Best counties to live in New York
Written by:
February 18, 2021
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
Best counties to live in New York
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in New York using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
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Benjamin D. Esham (bdesham) // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Livingston County
- Population: 63,591
- Median home value: $129,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $798 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $59,510
- Median home value: $129,400 (75% own)
- Median rent: $798 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $59,510
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Lvklock // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Chemung County
- Population: 84,895
- Median home value: $105,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $813 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $54,940
- Median home value: $105,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $813 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $54,940
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Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Columbia County
- Population: 60,371
- Median home value: $233,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $928 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $66,787
- Median home value: $233,600 (74% own)
- Median rent: $928 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $66,787
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Nina Alizada // Shutterstock
#21. Oneida County
- Population: 229,959
- Median home value: $127,700 (67% own)
- Median rent: $766 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $56,027
- Median home value: $127,700 (67% own)
- Median rent: $766 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $56,027
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Kenneth Sponsler // Shutterstock
#20. Otsego County
- Population: 59,972
- Median home value: $146,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $833 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $54,028
- Median home value: $146,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $833 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $54,028
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Fred Hsu // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Ulster County
- Population: 178,665
- Median home value: $230,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,112 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $64,304
- Median home value: $230,500 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,112 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $64,304
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Matt H. Wade // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Rensselaer County
- Population: 159,185
- Median home value: $188,700 (63% own)
- Median rent: $973 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $68,991
- Median home value: $188,700 (63% own)
- Median rent: $973 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $68,991
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Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock
#17. Niagara County
- Population: 210,820
- Median home value: $125,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $703 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $55,522
- Median home value: $125,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $703 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $55,522
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Canva
#16. Broome County
- Population: 193,188
- Median home value: $117,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $776 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $52,226
- Median home value: $117,000 (65% own)
- Median rent: $776 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $52,226
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Mwanner // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Orange County
- Population: 380,085
- Median home value: $271,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,259 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $79,944
- Median home value: $271,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,259 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $79,944
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UpstateNYer // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Schenectady County
- Population: 154,859
- Median home value: $169,600 (66% own)
- Median rent: $945 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $65,499
- Median home value: $169,600 (66% own)
- Median rent: $945 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $65,499
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Tim Hettler from New York, NY, USA // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Suffolk County
- Population: 1,483,832
- Median home value: $397,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,742 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $101,031
- Median home value: $397,400 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,742 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $101,031
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James Kirkikis // Shutterstock
#12. Putnam County
- Population: 98,787
- Median home value: $358,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,453 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $104,486
- Median home value: $358,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,453 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $104,486
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Daniel Case // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Ontario County
- Population: 109,511
- Median home value: $161,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $896 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $64,944
- Median home value: $161,800 (74% own)
- Median rent: $896 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $64,944
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Colin D. Young // Shutterstock
#10. Dutchess County
- Population: 293,754
- Median home value: $282,000 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,220 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $81,219
- Median home value: $282,000 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,220 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $81,219
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Felix Lipov // Shutterstock
#9. Rockland County
- Population: 324,422
- Median home value: $443,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,504 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $93,024
- Median home value: $443,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,504 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $93,024
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#8. Erie County
- Population: 919,355
- Median home value: $153,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $829 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $58,121
- Median home value: $153,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $829 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $58,121
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littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
#7. Onondaga County
- Population: 462,872
- Median home value: $145,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $872 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $61,359
- Median home value: $145,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $872 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $61,359
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PhotoItaliaStudio // Shutterstock
#6. Saratoga County
- Population: 228,502
- Median home value: $258,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,138 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $84,291
- Median home value: $258,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,138 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $84,291
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Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#5. Albany County
- Population: 306,968
- Median home value: $222,500 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,022 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $66,252
- Median home value: $222,500 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,022 (44% rent)
- Median household income: $66,252
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Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock
#4. Monroe County
- Population: 743,341
- Median home value: $148,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $927 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $60,075
- Median home value: $148,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $927 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $60,075
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Canva
#3. Westchester County
- Population: 968,890
- Median home value: $540,600 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,537 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $96,610
- Median home value: $540,600 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,537 (39% rent)
- Median household income: $96,610
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littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
#2. Nassau County
- Population: 1,356,509
- Median home value: $493,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,772 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $116,100
- Median home value: $493,500 (81% own)
- Median rent: $1,772 (19% rent)
- Median household income: $116,100
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Lewis Liu // Shutterstock
#1. Tompkins County
- Population: 102,642
- Median home value: $204,600 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,164 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $60,240
- Median home value: $204,600 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,164 (45% rent)
- Median household income: $60,240
