Best overall
Saratoga County
Overall score 69.9
Economy 81.2 / Affordability 42.1
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in New York
Compare counties in New York by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 62 New York counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in New York
Put New York counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open New York rankings
Open the full New York ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
New York county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Saratoga County
Family score 77.2
Schools 93.6 / Safety 94.6
Best value
Allegany County
Value score 60.3
Affordability 83.7 / Taxes 4
Most affordable
Allegany County
Affordability 83.7
Typical home $134,984
Best schools
Nassau County
Schools 97
Safety 83.9 / Economy 73.6
Safest
Herkimer County
Safety 100
Schools 38.7 / Peace 81.9
Low taxes
Kings County
Taxes 42.4
Affordability 9.9 / Typical home $946,395
Peace & quiet
Clinton County
Peace & Quiet 88.2
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in New York
View full- 1Saratoga County
Typical home $454,235
69.9
Overall
- 2Putnam County
Typical home $554,659
66.9
Overall
- 3Genesee County
Typical home $217,952
65.7
Overall
- 4Madison County
Typical home $248,276
64.1
Overall
- 5Wyoming County
Typical home $198,511
63.5
Overall
Best counties for families in New York
View full- 1Saratoga County
Typical home $454,235
77.2
Family
- 2Hamilton County
Typical home $260,924
75.2
Family
- 3Putnam County
Typical home $554,659
75.1
Family
- 4Genesee County
Typical home $217,952
72.9
Family
- 5Madison County
Typical home $248,276
72.7
Family
Best value counties in New York
View full- 1Allegany County
Typical home $134,984
60.3
Value
- 2Lewis County
Typical home $189,418
60.1
Value
- 3Tioga County
Typical home $193,886
59.9
Value
- 4Steuben County
Typical home $164,947
59.2
Value
- 5Chenango County
Typical home $158,322
59.0
Value
Most affordable counties in New York
View full- 1Allegany County
Typical home $134,984
83.7
Afford.
- 2St. Lawrence County
Typical home $137,846
82.9
Afford.
- 3Chemung County
Typical home $152,650
81.6
Afford.
- 4Tioga County
Typical home $193,886
80.3
Afford.
- 5Steuben County
Typical home $164,947
79.3
Afford.
Best school counties in New York
View full- 1Nassau County
Typical home $833,989
97
Schools
- 2Saratoga County
Typical home $454,235
93.6
Schools
- 3Putnam County
Typical home $554,659
92.8
Schools
- 4Westchester County
Typical home $841,836
92.6
Schools
- 5Rockland County
Typical home $740,627
84.5
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in New York
View full- 1Kings County
Typical home $946,395
42.4
Taxes
- 2Hamilton County
Typical home $260,924
36.7
Taxes
- 3New York County
Typical home $1,203,663
35
Taxes
- 4Queens County
Typical home $737,653
33.9
Taxes
- 5Richmond County
Typical home $718,959
33.2
Taxes
Quietest counties in New York
View full- 1Clinton County
Typical home $219,745
88.2
Quiet
- 2Cortland County
Typical home $196,363
86.5
Quiet
- 3Tioga County
Typical home $193,886
86.4
Quiet
- 4St. Lawrence County
Typical home $137,846
86.1
Quiet
- 5Genesee County
Typical home $217,952
85.6
Quiet
Safest counties in New York
View full- 1Herkimer County
Typical home $190,678
100
Safety
- 2Essex County
Typical home $264,817
99.6
Safety
- 3Allegany County
Typical home $134,984
99.2
Safety
- 4Seneca County
Typical home $216,606
99.1
Safety
- 5Clinton County
Typical home $219,745
99
Safety
Popular New York county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
Read more about New York
Best and Worst Counties in New York
See the highest- and lowest-scoring New York counties by public-data scores.
Why Long Island Became So Expensive
A documentary-style look at why Nassau and Suffolk became so hard for normal families to afford.
Best Counties Near NYC for Families
Compare NY, NJ, and Connecticut county options for families who want access to New York City.
