15 Safest and Cheapest Cities To Live in New York

©Shutterstock.com

Commitment to Our Readers

GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.

20 Years
Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed
by Experts

Trusted by
Millions of Readers

By no means could you classify New York as an affordable state. The cost of living in The Empire State is 26% higher than the national average, according to RentCafe. And housing costs are dramatically more than that — 75% higher. 

Despite New York being an expensive place to live, many people want to live there, and understandably so. It boasts a wide range of beautiful natural scenery and is an economic powerhouse with a healthy job market. If you’re thinking about moving to The Empire State, you may be wondering the best place to live, and that may mean the safest and most affordable.

In a recent study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in New York to find the cheapest and safest places to live. These are the 15 cities in The Empire State that ranked the highest in safety and affordability.

Peekskill

• Household median income: $86,695 
• Total cost of living, annually: $64,380 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 10.54 
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 2.60
• Livability: 76

White Plains

• Household median income: $109,551 
• Total cost of living, annually: $84,702 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 12.73
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.14
• Livability: 71

Port Washington

• Household median income: $177,439  
• Total cost of living, annually: $114,938 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 6.88
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 0.30
• Livability: 79

Batavia

• Household median income: $54,937   
• Total cost of living, annually: $35,330 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 25.13
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 4.15
• Livability: 68

Saratoga Springs

• Household median income: $97,241  
• Total cost of living, annually: $64,318 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 18.25
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 3.34
• Livability: 81

Long Beach

• Household median income: $125,974 
• Total cost of living, annually: $90,321 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.44
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 0.89
• Livability: 81

Geneva

• Household median income: $63,602  
• Total cost of living, annually: $37,647 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 20.95
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 4.53
• Livability: 77

Cohoes

• Household median income: $62,679 
• Total cost of living, annually: $46,905 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.76
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 2.68
• Livability: 82

Auburn

• Household median income: $48,203 
• Total cost of living, annually: $37,205 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 21.33
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 2.45
• Livability: 73

Beacon

• Household median income: $96,891 
• Total cost of living, annually: $64,932 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 9.69
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.02
• Livability: 85

Rome

• Household median income: $56,901 
• Total cost of living, annually: $37,092 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 15.11
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 2.42
• Livability: 63

Amsterdam

• Household median income: $46,338  
• Total cost of living, annually: $39,539 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 14.01
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.32
• Livability: 79

Dunkirk

• Household median income: $46,800  
• Total cost of living, annually: $30,678 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 16.60
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.68
• Livability: 72

Glens Falls

• Household median income: $64,731 
• Total cost of living, annually: $42,048 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 8.27
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.50
• Livability: 82

North Tonawanda

• Household median income: $66,836  
• Total cost of living, annually: $41,918 
• Property crime rate per 1,000 residents: 10.64
• Violent crime rate per 1,000 residents: 1.58
• Livability: 82

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed cities in New York to find the cheapest and safest places to live. First, GOBankingRates found the cities in New York along with their basic information, including total population, population ages 65 and over, total households, and household median income, all sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. For each city, a number of factors were found, including average single-family home value from July 2024 as sourced from Zillow Home Value Index, the cost of living indexes as sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces, the livability index as sourced from AreaVibes, the property crimes committed and the violent crimes committed as sourced from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer. Using the cost of living indexes and the national average expenditure costs as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for all residents, the average expenditure costs can be calculated for each city. Using the average home value, assuming a 10% down payment, and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage cost can be calculated. Using the mortgage and expenditure costs, the average cost of living can be calculated for each city. Using the violent and property crime data, the crime rates per 1,000 residents can be calculated. The property crime rate per 1,000 residents was scored and weighted at 1.00, the violent crime rate per 1,000 residents was scored and weighted at 1.00, the household median income was scored and weighted at 1.00, the average expenditure cost was scored and weighted at 1.00, and the average mortgage cost was scored and weighted at 1.00. All the scores were summed and sorted to show the cheapest and safest cities in New York. All data was collected on and is up to date as of Aug. 26, 2024.

Share This Article: