The 10 Best Small Towns In New York For 2022


We used science and data to determine which small towns in New York are the best of the best.

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You've seen these lists before: Best places to live in New York, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them focus on major cities and towns in the Empire State and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that's all about to change as we put together a list of the best small towns in New York based on numbers--not opinions or hearsay.

We'll dive right into our methodology in the next section; but first, we thought you might just want to know which places in New York ranked the based--you know, based on science.

Before we get to the top 15, here's a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in New York for 2022.

What's the best small town in New York? East Williston is the best small town in New York based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like East Williston, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you--keep reading and we'll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Empire State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In New York For 2022

East Williston, NY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 2,552
Median Income: $183,500 (23rd Best)
Median Home Value: $880,500 (34th Best)
More on East Williston: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,092
Median Income: $181,750 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $677,700 (53rd Best)
More on Poquott: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

4
/10

Population: 1,385
Median Income: $250,001 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,530,700 (12th Best)
More on Roslyn Estates: Data | Homes For Sale

Skaneateles, NY

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,396
Median Income: $101,875 (115th Best)
Median Home Value: $428,500 (109th Best)
More on Skaneateles: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,001
Median Income: $171,875 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,159,700 (25th Best)
More on Russell Gardens: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,483
Median Income: $142,396 (51st Best)
Median Home Value: $639,700 (66th Best)
More on Halesite: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,484
Median Income: $165,391 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $611,800 (70th Best)
More on Thornwood: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,211
Median Income: $119,430 (76th Best)
Median Home Value: $367,100 (122nd Best)
More on Clarence Center: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,341
Median Income: $147,566 (47th Best)
Median Home Value: $771,100 (44th Best)
More on Atlantic Beach: Data | Homes For Sale

Piermont, NY

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,541
Median Income: $127,667 (66th Best)
Median Home Value: $566,800 (76th Best)
More on Piermont: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,407
Median Income: $152,337 (42nd Best)
Median Home Value: $434,900 (106th Best)
More on Lincolndale: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,883
Median Income: $234,702 (9th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,607,500 (10th Best)
More on Flower Hill: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,157
Median Income: $122,611 (73rd Best)
Median Home Value: $461,700 (98th Best)
More on South Hempstead: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,575
Median Income: $142,813 (50th Best)
Median Home Value: $542,000 (82nd Best)
More on Bardonia: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 2,913
Median Income: $162,143 (37th Best)
Median Home Value: $646,400 (64th Best)
More on East Norwich: Data | Homes For Sale

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In New York

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census's 2016-2020 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot - 453 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 453, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in New York. Top of that list -- East Williston. You can download the data here.

Keep reading to find out more about our top 15 best small towns in New York.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once and we'll say it again -- this list: it's just science. We did the research, we crunched the numbers, and it turns out, these 15 small towns in New York are the best, in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

If you're curious, here are the worst small towns in New York:

  1. Whitehall
  2. Wolcott
  3. Yorkshire

For more New York reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In New York

