This article, the fourth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in New York based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, “places” are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.
Among the twenty best places to live in New York, nineteen are suburbs of New York City and one is a village in Ithaca. By county, eleven of the best places to live in New York are located in Nassau County, seven in Westchester County, and one each in Suffolk and Tompkins Counties.
After reading “Best Places to Live in New York (2012),” return to this link to read “Largest Cities in New York (2012).” A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
For the culmination of the 50-state series, read “Best Places to Live in America (2012).”
This article may be updated as new data becomes available.
1. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Pound Ridge, NY (Westchester County)
Population: 4,920
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $170,569
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 78.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.02
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 51 miles SSW
Albany, NY: 125 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 387 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 228 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 252 miles NW
2. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Lloyd Harbor, NY (Suffolk County)
Population: 3,748
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $167,296
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 66.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.27
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 42 miles SW
Albany, NY: 175 miles NNW
Buffalo, NY: 411 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 257 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 283 miles NNW
3. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Munsey Park, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 2,622
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $140,344
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 80.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.02
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 22 miles WSW
Albany, NY: 157 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 393 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 241 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 265 miles NNW
4. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Brookville, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 3,905
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $153,563
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 78.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.15
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 31 miles WSW
Albany, NY: 168 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 404 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 252 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 276 NNW
5. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – East Hills, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 6,804
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $124,219
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 84.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.29
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 24 miles WSW
Albany, NY: 162 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 398 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 246 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 270 miles NNW
6. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Muttontown, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 3,614
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $158,529
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 74.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.15
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 31 miles SW
Albany, NY: 169 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 405 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 252 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 276 miles NNW
7. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Oyster Bay Cove, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 2,525
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $151,525
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 69.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.74
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 36 miles WSW
Albany, NY: 170 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 406 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 255 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 277 miles NNW
8. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Scarsdale, NY (Westchester County)
Population: 17,709
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $126,133
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 81.1%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.7
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 27 miles SSW
Albany, NY: 140 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 372 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 213 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 237 miles NNW
9. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – New Castle, NY (Westchester County)
Population: 17,686
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $121,835
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 77.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.56
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 39 miles SSW
Albany, NY: 118 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 364 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 205 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 229 miles NNW
10. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Old Westbury, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 4,993
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $121,538
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 76.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.29
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 25 miles WSW
Albany, NY: 163 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 399 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 246 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 270 miles NNW
11. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Sands Point, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 2,854
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $122,621
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 74.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.34
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 26 miles SW
Albany, NY: 161 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 397 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 245 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 269 miles NNW
12. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Bronxville, NY (Westchester County)
Population: 6,522
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,219
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 83.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.15
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 21 miles SSW
Albany, NY: 144 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 377 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 217 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 241 miles NW
13. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Briarcliff Manor, NY (Westchester County)
Population: 7,998
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $105,602
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 73.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.12
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 35 miles SSW
Albany, NY: 120 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 363 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 203 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 227 miles NNW
14. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Larchmont, NY (Westchester County)
Population: 6,549
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $102,717
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 80.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.04
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 25 miles SSW
Albany, NY: 141 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 383 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 223 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 247 miles NNW
15. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Great Neck Estates, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 2,787
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $91,131
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 77.2%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.27
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 19 miles WSW
Albany, NY: 155 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 391 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 238 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 262 miles NNW
16. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Lewisboro, NY (Westchester County)
Population: 12,486
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $98,996
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 69.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.64
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 55 miles SW
Albany, NY: 123 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 386 miles NE
Ithaca, NY: 223 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 250 miles NW
17. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Laurel Hollow, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 2,052
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $109,950
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 67.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.88
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 36 miles WSW
Albany, NY: 169 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 405 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 253 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 277 miles NNW
18. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Cayuga Heights, NY (Tompkins County)
Population: 3,661
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $62,752
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 84.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.09
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 228 miles SE
Albany, NY: 165 miles NE
Buffalo, NY: 154 WNW
Ithaca, NY: 1.8 miles SSW
Syracuse, NY: 54 miles NNE
19. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – Kings Point, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 5,305
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $84,260
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 55.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.74
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 23 miles SW
Albany, NY: 157 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 393 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 241 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 265 NNW
20. Best Places to Live in New York (2012) – North Hills, NY (Nassau County)
Population: 4,539
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $72,324
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 54.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.02
Distance to Familiar Cities:
New York, NY: 21 miles WSW
Albany, NY: 158 miles N
Buffalo, NY: 394 miles NW
Ithaca, NY: 241 miles NW
Syracuse, NY: 265 miles NNW
*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency or the state police. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from state, county, or contiguous municipality data.
Source(s):
“All Cities in New York,” City-Data.com
“2ND PRECINCT MAJOR CRIME – REPORTS,” Nassau County Police District
“4TH PRECINCT MAJOR CRIME – REPORTS,” Nassau County Police District
“6TH PRECINCT MAJOR CRIME – REPORTS,” Nassau County Police District
“American Community Survey,” U.S. Census Bureau
“American Fact Finder,” U.S. Census Bureau
“Uniform Crime Reports – New York,” Federal Bureau of Investigation
