While big cities like New York City offer culture, cuisine, and charisma, they also deliver terrible traffic, towering expenses, and a taxing quality of life.
With that in mind, we wanted to uncover the best suburbs around New York City. These burbs have all of the benefits of being near New York City without actually having to be in the city.
Of course, not all suburbs of New York City are created equally, which is precisely why we set out to find the best ones. Using Saturday Night Science, we delve into the factors that matter most, from commutes and housing costs to community vibes, to help you uncover the perfect suburban spots in the Greater New York City area.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 best suburbs to live around New York City for 2025:
What’s the best suburb of New York City? Ho-Ho-Kus ranks as the best suburb of New York City for 2025 based on the most recent Census and FBI data. If you happen to be a resident of Ho-Ho-Kus, you’re probably not too surprised to find it on the top our list.
We’ll tell you what makes each of these 10 New York City ‘burbs better than the rest–but first, a bit about our methodology.
Feel free to check out some more reading about New York:
The 10 Best New York City Suburbs To Live For 2025
/10
Population: 4,230
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
Poverty Rate: 0.0%
More on Ho-Ho-Kus: Data
Ho-Ho-Kus is always mentioned as one of the best suburbs in the New York City area. We’ll tell you the good about “Awesome Ho-Ho-Kus.”
Everyone here is rich; families average $250,001 a year, which is the 8th highest in the New York City region. And only 1.93% are out of work. Homes average more than $1,032,800 each.
/10
Population: 2,627
Median Income: $236,000
Unemployment Rate: 0.9%
Poverty Rate: 1.8%
More on East Williston: Data
East Williston is the second best ‘burb we looked at near New York City for 2025.
It ranks 23rd for incomes in the area and only 0.61% of residents lack insurance, good for 10th best.
/10
Population: 4,793
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 3.4%
Poverty Rate: 3.0%
More on Flower Hill: Data
Here in Flower Hill, it’s really safe, and residents are just about as rich as you’ll see in the New York City metro area.
The bad side? Schools are more crowded, and the cost of living puts a large part of the city out of reach for most families.
But price is based on demand and a lot of people want to live in Flower Hill.
/10
Population: 6,182
Median Income: $237,132
Unemployment Rate: 3.2%
Poverty Rate: 1.2%
More on Fair Haven: Data
Fair Haven ranks as the 4th best suburb of New York City for 2025.
You won’t find many better places to raise your kids in the region than in Fair Haven and the schools are some of the best around.
/10
Population: 2,320
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
Poverty Rate: 0.4%
More on Essex Fells: Data
Coming in as the fifth best is Essex Fells.
Essex Fells gets kudos for having the 30th most expensive homes in the New York City area, where houses sell for an average of $976,300. However, the cost of living here is among the highest in the area.
/10
Population: 6,096
Median Income: $220,746
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%
Poverty Rate: 2.4%
More on Little Silver: Data
Little Silver is proud of its 6th place finish on this list. And here’s why.
Most residents have great jobs and the unemployment rate sits at 3.11%.
According to online reports, Little Silver is quickly becoming one of the more affluent suburbs in the New York City area, meaning you need to get in soon.
/10
Population: 6,539
Median Income: $215,726
Unemployment Rate: 4.9%
Poverty Rate: 4.8%
More on Bronxville: Data
The 7th best suburb on our list goes to Bronxville.
Bronxville schools are some of the best in the region, and crime is really low. The cost of living makes it a lot more desirable for many families, especially first-time home buyers.
And, it’s only 19.9 miles to downtown, which is a good thing.
The crime rate is bad. And everyone is rude.
I dont like how people are and how disrespectful they are.
/10
Population: 18,005
Median Income: $250,001
Unemployment Rate: 4.5%
Poverty Rate: 2.4%
More on Scarsdale: Data
Scarsdale is growing quickly, and for a good reason. Crime is far below average, and most residents are gainfully employed. Even the cost of living is reasonable.
A solid 1.23% of people lack insurance, good for 25th in the area.
/10
Population: 3,159
Median Income: $131,875
Unemployment Rate: 3.5%
Poverty Rate: 3.7%
More on Port Washington North: Data
Is ‘Everything Better In Port Washington North?’
Almost.
It placed 9th on our list thanks to the fact that it’s really expensive to live here, but the schools are great, so you get what you pay for in that regard.
/10
Population: 7,827
Median Income: $248,016
Unemployment Rate: 6.1%
Poverty Rate: 1.0%
More on Glen Ridge: Data
And rounding out the top ten for 2025 is Glen Ridge.
This city is far above average in every category, and the best part? It’s far more affordable than the other cities listed above. So, you get a big bang for your buck here.
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Suburbs Around New York City for 2025
Figuring out the best suburbs around New York City was simple. We used Saturday Night Science to find things people like about living in the suburbs and then locate the suburbs with those things.
