While New York City looms large in the minds of people looking to move to New York, the best places to live in New York have a leg up on the Big Apple.
With the bigger is better lifestyle in New York, we had to find the best places to live in New York.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare factors like home prices, schools, and above average employment rates for the 162 places in New York over 5,000 people. The data comes from the Census, FBI, and Zillow.
So grab yourself a cup of diner coffee and a slice of pizza, and read on to find the best places to live in New York.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Map | Methodology | Summary
The 10 Best Places To Live In New York For 2026
What city is the best place to live in New York for 2026? The best place to live in New York is Floral Park.
If you live anywhere near New York’s Nassau County, consider yourself lucky. The star on The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has nothing on these places.
For more reading, check out:
The 10 Best Places To Live In New York For 2026
| Stat | Floral Park | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,169 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 3 | – |
| Median Home Value | $858,495 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $150,084 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0103 | 0.0210 |
More on Floral Park: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Floral Park is a village of 16,169 located in Long Island’s Nassau County. Floral Park doesn’t need to be told it’s an awesome spot; its motto is “A Great Place to Live,” after all. Schools in Floral Park got an 8/10 average rating on GreatSchools, so you can rest assured that your kids are getting off on the right foot here.
Speaking of youth, Floral Park’s median age is 43, which is on the lower end of the spectrum for this list. If you combine that with the village’s status as the 14th most densely populated place in New York, you can see that Floral Park is one of the more dynamic places that we’re covering here. And with a poverty rate well below the 3% mark, Floral Park makes sure all its residents are along for the ride.
As a bonus, Floral Park is only fifteen minutes from JFK Airport, so far off friends and family will have a super easy time coming for a visit.
| Stat | Malverne | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,477 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 1 | – |
| Median Home Value | $801,813 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $149,489 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0103 | 0.0210 |
More on Malverne: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Malverne is a village of 8,477 in the Town of Hempstead. Malverne’s population is on the older end of the scale for this list, with a median age of 45, so this might be a better choice for someone who doesn’t prioritize constant activity and just wants to live in a friendly, relaxing community. It also might be for someone who appreciates a good deal, because despite being under an hour from all the places listed so far, Malverne has the lowest home prices of the bunch. And with folks still earning $149,489/year, Malverne’s a close second for lowest cost of living among the places we’re covering here.
Unemployment in Malverne is also a super low 2.3%, which is good enough to be the 11th lowest in New York. One more thing for people who value security: Malverne is among the safest places in New York, so you won’t have to run back home if you forget to lock the door here.
| Stat | North Hills | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,415 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 9 | – |
| Median Home Value | $1,472,339 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $173,315 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 1.9% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0103 | 0.0210 |
More on North Hills: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
We’re starting off our tour of the best places to live in New York with North Hills, a village of 5,415 located just east of New York City. Life in North Hills is fairly ritzy; I mean, the nearby Gold Coast inspired The Great Gatsby with its over-the-top opulence after all. In that spirit, we should mention that homes in North Hills are the 7th most expensive in New York, going for a median price of $1,472,339. That’s not much of an issue when you’re one of the richest places in New York, though, seeing as the median household income in North Hills is a cool $173,315/year.
The good news is that the economy works for more than just the hyper-wealthy here. At 1.9% unemployment and 3.0% of people living below the poverty level, North Hills has the 7th lowest unemployment and 16th lowest poverty level in New York.
One important thing to note before moving to North Hills is that, with a median age of 61, it’s far and away the oldest place to make this list. So if you’re cool with a more mature, slow-paced lifestyle, North Hills should suit you just fine. But if you crave constant action, maybe consider one of the other cities listed below as an alternative.
| Stat | Kings Point | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,634 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 2 | – |
| Median Home Value | $2,373,620 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $211,299 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0103 | 0.0210 |
More on Kings Point: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Kings Point sits on a throne as the city with the highest home prices in New York. And with home prices that high, it means everyone is knocking down the the door to live. Why? Because it’s the 4th best place to live in New York based on the most recent data.
Located on Manhasset Bay in Nassau County on the northside of Long Island, Kings Point is a gem of a place to live. Besides the huge demand for housing, the town also ranks well for safety as crime rates are in the lowest 10% of the state. And Great Neck North High School, the public high school for the town, gets a solid A rating from Niche as one the better in the state.
