Retail Reports
Original data studies on independent retail across America, built from a national count of 2,427,402 shoppable independent storefronts — about 724.8 per 100,000 residents nationwide. 4 national studies, 51 state reports and 17 store-type rankings.
National studies
The U.S. Retail Density Index: Every State Ranked by Independent Retail Per Capita
We counted 2.4 million independent, shoppable retail storefronts across the United States, then ranked all 50 states and D.C. by how many they have per 100,000 residents. The result turns the familiar map upside down.
Read the report →What Each State Sells: America's Independent Retail Specialties
Every state over-indexes on something. Using a location-quotient analysis of 2.4 million storefronts, we found the kind of independent shop each state has far more of than the country as a whole.
Read the report →One Big City or Spread Out? U.S. Retail Concentration by State
In some states, most independent retail sits in a single dominant city. In others it's scattered across dozens of small towns. We measured the gap.
Read the report →The 50 Biggest Independent-Retail Cities in America
Where are the most independent storefronts? We ranked U.S. cities and towns by their raw count of shoppable independent retail.
Read the report →Biggest retail cities, state by state
The top 25 retail towns and the most common store types in each state, with retail places per 100,000 residents and each state's rank among all 51.
- Alabama36,017 places · 705 per 100k · #37
- Alaska6,125 places · 835.1 per 100k · #9
- Arizona45,964 places · 618.5 per 100k · #47
- Arkansas23,046 places · 751.2 per 100k · #24
- California271,352 places · 696.4 per 100k · #41
- Colorado46,098 places · 784.3 per 100k · #15
- Connecticut28,565 places · 789.7 per 100k · #14
- Delaware7,192 places · 697 per 100k · #40
- Florida175,522 places · 776.3 per 100k · #17
- Georgia83,747 places · 759.3 per 100k · #22
- Hawaii12,174 places · 848.3 per 100k · #7
- Idaho14,340 places · 729.9 per 100k · #28
- Illinois91,184 places · 726.6 per 100k · #30
- Indiana49,234 places · 717.5 per 100k · #34
- Iowa25,951 places · 809.2 per 100k · #13
- Kansas22,128 places · 752.5 per 100k · #23
- Kentucky32,108 places · 709.4 per 100k · #35
- Louisiana33,804 places · 739.1 per 100k · #27
- Maine13,543 places · 970.3 per 100k · #4
- Maryland37,895 places · 613.2 per 100k · #48
- Massachusetts54,068 places · 772.2 per 100k · #19
- Michigan74,342 places · 740.7 per 100k · #26
- Minnesota46,452 places · 809.6 per 100k · #12
- Mississippi21,328 places · 725.5 per 100k · #32
- Missouri48,327 places · 780 per 100k · #16
- Montana10,398 places · 917.9 per 100k · #5
- Nebraska11,183 places · 565.3 per 100k · #50
- Nevada20,234 places · 633.5 per 100k · #46
- New Hampshire13,794 places · 983.8 per 100k · #3
- New Jersey67,441 places · 725.9 per 100k · #31
- New Mexico14,886 places · 704 per 100k · #38
- New York140,732 places · 719.1 per 100k · #33
- North Carolina82,434 places · 760.8 per 100k · #21
- North Dakota7,136 places · 910.3 per 100k · #6
- Ohio82,521 places · 700.2 per 100k · #39
- Oklahoma28,616 places · 705.9 per 100k · #36
- Oregon35,446 places · 837.3 per 100k · #8
- Pennsylvania98,947 places · 763.4 per 100k · #20
- Rhode Island8,168 places · 745.3 per 100k · #25
- South Carolina39,138 places · 728.3 per 100k · #29
- South Dakota7,453 places · 810.7 per 100k · #11
- Tennessee55,102 places · 773.2 per 100k · #18
- Texas196,483 places · 644.1 per 100k · #44
- Utah20,933 places · 612.5 per 100k · #49
- Vermont6,835 places · 1,055.7 per 100k · #1
- Virginia55,865 places · 641 per 100k · #45
- Washington52,484 places · 671.8 per 100k · #43
- Washington, D.C.3,556 places · 523.7 per 100k · #51
- West Virginia12,281 places · 693.8 per 100k · #42
- Wisconsin49,031 places · 829.5 per 100k · #10
- Wyoming5,799 places · 992.9 per 100k · #2
Store types by state
One store type at a time: every state ranked by count, share of local retail and stores per 100,000 residents.
- Hardware Stores by state90,909 nationwide · densest: North Dakota
- Clothing Stores by state140,993 nationwide · densest: Hawaii
- Furniture Stores by state130,785 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Shoe Stores by state83,128 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Gift Shops by state71,520 nationwide · densest: Alaska
- Jewelry Stores by state70,320 nationwide · densest: Hawaii
- Pet Stores by state63,517 nationwide · densest: Maine
- Florists by state59,674 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Sporting Goods Stores by state52,444 nationwide · densest: Montana
- Thrift and Vintage Stores by state51,110 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Antique Stores by state44,983 nationwide · densest: Maine
- Garden Centers by state42,279 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Arts and Crafts Stores by state40,545 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Bookstores by state26,484 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Music Stores by state22,383 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Bike Shops by state19,885 nationwide · densest: Vermont
- Toy Stores by state14,855 nationwide · densest: Vermont
Data source: Foursquare Open Source Places (US slice), analyzed by Useful Economy. Population figures: U.S. Census 2023 estimates.