You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in New York.
The median household income in Nassau County, the richest county in New York is $146,202, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 62 counties in the Empire State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In New York For 2026
What is the richest county in New York? The richest county in New York is Nassau County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Cattaraugus County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in New York. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in New York and the cheapest places to live in New York.
The Richest Counties In New York For 2026
1. Nassau County
Biggest Place: Hempstead
Population: 1,389,591
Median Income: $146,202 (highest)
Median Home Price: $833,988 (4th highest)
More on Nassau County: Data
2. New York County
Biggest Place: New York
Population: 1,629,477
Median Income: $103,931 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $1,203,663 (highest)
More on New York County: Data
3. Westchester County
Biggest Place: Yonkers
Population: 999,677
Median Income: $118,976 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $841,835 (3rd highest)
More on Westchester County: Data
4. Suffolk County
Biggest Place: West Babylon
Population: 1,530,146
Median Income: $130,686 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $697,538 (8th highest)
More on Suffolk County: Data
5. Rockland County
Biggest Place: New City
Population: 341,883
Median Income: $109,959 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $740,626 (5th highest)
More on Rockland County: Data
6. Putnam County
Biggest Place: Mahopac
Population: 98,107
Median Income: $126,257 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $554,658 (9th highest)
More on Putnam County: Data
7. Richmond County
Biggest Place: New York
Population: 494,956
Median Income: $98,333 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $718,959 (7th highest)
More on Richmond County: Data
8. Dutchess County
Biggest Place: Poughkeepsie
Population: 298,220
Median Income: $99,478 (8th highest)
Median Home Price: $483,491 (11th highest)
More on Dutchess County: Data
9. Queens County
Biggest Place: New York
Population: 2,323,052
Median Income: $86,136 (13th highest)
Median Home Price: $737,653 (6th highest)
More on Queens County: Data
10. Kings County
Biggest Place: New York
Population: 2,631,580
Median Income: $80,263 (17th highest)
Median Home Price: $946,395 (2nd highest)
More on Kings County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which New York county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in New York, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in New York for each of the criteria from one to 62, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In New York.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Empire State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in New York. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In New York For 2026
Living in New York can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in New York are Nassau County, New York County, Westchester County, Suffolk County, Rockland County, Putnam County, Richmond County, Dutchess County, Queens County, and Kings County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in New York according to the data:
- Cattaraugus County
- Allegany County
- St. Lawrence County
For more New York reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Best Counties To Live In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
- Richest Cities In New York
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In New York
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nassau County | 1,389,591 | $146,202 | $833,988 |
| 2 | New York County | 1,629,477 | $103,931 | $1,203,663 |
| 3 | Westchester County | 999,677 | $118,976 | $841,835 |
| 4 | Suffolk County | 1,530,146 | $130,686 | $697,538 |
| 5 | Rockland County | 341,883 | $109,959 | $740,626 |
| 6 | Putnam County | 98,107 | $126,257 | $554,658 |
| 7 | Richmond County | 494,956 | $98,333 | $718,959 |
| 8 | Dutchess County | 298,220 | $99,478 | $483,491 |
| 9 | Queens County | 2,323,052 | $86,136 | $737,653 |
| 10 | Kings County | 2,631,580 | $80,263 | $946,395 |
| 11 | Saratoga County | 238,284 | $100,787 | $454,235 |
| 12 | Orange County | 406,616 | $97,178 | $456,105 |
| 13 | Ulster County | 182,601 | $86,271 | $431,544 |
| 14 | Columbia County | 61,100 | $81,528 | $466,519 |
| 15 | Rensselaer County | 160,332 | $87,915 | $314,837 |
| 16 | Albany County | 317,018 | $85,333 | $360,528 |
| 17 | Warren County | 65,517 | $78,442 | $365,412 |
| 18 | Ontario County | 112,625 | $82,324 | $312,676 |
| 19 | Greene County | 47,409 | $77,945 | $355,243 |
| 20 | Schenectady County | 160,369 | $79,623 | $300,238 |
| 21 | Tompkins County | 104,537 | $74,024 | $347,569 |
| 22 | Onondaga County | 471,129 | $76,945 | $270,791 |
| 23 | Monroe County | 753,753 | $76,382 | $279,468 |
| 24 | Sullivan County | 79,721 | $72,382 | $312,275 |
| 25 | Madison County | 67,328 | $75,499 | $248,276 |
| 26 | Erie County | 950,622 | $72,839 | $287,781 |
| 27 | Wayne County | 90,929 | $74,506 | $239,210 |
| 28 | Washington County | 60,522 | $73,495 | $243,327 |
| 29 | Yates County | 24,526 | $69,701 | $308,449 |
| 30 | Essex County | 36,973 | $71,661 | $264,816 |
| 31 | Livingston County | 61,498 | $74,001 | $237,470 |
| 32 | Schoharie County | 30,049 | $70,133 | $246,702 |
| 33 | Niagara County | 210,721 | $69,633 | $243,484 |
| 34 | Genesee County | 57,787 | $73,314 | $217,952 |
| 35 | Hamilton County | 5,089 | $68,835 | $260,923 |
| 36 | Bronx County | 1,404,779 | $48,676 | $497,542 |
| 37 | Oneida County | 229,124 | $70,154 | $227,316 |
| 38 | Clinton County | 78,493 | $71,224 | $219,744 |
| 39 | Tioga County | 47,864 | $72,739 | $193,885 |
| 40 | Schuyler County | 17,562 | $67,663 | $237,962 |
| 41 | Cortland County | 46,246 | $70,418 | $196,362 |
| 42 | Cayuga County | 75,102 | $67,904 | $224,377 |
| 43 | Wyoming County | 39,753 | $69,110 | $198,510 |
| 44 | Otsego County | 60,108 | $68,885 | $205,264 |
| 45 | Oswego County | 117,953 | $69,183 | $198,055 |
| 46 | Seneca County | 32,920 | $68,089 | $216,606 |
| 47 | Delaware County | 44,487 | $63,337 | $240,381 |
| 48 | Jefferson County | 115,040 | $66,301 | $220,943 |
| 49 | Fulton County | 52,487 | $66,533 | $210,969 |
| 50 | Herkimer County | 59,757 | $68,515 | $190,678 |
| 51 | Lewis County | 26,607 | $68,182 | $189,418 |
| 52 | Montgomery County | 49,528 | $64,943 | $205,807 |
| 53 | Orleans County | 39,608 | $65,969 | $192,949 |
| 54 | Steuben County | 92,588 | $65,887 | $164,947 |
| 55 | Franklin County | 46,696 | $65,151 | $169,097 |
| 56 | Broome County | 197,378 | $62,616 | $189,467 |
| 57 | Chenango County | 46,321 | $62,948 | $158,322 |
| 58 | Chemung County | 82,147 | $63,716 | $152,649 |
| 59 | Chautauqua County | 125,544 | $58,351 | $169,266 |
| 60 | St. Lawrence County | 107,226 | $62,850 | $146,059 |
| 61 | Allegany County | 47,159 | $62,869 | $134,983 |
| 62 | Cattaraugus County | 76,145 | $59,540 | $157,762 |