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.
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
1 / 30- 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+)
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2 / 30- 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+)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
3 / 30- 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+)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
4 / 30- 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+)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
5 / 30- 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+)
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6 / 30- 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+)
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7 / 30- 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+)
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8 / 30- 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+)
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock
9 / 30- 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+)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 30- 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+)
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11 / 30- 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+)
PeopleImages.com - Yuri A // Shutterstock
12 / 30- 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+)
imtmphoto // Shutterstock
13 / 30- 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+)
oneinchpunch // Shutterstock
14 / 30- 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+)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
15 / 30- 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+)
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16 / 30- 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+)
Akarawut // Shutterstock
17 / 30- 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+)
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18 / 30- 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+)
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19 / 30- 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)
Stuart Monk // Shutterstock
20 / 30- 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+)
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21 / 30- 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+)
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22 / 30- 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)
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23 / 30- 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+)
Jacek Chabraszewski // Shutterstock
24 / 30- 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+)
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
25 / 30- 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+)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
26 / 30- 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+)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
27 / 30- 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+)
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28 / 30- 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+)
Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko // Shutterstock
29 / 30- 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+)
Robert Kneschke // Shutterstock
30 / 30- 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.
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