New Yorkincome tax up to 10.9%, 11th highest property tax, median home $470K
D+12 · High tax burden · COL index 139
10.9%
Income Tax
379
Violent Crime / 100K
79.3
Life Expectancy
$470K
Median Home
$2,050
Childcare / Mo
New York in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to New York
New York's top income-tax rate is 10.9%, and New York City residents add a city income tax of up to 3.876% on top. The state estate tax has a cliff: estates just over the exemption can owe tax on the whole amount. Social Security is not taxed and up to $20,000 of pension income is excluded. Upstate home prices and taxes look nothing like the downstate market.
What New York taxes, and what it doesn't
New York levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 10.9%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 5.2%, about $3,885 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 5.5%. Among the 41 states that tax income, New York has the 9th highest effective rate at $100,000 of income.
Property tax runs 1.40% of home value a year, roughly $6,580 on the state's median home of $470K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and New York has the 11th highest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 8.52%, the 10th highest in the country (the state portion is 4%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is fully exempt, and an estate tax applies above $6.94 million.
Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Housing and the cost of living in New York
New York's cost of living index is 139, where 100 is the national average; that is the 4th most expensive of the 50 states.
The median home costs $470K, 55% above the national figure and the 9th highest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $2,200 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $1,800 a year, flood coverage adds about $1,000 where it is needed, car insurance runs $2,140.
Budget $175 a month for electricity and gas, $650 a month in groceries for two, $2,050 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 379 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, below the median state (387); New York is the 25th safest of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 1,480 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 79.3 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 5.4% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks New York's health system 15th of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 12th in the country.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, New York is a solidly Democratic state that went to Harris by 12 points in 2024.
On guns, concealed-carry permits are may-issue, at the discretion of local authorities, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws A.
Abortion is protected by state law. Marijuana is legal for adults. New York is not a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $16.00 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is moderate. The main hazards are hurricane, blizzard, nor-easter. Annual average air quality index is 38 (under 50 is good).
New York has a major hub airport, with about 200 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in New York
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Property Tax
~$6,580/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Government pensions fully exempt; other pensions up to $20K
Estate Tax
Cliff tax: if estate exceeds 105% of exemption, full estate taxed
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
▾
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Above US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Near national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Middle of the pack (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
2024 statewide STR registry law plus statewide sales tax; NYC near-prohibition.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
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Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Near national avg
Property Crime Rate
Below national avg (~2,100)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Among the safest
Registered Sex Offenders
Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Among the highest homelessness rates; 4% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on New York
Healthcare#15 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Life Expectancy
Above national avg (76.4)
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
Well below national avg
EducationK-12 #12 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Near national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$2,050/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,200)
Utilities & Daily Costs$175/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Cleaner than US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Electricity Rate
Near national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the worst roads in the US
Airports & Travel200+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle88% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Highly urban, big city feel
Restaurant Density
Outstanding food scene
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
2.7/100K residents: Solid scene
Craft Distilleries
One of the nation's top distillery states
Live Music
NYC — the global live music capital; Brooklyn, Manhattan, Williamsburg; Governors Ball, Afropunk
Transportation$2,140/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$16/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
Legal to viability; state constitutional right on ballot
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
4 commercial upstate casinos + tribal. NYC sports betting launched 2022 — 9 licensed mobile apps. Lottery revenue is enormous.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
No state sex ed mandate
Medically Accurate Required
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
Gunnison Beach (NJ, serves NYC metro) · Empire Haven Nudist Park · Sun Ridge Resort · Fire Island tradition
Environment & ClimateAQI 38▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsD+12 · gun law grade A▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
CCIA sensitive places: alcohol venues upheld; worship ban upheld with as-applied exceptions (Antonyuk).
Gambling
Jobs & Economy4.5% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Near US average (~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+1.2% job growth · 4.5% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Strong tech presence
Healthcare Jobs
Top healthcare job market
Remote Work
High remote work culture
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the most unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#49 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Bottom-10 nationally
NYC LLCs must publish formation notices in 2 newspapers — adds $1,500–$2,000 to effective startup cost
Daily Life$3.44/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Above avg (+0.14 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Sparklers only; NYC and most cities ban all consumer fireworks
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required for all riders (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks84°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 32°F
Summer Heat
Moderate summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards27/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits79/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
5% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Cold War/wartime vet property tax exempt
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore New York counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in New York
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.