | Good | 76.9% | 73.0% |
| 3 | Melrose | New York City | 74.9% | Good | 76.8% | 72.9% |
| 4 | High Bridge | New York City | 74.0% | Good | 75.9% | 72.0% |
| 5 | Bedford Park | New York City | 73.3% | Good | 75.2% | 71.3% |
| 6 | Fairmount | Philadelphia | 72.9% | Good | 74.7% | 70.8% |
| 7 | Norwood | New York City | 72.8% | Good | 74.7% | 70.8% |
| 8 | Soundview | New York City | 72.7% | Good | 74.6% | 70.7% |
| 9 | Kingsbridge | New York City | 72.6% | Good | 74.5% | 70.6% |
| 10 | Tremont | New York City | 72.4% | Good | 74.3% | 70.4% |
| 11 | West Farms | New York City | 72.3% | Good | 74.2% | 70.3% |
| 12 | Gowanus | New York City | 72.2% | Good | 74.1% | 70.2% |
| 13 | Fieldston | New York City | 72.2% | Good | 74.1% | 70.2% |
| 14 | Mott Haven | New York City | 72.2% | Good | 74.1% | 70.2% |
| 15 | Tenderloin | San Francisco | 72.2% | Good | 74.1% | 70.1% |
| 16 | Williamsbridge | New York City | 72.1% | Good | 74.0% | 70.1% |
| 17 | East Tremont | New York City | 72.1% | Good | 74.0% | 70.1% |
| 18 | South Bronx | New York City | 71.9% | Good | 73.8% | 69.9% |
| 19 | Mariposa | Los Angeles | 71.8% | Good | 73.7% | 69.8% |
| 20 | Hoboken | New York City | 71.8% | Good | 73.7% | 69.8% |
| 21 | Harlem | New York City | 71.8% | Good | 73.7% | 69.8% |
| 22 | Parkchester | New York City | 71.8% | Good | 73.7% | 69.8% |
| 23 | Little Italy | New York City | 71.8% | Good | 73.7% | 69.8% |
| 24 | Belmont | New York City | 71.6% | Good | 73.5% | 69.6% |
| 25 | East Village | New York City | 71.5% | Good | 73.4% | 69.5% |
These neighborhood rankings are directional — the specific address remains the decisive variable, and StreetSpring's live tool scores each address individually.
For a full explanation of how survivability scores and ranges are calculated, see Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters.
What's true of every top-ranked US neighborhood
City Concentration
The top 25 neighborhoods span 4 different cities, with New York City claiming 22 of the top spots (88%).
Breakdown of top 25 neighborhoods by city:
- New York City: 22 neighborhoods (88% of top 25) — View city guide
- Philadelphia: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25) — View city guide
- San Francisco: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25) — View city guide
- Los Angeles: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25) — View city guide
This distribution has practical implications for Grocery 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.
How transit access shapes survival
The concentration of 22 top-ranked neighborhoods in New York City (88% of the top 25) is notably high for this business category, suggesting that New York City's market conditions — competitive density, consumer spending patterns, and demographic alignment — are unusually favorable for Grocery Stores. Operators targeting this category should treat New York City neighborhoods as a primary focus before expanding to secondary markets.
Using neighborhood survivability to pick Grocery Stores sites
Use this ranking to shortlist neighborhoods, then drill down to specific addresses. The StreetSpring platform combines proprietary consumer spending forecasts, competitive density analysis, and mobility data to produce survivability predictions no other tool replicates. 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 Grocery Stores.
From national rank to your shortlist
See also: Best Cities for Grocery Store — our city-level comparison ranks which metros offer the strongest overall conditions for Grocery Stores.