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value
1 East Williston, NY 2,552 $183,500.0 $880,500.0
2 Poquott, NY 1,092 $181,750.0 $677,700.0
3 Roslyn Estates, NY 1,385 $250,001.0 $1,530,700.0
4 Skaneateles, NY 2,396 $101,875.0 $428,500.0
5 Russell Gardens, NY 1,001 $171,875.0 $1,159,700.0
6 Halesite, NY 2,483 $142,396.0 $639,700.0
7 Thornwood, NY 4,484 $165,391.0 $611,800.0
8 Clarence Center, NY 3,211 $119,430.0 $367,100.0
9 Atlantic Beach, NY 1,341 $147,566.0 $771,100.0
10 Piermont, NY 2,541 $127,667.0 $566,800.0
11 Lincolndale, NY 1,407 $152,337.0 $434,900.0
12 Flower Hill, NY 4,883 $234,702.0 $1,607,500.0
13 South Hempstead, NY 3,157 $122,611.0 $461,700.0
14 Bardonia, NY 3,575 $142,813.0 $542,000.0
15 East Norwich, NY 2,913 $162,143.0 $646,400.0
16 Chappaqua, NY 2,628 $149,832.0 $659,800.0
17 Pittsford, NY 1,651 $107,200.0 $257,000.0
18 Armonk, NY 4,440 $194,118.0 $886,000.0
19 Bellport, NY 1,899 $123,958.0 $488,300.0
20 Sparkill, NY 1,399 $146,250.0 $508,300.0
21 Orchard Park, NY 3,131 $91,588.0 $248,500.0
22 Manhasset Hills, NY 3,808 $165,833.0 $847,600.0
23 Westvale, NY 4,994 $86,726.0 $154,500.0
24 Fayetteville, NY 4,067 $102,961.0 $200,300.0
25 Lake Success, NY 3,228 $206,964.0 $1,273,100.0
26 Hartsdale, NY 3,205 $131,667.0 $325,600.0
27 East Atlantic Beach, NY 1,867 $123,462.0 $744,100.0
28 Plandome, NY 1,346 $250,001.0 $2,000,001.0
29 Huntington Bay, NY 1,614 $250,001.0 $1,280,300.0
30 Munsey Park, NY 2,696 $250,001.0 $1,616,100.0
31 Shenorock, NY 1,872 $105,972.0 $358,500.0
32 Ardsley, NY 4,533 $192,321.0 $694,500.0
33 Village Of The Branch, NY 1,794 $143,750.0 $544,300.0
34 Harbor Isle, NY 1,004 $154,479.0 $473,700.0
35 Brightwaters, NY 3,070 $135,595.0 $541,300.0
36 Searingtown, NY 4,456 $158,214.0 $882,500.0
37 University Gardens, NY 4,310 $114,500.0 $806,200.0
38 Victor, NY 2,709 $77,917.0 $188,500.0
39 Northville, NY 1,607 $107,880.0 $561,400.0
40 Gang Mills, NY 4,723 $125,203.0 $232,800.0
41 Bellerose, NY 1,230 $178,542.0 $661,900.0
42 West Bay Shore, NY 4,506 $121,900.0 $434,700.0
43 Cold Spring Harbor, NY 2,864 $250,001.0 $1,172,400.0
44 Glenwood Landing, NY 3,638 $105,813.0 $656,300.0
45 Great Neck Estates, NY 2,865 $142,375.0 $1,508,300.0
46 Hawthorne, NY 4,559 $115,292.0 $611,500.0
47 Upper Nyack, NY 2,322 $166,406.0 $579,200.0
48 Mill Neck, NY 1,178 $217,917.0 $1,234,900.0
49 Katonah, NY 1,706 $157,750.0 $670,800.0
50 Thiells, NY 4,247 $134,800.0 $422,800.0
51 Eatons Neck, NY 1,293 $180,568.0 $763,900.0
52 Lido Beach, NY 2,866 $165,909.0 $684,100.0
53 Highland Falls, NY 3,826 $78,137.0 $238,600.0
54 Thomaston, NY 2,602 $121,645.0 $945,800.0
55 Roslyn, NY 2,888 $112,037.0 $333,000.0
56 Lloyd Harbor, NY 3,663 $203,846.0 $1,414,500.0
57 Stewart Manor, NY 1,966 $128,810.0 $642,000.0
58 Cayuga Heights, NY 3,642 $96,250.0 $394,400.0
59 Clinton, NY 1,961 $87,596.0 $200,600.0
60 Kensington, NY 1,276 $174,167.0 $1,412,900.0
61 Voorheesville, NY 2,789 $94,292.0 $237,900.0
62 Laurel Hollow, NY 1,967 $250,001.0 $1,364,400.0
63 Glen Head, NY 4,843 $116,917.0 $672,200.0
64 Round Lake, NY 1,245 $76,324.0 $301,300.0
65 Sands Point, NY 2,785 $250,001.0 $2,000,001.0
66 Cold Spring, NY 1,911 $111,667.0 $478,500.0
67 Spackenkill, NY 4,090 $117,909.0 $306,200.0
68 Brookville, NY 3,599 $250,001.0 $1,686,800.0
69 Upper Brookville, NY 1,627 $200,959.0 $1,648,900.0
70 Old Brookville, NY 1,791 $141,375.0 $1,821,400.0
71 Oyster Bay Cove, NY 1,987 $186,250.0 $1,352,700.0
72 Albertson, NY 4,930 $114,966.0 $623,200.0
73 Lattin, NY 1,911 $202,283.0 $1,220,000.0
74 Merritt Park, NY 1,730 $115,208.0 $393,300.0
75 Locust Valley, NY 3,485 $134,667.0 $654,900.0
76 Herricks, NY 4,032 $131,176.0 $651,600.0
77 Garden City South, NY 4,254 $129,495.0 $570,600.0
78 East Ithaca, NY 2,169 $88,125.0 $229,300.0
79 Cooper, NY 1,869 $65,192.0 $347,000.0
80 Shelter Island, NY 1,980 $97,447.0 $857,300.0
81 Greenvale, NY 1,350 $130,707.0 $670,600.0
82 Northeast Ithaca, NY 2,763 $69,286.0 $292,800.0
83 Roslyn Harbor, NY 1,014 $169,091.0 $1,159,600.0
84 Bedford, NY 1,666 $189,286.0 $865,500.0
85 North Great River, NY 3,396 $100,625.0 $364,800.0
86 Tillson, NY 1,838 $93,750.0 $237,700.0
87 Montebello, NY 4,590 $151,875.0 $658,200.0
88 Lansing, NY 3,606 $68,288.0 $290,800.0
89 Southampton, NY 3,301 $125,054.0 $1,607,000.0
90 Red Hook, NY 2,134 $81,726.0 $293,900.0
91 West Sand Lake, NY 3,391 $104,018.0 $254,800.0
92 Homer, NY 3,103 $60,625.0 $132,100.0
93 South Nyack, NY 3,359 $101,010.0 $503,600.0
94 Churchville, NY 2,137 $71,250.0 $153,700.0
95 Head Of The Harbor, NY 1,454 $215,833.0 $950,000.0
96 Red Oaks Mill, NY 3,913 $114,643.0 $297,400.0
97 Orangeburg, NY 4,454 $94,773.0 $482,800.0
98 Great River, NY 1,961 $131,220.0 $632,400.0
99 Wynantskill, NY 3,420 $71,970.0 $193,400.0
100 Cortland West, NY 1,313 $84,952.0 $185,300.0

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in New York.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.