Best Counties to Live in New York

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Best counties to live in New York

More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.

Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.

Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.

Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in New York using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Chemung County, New York

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 83,584
- Median household income: $61,358
- Median home value: $128,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $991 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Gardner Road Elementary School (grade B+), Big Flats School (grade B+), Horseheads Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame High School (grade A minus), Twin Tiers Christian Academy (grade C+), St. Mary Our Mother School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Elmira Heights (grade B), West Elmira (grade B minus), Elmira (grade C)

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#29. Sullivan County, New York

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 78,725
- Median household income: $67,841
- Median home value: $220,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $996 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Livingston Manor Elementary School (grade B), Liberty Middle/High School (grade B), Sullivan West Elementary School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Mosdos Satmar Of Bloomingburg (grade unavailable), Fallsburg Cheder School/Bais Yaakov (grade unavailable), The Homestead School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Wurtsboro (grade B minus), Monticello (grade C), South Fallsburg (grade C minus)

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#28. Essex County, New York

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 37,314
- Median household income: $68,090
- Median home value: $189,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $875 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Placid Elementary School (grade B), Keene Central School (grade B minus), Boquet Valley CSD - Lake View Campus (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Northwood School (grade A+), North Country School (grade A), St. Agnes School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lake Placid (grade B), St. Armand (grade B+), Schroon Lake (grade B)

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#27. Cortland County, New York

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 46,755
- Median household income: $65,029
- Median home value: $148,200 (66% own)
- Median rent: $884 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Cincinnatus Elementary School (grade B+), Homer Senior High School (grade B), Homer Junior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Cortland Christian Academy (grade C), St. Mary's School (grade unavailable), Marathon Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Munsons Corners (grade B+), Cortland (grade B), McGraw (grade C)

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#26. Chautauqua County, New York

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 127,440
- Median household income: $54,625
- Median home value: $110,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $759 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Fredonia High School (grade B+), Southwestern Senior High School (grade B+), Sherman Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Chautauqua Christian Academy (grade B minus), Northern Chautauqua Catholic School (grade unavailable), Central Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Fredonia (grade A minus), Lakewood (grade B+), Silver Creek (grade B)

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#25. Steuben County, New York

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 93,584
- Median household income: $62,506
- Median home value: $121,000 (73% own)
- Median rent: $832 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Corning-Painted Post High School (grade A minus), Wayland-Cohocton High School (grade B+), Glenn Curtiss Memorial School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Corning Christian Academy (grade B minus), Alternative School for Math & Science (grade unavailable), St. Ann's Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Painted Post (grade A), Gang Mills (grade A), Corning (grade A)

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#24. Warren County, New York

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 65,684
- Median household income: $74,531
- Median home value: $240,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,062 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Kensington Road Elementary School (grade A minus), Lake George Elementary School (grade B+), Queensbury Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Mary-St. Alphonsus Catholic School (grade unavailable), The Langan School at Prospect Center (grade unavailable), St. Therese's Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: West Glens Falls (grade B+), Glens Falls (grade B), Queensbury (grade A minus)

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#23. Livingston County, New York

- Overall Rank: 1,268
- Population: 61,980
- Median household income: $70,443
- Median home value: $159,900 (77% own)
- Median rent: $919 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Caledonia-Mumford Elementary School (grade B+), Caledonia-Mumford Middle School (grade B+), Caledonia-Mumford High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Lima Christian School (grade B), St. Agnes Elementary School (grade unavailable), Genesee Country Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Dansville (grade B minus), Caledonia (grade A), Lima (grade A minus)

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#22. Oneida County, New York

- Overall Rank: 1,174
- Population: 231,055
- Median household income: $66,402
- Median home value: $157,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $889 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Perry Junior High School (grade A), New Hartford Senior High School (grade A minus), Hughes Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus), Holy Cross Academy (grade C+), Notre Dame Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Washington Mills (grade A), Clinton (grade A), Whitesboro (grade A minus)

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#21. Otsego County, New York

- Overall Rank: 1,160
- Population: 59,678
- Median household income: $65,778
- Median home value: $166,500 (74% own)
- Median rent: $927 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Cooperstown Elementary School (grade B+), Oneonta Senior High School (grade B+), Unatego Junior/Senior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Oneonta Community Christian School (grade unavailable), Lighthouse Christian Academy (grade unavailable), The Brookwood School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Oneonta (grade A minus), West End (grade B+), Cooperstown (grade A minus)

