Best counties to retire to in New York
Discover the best counties to retire in New York for 2025! Explore affordable living, healthcare access, scenic beauty, and quality of life for retirees.
By StackerSept. 29 2025, Published 12:00 p.m. ET
Best counties to retire to in New York
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in New York based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in New York.
#25. Schenectady County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 159,603
- Median household income: $76,989
- Median home value: $223,100
- Top places to live: East Glenville (B+), Northside (B+), Scotia (B+)
#24. Monroe County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 754,068
- Median household income: $74,409
- Median home value: $197,100
- Top places to live: Brighton (A+), Fairport (A), Cobbs Hill (A)
#23. Rensselaer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (B-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 160,341
- Median household income: $86,663
- Median home value: $244,300
- Top places to live: Hampton Manor (A), Wynantskill (A-), Averill Park (B)
#22. Broome County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (B-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 197,738
- Median household income: $61,059
- Median home value: $145,100
- Top places to live: Endwell (A), Port Dickinson (A-), Chenango Bridge (B+)
#21. Tioga County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 48,106
- Median household income: $71,791
- Median home value: $153,200
- Top places to live: Apalachin (B+), Waverly (C+), Owego (A-)
#20. Schuyler County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 17,749
- Median household income: $65,625
- Median home value: $163,300
- Top places to live: Watkins Glen (B-), Montour Falls (B-), Reading (B)
#19. Chautauqua County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (D+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 126,329
- Median household income: $56,507
- Median home value: $119,300
- Top places to live: Fredonia (A-), Lakewood (B+), Silver Creek (B)
#18. Livingston County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 61,588
- Median household income: $72,464
- Median home value: $169,600
- Top places to live: Dansville (B-), Caledonia (A), Lima (A)
#17. Ulster County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 182,109
- Median household income: $81,804
- Median home value: $315,100
- Top places to live: Hurley (A-), Highland (A-), Marlboro (B+)
#16. Otsego County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 59,738
- Median household income: $67,086
- Median home value: $175,900
- Top places to live: Oneonta (A-), West End (B+), Oneonta Town (A-)
#15. Niagara County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 211,341
- Median household income: $67,809
- Median home value: $177,400
- Top places to live: Youngstown (A), Rapids (B+), Sanborn (B+)
#14. Dutchess County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 297,144
- Median household income: $97,273
- Median home value: $368,100
- Top places to live: Spackenkill (A+), Arlington (A), Crown Heights (A)
#13. Putnam County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 97,988
- Median household income: $127,405
- Median home value: $448,000
- Top places to live: Cold Spring (A), Peach Lake (A-), Lake Carmel (B+)
#12. Albany County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 315,374
- Median household income: $83,149
- Median home value: $277,400
- Top places to live: Washington Park (A), Center Square (A), Helderberg (A)
#11. Suffolk County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 1,525,680
- Median household income: $128,329
- Median home value: $539,500
- Top places to live: Dix Hills (A+), Stony Brook (A+), Centerport (A+)
#10. Saratoga County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C+), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 237,075
- Median household income: $99,653
- Median home value: $324,800
- Top places to live: Country Knolls (A), Saratoga Springs (A), Ballston Spa (B+)
#9. Westchester County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 996,888
- Median household income: $118,411
- Median home value: $638,400
- Top places to live: Ardsley (A+), Scarsdale (A+), Pelham Manor (A+)
#8. Essex County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (D+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 37,077
- Median household income: $70,215
- Median home value: $200,000
- Top places to live: Lake Placid (B), St. Armand (B), Elizabethtown (B)
#7. Greene County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 47,554
- Median household income: $74,011
- Median home value: $248,300
- Top places to live: Jefferson Heights (C+), Windham (A), Durham (A-)
#6. Warren County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 65,560
- Median household income: $78,239
- Median home value: $247,600
- Top places to live: Glens Falls (B+), West Glens Falls (B), Queensbury (A-)
#5. Delaware County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (C-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 44,551
- Median household income: $60,226
- Median home value: $176,200
- Top places to live: Delhi (A-), Bovina (B), Meredith (B)
#4. Hamilton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (D+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 5,102
- Median household income: $68,950
- Median home value: $242,000
- Top places to live: Speculator (B+), Lake Pleasant (B+), Inlet (B)
#3. Ontario County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B-), weather (C-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 112,405
- Median household income: $79,814
- Median home value: $202,900
- Top places to live: Geneva (A-), Canandaigua (A-), Manchester (B+)
#2. Columbia County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (C+), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 61,245
- Median household income: $83,619
- Median home value: $309,800
- Top places to live: Valatie (B+), Niverville (B), Lorenz Park (B)
#1. Nassau County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 1,388,138
- Median household income: $143,408
- Median home value: $658,700
- Top places to live: Great Neck Plaza (A+), Kensington (A+), Syosset (A+)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
