countyscore

Best Counties for Families in New York 2026

60 counties ranked by schools, safety, income, and affordability.

Top 5 Family Counties in New York

1Putnam County
55.2
2Essex County
59.1
3Schuyler County
58.2
4Hamilton County
63
5Lewis County
59.4

All 60 Family-Ranked Counties in New York

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Putnam County, NY7755.2
2Essex County, NY7459.1
3Schuyler County, NY7258.2
4Hamilton County, NY7063
5Lewis County, NY7059.4
6Wyoming County, NY7058.6
7Allegany County, NY6959.1
8Schoharie County, NY6753.8
9New York County, NY6756.5
10Greene County, NY6651.9
11Saratoga County, NY6650.6
12Tioga County, NY6453.8
13Clinton County, NY6451.9
14Washington County, NY6450.2
15Otsego County, NY6353.8
16Yates County, NY6351.3
17Livingston County, NY6351.4
18Franklin County, NY6353.1
19Columbia County, NY6349
20Wayne County, NY6249.6
21Steuben County, NY6251.3
22Westchester County, NY6245.6
23Ulster County, NY6145.4
24Nassau County, NY6146.3
25Ontario County, NY6047.6
26Kings County, NY6055.2
27St. Lawrence County, NY5951.3
28Orange County, NY5942.1
29Orleans County, NY5951.8
30Genesee County, NY5946.7
31Dutchess County, NY5843.8
32Rockland County, NY5842.6
33Suffolk County, NY5842.9
34Sullivan County, NY5744.6
35Madison County, NY5747.8
36Delaware County, NY5750.2
37Warren County, NY5646
38Chenango County, NY5446.5
39Herkimer County, NY5347.1
40Cattaraugus County, NY5346.3
41Rensselaer County, NY5239.9
42Cayuga County, NY5243.8
43Seneca County, NY5245.3
44Oswego County, NY5142.8
45Fulton County, NY5043.2
46Montgomery County, NY4840.1
47Niagara County, NY4842.5
48Jefferson County, NY4841.1
49Bronx County, NY4642.6
50Tompkins County, NY4538.4
51Oneida County, NY4539
52Onondaga County, NY4536.8
53Cortland County, NY4438.9
54Monroe County, NY4437.4
55Albany County, NY4335.4
56Chemung County, NY4339.3
57Erie County, NY4336.7
58Chautauqua County, NY4241.2
59Schenectady County, NY4034.1
60Broome County, NY4037.3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for families in New York?

Based on our analysis of school quality, safety, income, and cost of living, Putnam County ranks as the top family county in New York with a family score of 77.

How many counties in New York are ranked for families?

We rank 60 counties in New York for family suitability, scoring each on school quality (35%), safety (30%), income (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse New York Counties For

RetirementRemote WorkersBest Overall

Family Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.