Darien, Westville and Scarsdale: Thrifting luxury in the Northeast's wealthiest ZIP codes

Thrifting is always a little like a treasure hunt. If you're lucky, you can score upscale, rare items for pennies on the dollar.
Your old pair of jeans and dusty bicycle may be worth nothing to you, but they, along with tons of cast-off belongings, are generating big bucks.

Based on recent National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops data, "industry estimates put the U.S. secondhand market at roughly $56 billion in 2025." 

Last year alone, Goodwill Industries kept more than 4.6 billion pounds of donated goods in circulation, according to its most recent annual impact report. In addition, more than nine out of 10 Americans bought something used, according to OfferUp’s 2025 Recommerce Report.

If you're looking for a steal or want to sell pre-loved items, here are the best thrift stores in the three wealthiest tristate towns: Darien, Connecticut; Westville, New Jersey; and Scarsdale, New York.

New York: Scarsdale

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: 1 hour 

The fact that Scarsdale is the wealthiest town in New York, which is the third-wealthiest state in the country, says a lot. With an average household income of $612,591, that’s a whole bunch of disposable income.

Head over to Hitchcock Presbyterian Church’s Hitchcock Church Thrift Shop if you’re looking for jewelry, clothing and housewares with a decidedly designer bent (6 Greenacres Ave., 914-723-3311, hitchcockpresby.org). 

While the shop may be small, it has big-name items including Coach, Tory Burch and Vera Bradley. Run by volunteers, the shop loves its sales. There’s a letter-of-the-month sale and half-off deeply discounted prices. Vintage bracelets and jewelry are displayed much like they would be at a retail store but with prices that start at a few dollars. This is why locals say to go early since the shop is often busy and the best deals go early.

The Side Door Thrift Store is part of the Woman’s Club of White Plains, which counts Scarsdale residents in its member ranks (305 Ridgeway, White Plains, 914-948-0958, womansclubofwhiteplains.org). It’s in the basement of the CV Rich Mansion and the upscale vibes you find in the rest of the house carry on to the shop.

Its hours are limited — Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. until noon — but the shop also often runs pop-up sales on weekends. Check the Facebook page for announcements of upcoming sales. The shop accepts women’s clothing, select men’s clothing, jewelry, household items such as flatware and china sets, as well as decorative items. The shoe selection is especially nice, as is the dress section.

If you are looking for less treasure hunting and more curated shopping, Maizie Shop Consignment Apparel fits the bill (511 Central Park Ave., 914-723-8354, themaizieshop.com). The store sells on consignment, so prices aren’t as bargain basement as you’d find at a true thrift store but the tradeoff is that you know you’ll find a wide range of women’s designer duds in a variety of sizes. From affordable options such as $20 Chicos pants to high-end $3,500 Chanel backpacks, there’s plenty to browse through. The shop accepts more than 100 new items a day so if you don’t find something on your first visit it’s always worth going back to look.

Connecticut: Darien

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: 1 hour 

Darien is a tiny coastal town in Fairfield County and the smallest town on Connecticut's Gold Coast. According to Zillow, the average home price in the area is $2,468,827. The folks who live here have to get rid of their unwanted items somewhere. For many, those items end up at the DCA Thrift Shop (996 Post Rd., 203-655-4552, dariendca.org).

The shop got its start nearly 100 years ago during the Depression. People could go there and get food and clothing. Today, the store sells “one-of-a-kind designer clothing and unique items,” according to its volunteers. You can preview what’s available on the organization’s Instagram page, where it calls out fun items nearly every day.

The store itself looks more like a cute boutique than a true thrift, with bright lighting and well-organized shelving and racks. But it’s the actual finds that will blow you away. Recently, the store took in two white leather and chrome Jonathan Adler Rider X benches that sell for $800 each. It’s not unusual to find designer home goods, bags and clothing sitting on racks and shelves, either. The best part: Pricing is fair despite the high-end pedigree of the merchandise. There are even weekly sales such as 50% off clothing or 50% off anything purple.

The Double Exposure Boutique, a consignment store, is a popular drop-off spot for handbags (1958 Post Rd., 203-655-8799, doubleexposureboutique.com). The store is rife with designer jewelry, clothing and accessories. You’ll still find bargains, of course, but the discounts will be slightly less impressive. For instance, an Ann Taylor jacket that normally sells for $198 can be purchased for $63 and a pair of $480 Celine sunglasses will only set you back $220. Don’t skip the swoon-worthy Chanel merch like the $767 white tweed dress that sells in stores for $2,900. There’s also plenty of $100 items for those who have a budget in mind.