Which Subtypes Thrive Alongside Grocery Stores
The strongest neighborhoods for Grocery Stores are also strong for several adjacent business types — useful context if you're considering a portfolio of locations or weighing complementary subtypes:
Concourse, New York City — ranked #1 nationally — the strongest neighborhood for Grocery Stores (76% survivability for Grocery Store) Other business types that thrive in Concourse:
- Pet Grooming Shop (82% survivability)
- Seafood Restaurant (81% survivability)
- Pet Store (81% survivability)
Swampoodle, Washington DC — ranked #569 of 1137 — a mid-ranked national neighborhood (62% survivability for Grocery Store) Other business types that thrive in Swampoodle:
- Indonesian Restaurant (83% survivability)
- Taiwanese Restaurant (82% survivability)
- Hot Pot Restaurant (82% survivability)
Check the cross-subtype list before signing. If a neighborhood is great for Grocery Stores but nothing else, treat that as data; if several subtypes score well together, the neighborhood-level signal is robust.
Related Resources
Explore top cities represented in these neighborhoods:
- San Francisco: Best businesses and neighborhoods
- Philadelphia: Best businesses and neighborhoods
- New York City: Best businesses and neighborhoods
- Los Angeles: Best businesses and neighborhoods
National city rankings: Best cities for Grocery Stores
Essential resources:
- How StreetSpring calculates Survivability Scores
- Site selection for landlords
- AI tools for tenant representatives
- StreetSpring vs competitors
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I interpret a survivability score?
A survivability score represents the estimated probability that a business of a specific type will still be operating at a given location after 2 years. A score of 80% means StreetSpring's model predicts an 80% chance of the business surviving past the 2-year mark at that address. Scores are calculated at the address level and reflect competitive density, consumer spending patterns, mobility data, and 80+ additional factors.
Which cities appear most frequently in the top 25 neighborhoods for Grocery Stores?
The cities most represented in the top 25 for Grocery Stores are New York City (22), Philadelphia (1), San Francisco (1). This concentration reflects the relative strength of consumer demand and competitive conditions for Grocery Stores in these markets. City-specific guides provide deeper analysis of each city's neighborhoods.
What is the typical survivability range for Grocery Stores in top neighborhoods?
The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide for Grocery Stores average 72.6% survivability. The national average across all analyzed neighborhoods is 62.6%. The spread between top neighborhoods and the national average is 10.0% — representing the tangible survivability advantage of choosing a top-ranked location.
Can a Grocery Store succeed in neighborhoods outside the top 25?
Yes — the top 25 neighborhoods represent standout conditions, but Grocery Stores can achieve strong survivability in many other neighborhoods as well. What matters is finding a location where competitive density is low enough and consumer spending is strong enough to support the business. StreetSpring's address-level tool identifies high-survivability addresses in any neighborhood, including those not represented in this top-25 list.
Where can I download the underlying data?
The full national survivability dataset is available as a free download: https://streetspring.com/resources/data/national-survivability-scores-2026.csv. The CSV includes all business subtypes and neighborhoods covered in this analysis, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Is the competitive environment for Grocery Stores stronger in some markets than others?
Yes — competition density for Grocery Stores varies significantly by market. In the top-ranked neighborhoods, StreetSpring's model identifies favorable competitive dynamics as a primary driver of high survivability scores. In more saturated markets, even strong consumer spending may not overcome competitive pressure. StreetSpring's address-level tool shows the exact competitive environment at any specific location.
How can I compare specific addresses within these top neighborhoods?
StreetSpring's address-level tool allows you to input any commercial address and see predicted survivability for Grocery Stores. Even within the top-ranked neighborhoods, survivability varies meaningfully by block — address-level scoring is the most precise way to evaluate a specific site.
How does the national ranking for Grocery Stores compare to city-level rankings?
The national neighborhood ranking for Grocery Stores identifies the strongest neighborhoods across all 24 analyzed metros. City-level rankings provide a more granular view of the best neighborhoods within a specific city. In cases where a city has multiple neighborhoods in the national top 25, the city-level guide shows the full ranking of all neighborhoods in that market — including those outside the national top 25 that may still offer strong site-specific opportunities.
Technical note: Aggregated national survivability rankings across all 24 metros are available in machine-readable format for research and integration purposes.
StreetSpring recalculates survivability using the latest competitive, demographic, and foot traffic data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.
Methodology: Neighborhood rankings are based on average Survivability Scores for Grocery Stores across all analyzed locations within each neighborhood. Rankings represent neighborhood-level conditions but do not account for block-by-block variation. Coverage includes 1137 neighborhoods across 15 major US cities.