Upstate New York is a great place to live. Some might criticize the area for its taxes or economy, but this region has plenty of attractions, charming towns, booming craft beer and wine industries, best colleges and good quality of life.
Niche.com's 2018 Best Places to Live in New York ranking provides a comprehensive assessment of the overall livability of an area. It takes into account factors such as crime, public schools, cost of living, job opportunities, local amenities, and more. Data is from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, and other sources.
Here are the top 30 cities, towns, or villages in Upstate NY. The rankings also include its standing statewide.
Chuck D'Imperio | NYup.com
#30 Oneonta (Otsego County)
Photo: In downtown Oneonta, there is a treasured railroad icon, "The Little Red Caboose," the actual railroad car that was used for the 1883 organization of the first railroad union in America.
Population: 13,863
Median Home Value: $141,100
Median Household Income: $41,473
NY state rank: #200
Gary Walts | Syracuse.com
#29 Clinton (Oneida County)
Photo: The historic village of Clinton NY is noted by a member of the Chamber of Commerce as a "Walking town. Peaceful & friendly with a lot of dog owners."
Population: 1,967
Median Home Value: $183,200
Median Household Income: $52,350
NY state rank: #194
#28 Painted Post (Steuben County)
Population: 1,650
Median Home Value: $104,900
Median Household Income: $55,714
NY state rank: #193
#27 Kenmore (Erie County)
Population: 15,303
Median Home Value: $114,500
Median Household Income: $52,676
NY state rank: #192
#26 Fort Montgomery (Orange County)
Population: 1,544
Median Home Value: $258,900
Median Household Income: $97,589
NY state rank: #190
Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com
#25 Westvale (Onondaga County)
Photo: The Paint Westvale Purple 5K run run/walk was held on Sunday April 26th 2015.
Population: 5,118
Median Home Value: $144,300
Median Household Income: $75,085
NY state rank: #178
Courtesy of Parkside Diner
#24 Irondequoit (Monroe County)
Photo: The Parkside Diner has an attached mini-golf course in Irondequoit, NY.
Population: 51,135
Median Home Value: $118,000
Median Household Income: $55,303
NY state rank: #177
Jim McKnight | AP Photo
#23 Cornwall-on-Hudson (Orange County)
Photo: A view of "Bannerman's Island Arsenal" on Tuesday, June 10, 2003, as it sits on an island in the Hudson River at Cornwall-on-Hudson, N.Y., as seen by commuter trains traveling from New York City to Poughkeepsie.
Population: 2,931
Median Home Value: $316,000
Median Household Income: $95,577
NY state rank: #173
#22 Spackenkill (Dutchess County)
Population: 4,280
Median Home Value: $291,700
Median Household Income: $113,821
NY state rank: #159
#21 South Hill (Tompkins County)
Population: 6,577
Median Home Value: $199,900
Median Household Income: $53,636
NY state rank: #152
Courtesy of Bill Spence
#20 Altamont (Albany County)
Photo: Residents celebrate Old Songs Festival in Altamont, NY.
Population: 1,735
Median Home Value: $243,000
Median Household Income: $84,643
NY state rank: #151
Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com
#19 Voorheesville (Albany County)
Photo: John Boyd Thacher State Park in Voorheesville, NY.
Population: 2,822
Median Home Value: $232,200
Median Household Income: $87,781
NY state rank: #150
#18 Harris Hill (Erie County)
Population: 5,761
Median Home Value: $199,100
Median Household Income: $87,143
NY state rank: #142
#17 Westmere (Albany County)
Population: 6,778
Median Home Value: $230,100
Median Household Income: $70,576
NY state rank: #140
David Lassman | Syracuse.com
#16 Ithaca (Tompkins County)
Photo: Wizarding Weekend attracts fans of the Harry Potter books and movies to downtown Ithaca, NY, Sat. Oct. 31, 2015.
Population: 30,625
Median Home Value: $219,100
Median Household Income: $30,291
NY state rank: #137
David Lassman | Syracuse.com
#15 Saratoga Springs (Saratoga County)
Photo: A morning scene of the community on Broadway in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Population: 27,447
Median Home Value: $332,800
Median Household Income: $73,661
NY state rank: #135
Courtesy of Rogues Harbor Inn
#14 Lansing (Tompkins County)
Photo: The Rogues Harbor Inn is located on 2079 East Shore Road, Lansing, NY.
Population: 3,637
Median Home Value: $337,600
Median Household Income: $58,472
NY state rank: #115
Courtesy of James Hazeltine
#13 Clarence Center (Erie County)
Photo: James Hazeltine with his daughter and their 1,554-pound pumpkin in Clarence Center, N.Y.
Population: 2,341
Median Home Value: $228,200
Median Household Income: $102,031
NY state rank: #107
Matthew Digati | NYup.com
#12 East Aurora (Erie County)
Photo: East Aurora's Main Street is the quintessential small town strip. Bars, restaurants and plenty of locally-owned, small shops line the cobblestone road.
Population: 6,209
Median Home Value: $180,000
Median Household Income: $67,551
NY state rank: #103
Don Cazentre | dcazentre@nyup.com
#11 Fayetteville (Onondaga County)
Photo: The Fayetteville Farmers Market, in the parking lot of Towne Center off Burdick Road in Fayetteville, NY.
Population: 4,190
Median Home Value: $171,000
Median Household Income: $73,189
NY state rank: #98
#10 Gang Mills (Steuben County)
Population: 4,357
Median Home Value: $169,800
Median Household Income: $86,898
NY state rank: #92
#9 Country Knolls (Saratoga County)
Population: 2,034
Median Home Value: $271,700
Median Household Income: $107,024
NY state rank: #91
Courtesy of Diane Lydon
#8 Fairport (Monroe County)
Photo: Enormous beer tanks destined for the Genesee Brewery in Rochester made their way along the New York State Canal System passing through Fairport.
Population: 5,372
Median Home Value: $167,600
Median Household Income: $69,632
NY state rank: #77
Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com
#7 Menands (Albany County)
Photo: Upon the assassination of James A. Garfield in 1881, Chester A. Arthur became the 21st president of the United States. This is Arthur's grave in Menands, NY.
Population: 3,998
Median Home Value: $211,500
Median Household Income: $65,313
NY state rank: #48
Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
#6 Hamilton (Madison County)
Photo: The Hamilton Movie Theatre is located in Hamilton, NY.
Population: 4,020
Median Home Value: $233,800
Median Household Income: $63,199
NY state rank: #43
#5 Eggertsville (Erie County)
Population: 16,145
Median Home Value: $128,900
Median Household Income: $67,896
NY state rank: #28
Matthew Digati | NYup.com
#4 Williamsville (Erie County)
Photo: The largest attraction in Glen Park -- and Williamsville itself -- is Glen Falls.
Population: 5,269
Median Home Value: $164,000
Median Household Income: $59,552
NY state rank: #15
#3 East Ithaca (Tompkins County)
Population: 2,514
Median Home Value: $215,900
Median Household Income: $47,031
NY state rank: #10
#2 Cayuga Heights (Tompkins County)
Population: 3,799
Median Home Value: $331,000
Median Household Income: $84,922
NY state rank: #6
#1 Brighton (Monroe County)
Population: 36,875
Median Home Value: $171,200
Median Household Income: $67,002
NY state rank: #1
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