If you think that New York is too big, too expensive, and too boring of a state to spend your retirement years, you’re wrong.
We’re here to tell you why.
We created a list of the best places to retire in NewYork for 2025. This report is our tenth time ranking the Empire State’s best places to retire, so trust us when we say these cities are the best.
How’d we determine the best places to retire in New York? We consulted the numbers and analyzed 45 cities with over 10,000 residents. We looked at important factors like cost of living, crime, amenities, rent, and the distance to the closest airport.
There’s Tonawanda for the retiree that can afford a boat, Beacon for the retiree that likes a quaint downtown with plenty of coffee shops, and give Lockport a second look if living close to Niagara Falls is your schtick.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In New York For 2025
Where is the best place to retire in New York? Beacon is the best place to retire in New York for 2025.
Turn on the Yankee game and grab some pizza as you learn more about the other great places to retire in the Empire State.
Why did Beacon take the top spot? And where are New York and Buffalo?
For more New York state reading:
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In New York For 2025
/10
Population: 14,629
Median Income: $93,347
Median Home Price: $422,000
Median Rent: $1,675
Distance to Closest Airport: 7 miles
More on Beacon: Data
/10
Population: 30,338
Median Income: $66,774
Median Home Price: $184,900
Median Rent: $914
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on North Tonawanda: Data
/10
Population: 15,494
Median Income: $57,150
Median Home Price: $139,700
Median Rent: $897
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Batavia: Data
/10
Population: 10,542
Median Income: $63,268
Median Home Price: $218,300
Median Rent: $1,093
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Canandaigua: Data
/10
Population: 10,240
Median Income: $60,380
Median Home Price: $146,300
Median Rent: $841
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Oneida: Data
/10
Population: 48,198
Median Income: $48,535
Median Home Price: $104,400
Median Rent: $784
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Niagara Falls: Data
/10
Population: 34,741
Median Income: $130,795
Median Home Price: $661,500
Median Rent: $2,377
Distance to Closest Airport: 7 miles
More on Long Beach: Data
/10
Population: 26,475
Median Income: $49,377
Median Home Price: $143,600
Median Rent: $867
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Auburn: Data
/10
Population: 19,779
Median Income: $48,185
Median Home Price: $126,500
Median Rent: $823
Distance to Closest Airport: 9 miles
More on Lackawanna: Data
/10
Population: 16,410
Median Income: $237,727
Median Home Price: $1,785,400
Median Rent: $2,751
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Rye: Data
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Empire State for 2025
To create our ranking of the best places in New York to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Empire State — 1186 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 45 places from across the state.
For these 45, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 45, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Beacon, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2025. This list reflects our tenth time ranking the best places to retire in New York.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In New York Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in New York goes to Beacon.
The best places to retire in New York are Beacon, North Tonawanda, Batavia, Canandaigua, Oneida, Niagara Falls, Long Beach, Auburn, Lackawanna, and Rye.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Ithaca
- Middletown
- Utica
For more New York reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In New York
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beacon | 14,629 | $93,347 | $422,000 | $1,675 |
| 2 | North Tonawanda | 30,338 | $66,774 | $184,900 | $914 |
| 3 | Batavia | 15,494 | $57,150 | $139,700 | $897 |
| 4 | Canandaigua | 10,542 | $63,268 | $218,300 | $1,093 |
| 5 | Oneida | 10,240 | $60,380 | $146,300 | $841 |
| 6 | Niagara Falls | 48,198 | $48,535 | $104,400 | $784 |
| 7 | Long Beach | 34,741 | $130,795 | $661,500 | $2,377 |
| 8 | Auburn | 26,475 | $49,377 | $143,600 | $867 |
| 9 | Lackawanna | 19,779 | $48,185 | $126,500 | $823 |
| 10 | Rye | 16,410 | $237,727 | $1,785,400 | $2,751 |