Best counties to live in New York

Stacker
Canva

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 83,584
- Median household income: $61,358
- Median home value: $128,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $991 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Gardner Road Elementary School (grade B+), Big Flats School (grade B+), Horseheads Senior High 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: Elmira Heights (grade B), West Elmira (grade B minus), Elmira (grade C)

#30. Chemung County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 78,725
- Median household income: $67,841
- Median home value: $220,200 (69% own)
- Median rent: $996 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Livingston Manor Elementary School (grade B), Liberty Middle/High School (grade B), Sullivan West Elementary 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: Wurtsboro (grade B minus), Monticello (grade C), South Fallsburg (grade C minus)

#29. Sullivan County, New York
tomtsya// Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 37,314
- Median household income: $68,090
- Median home value: $189,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $875 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Lake Placid Elementary School (grade B), Keene Central School (grade B minus), Boquet Valley CSD - Lake View Campus (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Northwood School (grade A+), North Country School (grade A), St. Agnes School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Lake Placid (grade B), St. Armand (grade B+), Schroon Lake (grade B)

#28. Essex County, New York
Stef Ko // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 46,755
- Median household income: $65,029
- Median home value: $148,200 (66% own)
- Median rent: $884 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Cincinnatus Elementary School (grade B+), Homer 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: Munsons Corners (grade B+), Cortland (grade B), McGraw (grade C)

#27. Cortland County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 127,440
- Median household income: $54,625
- Median home value: $110,900 (69% own)
- Median rent: $759 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Fredonia High School (grade B+), Southwestern Senior High School (grade B+), Sherman Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Chautauqua Christian Academy (grade B minus), Northern Chautauqua Catholic School (grade unavailable), Central Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Fredonia (grade A minus), Lakewood (grade B+), Silver Creek (grade B)

#26. Chautauqua County, New York
Joe Trentacosti // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 93,584
- Median household income: $62,506
- Median home value: $121,000 (73% own)
- Median rent: $832 (27% rent)
- Top public schools: Corning-Painted Post High School (grade A minus), Wayland-Cohocton High School (grade B+), Glenn Curtiss Memorial 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: Painted Post (grade A), Gang Mills (grade A), Corning (grade A)

#25. Steuben County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 65,684
- Median household income: $74,531
- Median home value: $240,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,062 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Kensington Road Elementary School (grade A minus), Lake George Elementary School (grade B+), Queensbury Elementary 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: West Glens Falls (grade B+), Glens Falls (grade B), Queensbury (grade A minus)

#24. Warren County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 1,268
- Population: 61,980
- Median household income: $70,443
- Median home value: $159,900 (77% own)
- Median rent: $919 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Caledonia-Mumford Elementary School (grade B+), Caledonia-Mumford Middle School (grade B+), Caledonia-Mumford 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: Dansville (grade B minus), Caledonia (grade A), Lima (grade A minus)

#23. Livingston County, New York
Nina Alizada // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 1,174
- Population: 231,055
- Median household income: $66,402
- Median home value: $157,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $889 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Perry Junior High School (grade A), New Hartford Senior High School (grade A minus), Hughes Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School (grade A minus), Holy Cross Academy (grade C+), Notre Dame Elementary School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Washington Mills (grade A), Clinton (grade A), Whitesboro (grade A minus)

#22. Oneida County, New York
Kenneth Sponsler // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 1,160
- Population: 59,678
- Median household income: $65,778
- Median home value: $166,500 (74% own)
- Median rent: $927 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Cooperstown Elementary School (grade B+), Oneonta Senior High School (grade B+), Unatego Junior/Senior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Oneonta Community Christian School (grade unavailable), Lighthouse Christian Academy (grade unavailable), The Brookwood School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Oneonta (grade A minus), West End (grade B+), Cooperstown (grade A minus)

#21. Otsego County, New York
Mihai_Andritoiu // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 981
- Population: 212,230
- Median household income: $65,882
- Median home value: $163,100 (71% own)
- Median rent: $823 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Intermediate Education Center (grade A), Errick Road Elementary School (grade A), Primary Education Center (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Christian Academy of Western New York (grade B), St. John Lutheran School (grade A+), DeSales Catholic School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Youngstown (grade A), Rapids (grade A minus), Gasport (grade B+)

