Free Pexels Image via WordPress
Article courtesy of Priority Software.
- New Orleans, Louisiana, is the best city in the nation for bargain shoppers, featuring over 50 thrift stores per 100,000 residents.
- A new study analyzed multiple types of retail outlets to create an overall index of the best U.S. cities for bargain shopping.
- Orlando, Florida, and Columbus, Georgia, round out the top three cities where shoppers can find the best deals.
A new study by Priority Software has determined the best U.S. cities for bargain shopping. The number of vintage and thrift stores, discount stores, used car dealerships, pawn shops, flea markets, outlet stores, and wholesale stores in each city were analyzed to create an index, highlighting where shoppers can find the best deals.
New Orleans, Louisiana, ranks first as the best city in the U.S. for bargain shoppers. The city has 50.3 vintage and thrift stores and 51.5 used car dealerships per 100,000 residents. New Orleans also has the highest number of discount stores, 40.6 per 100,000 residents. Overall, New Orleans earned a total score of 82.01 out of 100, securing its spot as the top destination for those looking to shop smart and save big.
Orlando, Florida, ranks second among the best U.S. cities for bargain shoppers. The city offers 74.2 used car dealerships, 31.8 discount stores, and 31.5 vintage and thrift shops per 100,000 residents. Orlando earned a total score of 79.95 out of 100, making it one of the top places in the country to find great deals.
Columbus, Georgia, takes third place with 55.5 used car dealerships, 34.2 vintage and thrift stores, and 23.3 discount stores per 100,000 residents. The city also boasts the highest number of flea markets per 100,000 residents (11.4), earning a total score of 63.05 out of 100.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, ranks fourth with a total score of 61.46 out of 100. The city offers 28.7 vintage and thrift stores, 45.8 used car dealerships, and 28.0 discount stores per 100,000 residents.
Glendale, Arizona, has the highest number of pawn shops, 11.0 per 100,000 residents. The city has 28.0 discount stores and 26.4 used car dealerships per 100,000 residents. Overall, Glendale earned a total score of 60.68 out of 100, making it a top choice for shoppers looking for deals.
The top 10 U.S. cities for bargain shoppers
| Rank | City | State | Score out of 100 |
| 1 | New Orleans | Louisiana | 82.01 |
| 2 | Orlando | Florida | 79.95 |
| 3 | Columbus | Georgia | 63.05 |
| 4 | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma | 61.46 |
| 5 | Glendale | Arizona | 60.68 |
| 6 | Anaheim | California | 60.46 |
| 7 | Mesa | Arizona | 60.28 |
| 8 | Hialeah | Florida | 59.79 |
| 9 | Denver | Colorado | 59.68 |
| 10 | Tampa | Florida | 59.05 |
Anaheim, California, has 49.9 used car dealerships and 33.8 vintage and thrift stores per 100,000 residents and also boasts the highest number of wholesale stores, 12.6 per 100,000 residents. Overall, Anaheim earned a total score of 60.46 out of 100, making it a strong choice for value-focused shoppers.
Hialeah, Florida, has the highest number of used car dealerships, 82.2 per 100,000 residents. The city has 22.6 discount stores per 100,000 residents and earned a total score of 59.79 out of 100.
Denver, Colorado, is ninth, with 34.5 vintage and thrift stores, 46.6 used car dealerships, and 16.5 discount stores per 100,000 residents. Its total score of 59.68 out of 100 reflects a healthy mix of secondhand and discount shopping options.
Tampa, Florida, comes in tenth, featuring 66.2 used car dealerships, 21.1 vintage and thrift stores, and 20.1 discount stores per 100,000 residents. Tampa earned a total score of 59.05 out of 100.
Sagive Greenspan, CEO of Priority Software, commented on the findings:
“Bargain shopping is about more than just finding low prices; it’s about access to a variety of options that fit different budgets and lifestyles. Cities like New Orleans and Orlando lead the way by offering a dense mix of vintage and thrift stores, discount retailers, and used car dealerships.
“These findings show that bargain shopping is not limited to a single type of store, but it is driven by the overall diversity of retail options available in a city. These cities demonstrate how communities can support consumers in stretching their dollars while promoting local commerce.”
Methodology: A total of 7 factors sourced from Foursquare OS Places were used to compile the index score. The following factors were assigned a weight:
- Number of vintage and thrift stores per 100,000 residents – 20%
- Number of discount stores per 100,000 residents – 20%
- Number of pawn shops per 100,000 residents – 15%
- Number of flea markets per 100,000 residents – 12.5%
- Number of used car dealerships per 100,000 residents – 12.5%
- Number of outlet stores per 100,000 residents – 10%
- Number of wholesale stores per 100,000 residents – 10%
The total score for the factors was calculated, which produced the overall index score out of 100 for each city.
Source: https://foursquare.com/
