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 2026. This report is our eleventh 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 2026
Where is the best place to retire in New York? Canandaigua is the best place to retire in New York for 2026.
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 Canandaigua 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 2026
/10
Population: 10,514
Median Income: $64,929
Median Home Price: $274,506
Median Rent: $1,095
Distance to Closest Airport: 25 miles
More on Canandaigua: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 14,834
Median Income: $107,859
Median Home Price: $538,601
Median Rent: $1,658
Distance to Closest Airport: 7 miles
More on Beacon: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 30,198
Median Income: $66,961
Median Home Price: $273,946
Median Rent: $934
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on North Tonawanda: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,097
Median Income: $59,446
Median Home Price: $197,339
Median Rent: $925
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Batavia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,549
Median Income: $53,299
Median Home Price: $128,151
Median Rent: $866
Distance to Closest Airport: 44 miles
More on Dunkirk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 26,285
Median Income: $51,052
Median Home Price: $214,996
Median Rent: $897
Distance to Closest Airport: 26 miles
More on Auburn: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 47,987
Median Income: $49,101
Median Home Price: $166,405
Median Rent: $823
Distance to Closest Airport: 3 miles
More on Niagara Falls: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,171
Median Income: $61,597
Median Home Price: $209,145
Median Rent: $903
Distance to Closest Airport: 22 miles
More on Oneida: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 16,428
Median Income: $239,815
Median Home Price: $2,180,591
Median Rent: $3,501
Distance to Closest Airport: 21 miles
More on Rye: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 34,756
Median Income: $140,739
Median Home Price: $805,358
Median Rent: $2,515
Distance to Closest Airport: 7 miles
More on Long Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Empire State for 2026
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 Canandaigua, 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 2026. This list reflects our eleventh 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 Canandaigua.
The best places to retire in New York are Canandaigua, Beacon, North Tonawanda, Batavia, Dunkirk, Auburn, Niagara Falls, Oneida, Rye, and Long Beach.
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 | Canandaigua | 10,514 | $64,929 | $274,506 | $1,095 |
| 2 | Beacon | 14,834 | $107,859 | $538,601 | $1,658 |
| 3 | North Tonawanda | 30,198 | $66,961 | $273,946 | $934 |
| 4 | Batavia | 15,097 | $59,446 | $197,339 | $925 |
| 5 | Dunkirk | 12,549 | $53,299 | $128,151 | $866 |
| 6 | Auburn | 26,285 | $51,052 | $214,996 | $897 |
| 7 | Niagara Falls | 47,987 | $49,101 | $166,405 | $823 |
| 8 | Oneida | 10,171 | $61,597 | $209,145 | $903 |
| 9 | Rye | 16,428 | $239,815 | $2,180,591 | $3,501 |
| 10 | Long Beach | 34,756 | $140,739 | $805,358 | $2,515 |