#20. Niagara County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 945
- Population: 182,153
- Median household income: $77,197
- Median home value: $288,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,269 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: New Paltz Senior High School (grade A), Onteora High School (grade A minus), Marlboro Central High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Woodstock Day School (grade A minus), Mountain Laurel Waldorf School (grade A), High Meadow School (grade A)
- Top places: Highland (grade A minus), Hurley (grade A minus), Marlboro (grade A minus)

#19. Ulster County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 836
- Population: 401,237
- Median household income: $91,806
- Median home value: $337,800 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,494 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Kiryas Joel Village School (grade A+), Cornwall Central High School (grade A), Willow Avenue 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: Cornwall-on-Hudson (grade A), Woodbury (grade A minus), Firthcliffe (grade A minus)

#18. Orange County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 816
- Population: 61,469
- Median household income: $81,741
- Median home value: $283,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,114 (25% rent)
- Top public schools: Ichabod Crane Primary School (grade A minus), Chatham High School (grade B+), Ichabod Crane Senior High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Darrow School (grade A+), Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School (grade A minus), Columbia Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Niverville (grade B+), Valatie (grade B), Lorenz Park (grade B)

#17. Columbia County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 694
- Population: 198,365
- Median household income: $58,317
- Median home value: $139,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $882 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Vestal Senior High School (grade A), Vestal Hills Elementary School (grade A), African Road Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Seton Catholic Central High School (grade A), Ross Corners Christian Academy (grade B+), Central Baptist Christian Academy (grade C)
- Top places: Endwell (grade A), Port Dickinson (grade A minus), Chenango Bridge (grade B+)

#16. Broome County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 592
- Population: 159,447
- Median household income: $75,056
- Median home value: $204,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,092 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Rosendale School (grade A), Birchwood Elementary School (grade A), Iroquois Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mekeel Christian Academy (grade B+), Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School (grade B+), Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Northside (grade A minus), Union Street (grade B+), East Glenville (grade B+)

#15. Schenectady County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 580
- Population: 160,943
- Median household income: $83,734
- Median home value: $230,800 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,141 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Howard L. Goff School (grade A), Bell Top School (grade A), Citizen Edmond Genet School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Emma Willard School (grade A+), Hoosac School (grade A+), The Doane Stuart School (grade A+)
- Top places: Hampton Manor (grade A minus), Wynantskill (grade B+), West Sand Lake (grade B)

#14. Rensselaer County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 477
- Population: 1,524,486
- Median household income: $122,498
- Median home value: $490,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $2,113 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Half Hollow Hills High School West (grade A+), Half Hollow Hills High School East (grade A+), Candlewood Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: The Stony Brook School (grade A+), The Knox School (grade A+), Ross School (grade A+)
- Top places: Dix Hills (grade A+), Stony Brook (grade A+), Poquott (grade A+)

#13. Suffolk County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 463
- Population: 112,288
- Median household income: $76,603
- Median home value: $192,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $1,061 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Victor Junior High School (grade A minus), Canandaigua Academy (grade A minus), Victor Senior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary School (grade unavailable), St. Francis de Sales-St. Stephen School (grade unavailable), Canandaigua Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Geneva (grade A minus), Canandaigua (grade A minus), Manchester (grade B+)

#12. Ontario County, New York
Felix Lipov // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 411
- Population: 337,326
- Median household income: $106,173
- Median home value: $528,900 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,755 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Clarkstown South Senior High School (grade A+), Tappan Zee High School (grade A), Nyack Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Green Meadow Waldorf School (grade A+), Albertus Magnus High School (grade A), Ateres Bais Yaakov (grade B+)
- Top places: Upper Nyack (grade A+), West Nyack (grade A+), Piermont (grade A+)

