The best suburb in the New York City area, according to data—plus, see the rest of the top 25

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Best suburbs in New York City

The GI Bill of Rights, Ike's interstate system, suburban development, and the growing affordability of cars allowed the suburbs to flourish throughout the mid-20th century. During this era, a new American Dream was established: one with single-family homes, white picket fences, and lush green lawns.

Today, however, the traditional suburb may no longer cater to what 79% of Americans want: walkability. Younger people are especially attracted to neighborhoods where stores, restaurants, and other amenities are a short walk away, according to a National Association of Realtors survey released in 2023 . But a good location comes with a cost.

A Redfin analysis showed homes in 2019 in walkable areas sold for almost 25% more than homes without the same walkability, equivalent to nearly $78,000 more in the national average. Some suburbs offer the amenities of city life, whether through easy transit to big cities (such as Wilmette, Illinois, with easy proximity to Chicago), or college-town amenities such as those found in Claremont, California.

What individual families and people look for in a suburb will vary, of course, with some prioritizing quiet and extra space, even if that means driving more often.

Stacker used data from Niche to examine the best suburbs in New York City. Niche ranked suburbs across the U.S. based on several factors, including diversity, the cost of living, the share of the population with college degrees, and the quality of schools and housing.

Read on to see the highest-ranked suburbs in New York City.

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#25. West Nyack, New York

- Population: 3,768
- Median home value: $542,100
- Median rental price: $876

- Top schools nearby: Clarkstown South Senior High School (grade A+), Tappan Zee High School (grade A), Felix Festa Achievement Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Primoris Academy (grade A+), Hackley School (grade A+), Bergen Catholic High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B−
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#24. Searingtown, New York

- Population: 4,700
- Median home value: $1,040,100
- Median rental price: $No data available

- Top schools nearby: Roslyn High School (grade A+), Roslyn Middle School (grade A+), Herricks High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Friends Academy (grade A+), Portledge School (grade A+), The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#23. Greenville, New York

- Population: 9,585
- Median home value: $913,800
- Median rental price: $2,411

- Top schools nearby: Greenville School (grade A+), Edgemont Junior/Senior High School (grade A+), Seely Place School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+), Rye Country Day School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B−
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#22. Herricks, New York

- Population: 4,225
- Median home value: $817,700
- Median rental price: $3,501

- Top schools nearby: Herricks High School (grade A+), Herricks Middle School (grade A+), Center Street School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+), Grace Christian Academy (grade A+), Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#21. Thomaston, New York

- Population: 2,750
- Median home value: $1,073,500
- Median rental price: $2,576

- Top schools nearby: Great Neck South High School (grade A+), Manhasset Secondary School (grade A+), E.M. Baker School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+), Schechter School of Long Island (grade A), The Mary Louis Academy (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#20. Pelham Manor, New York

- Population: 5,682
- Median home value: $1,029,800
- Median rental price: $1,897

- Top schools nearby: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+), Rye Country Day School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B−
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#19. Lake Success, New York

- Population: 2,825
- Median home value: $1,432,000
- Median rental price: $3,352

- Top schools nearby: Bronx High School of Science (grade A+), Townsend Harris High School (grade A+), Stuyvesant High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+), The Kew-Forest School (grade A+), Grace Christian Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#18. Roslyn Heights, New York

- Population: 6,915
- Median home value: $950,600
- Median rental price: $2,250

- Top schools nearby: Roslyn High School (grade A+), Roslyn Middle School (grade A+), Herricks High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Friends Academy (grade A+), Portledge School (grade A+), The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#17. Malverne, New York

- Population: 8,526
- Median home value: $611,700
- Median rental price: $1,883

- Top schools nearby: Valley Stream Central High School (grade A+), West End School (grade A), Ps 376 (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+), Lawrence Woodmere Academy (grade A+), Grace Christian Academy (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#16. Dix Hills, New York

- Population: 24,652
- Median home value: $844,600
- Median rental price: $3,038

- Top schools nearby: Half Hollow Hills High School West (grade A+), Half Hollow Hills High School East (grade A+), Candlewood Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Saint Anthony's High School (grade A+), Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School (grade A+), Holy Trinity Diocesan High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#15. Upper Nyack, New York

- Population: 2,142
- Median home value: $670,700
- Median rental price: $2,433

- Top schools nearby: Nyack Middle School (grade A), Upper Nyack School (grade A), Nyack Senior High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Hackley School (grade A+), Green Meadow Waldorf School (grade A+), The Leffell School Upper School Campus (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B−
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#14. Garden City, New York