In terms of things to do, the town has an abundance of parks like Steppingstone Park on the water and Kings Point Park in the middle of town. And being a suburb of New York City, there’s always the option to spend the afternoon in Brooklyn or Manhattan. A lot of people would argue it’s better to live this close to the City than in it.
| Stat | Massapequa Park | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,963 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 7 | – |
| Median Home Value | $792,452 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $171,953 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0103 | 0.0210 |
More on Massapequa Park: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
We’re going down to Long Island’s South Shore to reach our 5th best place to call home in New York, Massapequa Park. While Massapequa Park is fairly expensive, its combination of a lower than average median home price (for the region) and higher income of $171,953/year actually gives it the lowest cost of living of places you’ll see on this list.
Affordability is an especially great thing when it reaches all levels of a community. That’s what happens in Massapequa Park, where the poverty rate is a measly 3.1%, the 17th lowest in all of New York. A strong economy is great and all, but we think what Massapequa Park residents love best about their home is having the world-famous Jones Beach right in their neighborhood. It’s hard to assign a statistical value to that sort of perk though!
| Stat | Long Beach | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,756 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 13 | – |
| Median Home Value | $805,358 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $140,739 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0018 | 0.0210 |
More on Long Beach: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
| Stat | Bayville | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,744 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 4 | – |
| Median Home Value | $841,959 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $149,191 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0103 | 0.0210 |
More on Bayville: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
| Stat | East Rockaway | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,077 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 11 | – |
| Median Home Value | $735,012 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $124,929 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0103 | 0.0210 |
More on East Rockaway: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
| Stat | Rockville Centre | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,765 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 8 | – |
| Median Home Value | $965,149 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $151,938 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0103 | 0.0210 |
More on Rockville Centre: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
A neighbor of Malverne, Rockville Centre is a somewhat urbanized village of 25,765, making it the most populous of the places listed here. Rockville Centre doesn’t stand out as the 9th place thanks to any one statistic; across the board strong numbers land it on this list. For example, 99.2% of residents have health insurance, the unemployment and poverty levels are around the top 25 statewide, as well as home prices and household incomes.
The educational system in Rockville Centre is also top-quality, with GreatSchools giving an average score of 8/10 for local public schools. And schools are more than just about learning here, because at Molloy College’s Madison Theatre, big name acts put on shows all the time.
| Stat | Rye | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,428 | 19,852,366 |
| Rank Last Year | 5 | – |
| Median Home Value | $2,180,591 | $507,794 |
| Median Income | $239,815 | $85,974 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4% | 6.4% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0026 | 0.0210 |
More on Rye: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
We’re taking our first foray out of Long Island to reach the 10th best place to call home in New York, Rye. We named Rye the best place for families in New York, and a lot of those same factors land Rye here on this list. For example, GreatSchools gave Rye’s public schools a stellar 9/10 rating. Rye also has the 2nd lowest overall crime rate in New York, with crime being about 85% less frequent here than the national average.
As far as quality of life goes, Rye residents enjoy the a median household income of $239,815/year, the 5th highest in the state. That helps explain why 98.1% of folks here have health insurance.
Rye is located just 15 minutes outside of White Plains and New Rochelle.
Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in New York
Best Places To Live In New York Size Requirement
Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in New York, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit Albany, with a population of 100,492, against places with a population of 18?
We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.
So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:
- Cities — Populations over 5,000
- Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
- Small Towns — Populations below 1,000
This filter left 162 cities, 465 towns, and 340 small towns.
We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in New York have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’
Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In New York
Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.
We ranked each place in New York across a number of criteria from one to 162, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In New York.”
The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Unemployment Rate
- Commute Time
- Crime
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty rates
Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking New York’s best places to live.
If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in New York. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Floral Park at the end of the cul-de-sac.
Summary: The Best Places In New York
If you’re looking at areas in New York with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The best places to live in New York are Floral Park, Malverne, North Hills, Kings Point, Massapequa Park, Long Beach, Bayville, East Rockaway, Rockville Centre, and Rye.
Floral Park made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in New York for 2026.
