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The 20 Worst Places to Live in New York

Monticello

Many people dream of living in the state of New York as they consider it one of the most desirable states in the United States, and the house prices would certainly suggest that there is a huge demand for housing. New York City is home to some of the most famous attractions and landmarks in the United States, while other parts of the state are some of the most beautiful in the country.

Unfortunately, there are also some downsides to living in New York, and some places are worse than others. When trying to compare the best and worst places to live in any state, people compare factors such as the safety of an area, the performance of the public schools, the diversity of employment opportunities, and if there is a good choice of leisure and entertainment options in the area.

Based on a combination of these factors, here are the 20 worst places to live in New York.

Gloversville

20. Gloversville

For Gloversville residents, one of the most significant areas of concern is the crime rates, as this city has the 18th most crimes overall in the state. It also has underfunded public schools and a lack of diversity in the job market. On the other hand, there are lots of things for the residents of this town in Fulton County to enjoy, including the Fulton County Museum and Adirondack Animal Land. Gloversville is home to 14,938 people.

Goshen

19. Goshen

Goshen is a town in Orange County with a population of 13,894, and it is famous for being home to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame. The town is also famous for being the place where outlaw Claudius Smith was hanged.

One of the biggest issues in this town is the cost of living, which is high, considering that incomes are below the state average, and many people cannot afford health insurance.

However, there are plenty of things about which Goshen residents can feel proud, as the public schools are highly-rated, the job market is strong, and there are plenty of things for people to enjoy in their leisure time.

Niagara Falls

18. Niagara Falls

If the ranking for the worst place to live in New York were based on crime rates alone, then Niagara Falls would appear much higher on the list. This city is the second-most dangerous place to live in the state, with the third-most violent crimes and the sixth-highest rate of crimes involving people's property.

If one of your main criteria when choosing where to live is not safety, then Niagara Falls has a lot to offer residents. There are lots of bars and restaurants, families have good leisure options, and the schools are above-average.

Jamestown

17. Jamestown

Jamestown is the tenth-most dangerous place to live in New York, which is a statistic that is enough to put many people off living in the area. Another deterrent is the weak job market, as there are limited job opportunities in many sectors, so you may not necessarily find employment in your preferred sector.

On the other side of the coin, there are great public schools and lots for families to enjoy in the area. Therefore, there is a combination of both pros and cons to life in this city. Jamestown is in Chautauqua County, and its population is 29,799. The city sits between Allegheny National Forest and Lake Erie.

Monroe

16. Monroe

When choosing where to live in New York, Monroe is a location that you may prefer to avoid. It has high rates of violent crime for such a small city, as Monroe is home to only 19,781 residents. This city's cost of living is also high, which is a deterrent for some people. On the other hand, this Orange County city has highly-rated public schools, and there are many family-oriented activities, so the city has some features that appeal to families.

Albion

15. Albion

Albion is a town in Orleans County with a population of 5,439, and this town has a sparse suburban feel. |the economy in this area is the primary reason that Albion is on the list of the worst places to live in New York.

The median home value is low, and there is a lack of job opportunities. These are both factors that deter people from living in an area. Despite the economic issues in Albion, the town has some positives, such as decent schools and a choice of activities for residents to enjoy in their free time. Some of Albion's top attractions include Bullard Park, Cobblestone Church Museum, and Salamanca Estate Winery.

Buffalo

14. Buffalo

It is thanks to Buffalo's good points that it does not rank higher up the list, as it is the third-most dangerous city in New York and has the second-highest rates of crimes involving violence.

The public schools' performance is another notable concern, as they are rated as below-average. Life is not all bad in Buffalo, though, as there are plenty of entertainment and leisure options for this Erie County city's residents to enjoy.

Some of Buffalo's most popular attractions are The Buffalo Zoo, the Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House, the Buffalo Museum of Science, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.

Wappingers Falls

13. Wappingers Falls

As crime is not a huge area of concern in Wappingers Falls, this Dutchess County town's appearance on the list may seem questionable. However, other problems have led to this area being considered undesirable.

Some of the most notable issues include limited employment opportunities and a high cost of living compared to relatively low median household incomes. On the flip side, the public schools in Wappingers Falls are highly-rated.

Watertown

12. Watertown

Watertown is a city in Jefferson County with a population of 25,290. Overall, Watertown is the fifth-most dangerous place to live in the whole of New York. Two other causes for concern in this city are the poorly rated schools and the lack of job opportunities.

However, there are also some positives that counteract the negatives. These include the city's vibrant nightlife, multiple outdoor activities, good transport links, a reasonable cost of living, and a diverse community.

Schenectady

11. Schenectady

There is a huge difference in the number of property crimes versus the number of crimes of a violent nature in Schenectady. While it has the fourth-most crimes in the violence category, it is only 26th for thefts and related crimes.

