Best Counties for Retirement in New York 2026

60 counties ranked by health care, safety, tax burden, and affordability.

All 60 Retirement-Ranked Counties in New York

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1New York County, NY7056.5
2Kings County, NY7055.2
3Hamilton County, NY6863
4Essex County, NY6459.1
5Lewis County, NY6459.4
6Allegany County, NY6359.1
7Otsego County, NY6353.8
8Wyoming County, NY6258.6
9Putnam County, NY6155.2
10Tioga County, NY6053.8
11Greene County, NY6051.9
12Schuyler County, NY5958.2
13Schoharie County, NY5953.8
14Delaware County, NY5850.2
15Clinton County, NY5751.9
16Steuben County, NY5751.3
17Washington County, NY5750.2
18Franklin County, NY5653.1
19Saratoga County, NY5650.6
20Columbia County, NY5549
21Livingston County, NY5551.4
22St. Lawrence County, NY5451.3
23Bronx County, NY5342.6
24Ontario County, NY5247.6
25Wayne County, NY5249.6
26Westchester County, NY5245.6
27Yates County, NY5251.3
28Madison County, NY5147.8
29Dutchess County, NY5143.8
30Warren County, NY5046
31Ulster County, NY5045.4
32Orleans County, NY5051.8
33Sullivan County, NY5044.6
34Herkimer County, NY4947.1
35Nassau County, NY4946.3
36Seneca County, NY4945.3
37Orange County, NY4742.1
38Cayuga County, NY4743.8
39Rockland County, NY4742.6
40Chenango County, NY4646.5
41Jefferson County, NY4541.1
42Suffolk County, NY4542.9
43Oswego County, NY4442.8
44Cattaraugus County, NY4446.3
45Genesee County, NY4446.7
46Fulton County, NY4443.2
47Niagara County, NY4442.5
48Montgomery County, NY4240.1
49Tompkins County, NY4138.4
50Rensselaer County, NY4039.9
51Chemung County, NY4039.3
52Monroe County, NY4037.4
53Oneida County, NY4039
54Chautauqua County, NY4041.2
55Onondaga County, NY3936.8
56Erie County, NY3836.7
57Broome County, NY3837.3
58Albany County, NY3735.4
59Cortland County, NY3638.9
60Schenectady County, NY3534.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for retirement in New York?

Based on our analysis of health care access, safety, property taxes, and cost of living, New York County ranks as the top retirement county in New York with a retirement score of 70.

How many counties in New York are ranked for retirement?

We rank 60 counties in New York for retirement suitability, scoring each on health care access (35%), safety (30%), property tax (20%), and cost of living (15%).

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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.