We analyzed the newest American Community Survey data for 2019-2023 to research each suburb. We decided upon the following criteria:
- Low unemployment rate
- High median household incomes
- Population density (lots of things to do)
- High home values
- A lot of college-educated people
- Low poverty
- High rate of insured families
We defined a suburb as being within 30 miles of New York City.
Additionally, we limited the analysis to places that have over 2,000 people. This left us with a grand total of 203 suburbs to evaluate around New York City.
We ranked each place with scores from 1 to 203 in each category, where 1 was the “best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each place to create a quality-of-life index.
Finally, we crowned the city with the best quality of life index, the “Best Suburb near New York City.” We’re lookin’ at you, Ho-Ho-Kus.
This result may differ from our state-wide data as we did not include commute times and crime for this analysis to allow for a more extensive selection of suburbs.
We updated the data for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking the best New York City suburbs. Skip to the end to see the list of all the suburbs ranked from best to worst.
Summary: Welcome to the Best New York City ‘Burbs of 2025
We said it once, and we’ll say it again–life in the big city isn’t for everyone. At least not all the time.
The best suburbs of New York City are .
So if you’re craving the amenities of a larger city like New York City but don’t want to deal with the drawbacks, one of these suburbs might be for you.
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Retire In New York
- Richest Cities In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
Table: Best New York City Suburbs
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ho-Ho-Kus, NY | 4,230 | $250,001 | $1,032,800 |
| 2 | East Williston, NY | 2,627 | $236,000 | $1,060,200 |
| 3 | Flower Hill, NY | 4,793 | $250,001 | $1,849,800 |
| 4 | Fair Haven, NY | 6,182 | $237,132 | $943,300 |
| 5 | Essex Fells, NY | 2,320 | $250,001 | $976,300 |
| 6 | Little Silver, NY | 6,096 | $220,746 | $870,700 |
| 7 | Bronxville, NY | 6,539 | $215,726 | $1,137,700 |
| 8 | Scarsdale, NY | 18,005 | $250,001 | $1,703,800 |
| 9 | Port Washington North, NY | 3,159 | $131,875 | $1,044,500 |
| 10 | Glen Ridge, NY | 7,827 | $248,016 | $730,600 |
| 11 | Pelham Manor, NY | 5,648 | $250,001 | $1,075,300 |
| 12 | Franklin Lakes, NY | 11,011 | $230,987 | $1,217,500 |
| 13 | Irvington, NY | 6,541 | $169,411 | $889,800 |
| 14 | Westfield, NY | 30,760 | $212,700 | $930,500 |
| 15 | Oradell, NY | 8,197 | $214,736 | $702,400 |
| 16 | Fanwood, NY | 7,714 | $176,667 | $610,600 |
| 17 | Chatham, NY | 9,219 | $250,001 | $944,300 |
| 18 | Rumson, NY | 7,265 | $250,001 | $1,609,400 |
| 19 | Munsey Park, NY | 2,794 | $250,001 | $1,955,200 |
| 20 | Rye, NY | 16,410 | $237,727 | $1,785,400 |
| 21 | Haworth, NY | 3,321 | $227,841 | $815,300 |
| 22 | Pelham, NY | 7,247 | $179,561 | $891,900 |
| 23 | Ridgewood, NY | 26,076 | $217,250 | $882,700 |
| 24 | Great Neck Estates, NY | 2,968 | $211,875 | $1,670,600 |
| 25 | East Hills, NY | 7,249 | $250,001 | $1,371,600 |
| 26 | Hoboken, NY | 58,340 | $176,943 | $872,100 |
| 27 | Hastings-On-Hudson, NY | 8,449 | $181,528 | $872,500 |
| 28 | Sands Point, NY | 2,725 | $250,001 | $2,000,001 |
| 29 | Glen Rock, NY | 12,082 | $210,369 | $817,300 |
| 30 | Old Brookville, NY | 2,008 | $190,893 | $2,000,001 |
| 31 | Old Tappan, NY | 5,896 | $199,250 | $910,600 |
| 32 | Park Ridge, NY | 9,218 | $165,391 | $666,200 |
| 33 | Malverne, NY | 8,496 | $146,585 | $637,300 |
| 34 | North Hills, NY | 5,419 | $196,938 | $1,212,900 |
