Best places to live in New York
An ideal town or neighborhood looks different for everyone.
Those who can't get enough of the outdoors may prioritize proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches, while parents are looking for places with top-ranked schools for their children. Culture lovers might want to live in a city with museums and art walks, whereas sports fans look for professional or college sports teams nearby.
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in New York using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums.
Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
CORRECTION: A previously published version of this piece, in some cases, incorrectly listed private schools as public schools.
#30. Riverdale, New York
- Overall Rank: 826
- Population: 14,067
- Median household income: $117,180
- Median home value: $481,111 (53% own)
- Median rent: $2,047 (47% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#29. Spuyten Duyvil, New York
- Overall Rank: 793
- Population: 9,066
- Median household income: $106,578
- Median home value: $396,917 (67% own)
- Median rent: $2,114 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#28. NoHo, New York
- Overall Rank: 759
- Population: 2,524
- Median household income: $164,493
- Median home value: $1,853,360 (27% own)
- Median rent: $2,644 (73% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#27. Battery Park City, New York
- Overall Rank: 722
- Population: 16,990
- Median household income: $228,277
- Median home value: $1,493,628 (28% own)
- Median rent: $3,501 (72% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#26. Upper East Side, New York
- Overall Rank: 670
- Population: 199,289
- Median household income: $171,207
- Median home value: $1,495,121 (37% own)
- Median rent: $2,696 (63% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#25. Flatiron District, New York
- Overall Rank: 629
- Population: 6,880
- Median household income: $205,439
- Median home value: $1,892,337 (29% own)
- Median rent: $3,168 (71% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#24. West Village, New York
- Overall Rank: 551
- Population: 31,798
- Median household income: $166,638
- Median home value: $1,472,096 (29% own)
- Median rent: $2,834 (71% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#23. Downtown Brooklyn, New York
- Overall Rank: 525
- Population: 13,327
- Median household income: $153,685
- Median home value: $1,138,400 (27% own)
- Median rent: $3,474 (73% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#22. Nolita, New York
- Overall Rank: 508
- Population: 5,847
- Median household income: $130,743
- Median home value: $1,655,113 (11% own)
- Median rent: $2,621 (89% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#21. Tribeca, New York
- Overall Rank: 502
- Population: 19,997
- Median household income: $228,005
- Median home value: $2,000,001 (43% own)
- Median rent: $3,111 (57% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#20. SoHo, New York
- Overall Rank: 465
- Population: 11,623
- Median household income: $169,598
- Median home value: $1,978,656 (31% own)
- Median rent: $2,803 (69% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#19. Midtown, New York
- Overall Rank: 460
- Population: 70,498
- Median household income: $181,353
- Median home value: $1,164,416 (39% own)
- Median rent: $2,865 (61% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+)
#18. Clinton Hill, New York
- Overall Rank: 457
- Population: 26,839
- Median household income: $123,138
- Median home value: $1,170,431 (41% own)
- Median rent: $2,643 (59% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Brearley School (grade A+), BASIS Independent Brooklyn (grade A+), Packer Collegiate Institute (grade A+)
#17. East Village, New York
- Overall Rank: 444
- Population: 71,283
- Median household income: $95,560
- Median home value: $947,222 (15% own)
- Median rent: $1,984 (85% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#16. Financial District, New York
- Overall Rank: 435
- Population: 31,676
- Median household income: $184,586
- Median home value: $1,377,981 (24% own)
- Median rent: $3,327 (76% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#15. Brooklyn Heights, New York
- Overall Rank: 390
- Population: 22,666
- Median household income: $171,490
- Median home value: $1,299,627 (49% own)
- Median rent: $2,684 (51% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#14. Murray Hill, New York
- Overall Rank: 387
- Population: 26,866
- Median household income: $160,146
- Median home value: $1,041,523 (33% own)
- Median rent: $3,082 (67% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#13. Prospect Heights, New York
- Overall Rank: 350
- Population: 21,555
- Median household income: $148,693
- Median home value: $1,293,594 (39% own)
- Median rent: $2,504 (61% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: BASIS Independent Brooklyn (grade A+), Packer Collegiate Institute (grade A+), United Nations International School (grade A+)
#12. East Ithaca, New York
- Overall Rank: 331
- Population: 2,135
- Median household income: $115,449
- Median home value: $280,400 (55% own)
- Median rent: $1,620 (45% rent)
- Top public schools: Ithaca Senior High School (grade A), Northeast School (grade A minus), DeWitt Middle 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)
#11. Upper West Side, New York
- Overall Rank: 327
- Population: 220,646
- Median household income: $160,558
- Median home value: $1,565,117 (36% own)
- Median rent: $2,530 (64% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), The Chapin School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+)
#10. Manhattan, New York
- Overall Rank: 315
- Population: 1,645,867
- Median household income: $99,880
- Median home value: $1,104,000 (24% own)
- Median rent: $2,024 (76% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), The Chapin School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+)
#9. Cayuga Heights, New York
- Overall Rank: 258
- Population: 4,044
- Median household income: $121,202
- Median home value: $389,500 (56% own)
- Median rent: $1,210 (44% rent)
- Top public schools: Ithaca Senior High School (grade A), Northeast School (grade A minus), DeWitt Middle 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)
#8. Gramercy, New York
- Overall Rank: 249
- Population: 18,475
- Median household income: $183,533
- Median home value: $1,039,078 (43% own)
- Median rent: $3,056 (57% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#7. Little Italy, New York
- Overall Rank: 246
- Population: 3,028
- Median household income: $102,620
- Median home value: $814,686 (5% own)
- Median rent: $1,555 (95% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#6. Theater District, New York
- Overall Rank: 203
- Population: 5,217
- Median household income: $116,488
- Median home value: $1,678,947 (4% own)
- Median rent: $2,470 (96% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#5. Greenwich Village, New York
- Overall Rank: 191
- Population: 27,455
- Median household income: $186,723
- Median home value: $1,514,113 (40% own)
- Median rent: $2,909 (60% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Lycée Français de New York (grade A+)
#4. Kips Bay, New York
- Overall Rank: 189
- Population: 32,729
- Median household income: $144,102
- Median home value: $954,993 (26% own)
- Median rent: $2,856 (74% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#3. Morningside Heights, New York
- Overall Rank: 183
- Population: 36,539
- Median household income: $119,703
- Median home value: $1,173,328 (23% own)
- Median rent: $2,165 (77% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), The Chapin School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+)
#2. Chelsea, New York
- Overall Rank: 144
- Population: 63,288
- Median household income: $144,654
- Median home value: $1,292,410 (32% own)
- Median rent: $2,623 (68% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Chapin School (grade A+), The Brearley School (grade A+), Trinity School (grade A+)
#1. Hell's Kitchen, New York
- Overall Rank: 79
- Population: 65,019
- Median household income: $120,924
- Median home value: $1,361,009 (14% own)
- Median rent: $2,564 (86% rent)
- Top public schools: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), The Chapin School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 42 states.
