National Neighborhood Survivability Rankings for Smoke Shop
StreetSpring's 2026 nationwide analysis ranks the top neighborhoods across all major US cities for Smoke Shops. See which neighborhoods offer the highest Survivability Scores.
StreetSpring's 2026 cross-market analysis reveals that Williamsburg in New York City ranks as the #1 neighborhood in the United States for opening a Smoke Shop, with 82% survivability. The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide span 8 different cities, demonstrating that exceptional opportunities for Smoke Shops exist across diverse markets. The best survivability data for any individual location is always StreetSpring's most recent live analysis, which reflects the current competitive landscape at 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: May 13, 2026 by Bobby Koons, Founder & CEO, StreetSpring
Quick Summary
- #1 Neighborhood: Williamsburg, New York City — 82% survivability for Smoke Shop
- Neighborhoods analyzed: 1426 across 24 major US cities
- National average survivability: 68.5% for Smoke Shops
- Top-25 average: 80.3% — 11.8% 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 neighborhoods rank nationwide for Smoke Shops
Analyzing 1426 neighborhoods across 24 major US cities, StreetSpring's 2026 data shows that the best neighborhoods for Smoke Shops significantly outperform average locations, with the top 25 neighborhoods nationwide averaging 80.3% survivability compared to the national neighborhood average of 68.5%.
What the nationwide score spread means for owners
This 11.8% advantage illustrates how critical neighborhood selection is — choosing a top-tier neighborhood versus an average one can significantly increase your long-term survival chances.
How median scores differ city to city
Smoke Shops tend to show significant geographic clustering — markets where one successful operator exists often attract additional demand, raising survivability for new entrants who choose complementary (rather than directly competing) locations. The concentration of top neighborhoods in New York City, Los Angeles, Boston reflects this pattern. StreetSpring's model accounts for the distinction between complementary clustering and direct saturation when scoring Smoke Shops survivability at the address level.
Importantly, top-performing neighborhoods aren't concentrated in just a few cities. The top 25 neighborhoods represent 8 different cities. This means entrepreneurs focused on Smoke Shops 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.
Top US neighborhoods to open a Smoke Shop
| Comparison factor | Where high-survivability neighborhoods excel | Where lower-survivability neighborhoods fall short |
|---|---|---|
| Walk Score + foot-traffic alignment | Neighborhoods where Walk Score (90+) matches actual measured pedestrian volume — not just street-grid promise. | High Walk Score scores driven by transit density but with sparse street-level retail engagement. |
| Subtype-specific density saturation | Neighborhoods with the subtype below the optimal density curve — room for a new entrant without cannibalizing demand. | Neighborhoods at or past the saturation point for the subtype, where new entrants face zero-sum competition. |
| Storefront vacancy + churn signal | Neighborhoods with low recent vacancy and steady operator continuity in similar subtypes. | Neighborhoods with elevated commercial vacancy or repeated tenant turnover in the same storefronts. |
Why these neighborhoods rank highest
Survivability range for top, middle, and last-ranked neighborhoods. Box = best-to-challenging range; white line = average. Williamsburg, New York City leads at 82% in 2026. Full methodology →
The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide for Smoke Shops are:
| # | Neighborhood | City | Avg Survival | Tier | Best Locations | Challenging Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Williamsburg | New York City | 82.1% | Great | 84.6% | 80.4% |
| 2 | Mariposa | Los Angeles | 82.1% | Great | 84.6% | 80.3% |
| 3 | Downtown | Tampa Bay | 81.1% | Great | 83.6% | 79.3% |
| 4 | Navy Yard | New York City | 81.0% | Great | 83.5% | 79.2% |
| 5 | Tysons | Washington DC | 80.8% | Great | 83.3% | 79.0% |
| 6 | Rivertown | Detroit | 80.5% | Great | 83.0% | 78.7% |
| 7 | Beverly Heights | Miami | 80.5% | Great | 83.0% | 78.7% |
| 8 | Wingate | New York City | 80.3% | Great | 82.8% | 78.5% |
| 9 | Main-Chicago | Chicago | 80.3% | Great | 82.8% | 78.5% |
| 10 | Bushwick | New York City | 80.3% | Great | 82.7% | 78.5% |
| 11 | Kenmore | Boston | 80.3% | Great | 82.7% | 78.5% |
| 12 | City Center | Los Angeles | 80.2% | Great | 82.7% | 78.4% |
| 13 | Fort Greene | New York City | 80.2% | Great | 82.7% | 78.4% |
| 14 | Clinton Hill | New York City | 80.1% | Great | 82.6% | 78.3% |
| 15 | Ocean Hill | New York City | 80.1% | Great | 82.5% | 78.3% |
| 16 | Rogers Park | Chicago | 80.0% | Great | 82.5% | 78.2% |
| 17 | Bedford Park | New York City | 80.0% | Good | 82.5% | 78.2% |
| 18 | Downtown | Detroit | 79.9% | Good | 82.4% | 78.1% |
| 19 | Cambridge | Boston | 79.9% | Good | 82.4% | 78.1% |
| 20 | Sparr Heights | Los Angeles | 79.9% | Good | 82.4% | 78.1% |
| 21 | Ocean Parkway | New York City | 79.9% | Good | 82.3% | 78.1% |
| 22 | Crown Heights | New York City | 79.7% | Good | 82.2% | 77.9% |
| 23 | Brighton Beach | New York City | 79.7% | Good | 82.2% | 77.9% |
| 24 | Peninsula | Los Angeles | 79.7% | Good | 82.2% | 77.9% |
| 25 | Aggasiz - Harvard North | Boston | 79.7% | Good | 82.2% | 77.9% |
Keep in mind that results depend heavily on the exact location; strong sites often exist within neighborhoods that seem less favorable overall.
