It’s Official: These Are the 10 Fastest Growing Cities in New York State

Since 2010, these 10 cities have added a massive amount of new residents. Could one of them turn into the state's next big city?

Even though New York saw the largest amount of people move out of state in the country in 2023 (101,984 to be exact), census data also found that the state welcomed roughly the same amount of new residents. But where are these people moving?

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According to HomeSnacks, there are multiple cities that can't seem to stop growing.

When a city keeps adding to its population, that means it must be doing something right to attract so many new residents. Additionally, a flourishing population means more potential business openings, jobs, activities, students in schools, friendships and, of course, a growing economy.

Sure, some residents might not like the shifting demographics or seeing more land gobbled up by developers and new constructions, but they still reap the benefits.

Upon reviewing the Census’ American Community Survey, HomeSnacks deduced the top 10 cities that are growing the fastest in New York State.

The Top 10 Fastest Growing Cities in New York State

Another year means another round of residents either moving to or leaving the state. While New York is seeing quite a few people flee the state, the majority of them appear to be leaving New York City.

A report from the New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli found NYC's population shrank by 5 percent since 2021.

The report also found that some of those city-dwellers relocated to towns just outside the Big Apple, which seems to be backed up by the latest Census data. In fact, 9 of the 10 cities with the fastest growing populations are within driving distance to NYC.

Gallery Credit: Megan

Kiryas Joel is seeing explosive growth, with the city seeing is population boom by 56.74 percent over the past 8 years. The rates of occupied housing units as well as changes in owner- occupied houses also rose tremendously since 2015.

Methodology

For the 10th year in a row, HomeSnacks used Census data to determine the cities that are seeing the highest spikes in population growth by comparing the numbers to those recorded in 2010.

The outlet compared 171 cities within the Empire State that had a population of over 5,000 residents. These cities were then ranked from highest to lowest growth. You can read the full report HERE.

As for the places that are seeing a shrinking population or slowest growth are as follows:

Brockport
Herkimer
Hudson

Sad to see a Central New York city make that list and even more so that HomeSnacks didn't provide data backing their findings.

David Button via Herkimer Home State Historic Site

According to Neilsberg, Herkimer's population was at 7,732 in 2010. The population, as of 2022 Census, stands at 7,298.

One thing that could change Herkimer's population issue is the ongoing push to have the city rebranded as the actual birthplace of basketball, and not Springfield, MA. You can read more about this national campaign HERE.

In all, are you happy to see more people move to New York or are you shocked that people are still here?

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Top 10 Cheapest Places to Live in New York State

New York is one of the most expensive states to call home, but there are some areas that are gentle on the wallet. According to HomeSnacks, they deduced the top 10 most affordable cities and towns in the Empire State.

They looked into data from the U.S. Census, median home and rent prices, as well as median income of a particular area's residents. Affordability was also determined based on availability and access to services and conveniences.

Below are the top 10 places that let residents keep more cash in their wallets.

Gallery Credit: Megan

The 10 Worst Places To Live In New York State

While New York is certainly home to a plethora of hidden gems and breathtaking sights, Road Snacks has highlighted the state's most undesirable spots.

As for what determines what makes a city or town one of the "worst" places to live, Road Snacks compared 163 cities with 5,000 or more residents, to find those with the lowest median home value, weakest school districts, and highest rates of unemployment and crime. In short, the survey ranked cities and towns based off their economic performance and opportunity for growth, which Road Snacks says impacts the quality of life of its residents.

In the end, these 10 cities were deemed to be the worst New York State has to offer. That said, the company is not calling these cities bad - so if you have an issue, take it up with Road Snacks. We're just reporting their findings.

Gallery Credit: Megan