It's Better to Live Near Trader Joe's Than Whole Foods: Here's Why

As if living in the same neighborhood as Cookie Butter, Two Buck Chuck and tubs of Triple Ginger Snaps wasn’t delightful enough, a recent study shows homeowners near Trader Joe’s grocery stores can expect a greater increase in home values.

That means, Oak Parkers, if your zip code is 60301, your digs could see a 40 percent increase in home value since you purchased them. That’s the average home value appreciation near a Trader Joe’s grocery store, according to a report by RealtyTrac.

Comparatively, the average home value appreciation near a Whole Foods is a 34 percent increase, which is the same as the national average appreciation.

The study also found the average home value in a Trader Joe’s zip code is 5 percent higher than the average value for a home near Whole Foods.

But with greater home value comes higher property taxes.

Homeowners near a Trader Joe’s pay an average of $8,536 in annual property taxes, which is 59 percent more than homeowners near a Whole Foods, who pay $5,382 on average. The average property tax nationwide is $3,239.

TJ’s Oak Park is located at 483 N Harlem Ave. Read more about the study and its methodology from RealtyTrac.

Photo from TJ’s Oak Park via Maricela A. on Yelp.