Vape shop identification, density and place characteristics in six metropolitan areas across the US.

•Vaping product retailers are prominent across metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).•Despite both being major channels for obtaining vaping products, convenience stores greatly outnumber vape shops.•These common retail sources of vaping products differentially locate in relation to neighborhood sociodemographics across MSAs.•In some MSAs, vape shops and convenience stores may target youth and lower income populations.