If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in New York according to the data:
- Monticello (Pop. 7,279)
- Elmira (Pop. 26,257)
- Albion (Pop. 5,506)
For more New York reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Most Dangerous Places In New York
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
- Best Places To Retire In New York
- Richest Cities In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
- Worst Places To Live In New York State
Best Places To Live In New York Table
| Rank | City | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income | Rent | Crime Per Capita |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Floral Park | 16,169 | 3.1% | $858,495 | $150,084 | $2,243 | 0.0103 |
| 2 | Malverne | 8,477 | 2.3% | $801,813 | $149,489 | $1,898 | 0.0103 |
| 3 | North Hills | 5,415 | 1.9% | $1,472,339 | $173,315 | $3,501 | 0.0103 |
| 4 | Kings Point | 5,634 | 2.4% | $2,373,620 | $211,299 | $3,501 | 0.0103 |
| 5 | Massapequa Park | 16,963 | 4.6% | $792,452 | $171,953 | $3,469 | 0.0103 |
| 6 | Long Beach | 34,756 | 3.2% | $805,358 | $140,739 | $2,515 | 0.0018 |
| 7 | Bayville | 6,744 | 4.5% | $841,959 | $149,191 | $2,127 | 0.0103 |
| 8 | East Rockaway | 10,077 | 3.2% | $735,012 | $124,929 | $2,416 | 0.0103 |
| 9 | Rockville Centre | 25,765 | 5.8% | $965,149 | $151,938 | $1,881 | 0.0103 |
| 10 | Rye | 16,428 | 5.4% | $2,180,591 | $239,815 | $3,501 | 0.0026 |
| 11 | Farmingdale | 8,474 | 3.7% | $717,477 | $122,980 | $2,520 | 0.0103 |
| 12 | East Hills | 7,257 | 4.1% | $1,751,159 | $250,001 | $0 | 0.0103 |
| 13 | Sea Cliff | 5,033 | 13.5% | $1,099,756 | $193,590 | $2,315 | 0.0103 |
| 14 | Bronxville | 6,510 | 3.8% | $1,450,320 | $215,815 | $3,501 | 0.0195 |
| 15 | Mineola | 21,211 | 3.2% | $815,486 | $137,739 | $2,415 | 0.0103 |
| 16 | New Hyde Park | 10,220 | 4.9% | $974,067 | $142,927 | $2,172 | 0.0103 |
| 17 | Williston Park | 7,542 | 5.4% | $927,595 | $156,382 | $2,171 | 0.0103 |
| 18 | Manorhaven | 6,958 | 3.9% | $823,278 | $105,486 | $3,153 | 0.0103 |
| 19 | Lawrence | 6,778 | 3.9% | $2,123,230 | $170,000 | $1,943 | 0.0103 |
| 20 | Pelham | 7,305 | 5.3% | $1,360,404 | $184,375 | $2,299 | 0.0195 |
| 21 | Valley Stream | 40,315 | 2.8% | $756,940 | $133,190 | $2,124 | 0.0103 |
| 22 | Westbury | 15,808 | 3.9% | $768,992 | $145,185 | $1,779 | 0.0103 |
| 23 | Pelham Manor | 5,644 | 5.2% | $1,309,984 | $250,001 | $2,705 | 0.0195 |
| 24 | Great Neck Plaza | 7,593 | 6.2% | $498,568 | $92,474 | $2,446 | 0.0103 |
| 25 | Irvington | 6,531 | 2.1% | $1,222,447 | $173,248 | $2,592 | 0.0195 |
| 26 | Hastings-on-Hudson | 8,434 | 4.1% | $1,036,676 | $193,621 | $1,877 | 0.0195 |
| 27 | Lynbrook | 20,325 | 4.5% | $745,361 | $136,696 | $2,230 | 0.0103 |
