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New York city profile

What Is It Like to Live in New York?

What it costs to live in New York, and how it compares with other New York cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

10

135th best value in New York

How much you get for what you pay, versus other New York cities.

Overall livability

19

132nd overall in New York

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

New York is home to about 8,736,047 people. A typical home runs $660,700 and a household earns around $70,700, a price-to-income ratio of 9.3. Among New York's largest cities, it ranks 135th for value and 132nd overall.

New York at a glance

Median home price

$660,700

133rd in NY of 135

Median rent

$1,579/mo

Median household income

$70,700

Home price to income

9.3x

Unemployment

7.5%

118th in NY of 135

School rating

6/10

93rd in NY of 135

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in NY of 135

Walk score

100/100

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‹ See all top New York cities ranked  ยท  New York state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within New York only. Updated 2026.