The Cost of Raising Kids in the 10 Nicest New York Suburbs

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When we embark on the biggest and most fulfilling risk of life — having kids — we want the best for them. And the onus is not only on us to provide the best, but also on our local communities. That’s why we want to live in the “nicest” places possible. Places with low crime rates, beautiful parks and easy access to top-notch schools and healthcare.

If you live or are thinking about living in New York and have children or are planning to, you may be wondering which are the nicest suburbs in the state. And are they affordable? In a new study, GOBankingRates found the cost of living in the nicest suburbs (using livability index data sourced from AreaVibes) in New York state. These are the top 10. 

10. Lockport

• Metro area: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, New York
• Livability: 76
• Household median income: $59,153 
• Average value of a single-family home: $236,400   
• Total cost of living annually: $50,511 

9. Rensselaer

• Metro area: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York
• Livability: 76
• Household median income: $66,046 
• Average value of a single-family home: $278,178   
• Total cost of living annually: $55,509

8. Geneva

• Metro area: Rochester, New York 
• Livability: 77 
• Household median income: $68,242 
• Average value of a single-family home: $196,678   
• Total cost of living annually: $47,835

7. Johnstown

• Metro area: Gloversville, New York
• Livability: 77
• Household median income: $62,333 
• Average value of a single-family home: $177,600   
• Total cost of living annually: $46,294

6. Long Beach

• Metro area: New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania
• Livability: 81
• Household median income: $130,795 
• Average value of a single-family home: $793,387   
• Total cost of living annually: $103,037

5. Saratoga Springs

• Metro area: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York
• Livability: 81 
• Household median income: $100,485 
• Average value of a single-family home: $558,837   
• Total cost of living annually: $75,796

4. Cohoes

• Metro area: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York
•  Livability: 82 
• Household median income: $62,111 
• Average value of a single-family home: $305,372   
• Total cost of living annually: $58,226 

3. Watervliet

• Metro area: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, New York
• Livability: 82 
• Household median income: $55,897 
• Average value of a single-family home: $282,892   
• Total cost of living annually: $56,281 

2. Beacon

• Metro area: Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, New York
• Livability: 85
• Household median income: $93,347 
• Average value of a single-family home: $509,678   
• Total cost of living annually: $77,539 

1. North Tonawanda

• Metro area: Buffalo-Cheektowaga, New York
• Livability: 86
• Household median income: $66,774 
• Average value of a single-family home: $253,198   
• Total cost of living annually: $52,106 

Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed suburbs in New York state to find the cost of living for a family of four in the best suburbs. To qualify for this study, the suburb has to be in a metro area but cannot be named in the name of the metro area, as well as having no more than 300,000 population. For each location the total population, population ages 65 and over, total households and household median income were sourced from the U.S. Census’s 2023 five-year American Community Survey. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and using the national average expenditure costs for a family of four, as sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey for a married couple with children (oldest 6-17), the average expenditure cost can be calculated for each location. The average single-family home value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index from March 2025, and by 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 can be calculated. Using the average mortgage and expenditures, the total cost of living can be calculated for each location. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes and is used to determine the quality of life for “nicest” places to live. The suburbs were sorted to show the highest livability, representing the best suburbs to live. All data was collected on and is up to date as of April 23, 2025.

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