#11. Rockland County, New York
James Kirkikis // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 376
- Population: 97,942
- Median household income: $120,970
- Median home value: $421,800 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,691 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Haldane Middle School (grade A), Haldane High School (grade A), Putnam Valley Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Green Chimneys School (grade unavailable), The Manitou School (grade unavailable), St. James the Apostle School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Cold Spring (grade A), Peach Lake (grade A minus), Lake Carmel (grade B+)

#10. Putnam County, New York
Colin D. Young // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 362
- Population: 296,467
- Median household income: $94,578
- Median home value: $348,700 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,425 (31% rent)
- Top public schools: Orville A. Todd Middle School (grade A), Spackenkill High School (grade A), Chancellor Livingston Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Trinity-Pawling School (grade A+), Oakwood Friends School (grade A+), Poughkeepsie Day School (grade A+)
- Top places: Spackenkill (grade A+), Crown Heights (grade A), Beacon (grade A minus)

#9. Dutchess County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 320
- Population: 951,232
- Median household income: $68,014
- Median home value: $197,400 (65% own)
- Median rent: $984 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Williamsville East High School (grade A+), Transit Middle School (grade A), Country Parkway Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Nichols School (grade A+), Buffalo Seminary (grade A+), The Park School of Buffalo (grade A+)
- Top places: Eggertsville (grade A+), Williamsville (grade A+), Parkside (grade A)

#8. Erie County, New York
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 307
- Population: 472,637
- Median household income: $71,479
- Median home value: $172,800 (65% own)
- Median rent: $1,002 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Enders Road Elementary School (grade A+), Wellwood Middle School (grade A), Mott 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 B+)
- Top places: Fayetteville (grade A+), Westvale (grade A), Liverpool (grade A)

#7. Onondaga County, New York
Paul Brady Photography // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 227
- Population: 756,406
- Median household income: $71,450
- Median home value: $182,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,085 (36% rent)
- 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: Brighton (grade A+), Fairport (grade A), Cobbs Hill (grade A)

#6. Monroe County, New York
PhotoItaliaStudio // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 222
- Population: 236,328
- Median household income: $97,038
- Median home value: $306,000 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,305 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Chango Elementary School (grade A), Tesago Elementary School (grade A), Karigon Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Augustine Classical Academy (grade A), The King's School (grade A minus), Saratoga Central Catholic School (grade C)
- Top places: Country Knolls (grade A), Saratoga Springs (grade A), Ballston Spa (grade B+)

#5. Saratoga County, New York
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 198
- Population: 315,041
- Median household income: $78,829
- Median home value: $263,800 (57% own)
- Median rent: $1,196 (43% rent)
- Top public schools: Elsmere Elementary School (grade A+), Shaker High School (grade A+), Hamagrael Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: The Albany Academies (grade A+), Academy of the Holy Names (grade A), Loudonville Christian School (grade A minus)
- Top places: Washington Park (grade A), Westmere (grade A), Melrose (grade A)

#4. Albany County, New York
Lewis Liu // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 168
- Population: 102,555
- Median household income: $69,995
- Median home value: $264,300 (54% own)
- Median rent: $1,320 (46% rent)
- Top public schools: Ithaca Senior High School (grade A), Lansing High School (grade A), Northeast 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)
- Top places: Cayuga Heights (grade A+), East Ithaca (grade A+), South Hill (grade A+)

#3. Tompkins County, New York
Canva

- Overall Rank: 160
- Population: 997,904
- Median household income: $114,651
- Median home value: $619,000 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,796 (38% rent)
- Top public schools: Scarsdale Senior High School (grade A+), Horace Greeley High School (grade A+), Bronxville High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools: Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+), Hackley School (grade A+)
- Top places: Ardsley (grade A+), Hartsdale (grade A+), Scarsdale (grade A+)

#2. Westchester County, New York
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock

- Overall Rank: 55
- Population: 1,389,160
- Median household income: $137,709
- Median home value: $633,800 (82% own)
- Median rent: $2,131 (18% rent)
- Top public schools: Great Neck South High School (grade A+), Jericho Senior 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: Great Neck Plaza (grade A+), Great Neck Gardens (grade A+), Kensington (grade A+)

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.

#1. Nassau County, New York
Laura Beach // Shutterstock