Best places to live in New York
We cover 8 places in New York, home to 9.64 million residents. The largest is New York (8.58 million), the fastest growing since 2020 is New Rochelle (+7.7%), and the lowest metro price level is in Syracuse (95.7). The top state income tax rate is 10.9%. The average combined sales tax is 8.54%.
Best places to live in New York, ranked
Each city gets a score out of 100 from six official measures, weighted as shown: home prices compared with income (25%), household income (15%), population growth since 2020 (15%), short commutes (15%), comfortable months of weather (15%) and low poverty (15%). Scores compare all 546 large US cities, so a 70 in New York means the same as a 70 anywhere. See the national ranking and method.
| # | City | Score | Home value to income | Income | Growth | Commute | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Rochelle | 49 | 6.4× | $109,167 | +7.7% | 33 min | 5 |
| 2 | Albany | 48 | 3.8× | $61,986 | +2.6% | 20 min | 4 |
| 3 | Syracuse | 47 | 2.9× | $47,819 | -2.5% | 18 min | 5 |
| 4 | Buffalo | 46 | 3.3× | $50,041 | -1.3% | 20 min | 5 |
| 5 | Rochester | 46 | 3.0× | $47,213 | -2.4% | 19 min | 5 |
| 6 | Ithaca | 36 | 7.0× | $48,784 | +4.8% | 19 min | 5 |
| 7 | Yonkers | 35 | 6.0× | $83,549 | +0.5% | 36 min | 5 |
| 8 | New York | 16 | 9.7× | $80,483 | -2.5% | 40 min | 3 |
Best for retirees, young professionals or families? Every city page shows all four scores, and the city quiz ranks cities by what matters to you.
Largest cities in New York
| City | Population 2025 | Growth | Home value | Rent | Income | Price level | Jan high | Jul high |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 8,584,629 | -2.5% | $777,600 | $1,821 | $80,483 | 112.6 | 40° | 85° |
| Buffalo | 274,613 | -1.3% | $164,200 | $1,046 | $50,041 | 95.8 | 32° | 80° |
| Yonkers | 212,603 | +0.5% | $501,600 | $1,784 | $83,549 | 112.6 | 40° | 86° |
| Rochester | 206,108 | -2.4% | $139,600 | $1,081 | $47,213 | 97.0 | 33° | 83° |
| Syracuse | 144,896 | -2.5% | $138,400 | $1,039 | $47,819 | 95.7 | 32° | 82° |
| Albany | 101,698 | +2.6% | $234,700 | $1,216 | $61,986 | 99.6 | 33° | 84° |
| New Rochelle | 85,864 | +7.7% | $702,500 | $1,917 | $109,167 | 112.6 | 40° | 86° |
| Ithaca | 33,632 | +4.8% | $342,700 | $1,447 | $48,784 | 103.3 | 31° | 80° |
Taxes in New York
New York has a graduated income tax with a top rate of 10.9% in 2026. The state sales tax is 4%, and with the average local rate added it comes to 8.54%. Source: Tax Foundation, 2026. Local income taxes are not included.
Top parks and sights in New York
The New York parks, museums, landmarks and natural wonders people know best. Tap Been or Want to add them to your city passport.
- Niagara Falls Waterfall
- Metropolitan Museum of Art Museum
- Brooklyn Bridge Bridge
- Museum of Modern Art Museum
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Museum
- Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Bridge
- George Washington Bridge Bridge
- Brooklyn Museum Museum
- Lake Champlain Lake
- Manhattan Bridge Bridge
- Bronx Zoo Zoo
Places from Wikidata (CC0), ranked by how many Wikipedia language editions cover them.