These 5 US Cities Are a Treasure Trove for Antiques—Plus, 5 to Skip

Some cities make antiquing feel like a genuine treasure hunt with the right mix of estate sales, antique shops, and secondhand demand.

To determine the best (and worst) places in the U.S. to score great finds, precious metal refiner Elemetal analyzed data from 100 of the largest cities using 11 factors tied to antiquing potential, such as the number of antique stores, flea markets, consignment stores, and estate sales; the percentage of homes built before 1940; and Google search data.

The findings highlight where hidden treasures might be easiest to find and what makes certain cities stand out. Elemetal notes that many of the highest-ranking cities cluster in older parts of the country, where long-established housing, estate turnover, and antique retail are more common.

Here are the best and worst cities to go antiquing.

The Best Cities for Antiquing

1. Scranton, Pa.
2. Akron, Ohio
3. Winston-Salem, N.C.
4. Toledo, Ohio
5. Allentown, Pa.

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The Worst Cities for Antiquing

1. Miami, Fla.
2. Bakersfield, Calif.
3. Washington, D.C.
4. El Paso, Texas
5. Riverside, Calif.

According to Elemetal, Scranton topped the list because it checks nearly every box that matters for antique shoppers, with one of the strongest showings for antique stores per capita, a high share of older housing, and strong search interest for “antiques near me.”

The city ranked the highest when it came to the percentage of homes built before 1940. That’s a major reason the city performed so well in the overall ranking. Older housing points to a longer material history, where furnishings, décor, and family possessions may have stayed in local circulation for decades.

In contrast, Miami ranked last because it scored poorly on availability, such as the number of antique stores, flea markets, and estate sales per capita. It also lacked the older housing profile that helped many top-ranked cities stand out. And while Washington, D.C., has history and cultural significance, it underperformed when it came to the per-capita availability of places to find antiques.