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 2026 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 2026
We analyzed 45 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 2026.
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 2026
/10
Population: 16,428
Median Income: $239,815
Average Home Price: $2,180,591
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 52
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 46.1%
More on Rye: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,834
Median Income: $107,859
Average Home Price: $538,601
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 41
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 29.3%
More on Beacon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 18,004
Median Income: $170,127
Average Home Price: $1,253,634
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 41
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 42.5%
More on Port Washington: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 28,112
Median Income: $92,064
Average Home Price: $810,612
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 34
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 24.9%
More on Glen Cove: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,514
Median Income: $64,929
Average Home Price: $274,506
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Rochester
Households with kids: 18.1%
More on Canandaigua: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 34,756
Median Income: $140,739
Average Home Price: $805,358
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 59
Closest Major City: New York
Households with kids: 19.5%
More on Long Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,512
Median Income: $79,435
Average Home Price: $218,801
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 63
Closest Major City: Rochester
Households with kids: 19.7%
More on Geneva: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 82,769
Median Income: $109,167
Average Home Price: $917,530
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 64
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 27.7%
More on New Rochelle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,643
Median Income: $61,760
Average Home Price: $189,793
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 61
Closest Major City: Rochester
Households with kids: 20.7%
More on Corning: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 31,958
Median Income: $60,741
Average Home Price: $339,927
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 45
Closest Major City: Yonkers
Households with kids: 26.9%
More on Poughkeepsie: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
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 45 cities.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh 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, Beacon, Port Washington, Glen Cove, Canandaigua, Long Beach, Geneva, New Rochelle, Corning, and Poughkeepsie.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles New York according to the data:
- Binghamton
- Watervliet
- Rome
For more New York reading, check out:
- Most Dangerous Places In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
- Best Places To Live In New York
Best Places For Families In New York
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rye, NY | 16,428 | $239,815 | $2,180,591 | 53 |
| 2 | Beacon, NY | 14,834 | $107,859 | $538,601 | 51 |
| 3 | Port Washington, NY | 18,004 | $170,127 | $1,253,634 | 54 |
| 4 | Glen Cove, NY | 28,112 | $92,064 | $810,612 | 34 |
| 5 | Canandaigua, NY | 10,514 | $64,929 | $274,506 | 62 |
| 6 | Long Beach, NY | 34,756 | $140,739 | $805,358 | 39 |
| 7 | Geneva, NY | 12,512 | $79,435 | $218,801 | 53 |
| 8 | New Rochelle, NY | 82,769 | $109,167 | $917,530 | 51 |
| 9 | Corning, NY | 10,643 | $61,760 | $189,793 | 39 |
| 10 | Poughkeepsie, NY | 31,958 | $60,741 | $339,927 | 50 |