4 Of The Best U.S. Neighborhoods To Live In Are Just Outside NYC, Says Study
With NYC rent prices constantly on the rise–less than 5% of NYC rents are affordable for average salary makers–and NYC being named the third most expensive city in the world, it’s starting to look like living in NYC for the rest of our lives is a bit of a pipe dream. But at the end of the day we love the city and wouldn’t want to leave it behind. Well, thankfully we don’t have to–at least not fully.
Data journalism website Stacker just gathered together the best places to live in America, and while spots in the Midwest dominate the list, four of the neighborhoods are not too far outside of NYC! Each neighborhood has a certain appeal to them, whether it be a safe environment, a commitment to education, nearby wilderness for hiking, or simply because they’re quaint and historic.
Ranking 27th out of 50, and situated closest to home, is the village of Great Neck Plaza. The study writes:
Great Neck Plaza is home to educated professionals. The village is diverse, with internationally-born residents accounting for 36.6% of the population. Those who commute often use public transportation, such as the Long Island Rail Road.
If that sounds ideal to you, you can become the village’s 7,444th resident! For context, Great Neck Plaza is not too far from Queens Village.
Three New Jersey neighborhoods found their way onto the list: Princeton, Ho-Ho-Kus, and Princeton Junction. Of the three, Ho-Ho-Kus is located closest to NYC–20 miles to be exact. And with a population of 4,234 residents, the suburb, which ranked 31st out of 50, is much smaller than Great Neck Plaza. The study writes:
A 1.7-square-mile suburb in Bergen County established in 1698, Ho-Ho-Kus is 20 miles from New York City. Its name reflects its Native American origins—the area was home to the Lenni Lenape tribe—and likely was derived from “Mah-Ho-Ho-Kus,” or “red cedar.” Ho-Ho-Kus has a small-town atmosphere and remains a tight-knit and safe place to live.
A bit further out is Princeton, which ranked highest on the list at 25th. It’s also the biggest neighborhood of the four with a population of 30,450 residents. The study writes:
Besides being home to Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton has been recognized as a healthy place to live. It boasts parks and a wildlife refuge and is a semi-wooded community with various types of housing, including an 86-year-old affordable housing program.
You had as at affordable housing. And, by the way, an affordable housing lottery just opened up in Hudson Yards with luxury units at unbelievable prices!
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Rounding out the four neighborhoods is Princeton Junction, ranked 40th out of 50. The town is the smallest of the four, which a population of just 2,022. And compared to NYC’s population of 8,097,282 you’ll certainly be in for a bit of a shock if you decide to move here! The study writes:
Princeton Junction, an affluent area, has a suburban feel with highly rated schools. Residents are positioned near all kinds of restaurants, playgrounds, and theme parks. There are multiple vineyards and an orchard as well as Princeton Battlefield State Park in the area.
The top ten best places to live in the U.S. are as follows:
1. Carmel, Indiana
2. Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania
3. Cinco Ranch, Texas
4. Brookline, Massachusetts
5. Ardmore, Pennsylvania
6. Johns Creek, Georgia
7. North Bethesda, Maryland
8. Okemos, Michigan
9. Blue Ash, Ohio
10. Brentwood, Missouri
To come up with the ranking, Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live (as of June 2024) using Niche data on cities, towns, and suburbs. Niche ranks places to live based on an array of factors, including cost of living, residents’ education, housing prices, and public school grades. See the full study here.
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