Best Places to Live in New York

Scarsdale is an affluent suburb of 18,000 residents, famous for its top-tier public schools, upscale neighborhoods, and robust community services. It has a highly-educated population, and because of the easy rail access to Manhattan, many residents benefit from careers in finance, law, medicine, and executive leadership. The village has a charming downtown, parks, and recreation centers that support a high quality of life, while the Metro-North Railroad and nearby parkways make commuting to Manhattan easy. With a high per capita income ($120K) and median household income ($250K), Scarsdale is frequently cited as one of the best towns to live in New York.

Home to 8.3 million people, New York City is simply in a league of its own. It’s the nation’s largest and most influential urban hub, powered by dominant industries in finance, media, tech, healthcare, and global trade. It is arguably one of the most connected cities in the world, thanks to an extensive subway network, commuter rail lines, and three major airports. Living here means your local landmarks are the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, and the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s the Big Apple, a place where people from every background can thrive—making it one of the best places to live in New York.

Ardsley is often called a hidden gem in Westchester because it offers a quiet residential setting with easy access to New York City. The draw here is the excellent school district, well-kept parks, and active community programs. If you are commuting, you can reach Manhattan in 30 to 45 minutes via Metro-North, while the Saw Mill River Parkway and nearby highways simplify regional travel. Local shops, restaurants, and recreational spaces meet daily needs and strengthen the village’s close-knit community feel. Plus, nearby nature trails and the Bronx River provide opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Just 30 minutes from Manhattan, New Rochelle is a fast-growing city of 80,000 that ranks as one of the safer cities in New York. It offers access to Long Island Sound beaches, a vibrant downtown, and a diverse international community. There is a lot of development happening, specifically with waterfront redevelopment, transit access to NYC, and thriving education and healthcare sectors that provide strong career potential. The city also has plenty of parks, marinas, and recreational programs. With walkable districts, cultural institutions, and a mix of historic and modern housing, New Rochelle offers a dynamic lifestyle in southern Westchester.

"Gorges" natural beauty meets intellectual vitality in the Finger Lakes paradise that is Ithaca. It’s home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, so the city naturally thrives on innovation, culture, and sustainability. Life here is lived outdoors and locally; stunning waterfalls, organic farms, award-winning wineries, and outdoor adventures surround the vibrant Ithaca Commons. Families and professionals alike are drawn to its top-rated schools and thriving local food scene. Ithaca remains a popular destination for its natural landscapes, academic excellence, and steady commitment to sustainability.

As New York’s capital, Albany has the unique bragging right of being the longest continuously chartered city in the United States. It feels like a stable mid-sized city (about 100,000 residents), anchored by government, healthcare, and education giants like the University at Albany, SUNY. But it's not just government work; a growing tech sector, driven by the nanotechnology and semiconductor industries, provides solid career pathways. You get the historic architecture and the Adirondacks nearby, meaning Albany offers both professional opportunity and a high quality of life. Plus, with I-90, I-87, and Albany International Airport, the capital region stays well-connected across the Northeast.

Buffalo is having a moment. As Western New York's renaissance city, Buffalo surprises people with its authentic charm, architectural treasures, and unstoppable momentum. The identity here is strong with world-famous wings, passionate sports fans (Bills Mafia!), and the proximity to Niagara Falls. Families tend to love walkable areas like Elmwood Village and North Buffalo for the parks and shops, while young professionals are gravitating toward the downtown waterfront and growing culinary scene. Add in a thriving medical corridor, a growing tech scene, and exceptionally affordable housing, and you can see why Buffalo is listed among the major cities in New York.

This city of about 145,000 has carved out a niche for itself by offering low living costs and a stable economy. It's anchored by Syracuse University and major medical employers, but you’ll also see a lot of momentum in tech, biotech, and clean-energy investment. Let’s be honest: the city is known for the sheer volume of snowfall it receives annually—it is the snowiest major city in the U.S., but the locals embrace the winter seasons heartily. Getting out of town is straightforward with I-81, I-90, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport nearby. Between the Central New York location, a revitalized downtown, and a growing job market, Syracuse is easily one of the best and most affordable places to live in New York.

Sitting right on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Rochester has a bit of a dual identity: it's known as both the "Flour City" and the "Flower City" thanks to its history in milling and its massive nursery industry (the lilacs here are legendary). There is a deep history of innovation here as the birthplace of Eastman Kodak Company, which has evolved into a landscape of leading universities and a strong STEM workforce. Today, major employers in optics, imaging, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing fuel steady career opportunities. When you combine the affordable housing, beautiful lakefronts, and cultural staples like the Eastman School of Music, Rochester ranks high among the great places to live in New York.

Home to about 47,000 residents, Binghamton is quietly becoming known for its affordability and emerging tech-driven economy. There is a noticeable population of young professionals here, partly due to Binghamton University, which anchors research and innovation in engineering, healthcare, and clean-energy fields. It’s a practical spot for commuters, too, with I-81, Greater Binghamton Airport, and the BC Transit system. With four-season recreation, revitalizing neighborhoods, a growing student population, and low living costs, Binghamton offers a practical, promising lifestyle, ranking among the best places to live in Upstate New York.