The nine top thrift stores and vintage shops for treasure hunters

Diversity is an apt name. On the ground floor, you’ll find a mixture of clothes that toe the line between trendy and timeless. In the basement, there’s a lounge area complete with a couch and a retro gaming console, plus clothes and books for purchase by the pound. Diversity also has an appealing pricing system: The longer an item goes without being sold, the lower the price drops. If you like a piece out of your price range, check back a few weeks later.

“Because corporate shopping still sucks.” That’s part of 40 South St.’s tagline, and the shop will make you believe it. The shop is the singular vision of owner Hilken Mancini. She knows how to catch your attention the old-fashioned way — with a great window display. Step inside and you’ll find some true statement pieces, such as camo jumpsuits and fur-lined winter hats. Most of the items in the store are truly vintage, stocked with gems from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.

This place — along with sister stores By-the-Pound and Boston Costume — has it all. Mascot heads for rent? Yep. A large selection of 1970s-era Hawaiian shirts in every color and size imaginable? You got it. A multicolored heap of clothes priced by the pound and ripe for the picking? Absolutely. The second floor is sprawling and neatly sorted by style, decade, and color, with separate rooms for contemporary and vintage clothing. It's the best place for a flamboyant Halloween costume, a pair of deadstock pants, a sparkly dress for a night out, and truly everything in between.

Thrift-lovers know that not all Goodwill locations are created equal. Some feel sprawling and chaotic, but the Davis Square branch is one of the best, especially after recent renovations. Unlike some of the national chain's other stores, it's small, clean, and well-organized. Plus, it gets plenty of high-end clothing and housewares rejected from the buyers at resale retailer Buffalo Exchange down the block.

If you know vintage in Boston, you know SoWa, an underground trove of vintage sellers hawking clothing, jewelry, art, and collectibles of every variety. Every week vendors return with refreshed goods, making it a Sunday must-see if visiting the South End (it's also open the first Friday of the month). Be sure to set aside plenty of time — vintage lovers could easily spend several hours combing through the collections. And don't miss the summertime outdoor market, which features local food trucks and vendors from May to October.

This nearly 100-year-old nonprofit in Roslindale Square is a proper Roslindale thrift: community donations sold at affordable prices to support a good cause. The Thrift Shop of Boston is small, but packs much inside: lots of clothing, including shoes, in addition to kitchen and housewares, tons of books and magazines, a wall of DVDs, CDs, and vinyl, and a dedicated kids’ corner. Prices are low, with many items under $15 (proceeds help support family services agency The Home for Little Wanderers). You’re equally as likely to find a recent best-selling novel, a funky vintage baseball cap, or a chair someone built by hand in their garage.

Where Vivant Vintage in Allston really shines is accessories. Jewelry, sunglasses, hats, and belts are abundant at reasonable prices. The quality of the clothes at Vivant is also always high — it’s rare to find holes or stains on the pieces — and the selection is clearly carefully-curated. Here’s a pro tip: Vivant puts on “secret location” pop-ups to sell off-season clothes at discount prices. Plus there’s a new offshoot on Newbury Street.

The shop's two Cambridge locations are small, well-decorated, and perfectly curated with a mix of vintage clothing and newer, luxury items from up-and-coming designers. Walking into the store feels a bit like raiding your stylish older sister's closet, complete with enviable cool-girl denim and butter-soft vintage T-shirts. It's also worth attending its annual charity clothing swap and repair day, where tailors are available on site for clothing fixes and customizations.