Best counties to raise a family in New York

Written by:
September 1, 2023
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Best counties to raise a family in New York

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in New York using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

#30. Genesee County, New York

- Population: 58,387
- Median home value: $130,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $808 (27% own)
- Median household income: $63,734
- Top public schools: Batavia High School (grade B+), Wolcott Street School (grade B+), Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame High School (grade B+), St. Joseph Elementary School (grade unavailable), St. Paul Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Batavia (grade B+), Le Roy (grade A minus), Stafford (grade B+)

#29. Warren County, New York

- Population: 65,692
- Median home value: $214,300 (71% own)
- Median rent: $969 (29% own)
- Median household income: $68,765
- Top public schools: Queensbury Elementary School (grade A minus), Lake George Elementary School (grade B+), Queensbury Middle 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 to live: Glens Falls (grade A minus), West Glens Falls (grade B+), Queensbury (grade A)

#28. Madison County, New York

- Population: 68,466
- Median home value: $151,100 (78% own)
- Median rent: $789 (22% own)
- Median household income: $63,312
- Top public schools: Cazenovia Middle School (grade A minus), Cazenovia High School (grade A minus), Burton Street Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Patrick's School (grade A), New Life Christian School (grade B minus), The Children's Center at Morrisville State College, Inc. (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Hamilton (grade A), Chittenango (grade B+), Bridgeport (grade B)

#27. Chemung County, New York

- Population: 84,456
- Median home value: $114,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $918 (32% own)
- Median household income: $58,175
- Top public schools: Big Flats School (grade A minus), Gardner Road Elementary School (grade A minus), Horseheads Intermediate 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 to live: West Elmira (grade B+), Elmira Heights (grade B), Elmira (grade C+)

#26. Livingston County, New York

- Population: 62,253
- Median home value: $142,000 (76% own)
- Median rent: $843 (24% own)
- Median household income: $64,467
- Top public schools: Caledonia-Mumford Middle School (grade B+), Caledonia-Mumford Elementary School (grade B+), Geneseo Middle/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 to live: Dansville (grade B minus), Lima (grade A), Geneseo (grade A)

#25. Cortland County, New York

- Population: 46,984
- Median home value: $130,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $811 (33% own)
- Median household income: $62,163
- Top public schools: Homer Senior High School (grade B+), Cortland Junior/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 to live: Munsons Corners (grade B+), Cortland (grade B), McGraw (grade C)

#24. Steuben County, New York

- Population: 94,153
- Median home value: $108,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $755 (27% own)
- Median household income: $58,652
- Top public schools: Corning-Painted Post High School (grade A minus), Frederick Carder Elementary School (grade B+), Erwin Valley Elementary 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 to live: Gang Mills (grade A), Painted Post (grade A), Corning (grade A minus)

#23. Sullivan County, New York

- Population: 78,230
- Median home value: $185,700 (69% own)
- Median rent: $933 (31% own)
- Median household income: $63,393
- Top public schools: Sullivan West Elementary School (grade B), Liberty Middle/High School (grade B minus), Livingston Manor High 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 to live: Wurtsboro (grade B minus), Monticello (grade C), South Fallsburg (grade C minus)

#22. Columbia County, New York

- Population: 61,587
- Median home value: $250,600 (73% own)
- Median rent: $992 (27% own)
- Median household income: $73,065
- Top public schools: Ichabod Crane Primary School (grade A minus), Chatham High School (grade A minus), Ichabod Crane Senior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Darrow School (grade A+), Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School (grade A minus), Mountain Road School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Niverville (grade A minus), Valatie (grade B+), Lorenz Park (grade B+)

#21. Oneida County, New York

- Population: 232,034
- Median home value: $138,700 (68% own)
- Median rent: $807 (32% own)
- Median household income: $61,733
- Top public schools: Perry Junior High School (grade A), New Hartford Senior High School (grade A), Hughes Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus), Holy Cross Academy (grade B minus), Notre Dame Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Washington Mills (grade A+), Clinton (grade A), Whitesboro (grade A minus)

