Best Cities for Remote Workers in New York
New York ranks #44 of 50 for remote workers, with a remote workers score of 41.4. Levittown is its best city for remote workers at 69.7.
- New York, all states
- #44 of 50
- Population
- 51,904
What Remote Workers Should Know About New York
New York ranks #44 out of 50 for remote workers — a state where remote workers may face some headwinds. Remote work fundamentally changes the relocation calculus: when your salary comes from elsewhere, what matters is how far it stretches locally and how good daily life feels. With a cost-of-living index of 107.9, New York is above average — remote workers from lower-cost areas won't see a purchasing power advantage.
The moderate work-from-home rate of 11.8% suggests growing but not yet dominant remote work adoption. 93.1% of households have a broadband subscription, at or above the 50-state average, so home internet is widely adopted.
The 13.56% tax burden is above average, which can offset some of the cost-of-living advantages for higher-earning remote professionals. Housing affordability (score: 37/100) is a concern — the typical home is worth $526,714, which may require a strong remote salary to afford comfortably.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Remote Workers
| # City | Grade | Remote Workers score | Overall | Affordability | Economy | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Levittown | A+ | 69.7 | 74.8 | 33 | 97 | 51,904 |
| 2Irondequoit | B+ | 65.4 | 62.0 | 78 | 57 | 50,657 |
| 3Tonawanda Town | A | 65.3 | 65.4 | 78 | 56 | 56,806 |
| 4White Plains | A+ | 63.6 | 70.8 | 37 | 74 | 60,666 |
| 5New Rochelle | A+ | 62.3 | 67.5 | 37 | 69 | 82,769 |
| 6West Seneca | A | 61.6 | 63.7 | 77 | 57 | 45,303 |
| 7Cheektowaga | B+ | 60.6 | 60.9 | 80 | 49 | 76,056 |
| 8Yonkers | A | 59.6 | 62.9 | 48 | 57 | 209,978 |
| 9Hempstead | C+ | 59.6 | 55.3 | 51 | 58 | 58,801 |
| 10Mount Vernon | B | 57.2 | 57.3 | 50 | 53 | 72,427 |
| 11Utica | C | 57.0 | 50.7 | 84 | 39 | 64,217 |
| 12Albany | C+ | 56.6 | 54.9 | 73 | 48 | 100,492 |
| 13Schenectady | C | 55.9 | 51.6 | 77 | 42 | 68,847 |
| 14Troy | B | 55.3 | 58.6 | 75 | 43 | 51,033 |
| 15Syracuse | C | 54.7 | 49.8 | 82 | 37 | 146,384 |
| 16Niagara Falls | D | 54.3 | 47.4 | 85 | 32 | 47,987 |
| 17Rochester | C | 54.2 | 50.3 | 81 | 34 | 208,772 |
| 18Buffalo | D | 51.2 | 48.8 | 81 | 37 | 276,854 |
| 19New York | C+ | 50.4 | 54.8 | 35 | 48 | 8,483,844 |
| 20Binghamton | C | 49.1 | 49.3 | 86 | 38 | 47,151 |
City remote workers scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.
Compare: States with Similar Remote Workers Rankings
Also See: New York for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York a good state for remote workers?
New York ranks #44 out of 50 for remote workers with a persona-weighted score of 41.4/100. Its strongest relevant category is Safety (63/100) and its weakest is Growth (14/100).
What is the best city for remote workers in New York?
Levittown ranks #1 in New York for remote workers with a score of 69.7/100, followed by Irondequoit and Tonawanda Town.
What factors are most important for remote workers in New York?
Rankings weighted toward affordable cost of living, strong economy, outdoor access, livability, low taxes, and safe communities — what remote workers prioritize when choosing where to live.