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#20. Niagara County, New York

- Overall Rank: 981
- Population: 212,230
- Median household income: $65,882
- Median home value: $163,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $823 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Intermediate Education Center (grade A), Errick Road Elementary School (grade A), Primary Education Center (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Christian Academy of Western New York (grade B), St. John Lutheran School (grade A+), DeSales Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Youngstown (grade A), Rapids (grade A minus), Gasport (grade B+)

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#19. Ulster County, New York

- Overall Rank: 945
- Population: 182,153
- Median household income: $77,197
- Median home value: $288,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,269 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: New Paltz Senior High School (grade A), Onteora High School (grade A minus), Marlboro Central High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Woodstock Day School (grade A minus), Mountain Laurel Waldorf School (grade A), High Meadow School (grade A)
- Top places: Highland (grade A minus), Hurley (grade A minus), Marlboro (grade A minus)

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#18. Orange County, New York

- Overall Rank: 836
- Population: 401,237
- Median household income: $91,806
- Median home value: $337,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,494 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Kiryas Joel Village School (grade A+), Cornwall Central High School (grade A), Willow Avenue Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Storm King School (grade A+), Northern Academy (grade A+), New York Military Academy (grade A+)
- Top places: Cornwall-on-Hudson (grade A), Woodbury (grade A minus), Firthcliffe (grade A minus)

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#17. Columbia County, New York

- Overall Rank: 816
- Population: 61,469
- Median household income: $81,741
- Median home value: $283,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,114 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Ichabod Crane Primary School (grade A minus), Chatham High School (grade B+), Ichabod Crane Senior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Darrow School (grade A+), Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School (grade A minus), Columbia Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Niverville (grade B+), Valatie (grade B), Lorenz Park (grade B)

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#16. Broome County, New York

- Overall Rank: 694
- Population: 198,365
- Median household income: $58,317
- Median home value: $139,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $882 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Vestal Senior High School (grade A), Vestal Hills Elementary School (grade A), African Road Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Seton Catholic Central High School (grade A), Ross Corners Christian Academy (grade B+), Central Baptist Christian Academy (grade C)
- Top places: Endwell (grade A), Port Dickinson (grade A minus), Chenango Bridge (grade B+)

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#15. Schenectady County, New York

- Overall Rank: 592
- Population: 159,447
- Median household income: $75,056
- Median home value: $204,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,092 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Rosendale School (grade A), Birchwood Elementary School (grade A), Iroquois Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mekeel Christian Academy (grade B+), Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School (grade B+), Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Northside (grade A minus), Union Street (grade B+), East Glenville (grade B+)

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#14. Rensselaer County, New York

- Overall Rank: 580
- Population: 160,943
- Median household income: $83,734
- Median home value: $230,800 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,141 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Howard L. Goff School (grade A), Bell Top School (grade A), Citizen Edmond Genet School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Emma Willard School (grade A+), Hoosac School (grade A+), The Doane Stuart School (grade A+)
- Top places: Hampton Manor (grade A minus), Wynantskill (grade B+), West Sand Lake (grade B)

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#13. Suffolk County, New York

- Overall Rank: 477
- Population: 1,524,486
- Median household income: $122,498
- Median home value: $490,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $2,113 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Half Hollow Hills High School West (grade A+), Half Hollow Hills High School East (grade A+), Candlewood Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Stony Brook School (grade A+), The Knox School (grade A+), Ross School (grade A+)
- Top places: Dix Hills (grade A+), Stony Brook (grade A+), Poquott (grade A+)

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#12. Ontario County, New York

- Overall Rank: 463
- Population: 112,288
- Median household income: $76,603
- Median home value: $192,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,061 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Victor Junior High School (grade A minus), Canandaigua Academy (grade A minus), Victor Senior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary School (grade unavailable), St. Francis de Sales-St. Stephen School (grade unavailable), Canandaigua Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Geneva (grade A minus), Canandaigua (grade A minus), Manchester (grade B+)

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#11. Rockland County, New York

- Overall Rank: 411
- Population: 337,326
- Median household income: $106,173
- Median home value: $528,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,755 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Clarkstown South Senior High School (grade A+), Tappan Zee High School (grade A), Nyack Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Green Meadow Waldorf School (grade A+), Albertus Magnus High School (grade A), Ateres Bais Yaakov (grade B+)
- Top places: Upper Nyack (grade A+), West Nyack (grade A+), Piermont (grade A+)