- Population: 22,871
- Median home value: $980,600
- Median rental price: $3,369

- Top schools nearby: Garden City High School (grade A), Garden City Middle School (grade A), Stratford Avenue School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+), Grace Christian Academy (grade A+), Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#13. Bronxville, New York

- Population: 6,570
- Median home value: $1,185,700
- Median rental price: $3,387

- Top schools nearby: Bronxville High School (grade A+), Bronxville Middle School (grade A), Icahn Charter School 5 (grade A−)
- Top private schools nearby: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B−
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#12. Jericho, New York

- Population: 14,281
- Median home value: $904,900
- Median rental price: $2,652

- Top schools nearby: Jericho Senior High School (grade A+), Syosset Senior High School (grade A+), Jeffrey Ratner Robert Seaman Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Friends Academy (grade A+), Portledge School (grade A+), The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#11. Scarsdale, New York

- Population: 18,061
- Median home value: $1,635,400
- Median rental price: $3,501

- Top schools nearby: Scarsdale Senior High School (grade A+), Quaker Ridge School (grade A+), Heathcote School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+), Rye Country Day School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B−
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#10. Old Bethpage, New York

- Population: 5,779
- Median home value: $789,200
- Median rental price: $1,071

- Top schools nearby: Half Hollow Hills High School East (grade A+), West Hollow Middle School (grade A+), Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Saint Anthony's High School (grade A+), Grace Christian Academy (grade A+), Long Island Lutheran Middle & High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#9. Russell Gardens, New York

- Population: 1,100
- Median home value: $1,428,200
- Median rental price: $2,070

- Top schools nearby: Great Neck South High School (grade A+), Lakeville Elementary School (grade A+), Great Neck South Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Schechter School of Long Island (grade A), The Mary Louis Academy (grade A), Chaminade High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#8. Hartsdale, New York

- Population: 3,082
- Median home value: $349,500
- Median rental price: $1,648

- Top schools nearby: Greenville School (grade A+), Edgemont Junior/Senior High School (grade A+), Seely Place School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), Rye Country Day School (grade A+), French-American School of New York (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B−
--- Cost of living grade: B−
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#7. East Williston, New York

- Population: 2,630
- Median home value: $1,020,100
- Median rental price: $3,501

- Top schools nearby: Wheatley School (grade A+), Willets Road School (grade A+), North Side School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Friends Academy (grade A+), The Waldorf School of Garden City (grade A+), Saint Anthony's High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#6. Plainview, New York

- Population: 26,620
- Median home value: $691,400
- Median rental price: $2,660

- Top schools nearby: Syosset Senior High School (grade A+), Half Hollow Hills High School East (grade A+), H.B. Thompson Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Friends Academy (grade A+), Portledge School (grade A+), Saint Anthony's High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#5. Syosset, New York

- Population: 18,807
- Median home value: $816,200
- Median rental price: $2,718

- Top schools nearby: Syosset Senior High School (grade A+), Village Elementary School (grade A+), H.B. Thompson Middle School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Friends Academy (grade A+), Portledge School (grade A+), Saint Anthony's High School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#4. Ardsley, New York

- Population: 5,013
- Median home value: $800,000
- Median rental price: $3,501

- Top schools nearby: Ardsley Middle School (grade A+), Concord Road Elementary School (grade A), Ardsley High School (grade A)
- Top private schools nearby: Riverdale Country School (grade A+), Horace Mann School (grade A+), Rye Country Day School (grade A+)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B−
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#3. Kensington, New York

- Population: 1,445
- Median home value: $1,414,800
- Median rental price: $3,501

- Top schools nearby: Great Neck South High School (grade A+), Manhasset Secondary School (grade A+), E.M. Baker School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Schechter School of Long Island (grade A), Chaminade High School (grade A), St. Mary's College Preparatory High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#2. Great Neck Gardens, New York

- Population: 1,139
- Median home value: $1,136,600
- Median rental price: $No data available

- Top schools nearby: Great Neck South High School (grade A+), E.M. Baker School (grade A+), Great Neck North High School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Schechter School of Long Island (grade A), Chaminade High School (grade A), St. Mary's College Preparatory High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C+
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

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#1. Great Neck Plaza, New York

- Population: 7,443
- Median home value: $391,400
- Median rental price: $2,263

- Top schools nearby: Great Neck South High School (grade A+), E.M. Baker School (grade A+), Lakeville Elementary School (grade A+)
- Top private schools nearby: Schechter School of Long Island (grade A), Chaminade High School (grade A), St. Mary's College Preparatory High School (grade A)

- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Weather grade: B
--- Cost of living grade: C
--- Outdoor activities grade: A

This story features data reporting and writing by Emma Rubin and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 67 metros.