#20. Jefferson County, New York

- Population: 117,634
- Median home value: $154,000 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (45% own)
- Median household income: $58,271
- Top public schools: Calcium Primary School (grade A minus), Indian River High School (grade A minus), Antwerp Primary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Immaculate Heart Central Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus), Faith Fellowship Christian School (grade C+), Immaculate Heart Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Black River (grade B+), Carthage (grade B), West Carthage (grade B minus)

#19. Ulster County, New York

- Population: 181,862
- Median home value: $252,300 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,175 (31% own)
- Median household income: $71,040
- Top public schools: New Paltz Senior High School (grade A), Marlboro Central High School (grade A minus), Onteora Middle School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Woodstock Day School (grade A minus), Mountain Laurel Waldorf School (grade A), Kingston Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Hurley (grade A minus), Marlboro (grade A minus), Highland (grade B+)

#18. Broome County, New York

- Population: 198,591
- Median home value: $122,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $806 (35% own)
- Median household income: $53,982
- Top public schools: Vestal Senior High School (grade A+), African Road Elementary School (grade A), Vestal Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Seton Catholic Central High School (grade A), St. James School (grade A), Ross Corners Christian Academy (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: Endwell (grade A), Port Dickinson (grade A minus), Chenango Bridge (grade B+)

#17. Niagara County, New York

- Population: 212,808
- Median home value: $140,400 (72% own)
- Median rent: $753 (28% own)
- Median household income: $60,834
- Top public schools: Starpoint Middle School (grade A), Primary Education Center (grade A), Intermediate Education Center (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. John Lutheran School (grade A), Christian Academy of Western New York (grade B+), DeSales Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Youngstown (grade A), Rapids (grade A minus), South Lockport (grade A minus)

#16. Schenectady County, New York

- Population: 157,515
- Median home value: $178,000 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,018 (36% own)
- Median household income: $69,891
- Top public schools: Niskayuna High School (grade A+), Rosendale School (grade A), Van Antwerp Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mekeel Christian Academy (grade A minus), Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School (grade B+), Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Northside (grade A minus), Union Street (grade A minus), East Glenville (grade A minus)

#15. Rensselaer County, New York

- Population: 161,125
- Median home value: $204,200 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,046 (37% own)
- Median household income: $76,731
- Top public schools: Red Mill School (grade A), Bell Top School (grade A), Green Meadow School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Emma Willard School (grade A+), Hoosac School (grade A), The Doane Stuart School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Hampton Manor (grade A), Averill Park (grade A minus), Rensselaer (grade B+)

#14. Ontario County, New York

- Population: 112,060
- Median home value: $169,200 (73% own)
- Median rent: $962 (27% own)
- Median household income: $70,694
- Top public schools: Victor Senior High School (grade A), Victor Junior High School (grade A), Canandaigua Academy (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. Mary School (grade unavailable), St. Francis de Sales-St. Stephen School (grade unavailable), Canandaigua Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Canandaigua (grade A minus), Geneva (grade A minus), Manchester (grade B+)

#13. Erie County, New York

- Population: 949,715
- Median home value: $169,100 (65% own)
- Median rent: $893 (35% own)
- Median household income: $62,578
- Top public schools: Williamsville East High School (grade A+), Dodge Elementary School (grade A+), Maple East Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Nichols School (grade A+), Buffalo Seminary (grade A+), Canisius High School (grade A)
- Top places to live: Williamsville (grade A+), Eggertsville (grade A+), Parkside (grade A+)

#12. Suffolk County, New York

- Population: 1,522,998
- Median home value: $436,300 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,895 (18% own)
- Median household income: $111,660
- Top public schools: Half Hollow Hills High School West (grade A+), Half Hollow Hills High School East (grade A+), Nassakeag Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Stony Brook School (grade A+), Ross School (grade A+), The Knox School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Dix Hills (grade A+), Cold Spring Harbor (grade A+), Stony Brook (grade A+)

#11. Dutchess County, New York

- Population: 296,012
- Median home value: $304,600 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,314 (31% own)
- Median household income: $87,112
- Top public schools: Spackenkill High School (grade A), Hagan School (grade A), Orville A. Todd Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity-Pawling School (grade A+), Poughkeepsie Day School (grade A+), Millbrook School (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Spackenkill (grade A+), Red Oaks Mill (grade A), Crown Heights (grade A)