| 28 | Cedarhurst | 7,320 | 4.8% | $1,206,384 | $101,572 | $2,214 | 0.0103 |
| 29 | Scarsdale | 18,010 | 4.5% | $2,157,586 | $250,001 | $3,501 | 0.0195 |
| 30 | Great Neck | 11,087 | 6.7% | $1,455,882 | $137,981 | $1,807 | 0.0103 |
| 31 | Northport | 7,322 | 0.8% | $850,558 | $146,921 | $2,209 | 0.0264 |
| 32 | Ballston Spa | 5,027 | 1.8% | $422,526 | $101,667 | $1,122 | 0.0190 |
| 33 | Larchmont | 6,567 | 10.5% | $1,661,377 | $167,536 | $2,093 | 0.0195 |
| 34 | Wesley Hills | 6,196 | 2.4% | $1,123,610 | $209,345 | $1,866 | 0.0264 |
| 35 | Babylon | 12,185 | 3.5% | $720,475 | $140,820 | $2,427 | 0.0264 |
| 36 | Williamsville | 5,469 | 1.4% | $410,876 | $98,850 | $1,404 | inf |
| 37 | Dobbs Ferry | 11,443 | 5.0% | $975,067 | $165,417 | $2,369 | 0.0195 |
| 38 | Port Jefferson | 8,091 | 3.3% | $756,205 | $144,912 | $2,349 | 0.0264 |
| 39 | Saratoga Springs | 28,631 | 2.5% | $633,901 | $105,944 | $1,470 | 0.0190 |
| 40 | Briarcliff Manor | 7,519 | 3.1% | $1,094,016 | $229,732 | $2,433 | 0.0195 |
| 41 | Rye Brook | 9,900 | 6.2% | $1,236,847 | $246,944 | $2,593 | 0.0195 |
| 42 | Pleasantville | 7,371 | 7.7% | $987,581 | $136,406 | $2,058 | 0.0195 |
| 43 | Ilion | 7,593 | 2.2% | $147,235 | $62,843 | $694 | 0.0048 |
| 44 | New Rochelle | 82,769 | 5.9% | $917,530 | $109,167 | $1,917 | 0.0127 |
| 45 | North Tonawanda | 30,198 | 5.8% | $273,946 | $66,961 | $934 | 0.0123 |
| 46 | Hamburg | 9,792 | 2.6% | $297,870 | $112,292 | $1,097 | inf |
| 47 | Glen Cove | 28,112 | 4.4% | $810,612 | $92,064 | $2,398 | 0.0057 |
| 48 | Nyack | 7,393 | 8.8% | $748,480 | $116,649 | $2,217 | 0.0264 |
| 49 | Scotia | 7,264 | 3.2% | $249,645 | $76,525 | $1,031 | 0.0376 |
| 50 | White Plains | 60,666 | 5.9% | $770,309 | $110,763 | $2,269 | 0.0191 |
| 51 | Glens Falls | 14,609 | 4.9% | $264,460 | $67,788 | $1,077 | 0.0081 |
| 52 | Johnstown | 8,111 | 3.1% | $192,658 | $63,763 | $914 | 0.0158 |
| 53 | Freeport | 44,088 | 6.4% | $652,866 | $120,625 | $2,077 | 0.0103 |
| 54 | Fairport | 5,403 | 1.8% | $396,820 | $107,009 | $1,165 | 0.0382 |
| 55 | Harrison | 29,961 | 5.5% | $1,211,013 | $164,250 | $2,616 | 0.0195 |
| 56 | Lindenhurst | 27,142 | 6.3% | $600,909 | $130,128 | $1,885 | 0.0264 |
| 57 | Suffern | 11,441 | 5.2% | $576,039 | $104,607 | $2,091 | 0.0264 |
| 58 | Kenmore | 15,044 | 4.7% | $249,943 | $77,639 | $1,081 | inf |
| 59 | Croton-on-Hudson | 8,202 | 7.2% | $812,905 | $191,678 | $2,274 | 0.0195 |
| 60 | Colonie | 7,702 | 1.2% | $341,964 | $103,983 | $1,570 | 0.0372 |
| 61 | Amityville | 9,588 | 3.1% | $587,036 | $106,285 | $2,247 | 0.0264 |
| 62 | Watervliet | 10,287 | 4.5% | $308,696 | $57,919 | $1,083 | 0.0244 |
| 63 | Lancaster | 10,113 | 1.3% | $242,274 | $66,148 | $969 | inf |
| 64 | Beacon | 14,834 | 7.3% | $538,601 | $107,859 | $1,658 | 0.0079 |
