New York

Best New York suburbs for families

Ranked on a families weighting: schools at 30%, amenities within two miles at 20%, and the four poll questions about children, safety and sidewalks at 20%. Cost still counts, at 15%. The full weighting is shown at the bottom, and it is not the same as the overall score.

Updated Sep 2026·60 suburbs considered, 10 listed
1
The "Be Fort Lee" sign in Fort Lee Park, Fort Lee, New Jersey
Fort Lee$448k median · 35.0 min commute
Schools AAmenities A+Residents inactive
78
Family score
overall 63 C+
2
View of Hudson Street to the north, Hoboken, New Jersey.
Hoboken$895k median · 36.8 min commute
Schools B+Amenities A+Residents inactive
76
Family score
overall 69 B−
3
Downtown Westfield
Westfield$953k median · 36.7 min commute
Schools A+Amenities B+Residents inactive
75
Family score
overall 70 B−
4
Nassau University Medical Center photographed from the northwest just before sunset
East Meadow$632k median · 35.0 min commute
Schools AAmenities BResidents inactive
74
Family score
overall 65 C+
5
Radburn shopping center (Radburn Plaza Building?), near Radburn station, en:Fair Lawn, New Jersey.
Fair Lawn$565k median · 31.3 min commute
Schools AAmenities BResidents inactive
74
Family score
overall 65 C+
6
Faux lighthouse at Oceanside, Nassau county, New York with flag
Oceanside$634k median · 36.3 min commute
Schools A−Amenities A+Residents inactive
74
Family score
overall 63 C+
7
The NRHP-listed Franklin National Bank, on the southwest corner of Hempstead Turnpike (NY 24) and James Street, in Franklin Square, New York. Currently a Chase
Franklin Square$657k median · 34.6 min commute
Schools A−Amenities AResidents inactive
73
Family score
overall 63 C+
8
Levittown$591k median · 33.5 min commute
Schools AAmenities BResidents inactive
72
Family score
overall 64 C+
9
View of the Empire State Building in New York City from the Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller Plaza during sunset. The tower was illuminated in green in honor o
New York$778k median · 40.3 min commute
Schools —Amenities A+Residents inactive
72
Family score
overall 52 D+
10
Valley Stream$616k median · 40.7 min commute
Schools B+Amenities AResidents inactive
69
Family score
overall 59 C
This list's weighting
Schools 30%Amenities 20%Resident poll (Q2, Q5, Q6, Q8) 20%Cost of living 15%Housing 10%Commute 5%

Poll components only count for places with eight or more resident responses; for the others the remaining weights re-normalise to 100%.

Other New York lists
Most affordable New York suburbsBest New York suburbs for schoolsShortest commutes to Downtown New YorkMost walkable New York suburbsBest New York suburbs for young professionalsHow we score New York suburbs →

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Fort Lee (RyeCityRoller · CC BY-SA 4.0); Hoboken (King of Hearts · CC BY-SA 4.0); Westfield (Freeholdman12 · CC BY 4.0); East Meadow (Sean Helling · CC BY-SA 4.0); Fair Lawn (Rickyrab · CC BY-SA 3.0); Oceanside (CaptJayRuffins · CC BY-SA 4.0); Franklin Square (DanTD · CC BY-SA 4.0); New York (Dllu · CC BY-SA 4.0).