Best Cities for Small Business in New York
New York ranks #44 of 50 for small business, with a small business score of 37.5. Levittown is its best city for small business at 81.4.
- New York, all states
- #44 of 50
- Population
- 51,904
What Small Business Should Know About New York
New York ranks #44 out of 50 for small business owners and entrepreneurs, presenting some challenges for business formation and growth. The state's fiscal health score of 45/100 raises questions about the state's long-term fiscal trajectory, which can affect tax policy and regulatory stability.
Tax policy directly impacts the bottom line. New York's overall tax burden is 13.56% of income, with a 14.78% income tax rate that applies to both personal and pass-through business income. The 8.54% combined sales tax rate is on the higher side and worth factoring into pricing strategy. The economic environment (score: 46/100) with 4.3% unemployment shows healthy labor availability.
Population is roughly stable, meaning market growth will depend on capturing share rather than riding demographic expansion. The education system (score: 57/100) produces a reasonably well-prepared workforce. A typical home value of $526,714 is expensive enough that employee compensation expectations may be higher.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Small Business
| # City | Grade | Small Business score | Overall | Household finances | Economy | Growth | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Levittown | A+ | 81.4 | 74.8 | 95 | 97 | — | 51,904 |
| 2White Plains | A+ | 66.2 | 70.8 | 68 | 74 | 47 | 60,666 |
| 3New Rochelle | A+ | 63.2 | 67.5 | 69 | 69 | 44 | 82,769 |
| 4West Seneca | A | 61.4 | 63.7 | 59 | 57 | — | 45,303 |
| 5Tonawanda Town | A | 60.5 | 65.4 | 56 | 56 | — | 56,806 |
| 6Irondequoit | B+ | 58.9 | 62.0 | 58 | 57 | — | 50,657 |
| 7Cheektowaga | B+ | 57.2 | 60.9 | 50 | 49 | — | 76,056 |
| 8Yonkers | A | 56.7 | 62.9 | 51 | 57 | 47 | 209,978 |
| 9Hempstead | C+ | 53.3 | 55.3 | 53 | 58 | 41 | 58,801 |
| 10Mount Vernon | B | 52.6 | 57.3 | 47 | 53 | 43 | 72,427 |
| 11Troy | B | 49.1 | 58.6 | 22 | 43 | 44 | 51,033 |
| 12New York | C+ | 47.6 | 54.8 | 42 | 48 | 36 | 8,483,844 |
| 13Albany | C+ | 47.5 | 54.9 | 25 | 48 | 46 | 100,492 |
| 14Schenectady | C | 44.4 | 51.6 | 22 | 42 | 42 | 68,847 |
| 15Buffalo | D | 40.6 | 48.8 | 14 | 37 | 35 | 276,854 |
| 16Utica | C | 40.3 | 50.7 | 12 | 39 | 34 | 64,217 |
| 17Syracuse | C | 40.1 | 49.8 | 8 | 37 | 36 | 146,384 |
| 18Rochester | C | 39.7 | 50.3 | 9 | 34 | 37 | 208,772 |
| 19Binghamton | C | 39.1 | 49.3 | 5 | 38 | 38 | 47,151 |
| 20Niagara Falls | D | 38.6 | 47.4 | 18 | 32 | 32 | 47,987 |
City small business 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 Small Business Rankings
Also See: New York for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York a good state for small business?
New York ranks #44 out of 50 for small business with a persona-weighted score of 37.5/100. Its strongest relevant category is Safety (63/100) and its weakest is Growth (14/100).
What is the best city for small business in New York?
Levittown ranks #1 in New York for small business with a score of 81.4/100, followed by White Plains and New Rochelle.
What factors are most important for small business in New York?
Rankings weighted toward business-friendly tax climate, strong economy, population growth, workforce quality, and transportation infrastructure — what matters when starting or running a small business.