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#10. Putnam County, New York

- Overall Rank: 376
- Population: 97,942
- Median household income: $120,970
- Median home value: $421,800 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,691 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Haldane Middle School (grade A), Haldane High School (grade A), Putnam Valley Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Green Chimneys School (grade unavailable), The Manitou School (grade unavailable), St. James the Apostle School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Cold Spring (grade A), Peach Lake (grade A minus), Lake Carmel (grade B+)

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#9. Dutchess County, New York

- Overall Rank: 362
- Population: 296,467
- Median household income: $94,578
- Median home value: $348,700 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,425 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Orville A. Todd Middle School (grade A), Spackenkill High School (grade A), Chancellor Livingston Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity-Pawling School (grade A+), Oakwood Friends School (grade A+), Poughkeepsie Day School (grade A+)
- Top places: Spackenkill (grade A+), Crown Heights (grade A), Beacon (grade A minus)

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#8. Erie County, New York

- Overall Rank: 320
- Population: 951,232
- Median household income: $68,014
- Median home value: $197,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $984 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Williamsville East High School (grade A+), Transit Middle School (grade A), Country Parkway Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Nichols School (grade A+), Buffalo Seminary (grade A+), The Park School of Buffalo (grade A+)
- Top places: Eggertsville (grade A+), Williamsville (grade A+), Parkside (grade A)

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#7. Onondaga County, New York

- Overall Rank: 307
- Population: 472,637
- Median household income: $71,479
- Median home value: $172,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,002 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Enders Road Elementary School (grade A+), Wellwood Middle School (grade A), Mott Road Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Manlius Pebble Hill School (grade A+), Christian Brothers Academy (grade A), Bishop Ludden Junior/Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top places: Fayetteville (grade A+), Westvale (grade A), Liverpool (grade A)

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#6. Monroe County, New York

- Overall Rank: 227
- Population: 756,406
- Median household income: $71,450
- Median home value: $182,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,085 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Brighton High School (grade A+), Pittsford-Mendon High School (grade A+), Pittsford Sutherland High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Harley School (grade A+), Allendale Columbia School (grade A+), McQuaid Jesuit Preparatory School (grade A)
- Top places: Brighton (grade A+), Fairport (grade A), Cobbs Hill (grade A)

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#5. Saratoga County, New York

- Overall Rank: 222
- Population: 236,328
- Median household income: $97,038
- Median home value: $306,000 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,305 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Chango Elementary School (grade A), Tesago Elementary School (grade A), Karigon Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Augustine Classical Academy (grade A), The King's School (grade A minus), Saratoga Central Catholic School (grade C)
- Top places: Country Knolls (grade A), Saratoga Springs (grade A), Ballston Spa (grade B+)

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#4. Albany County, New York

- Overall Rank: 198
- Population: 315,041
- Median household income: $78,829
- Median home value: $263,800 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,196 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Elsmere Elementary School (grade A+), Shaker High School (grade A+), Hamagrael Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Albany Academies (grade A+), Academy of the Holy Names (grade A), Loudonville Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Washington Park (grade A), Westmere (grade A), Melrose (grade A)

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#3. Tompkins County, New York

- Overall Rank: 168
- Population: 102,555
- Median household income: $69,995
- Median home value: $264,300 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,320 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Ithaca Senior High School (grade A), Lansing High School (grade A), Northeast School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Cascadilla School (grade A+), Elizabeth Ann Clune Montessori School (grade unavailable), Cornell University Child Care Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Cayuga Heights (grade A+), East Ithaca (grade A+), South Hill (grade A+)

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#2. Westchester County, New York

- Overall Rank: 160
- Population: 997,904
- Median household income: $114,651
- Median home value: $619,000 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,796 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Scarsdale Senior High School (grade A+), Horace Greeley High School (grade A+), Bronxville High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Hackley School (grade A+)
- Top places: Ardsley (grade A+), Hartsdale (grade A+), Scarsdale (grade A+)

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#1. Nassau County, New York

- Overall Rank: 55
- Population: 1,389,160
- Median household income: $137,709
- Median home value: $633,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $2,131 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Great Neck South High School (grade A+), Jericho Senior High School (grade A+), Syosset Senior High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Friends Academy (grade A+), Portledge School (grade A+), The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+)
- Top places: Great Neck Plaza (grade A+), Great Neck Gardens (grade A+), Kensington (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

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