How to choose a county in New York
The best county in New York depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in New York
For best overall counties in New York, Saratoga County, Putnam County, and Genesee County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in New York
For families, Saratoga County, Hamilton County, and Putnam County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in New York
For affordability-focused movers, Allegany County, St. Lawrence County, and Chemung County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in New York
For school-first households, Nassau County, Saratoga County, and Putnam County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in New York
For lower tax-pressure searches, Kings County, Hamilton County, and New York County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in New York
For quieter-living searches, Clinton County, Cortland County, and Tioga County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to New York
Compare county scale carefully in New York; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in New York
What is the best county to live in New York?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Saratoga County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in New York for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Saratoga County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in New York?
Allegany County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which New York counties score well for schools or taxes?
Nassau County currently leads the school-score view, while Kings County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All New York counties
Showing all 62 New York counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saratoga County FIPS 36091 | 69.9 | 81.2 | 42.1 | 93.6 | 94.6 | 26.9 | 69.5 | $454,235 | $100,787 |
| 2 | Putnam County FIPS 36079 | 66.9 | 79.5 | 44.7 | 92.8 | 97 | 0 | 54.3 | $554,659 | $126,257 |
| 3 | Genesee County FIPS 36037 | 65.7 | 63 | 74.6 | 71.8 | 84.7 | 0 | 85.6 | $217,952 | $73,314 |
| 4 | Madison County FIPS 36053 | 64.1 | 60.3 | 67.5 | 68 | 96.6 | 0 | 82.1 | $248,276 | $75,499 |
| 5 | Wyoming County FIPS 36121 | 63.5 | 58.8 | 77 | 55.5 | 93.7 | 0.8 | 85.6 | $198,511 | $69,110 |
| 6 | Lewis County FIPS 36049 | 63.3 | 56.7 | 73 | 56.2 | 93.7 | 15.8 | 80.7 | $189,418 | $68,182 |
| 7 | Ontario County FIPS 36069 | 63.2 | 68.7 | 57.9 | 69.8 | 86.7 | 5.3 | 80.3 | $312,677 | $82,324 |
| 8 | Hamilton County FIPS 36041 | 63 | 43.8 | 55.6 | 78.6 | 98.3 | 36.7 | 80.1 | $260,924 | $68,835 |
| 9 | Livingston County FIPS 36051 | 62.4 | 59.7 | 70.3 | 60.2 | 91.4 | 0 | 83.2 | $237,471 | $74,001 |