#10. Orange County, New York

- Population: 398,277
- Median home value: $291,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,379 (31% own)
- Median household income: $85,640
- Top public schools: Kiryas Joel Village School (grade A), Willow Avenue Elementary School (grade A), Cornwall 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 to live: Cornwall-on-Hudson (grade A), Walton Park (grade A), Woodbury (grade A)

#9. Albany County, New York

- Population: 314,679
- Median home value: $235,200 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,113 (43% own)
- Median household income: $73,810
- Top public schools: Shaker High School (grade A+), Bethlehem Central Senior High School (grade A+), Elsmere Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Albany Academies (grade A+), Academy of the Holy Names (grade A), Christian Brothers Academy (grade A minus)
- Top places to live: Washington Park (grade A+), Westmere (grade A+), Menands (grade A+)

#8. Tompkins County, New York

- Population: 105,638
- Median home value: $228,900 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,218 (46% own)
- Median household income: $64,260
- Top public schools: Ithaca Senior High School (grade A+), Northeast School (grade A), DeWitt Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Cascadilla School (grade A+), Elizabeth Ann Clune Montessori School (grade unavailable), Cornell University Child Care Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Cayuga Heights (grade A+), East Ithaca (grade A+), Lansing (grade A+)

#7. Putnam County, New York

- Population: 97,960
- Median home value: $377,800 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,544 (17% own)
- Median household income: $111,617
- Top public schools: Garrison School (grade A), Carmel High School (grade A), Putnam Valley Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: St. James the Apostle School (grade unavailable), Green Chimneys School (grade unavailable), The Manitou School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Cold Spring (grade A), Peach Lake (grade A minus), Mahopac (grade B+)

#6. Onondaga County, New York

- Population: 474,621
- Median home value: $154,100 (65% own)
- Median rent: $926 (35% own)
- Median household income: $66,012
- Top public schools: Fayetteville-Manlius Senior High School (grade A+), Jamesville-Dewitt High School (grade A+), Enders 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 A minus)
- Top places to live: Fayetteville (grade A+), Liverpool (grade A), Westvale (grade A)

#5. Monroe County, New York

- Population: 757,332
- Median home value: $160,000 (64% own)
- Median rent: $991 (36% own)
- Median household income: $66,317
- 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 to live: Brighton (grade A+), Fairport (grade A), Upper Monroe (grade A)

#4. Saratoga County, New York

- Population: 235,010
- Median home value: $273,500 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,198 (28% own)
- Median household income: $90,800
- Top public schools: Tesago Elementary School (grade A), Shenendehowa High School (grade A), Francis L. Stevens Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Augustine Classical Academy (grade A), The King's School (grade A minus), Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Country Knolls (grade A+), Saratoga Springs (grade A), Ballston Spa (grade A minus)

#3. Rockland County, New York

- Population: 336,485
- Median home value: $465,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,642 (32% own)
- Median household income: $99,707
- Top public schools: Tappan Zee High School (grade A+), Nyack Senior High School (grade A+), Clarkstown South Senior High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Green Meadow Waldorf School (grade A+), Albertus Magnus High School (grade A), Bais Yaakov of Ramapo (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Upper Nyack (grade A+), West Nyack (grade A+), Piermont (grade A+)

#2. Westchester County, New York

- Population: 999,723
- Median home value: $559,900 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,682 (38% own)
- Median household income: $105,387
- Top public schools: Scarsdale Senior High School (grade A+), Horace Greeley High School (grade A+), Pelham Memorial High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), Hackley School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+)
- Top places to live: Hartsdale (grade A+), Ardsley (grade A+), Pelham Manor (grade A+)

#1. Nassau County, New York

- Population: 1,391,678
- Median home value: $560,100 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,940 (18% own)
- Median household income: $126,576
- Top public schools: Jericho Senior High School (grade A+), Great Neck South 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 to live: Great Neck Gardens (grade A+), Great Neck Plaza (grade A+), Herricks (grade A+)

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