| 65 | Mamaroneck | 19,826 | 4.1% | $859,344 | $120,000 | $2,157 | 0.0195 |
| 66 | Lake Grove | 11,061 | 5.2% | $713,789 | $118,311 | $2,184 | 0.0264 |
| 67 | Patchogue | 12,396 | 3.5% | $586,012 | $107,306 | $2,263 | 0.0264 |
| 68 | Canandaigua | 10,514 | 4.5% | $274,506 | $64,929 | $1,095 | 0.0173 |
| 69 | East Aurora | 5,993 | 4.0% | $431,046 | $103,949 | $1,196 | inf |
| 70 | Kiryas Joel | 38,916 | 2.2% | $909,189 | $50,032 | $1,604 | 0.0285 |
| 71 | Hudson Falls | 7,395 | 4.1% | $230,034 | $62,969 | $927 | 0.0264 |
| 72 | Elmsford | 5,186 | 3.7% | $678,626 | $120,179 | $2,546 | 0.0195 |
| 73 | Horseheads | 6,449 | 2.6% | $213,483 | $61,223 | $1,181 | 0.0466 |
| 74 | Cohoes | 18,159 | 5.8% | $330,325 | $61,145 | $1,251 | 0.0129 |
| 75 | Brockport | 7,277 | 2.7% | $269,354 | $69,866 | $995 | 0.0382 |
| 76 | Sleepy Hollow | 10,887 | 5.5% | $1,010,736 | $104,313 | $1,924 | 0.0195 |
| 77 | Geneva | 12,512 | 3.4% | $218,801 | $79,435 | $972 | 0.0305 |
| 78 | Kaser | 5,694 | 7.0% | $1,050,815 | $26,848 | $1,341 | 0.0264 |
| 79 | Corning | 10,643 | 5.8% | $189,793 | $61,760 | $1,014 | 0.0254 |
| 80 | Mount Kisco | 10,737 | 5.7% | $688,450 | $96,534 | $1,494 | 0.0195 |
| 81 | Mechanicville | 5,124 | 3.3% | $483,740 | $50,675 | $1,070 | 0.0190 |
| 82 | Cortland | 17,450 | 4.2% | $197,781 | $59,482 | $975 | 0.0313 |
| 83 | Yonkers | 209,978 | 7.1% | $680,217 | $83,549 | $1,784 | 0.0130 |
| 84 | Hempstead | 58,801 | 9.2% | $627,530 | $90,420 | $1,622 | 0.0103 |
| 85 | Oneonta | 15,045 | 6.4% | $220,587 | $61,111 | $1,021 | 0.0264 |
| 86 | Goshen | 5,773 | 4.1% | $558,034 | $104,643 | $1,805 | 0.0285 |
| 87 | Auburn | 26,285 | 4.9% | $214,996 | $51,052 | $897 | 0.0155 |
| 88 | North Syracuse | 6,693 | 3.8% | $230,805 | $71,026 | $995 | 0.0496 |
| 89 | New Hempstead | 5,472 | 5.5% | $978,444 | $126,165 | $1,691 | 0.0264 |
| 90 | Baldwinsville | 7,715 | 5.0% | $321,319 | $77,241 | $1,201 | 0.0496 |
| 91 | Herkimer | 7,566 | 5.5% | $159,599 | $48,529 | $821 | 0.0048 |
| 92 | West Haverstraw | 10,711 | 4.9% | $425,896 | $86,301 | $1,803 | 0.0264 |
| 93 | Chestnut Ridge | 10,557 | 4.0% | $862,818 | $111,725 | $1,710 | 0.0264 |
| 94 | Port Chester | 31,102 | 5.4% | $725,361 | $92,222 | $2,028 | 0.0195 |
| 95 | Warwick | 6,585 | 5.6% | $566,346 | $89,609 | $1,296 | 0.0285 |
| 96 | Washingtonville | 5,707 | 5.6% | $516,964 | $95,313 | $1,351 | 0.0285 |
| 97 | New Square | 9,803 | 5.6% | $793,683 | $31,443 | $1,799 | 0.0264 |
| 98 | Depew | 15,000 | 4.2% | $260,964 | $73,556 | $1,061 | inf |
| 99 | Dunkirk | 12,549 | 4.7% | $128,151 | $53,299 | $866 | 0.0216 |
| 100 | Plattsburgh | 19,830 | 5.9% | $244,069 | $57,630 | $1,030 | 0.0264 |
jQuery(document).ready(function($) { create_map(‘https://www.homesnacks.com/graphs/maps/best/ny.html’); });