Best Cities for Young Professionals in New York
New York ranks #40 of 50 for young professionals, with a young professionals score of 42.8. Levittown is its best city for young professionals at 67.0.
- New York, all states
- #40 of 50
- Population
- 51,904
What Young Professionals Should Know About New York
New York ranks #40 out of 50 for young professionals, suggesting some tradeoffs for career-focused relocators. The state's economy scores 46/100, with 4.3% unemployment and a median household income of $85,820. Modest population growth of 0.01% suggests a stable but not booming market.
For young professionals, the equation comes down to earning potential versus cost of living. A cost-of-living index of 107.9 means higher expenses, so salary negotiations need to account for the premium. Growth metrics are moderate, so career advancement may depend more on specific industries than broad market expansion.
Beyond the paycheck, livability matters. New York's livability score of 49/100 is adequate — metro areas have decent options, though the state isn't known as a cultural hub. Transportation is car-dependent in most areas (score: 53/100), which is worth factoring into housing location decisions.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Young Professionals
| # City | Grade | Young Professionals score | Overall | Economy | Growth | Walkability | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Levittown | A+ | 67.0 | 74.8 | 97 | — | 67 | 51,904 |
| 2Tonawanda Town | A | 63.9 | 65.4 | 56 | — | 61 | 56,806 |
| 3White Plains | A+ | 63.6 | 70.8 | 74 | 47 | 70 | 60,666 |
| 4New Rochelle | A+ | 60.9 | 67.5 | 69 | 44 | 69 | 82,769 |
| 5Irondequoit | B+ | 60.5 | 62.0 | 57 | — | 53 | 50,657 |
| 6West Seneca | A | 58.8 | 63.7 | 57 | — | 50 | 45,303 |
| 7Cheektowaga | B+ | 57.8 | 60.9 | 49 | — | 56 | 76,056 |
| 8Yonkers | A | 57.4 | 62.9 | 57 | 47 | 67 | 209,978 |
| 9Troy | B | 55.8 | 58.6 | 43 | 44 | 71 | 51,033 |
| 10Albany | C+ | 54.9 | 54.9 | 48 | 46 | 67 | 100,492 |
| 11Mount Vernon | B | 54.0 | 57.3 | 53 | 43 | 68 | 72,427 |
| 12Hempstead | C+ | 53.2 | 55.3 | 58 | 41 | 74 | 58,801 |
| 13Schenectady | C | 50.9 | 51.6 | 42 | 42 | 65 | 68,847 |
| 14Syracuse | C | 50.3 | 49.8 | 37 | 36 | 70 | 146,384 |
| 15Utica | C | 50.0 | 50.7 | 39 | 34 | 67 | 64,217 |
| 16Rochester | C | 49.6 | 50.3 | 34 | 37 | 68 | 208,772 |
| 17New York | C+ | 49.0 | 54.8 | 48 | 36 | 67 | 8,483,844 |
| 18Buffalo | D | 48.7 | 48.8 | 37 | 35 | 66 | 276,854 |
| 19Binghamton | C | 48.3 | 49.3 | 38 | 38 | 40 | 47,151 |
| 20Niagara Falls | D | 47.5 | 47.4 | 32 | 32 | 63 | 47,987 |
City young professionals 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 Young Professionals Rankings
Also See: New York for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York a good state for young professionals?
New York ranks #40 out of 50 for young professionals with a persona-weighted score of 42.8/100. Its strongest relevant category is Health (80/100) and its weakest is Growth (14/100).
What is the best city for young professionals in New York?
Levittown ranks #1 in New York for young professionals with a score of 67.0/100, followed by Tonawanda Town and White Plains.
What factors are most important for young professionals in New York?
Rankings weighted toward job market strength, economic growth, affordable living, transportation, and vibrant community life — the factors that attract ambitious young professionals.