| 10 | Steuben County FIPS 36101 | 62.2 | 52.1 | 79.3 | 50.8 | 98.9 | 1.6 | 84.2 | $164,947 | $65,887 |
| 11 | Otsego County FIPS 36077 | 60.6 | 55.4 | 70.5 | 46.9 | 97.6 | 10.2 | 81.7 | $205,265 | $68,885 |
| 12 | Nassau County FIPS 36059 | 59.9 | 73.6 | 28.1 | 97 | 83.9 | 17.6 | 14.3 | $833,989 | $146,202 |
| 13 | Allegany County FIPS 36003 | 59.8 | 46.5 | 83.7 | 39.2 | 99.2 | 4 | 81.9 | $134,984 | $62,869 |
| 14 | Wayne County FIPS 36117 | 59.8 | 59.9 | 71.1 | 48.1 | 89.1 | 0 | 80.8 | $239,210 | $74,506 |
| 15 | Clinton County FIPS 36019 | 59.7 | 56 | 69.2 | 44.9 | 99 | 2 | 88.2 | $219,745 | $71,224 |
| 16 | Warren County FIPS 36113 | 59.7 | 63.1 | 38.9 | 72.4 | 87.2 | 25.7 | 80.6 | $365,412 | $78,442 |
| 17 | Tioga County FIPS 36107 | 59.6 | 56.8 | 80.3 | 32.7 | 95.1 | 1.5 | 86.4 | $193,886 | $72,739 |
| 18 | Washington County FIPS 36115 | 58.9 | 61.8 | 67 | 44.2 | 92 | 0.3 | 81 | $243,327 | $73,495 |
| 19 | Essex County FIPS 36031 | 58.8 | 65.6 | 53.3 | 38.4 | 99.6 | 24.8 | 78.8 | $264,817 | $71,661 |
| 20 | Herkimer County FIPS 36043 | 58.7 | 51.4 | 74 | 38.7 | 100 | 5.1 | 81.9 | $190,678 | $68,515 |
| 21 | Cayuga County FIPS 36011 | 58.4 | 57.8 | 66 | 43.7 | 97.4 | 0 | 82.4 | $224,377 | $67,904 |
| 22 | Chenango County FIPS 36017 | 57.1 | 63 | 78.4 | 21.1 | 87.2 | 2.6 | 84.2 | $158,322 | $62,948 |
| 23 | Oswego County FIPS 36075 | 57.1 | 53.4 | 73.5 | 36.6 | 93 | 0.8 | 79.8 | $198,056 | $69,183 |
| 24 | Niagara County FIPS 36063 | 57 | 53.1 | 64 | 50.8 | 95.5 | 0 | 64.6 | $243,485 | $69,633 |
| 25 | Broome County FIPS 36007 | 56.9 | 49.1 | 69.3 | 47 | 94.7 | 0 | 73.9 | $189,468 | $62,616 |
| 26 | Monroe County FIPS 36055 | 56.7 | 60.4 | 59 | 57.1 | 94.8 | 0 | 24.5 | $279,468 | $76,382 |
| 27 | Orleans County FIPS 36073 | 56.1 | 55.3 | 74.8 | 27.7 | 93.3 | 0 | 81.7 | $192,949 | $65,969 |
| 28 | Chemung County FIPS 36015 | 55.9 | 49.4 | 81.6 | 22.1 | 98 | 0 | 79.9 | $152,650 | $63,716 |
| 29 | Cattaraugus County FIPS 36009 | 55.7 | 45.7 | 77 | 34.6 | 91.5 | 2.3 | 83 | $157,763 | $59,540 |
| 30 | Onondaga County FIPS 36067 | 55.6 | 62.1 | 61 | 41.4 | 92.7 | 0 | 52.9 | $270,792 | $76,945 |
| 31 | Schoharie County FIPS 36095 | 55.2 | 53.3 | 61.2 | 39.8 | 98.1 | 0 | 77 | $246,702 | $70,133 |
| 32 | Schuyler County FIPS 36097 | 54.6 | 50.9 | 63.3 | 32.4 | 97.1 | 9.3 | 80.6 | $237,962 | $67,663 |
| 33 | Suffolk County FIPS 36103 | 54.6 | 75.6 | 31.2 | 81.8 | 68 | 6.6 | 13.4 | $697,539 | $130,686 |
| 34 | Oneida County FIPS 36065 | 54.5 | 55.9 | 65.7 | 28.5 | 95 | 0.9 | 80.5 | $227,317 | $70,154 |
| 35 | Seneca County FIPS 36099 | 54.5 | 55.6 | 67 | 22.8 | 99.1 | 2.5 | 83.3 | $216,606 | $68,089 |
| 36 | Delaware County FIPS 36025 | 54 | 57.2 | 55.6 | 33.9 | 91.4 | 15.1 | 75.8 | $240,381 | $63,337 |
