New York is a pretty big deal. The Empire State has the Big Apple, it’s the foruth most populous state in America, and it has some pretty larger than life places for families. And HomeSnacks has done every parent and guardian a solid and created a list of the top ten best place for families in New York for 2025 and listed them below.
We are family people here at HomeSnacks and we have all had to move our families a time or two, so we know what’s important when it comes time to make moves that are going to affect the family dynamic. And those factors include things like: is a place safe? Are there other households with kiddos? Are the schools in said place top notch? And, is the place located close to a large city so that your family can take advantage of cultural and social experiences?
Parents and guardians looking to move to New York, you’ll be happy to know that the state is currently of the safest states in the country; and if you can get your hands on one of the best places to raise a family in this state, know that you’re going to sleep well because they are some of the state’s safest. New York also holds close to 400 blue ribbon schools and places on this list like Elmira are the example to follow.
And if you want to know what places on our list are located close to New York’s biggest cities and what places have the most kiddos? You’re going to have to keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In New York For 2025
We analyzed 46 cities and ranked them based on “family-friendliness” factors, like crime rates and quality of schools. If you are from New York, maybe you can guess which city made it to the top of the list.
That’s right, Rye, NY, ranks first. In Rye, you can be in Manhattan in as little as 40 minutes but still live outside of the main city. Sounds like a dream come true, right?
Many of the cities on our list are actually located close to New York City. You can take a quick train into the big city and be able to enjoy life in the fast lane without having to live in it.
So where will you raise your family? Near the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple or in the mountain towns in Upstate New York? Wherever you pick, you can be sure your children will have magical childhoods. Read on to learn more about our methodology and to see why our top ten are the best of the best for families in New York for 2025.
More reading about New York and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In New York For 2025
/10
Population: 16,410
Median Income: $237,727
Average Home Price: $1,785,400
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 57
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 47.3%
More on Rye: Data
/10
Population: 17,613
Median Income: $183,964
Average Home Price: $976,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 44
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 38.9%
More on Port Washington: Data
/10
Population: 14,629
Median Income: $93,347
Average Home Price: $422,000
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 27.3%
More on Beacon: Data
/10
Population: 28,101
Median Income: $91,355
Average Home Price: $654,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 39
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 27.9%
More on Glen Cove: Data
/10
Population: 10,542
Median Income: $63,268
Average Home Price: $218,300
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 48
Closest Major City: Rochester
Households with kids: 19.1%
More on Canandaigua: Data
/10
Population: 34,741
Median Income: $130,795
Average Home Price: $661,500
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 64
Closest Major City: New York
Households with kids: 18.3%
More on Long Beach: Data
/10
Population: 81,591
Median Income: $103,813
Average Home Price: $667,300
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 62
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 29.2%
More on New Rochelle: Data
/10
Population: 25,484
Median Income: $91,042
Average Home Price: $376,800
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 63
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 21.8%
More on Peekskill: Data
/10
Population: 10,666
Median Income: $61,017
Average Home Price: $148,300
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 49
Closest Major City: Rochester
Households with kids: 21.0%
More on Corning: Data
/10
Population: 31,778
Median Income: $60,050
Average Home Price: $259,200
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 68
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 26.9%
More on Poughkeepsie: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in New York anyways?
To give you the places in New York that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of New York, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For New York, that meant a total of 46 cities.
We updated this article for 2025. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in New York.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in New York ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in New York are Rye, Port Washington, Beacon, Glen Cove, Canandaigua, Long Beach, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Corning, and Poughkeepsie.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles New York according to the data:
- Binghamton
- Rome
- Niagara Falls
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Most Dangerous Places In New York
Best Places For Families In New York
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rye, NY | 16,410 | $237,727 | $1,785,400 | 36 |
| 2 | Port Washington, NY | 17,613 | $183,964 | $976,200 | 32 |
| 3 | Beacon, NY | 14,629 | $93,347 | $422,000 | 61 |
| 4 | Glen Cove, NY | 28,101 | $91,355 | $654,500 | 63 |
| 5 | Canandaigua, NY | 10,542 | $63,268 | $218,300 | 50 |
| 6 | Long Beach, NY | 34,741 | $130,795 | $661,500 | 64 |
| 7 | New Rochelle, NY | 81,591 | $103,813 | $667,300 | 54 |
| 8 | Peekskill, NY | 25,484 | $91,042 | $376,800 | 52 |
| 9 | Corning, NY | 10,666 | $61,017 | $148,300 | 49 |
| 10 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 31,778 | $60,050 | $259,200 | 63 |