According to Niche, Schenectady also has public schools that are rated as performing poorly, and there is a lack of diversity in terms of job opportunities. On the other hand, Schenectady has a great nightlife, the community is diverse, and there is a good choice of leisure activities to enjoy.

Syracuse

10. Syracuse

Syracuse's inclusion in the top ten worst places to live in New York is primarily because of the high crime rates. Crimes involving violence are the greatest area of concern, as Syracuse ranks as having the sixth most crimes of this type, compared to the 12th most crimes involving people's property. Another shocking statistic is the number of people living below the poverty line, which is alarming at 31 percent.

Brockport

9. Brockport

Those who live in Brockport may argue that it is a great place to live as the schools are rated above-average, the community is diverse, and there are plenty of things to do.

Some of the area's most popular attractions include Sweden Town Park, Northampton Park, Kirby's Farm Market, Five Sons Winery and RG Brewery, and Snick Hawkins Park. However, the statistics show that there are serious problems in this location. More than a quarter of the population is living below the poverty line, which is a worrying figure. The unemployment rate is also above the state average, at 8.8 percent.

Endicott

8. Endicott

Endicott is a village in Broome County, just west of Binghamton, that has a population of 13,392 people. An interesting fact about this location is that it is named after Henry B. Endicott, who was a founding member of the Endicott Johnson Corporation, a shoe manufacturing company.

One of the most notable statistics relating to this location is the median home value, which is the second-worst in the state at $88,300. The median household income is also low compared to the average for the state.

Binghamton

7. Binghamton

Many people may find it surprising that Binghamton does not appear higher in the listings, as it is New York's most dangerous place in which to live. Binghamton also has serious economic problems, as it has the second-highest unemployment rate in New York at 10.4 percent.

What has prevented Binghamton from ranking higher are the city's positive features. These include above-average schools, a wide range of activities to enjoy, and community diversity.

Poughkeepsie

6. Poughkeepsie

As crime is not a major problem in Poughkeepsie, it may surprise you to see it on the list. However, the economic problems in this area are so significant that it has now become one of the most undesirable locations in New York.

A staggering 19.4 percent of the city's population are living below the poverty line. This statistic is partly due to the high unemployment rate of 9.4 percent, which is the sixth-worst in the state.

Utica

5. Utica

One of the many reasons for Utica appearing in the fifth position on the list of the worst places to live in New York is safety concerns, as this location is the seventh-most dangerous place to live. The unemployment rate is higher than the state average at 8.2 percent.

The house prices are an interesting subject, as the median home value is $95,900. While this is only the 30th worst in the state, they are the cheapest houses in a 300-mile radius. Although the low house prices may seem advantageous, it reflects the lack of demand for housing in the area and is a sign that this location is considered undesirable.

Newburgh

4. Newburgh

There is a combination of factors that make Newburgh an undesirable place in which to live, including an above-average unemployment rate of 6.6 percent. A lack of safety is a further issue in Newburgh, as it is the 17th most dangerous place to live in New York.

While crimes involving property are not a major problem, violent crimes are another matter, as it has more incidents of this type than any other city in Newburgh.

Lockport

3. Lockport

Lockport is a city in Niagara County that has a population of 20,490 people. Economic issues are the primary cause of the city's inclusion so high on the list, as one in 16.7 percent of the residents is unemployed. Another area of concern is safety, as the crime rates are relatively high.

Rochester

2. Rochester

Rochester is within the top ten worst places to live in New York in terms of crimes involving both property and physical attacks. Sadly, the lack of safety for people's property is far from Rochester's only area of concern.

A lack of employment opportunities is a big problem, and 10.2 percent of the residents are unemployed. The median household income is also below average for the state. On the other hand, the public schools in Rochester are rated as above-average, so there are some positive aspects to life in this location.

Monticello

1. Monticello

According to Road Snacks, the worst place to live in New York is Monticello. Many factors contribute to Monticello ranking at the top of this, and economic problems play a significant part. It has the worst unemployment rate in New York, at 10.8 percent.

Those in work have a median household income that is barely above the poverty level, and if the residents of this town had more money, entertainment and leisure options on which they could spend their money are limited. Surprisingly, crime is not a big issue in Monticello and does not contribute to why this location tops the list.

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Liz Flynn

Written by Liz Flynn

Liz Flynn has worked as a full-time writer since 2010 after leaving a career in education. She finds almost all topics she writes about interesting, but her favorite subjects are travel and food. Liz loves the process of researching information, learning new things, and putting into words what others who share her interests might like to read. Although she spends most of her time writing, she also enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, watching films, cooking, dining out, reading, motorsports, gaming, and walking along the beach next to her house with her dog.

Read more posts by Liz Flynn

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