| 35 | Cresskill, NY | 9,101 | $173,293 | $764,800 |
| 36 | Demarest, NY | 4,916 | $175,078 | $965,400 |
| 37 | Kings Point, NY | 5,614 | $185,811 | $1,917,200 |
| 38 | Floral Park, NY | 16,025 | $150,350 | $754,300 |
| 39 | Upper Brookville, NY | 2,064 | $250,001 | $1,987,500 |
| 40 | New Providence, NY | 13,577 | $162,877 | $734,300 |
| 41 | Larchmont, NY | 6,542 | $160,526 | $1,384,700 |
| 42 | Norwood, NY | 5,668 | $164,766 | $676,400 |
| 43 | Mountainside, NY | 6,967 | $210,100 | $755,600 |
| 44 | Monmouth Beach, NY | 3,201 | $140,074 | $918,100 |
| 45 | Bayville, NY | 6,744 | $143,571 | $670,500 |
| 46 | Sea Cliff, NY | 5,037 | $185,650 | $926,500 |
| 47 | Lake Success, NY | 2,817 | $248,750 | $1,484,000 |
| 48 | Williston Park, NY | 7,508 | $152,656 | $731,700 |
| 49 | Allendale, NY | 6,820 | $156,992 | $764,600 |
| 50 | Lawrence, NY | 6,771 | $174,787 | $1,231,800 |
| 51 | Oceanport, NY | 6,130 | $156,196 | $685,800 |
| 52 | Harrington Park, NY | 4,883 | $180,515 | $709,200 |
| 53 | Thomaston, NY | 2,734 | $152,206 | $1,044,900 |
| 54 | Massapequa Park, NY | 16,985 | $170,470 | $626,300 |
| 55 | Rockville Centre, NY | 25,770 | $144,516 | $796,100 |
| 56 | Waldwick, NY | 10,090 | $155,526 | $576,200 |
| 57 | East Rockaway, NY | 10,064 | $112,415 | $623,500 |
| 58 | Ramsey, NY | 14,722 | $164,767 | $665,700 |
| 59 | Englewood Cliffs, NY | 5,330 | $222,192 | $1,232,700 |
| 60 | Ardsley, NY | 5,005 | $250,001 | $792,900 |
| 61 | Hillsdale, NY | 10,086 | $169,862 | $656,800 |
| 62 | Old Westbury, NY | 4,320 | $250,001 | $2,000,001 |
| 63 | River Edge, NY | 12,024 | $155,827 | $637,500 |
| 64 | North Caldwell, NY | 6,622 | $203,140 | $906,100 |
| 65 | Tenafly, NY | 15,252 | $208,088 | $974,300 |
| 66 | Summit, NY | 22,512 | $199,107 | $969,900 |
| 67 | Long Beach, NY | 34,741 | $130,795 | $661,500 |
| 68 | Westwood, NY | 11,221 | $169,026 | $587,700 |
| 69 | Wood-Ridge, NY | 10,094 | $131,412 | $532,900 |
| 70 | Metuchen, NY | 14,982 | $157,779 | $565,400 |
| 71 | Woodcliff Lake, NY | 6,097 | $211,233 | $901,800 |
| 72 | Roslyn, NY | 2,955 | $123,725 | $623,800 |
| 73 | Silver Lake, NY | 2,514 | $142,083 | $299,500 |
| 74 | Piermont, NY | 2,434 | $130,263 | $615,700 |
| 75 | Edgewater, NY | 14,544 | $137,847 | $723,400 |
| 76 | Farmingdale, NY | 8,450 | $134,037 | $530,100 |
| 77 | Madison, NY | 16,464 | $168,469 | $882,900 |
| 78 | Shrewsbury, NY | 4,162 | $144,500 | $735,900 |
| 79 | Brookville, NY | 2,944 | $250,001 | $2,000,001 |
| 80 | Montvale, NY | 8,625 | $183,664 | $688,500 |
| 81 | Florham Park, NY | 13,134 | $147,714 | $722,700 |
| 82 | Fair Lawn, NY | 35,153 | $147,952 | $532,700 |
| 83 | Watchung, NY | 6,429 | $166,536 | $833,300 |
| 84 | Roseland, NY | 6,211 | $160,644 | $640,600 |
| 85 | Rye Brook, NY | 9,884 | $236,968 | $970,900 |
| 86 | Valley Stream, NY | 40,278 | $127,426 | $605,000 |
| 87 | Oyster Bay Cove, NY | 2,067 | $250,001 | $1,686,100 |
| 88 | Emerson, NY | 7,263 | $153,963 | $626,000 |
| 89 | New Hyde Park, NY | 10,208 | $146,571 | $700,400 |
| 90 | Atlantic Highlands, NY | 4,409 | $125,438 | $615,300 |
| 91 | Midland Park, NY | 6,996 | $140,063 | $586,200 |
| 92 | Westbury, NY | 15,789 | $136,917 | $599,700 |
| 93 | Upper Saddle River, NY | 8,354 | $246,719 | $1,101,800 |
| 94 | Caldwell, NY | 8,898 | $101,196 | $563,000 |
| 95 | Rutherford, NY | 18,748 | $136,069 | $580,800 |
| 96 | Saddle River, NY | 3,358 | $236,985 | $2,000,001 |
| 97 | Great Neck, NY | 11,068 | $137,095 | $953,400 |
| 98 | Union Beach, NY | 5,722 | $128,400 | $452,900 |
| 99 | Mineola, NY | 21,082 | $138,385 | $624,300 |
| 100 | Closter, NY | 8,544 | $187,500 | $820,100 |