The store posts new merchandise on its own website daily and has an Instagram account so you can do a little pre-shopping before you visit the store. Clothing and housewares aren’t the only things people donate or get rid of. Furniture, art, rugs and lamps are cast off when people want to change their decor but furniture especially can be hard to rehome. It’s big and smaller thrifts often have trouble storing and selling beds, couches and dining room sets. 

Darien Design Center has walls of art, antique pieces and plenty of occasional chairs as well as entire sets (523 Post Rd., 203-655-8739, dariendesigncenter.com). Prices can be eye-popping — a white Ferrell Mittman sectional sofa that sells for $18,000 goes for $6,800 in the store — but designer furnishings aren’t cheap. There are less expensive items to be found. For instance, check out the fun housewares including dish sets and crystal decorative pieces. And since the store is essentially a mish-mash of mini shops there are a number of different aesthetics under one roof.

New Jersey: Westfield

DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MELVILLE: 1½ hours 

The average home in Westfield will set you back $1,315,131, according to Zillow, while the average household income was $306,889 in 2024. When they downsize their closets, they have several options.

The Hope Chest Thrift Store in downtown Westfield is run by volunteers, accepts new and gently worn men's and women's clothing, jewelry, books and household items (26 Prospect St., 908-889-7780, cfhh.org). The $50,000 to $60,000 raised each year in the store goes directly to people who need hospice care.

Donations are accepted Tuesdays and Saturdays and you can often get something grand if you visit on those days. The store changes with the seasons. Right now, the shelves feature plenty of fall and Halloween decorations.

Pricing is typical thrift. For instance, during the first week of September summer clothing was on a deep discount, with $2 shorts and capri pants. That same week all toys, artwork and dishes were half-price. Given that designer dresses are often priced less than $20, there are plenty of deals to be found.

For more upscale offerings, the nonprofit Westfield Service League has two options: a consignment store and a true thrift store. Both are located in the same building (114 Elmer St., 908-233-2530, thewestfieldserviceleague.org).

The first floor houses the thrift area. Walk upstairs to find consignment. For instance, the thrift store offered shoppers the chance to buy a violin or a guitar. Both musical instruments also came with two free music lessons. The shop’s minimum pricing is $6 but some of the designer items they get in can go as high as $200. They also do a fill-a-bag sale where $15 gets you a bag that can be filled to the handles with goodies. Expect to find linens, clothing, shoes and accessories alongside housewares, books and home decor.

It’s the consignment, though, that will get your blood pumping. Leather pants, designer jeans, gowns and dresses mix with handbags, art and jewelry with prices starting at $8 going up to $500 for things like fur coats and designer handbags. There’s a consignment furniture gallery, too. And even the consignment area is known to offer 50% sales. “We have sold some really upscale and high-end brands like Chanel scarves and Versace scarves and bags and original Louis Vuitton luggage. Right now, we have a Prada turtleneck,” said Janine Imbriaco, the store’s sales manager.

Just across the border in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, another service league is making designer duds, household appliances and housewares available to the public. The Fanwood–Scotch Plains Service League Thrift Shop is known for its decorated shop windows that tell a story (1741 E. Second St., Scotch Plains, 908-322-5420, scotchplainsthriftshop.weebly.com). Step inside and the story becomes one of savings. The shop sells clothing, household items, and jewelry that’s been vetted for quality. And yet costs are extremely reasonable, with men's and women's jeans and pants selling for $7 and ties and belts going for $2.

There are plenty of new items and designer-brand clothes, too. “Unusual or collectible bric-a-brac or very good handbags can sell for up to $120,” Renee Feinberg, a shop volunteer, said. Other popular categories include small appliances, linens, craft supplies, toys and books.

The shop opens its fall season with a handbag sale and the line “stretches out to the street” on its first day — the deals are that good. Jewelry is also “amazingly popular” and the selection spans from vintage, one-of-a-kind costume pieces to occasional gold and silver necklace. Money raised is passed along to local charities including Scouting of America, fire departments, mental health organizations and more.