| 37 | Cortland County FIPS 36023 | 53.4 | 51.6 | 72.7 | 24.6 | 87.3 | 0 | 86.5 | $196,363 | $70,418 |
| 38 | Fulton County FIPS 36035 | 53.4 | 52.9 | 66.5 | 28 | 92.3 | 2.1 | 78.5 | $210,970 | $66,533 |
| 39 | Greene County FIPS 36039 | 53.3 | 70.2 | 40.7 | 27.6 | 96.2 | 21.5 | 70.4 | $355,244 | $77,945 |
| 40 | Chautauqua County FIPS 36013 | 52.8 | 47.2 | 71.1 | 25.3 | 92.3 | 2.6 | 81.7 | $169,266 | $58,351 |
| 41 | St. Lawrence County FIPS 36089 | 52.7 | 47.1 | 82.9 | 26 | 68 | 5.1 | 86.1 | $137,846 | $62,850 |
| 42 | Rockland County FIPS 36087 | 52.2 | 71.1 | 15.6 | 84.5 | 78.2 | 10.6 | 17.6 | $740,627 | $109,959 |
| 43 | Westchester County FIPS 36119 | 51.8 | 76 | 12.5 | 92.6 | 57.7 | 18.2 | 14.1 | $841,836 | $118,976 |
| 44 | Yates County FIPS 36123 | 51.6 | 61.2 | 46.3 | 23 | 92.5 | 23.5 | 78.9 | $308,449 | $69,701 |
| 45 | Montgomery County FIPS 36057 | 50.8 | 51.1 | 69.2 | 11.2 | 96.6 | 0 | 80.3 | $205,808 | $64,943 |
| 46 | Tompkins County FIPS 36109 | 50.6 | 59.9 | 39.5 | 71 | 50.5 | 0 | 78.7 | $347,570 | $74,024 |
| 47 | Albany County FIPS 36001 | 50.2 | 70.1 | 44.8 | 63.6 | 37.4 | 6.2 | 50.4 | $360,528 | $85,333 |
| 48 | Rensselaer County FIPS 36083 | 49.1 | 74.1 | 56.7 | 43.9 | 26.3 | 0 | 73.5 | $314,837 | $87,915 |
| 49 | Columbia County FIPS 36021 | 48.9 | 68.7 | 23.9 | 29 | 90.1 | 25.1 | 78.4 | $466,520 | $81,528 |
| 50 | Franklin County FIPS 36033 | 48.9 | 54.7 | 74.9 | 14.7 | 51.6 | 15.8 | 85.3 | $169,097 | $65,151 |
| 51 | Dutchess County FIPS 36027 | 48.7 | 77.9 | 36 | 51.4 | 45.8 | 0.5 | 61 | $483,492 | $99,478 |
| 52 | Richmond County FIPS 36085 | 46.5 | 59.9 | 14 | 77.2 | 57.7 | 33.2 | 13.1 | $718,959 | $98,333 |
| 53 | Orange County FIPS 36071 | 46.4 | 68.1 | 38.9 | 52.4 | 44.6 | 0 | 48.8 | $456,106 | $97,178 |
| 54 | Sullivan County FIPS 36105 | 45.3 | 59.4 | 41.3 | 11.8 | 95.2 | 0 | 70.3 | $312,275 | $72,382 |
| 55 | Jefferson County FIPS 36045 | 44.9 | 47.2 | 58.4 | 34.5 | 37.9 | 18.3 | 82.2 | $220,944 | $66,301 |
| 56 | Queens County FIPS 36081 | 44.5 | 53.5 | 10.2 | 83.2 | 52.3 | 33.9 | 13.1 | $737,653 | $86,136 |
| 57 | Erie County FIPS 36029 | 43.4 | 56.8 | 55.2 | 58.1 | 15.3 | 0 | 30 | $287,781 | $72,839 |
| 58 | Schenectady County FIPS 36093 | 42.8 | 63.6 | 56.2 | 33.1 | 29.2 | 0 | 37.8 | $300,238 | $79,623 |
| 59 | New York County FIPS 36061 | 41.6 | 57.9 | 8.8 | 77.1 | 36.5 | 35 | 11.5 | $1,203,663 | $103,931 |
| 60 | Ulster County FIPS 36111 | 37.1 | 64.9 | 35 | 30.5 | 11.4 | 6 | 75.1 | $431,544 | $86,271 |
| 61 | Kings County FIPS 36047 | 36.1 | 44.2 | 9.9 | 58.6 | 39.8 | 42.4 | 12.7 | $946,395 | $80,263 |
| 62 | Bronx County FIPS 36005 | 17.1 | 13.9 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 35 | 22.6 | 14.3 | $497,543 | $48,676 |