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New York

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New York

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Demographics

Majority WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 65
Population19,872,319
Foreign Born9.1%
Population Density422people per mi²
Median Age39.6 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2000, this state has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
D+
Below Average

Below-average lifestyle indicators. Cost of living, mobility, or neighborhood economic signals trail the national baseline.

Quality of Life measures an area by evaluating factors like cost of living, nearby amenities, country club access, airport proximity, socioeconomic signals and neighborhood character. For large states, this is a general average — quality of life can vary dramatically between metro areas, suburbs, and rural communities within the same state.

Cost of Living

138/100

38% above national average

B
Affordability Ratio

50%

The Real Cost of Living in New York

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $47k$89k
Comfortable $115k$169k
Luxury $153k+$237k+
Elite (Top 5%) $221k+$342k+

Economics

Overall Economy Grade
A-
Great

A high-performing local economy. Incomes, home values, and employment meaningfully outpace national averages.

Median HHI
$85k+3.9%
13% above US avg
Avg Net Worth
$687k
5% above US avg
WFH
13.3%
7% below US avg
Homeownership
54.3%
17% below US avg
Median Home
$403k
43% above US avg
Avg HH Debt
$17k
5% below US avg
Poverty Rate
13.7%
19% above US avg
Public Assistance
16.3%
39% above US avg
Unemployment
6.2%
68% above US avg
Median Rent
$2k
36% above US avg

Crime

WARNING: The crime statistics are unreliable for this jurisdiction. Local authorities have either not reported or under reported their data to the FBI. This could be due to bad intentions, incompetence or technical issues. Regardless, we suggest skepticism.

Overall Crime Grade
C-
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 62% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
16.5
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+437.5%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+520.8%
Homicide
0.02 / 1k Residents68% below US avg
Robbery
0.84 / 1k Residents28% above US avg
Aggravated Assault
2.23 / 1k Residents17% below US avg

Property Crime

5yr+354.3%
Burglary
1.00 / 1k Residents63% below US avg
Larceny-Theft
11.07 / 1k Residents21% below US avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.12 / 1k Residents61% below US avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+10Leans Liberal
State Legislature of New York
New York Senate41D · 22R
New York House103D · 47R
Presidential Voting Trends for New York
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
C+
Moderate

Moderate friction. Expect trade-offs in some aspect of personal liberty and independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
F
Poor15.9% of income
Property Rights
F
PoorIJ Grade F
Firearm Rights
F
PoorFPC Grade F
Homeschooling
C+
WeakModerate regulation

Energy independence: Importer (12% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season182 daysstatewide average
Annual Rainfall47.9"statewide average
Elevation1,279 ftstatewide average

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
F
High Risk

High tactical risk. This location is likely close to major population centers, strategic targets, or sits in a high-disaster corridor. A retreat property and careful exit planning is required.

Best Places to Live

Cities

Largest Cities in New York

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-14T06:23:57.000Z

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