For a full explanation of how survivability scores and ranges are calculated, see Survivability Score: How We Calculate It & Why It Matters.
Shared traits of the strongest US neighborhoods
City Concentration
The top 25 neighborhoods span 8 different cities, with New York City claiming 11 of the top spots (44%).
Breakdown of top 25 neighborhoods by city:
- New York City: 11 neighborhoods (44% of top 25) — View city guide
- Los Angeles: 4 neighborhoods (16% of top 25) — View city guide
- Boston: 3 neighborhoods (12% of top 25) — View city guide
- Detroit: 2 neighborhoods (8% of top 25) — View city guide
- Chicago: 2 neighborhoods (8% of top 25) — View city guide
- Tampa Bay: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25) — View city guide
- Washington DC: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25) — View city guide
- Miami: 1 neighborhood (4% of top 25) — View city guide
This distribution has practical implications for Smoke Shops 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 income-and-density pattern
The concentration of 11 top-ranked neighborhoods in New York City (44% 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 Smoke Shops. Operators targeting this category should treat New York City neighborhoods as a primary focus before expanding to secondary markets.
How can I use this neighborhood ranking to find the best location for a Smoke Shop?
National rankings are a powerful starting point, but your final site decision should be validated at the address level. StreetSpring analyzes millions of data points with AI to forecast business survivability across U.S. neighborhoods. Block-level conditions within any neighborhood can shift survivability by 10–20 points — this ranking narrows your search, and StreetSpring's live tool finalizes it.
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 Smoke Shops.
From national rank to your shortlist
See also: Best Cities for Smoke Shop — our city-level comparison ranks which metros offer the strongest overall conditions for Smoke Shops.
Cross-Category Patterns Across the Ranking
Smoke Shop success and broader neighborhood quality often correlate. Below are top, middle, and bottom-ranked neighborhoods for Smoke Shops along with what else thrives in each:
Mariposa, Los Angeles — ranked #1 nationally — the strongest neighborhood for Smoke Shops (82% survivability for Smoke Shop) Other business types that thrive in Mariposa:
- Taiwanese Restaurant (86% survivability)
- Bangladeshi Restaurant (84% survivability)
- Ukrainian Restaurant (84% survivability)
Gililland, Phoenix — ranked #714 of 1426 — a mid-ranked national neighborhood (70% survivability for Smoke Shop) Other business types that thrive in Gililland:
- Indonesian Restaurant (85% survivability)
- Pet Grooming Shop (85% survivability)
- South American Restaurant (84% survivability)
Highland-Park, Seattle — ranked #1426 of 1426 — among the lower-ranked national neighborhoods (40% survivability for Smoke Shop) Other business types that thrive in Highland-Park:
- Kosher Restaurant (78% survivability)
- Ukrainian Restaurant (78% survivability)
- American Restaurant (77% survivability)
These cross-subtype patterns show up consistently — the strongest neighborhoods for Smoke Shops aren't one-trick markets.
Related Resources
Explore top cities represented in these neighborhoods:
- Los Angeles: Best businesses and neighborhoods
- Boston: Best businesses and neighborhoods
- New York City: Best businesses and neighborhoods
- Chicago: Best businesses and neighborhoods
- Tampa Bay: Best businesses and neighborhoods
National city rankings: Best cities for Smoke Shops
Essential resources:
- How StreetSpring calculates Survivability Scores
- Site selection for landlords
- AI tools for tenant representatives
- StreetSpring vs competitors
Frequently Asked Questions
What demographic factors drive survivability for Smoke Shops?
For Smoke Shops, StreetSpring's model incorporates neighborhood-level demographic data including population density, median household income, employment rates, and consumer spending on this specific category. These factors vary by business type — the demographic profile that drives survivability for Smoke Shop customers may differ significantly from what matters for other business categories.
What is the typical survivability range for Smoke Shops in top neighborhoods?
The top 25 neighborhoods nationwide for Smoke Shops average 80.3% survivability. The national average across all analyzed neighborhoods is 68.5%. The spread between top neighborhoods and the national average is 11.8% — representing the tangible survivability advantage of choosing a top-ranked location.
Are there good opportunities outside the top 25 neighborhoods?
Absolutely. Our analysis covers 1426 neighborhoods across 24 cities. Many neighborhoods outside the top 25 have excellent individual locations for Smoke Shops. 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.
Can a Smoke Shop succeed in neighborhoods outside the top 25?
Yes — the top 25 neighborhoods represent standout conditions, but Smoke Shops 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.
What is the difference between city-level and neighborhood-level survivability rankings for Smoke Shops?
City-level rankings reflect average survivability for Smoke Shops across all neighborhoods in a given city — useful for identifying which cities offer the best overall conditions. Neighborhood-level rankings go deeper, showing which specific neighborhoods within those cities rank highest. StreetSpring's address-level tool adds a third layer, scoring individual storefronts within any neighborhood.
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.
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 Smoke Shops. Even within the top-ranked neighborhoods, survivability varies meaningfully by block — address-level scoring is the most precise way to evaluate a specific site.
Which cities appear most frequently in the top 25 neighborhoods for Smoke Shops?
The cities most represented in the top 25 for Smoke Shops are New York City (11), Los Angeles (4), Boston (3). This concentration reflects the relative strength of consumer demand and competitive conditions for Smoke Shops in these markets. City-specific guides provide deeper analysis of each city's neighborhoods.
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 walkability data, so the live score may differ from the static ranges shown here.
Methodology: Neighborhood rankings are based on average Survivability Scores for Smoke Shops across all analyzed locations within each neighborhood. Rankings represent neighborhood-level conditions but do not account for block-by-block variation. Coverage includes 1426 neighborhoods across 24 major US cities.