The 12 Best Places To Retire In New York

New York is widely known as one of the more expensive states in the U.S., particularly for retirees. While there are secret ways to lower the cost of retirement in New York state, by virtue of them being secret, they aren't well known. The median cost of a home in the U.S. as per Realtor.com was $435,300 as of June 2025. In New York, Realtor.com places that median at $850,000. That's almost twice as high as the national median by a difference of just $15,000. The average rent in the U.S., as per Zillow, remains steady at $2,100 per month as of July 2025, meanwhile, Apartments.com places the cost of rent in New York at $4,024 per month — again, almost twice as high as the national average. Long term care and senior living, as per a Place for Mom, places the median cost of assisted living, memory care, and independent living in the U.S. at $4,995, $6,200, and $3,100 per month, respectively. In New York, those costs grow to $5,895, $7,720, and $3,360.

Your best shot at retiring in New York on the cheap is to select a region, city, or town where that's a possibility. Failing that, it may make more sense to pay a little more if the amenities being offered make the expense worth it. Make no doubt, there are some great places to retire in New York, but even in the latter scenario, the numbers still matter. These spots make retiring here doable, without too much strain on the budget.

Not to be confused with Greenwich Village in Manhattan, this riverside town in New York state is both one of the friendliest and has a below average cost of living. Proving the point begins with comparing the median cost of a home in Greenwich to the state median of $850,000. According to Realtor.com, the median home price in the town of Greenwich as of July 2025 was $399,900. That's not just lower than the state average, but is even lower than the national average. Meanwhile, rent in Greenwich as per Zillow, is a comfortable $1,700 per month. This blows away both the state and national averages — $4,024 for New York and $2,100 for the U.S. respectively — by anywhere from $400 to $2,324 per month. That's the equivalent of $4,800 to $27,888 per year in retirement savings.

If independent living with amenities and a close-knit community of seniors is more your goal, you'll be happy to know, as per a Place for Mom, the average cost of independent living in Greenwich is $4,057 per month compared to an average $4,595 per month. Additional care in the form of assisted living or memory care in Greenwich costs an average of $5,130 per month (assisted living) and $5,189 per month (memory care) versus the state averages of $5,895 and $7,720 respectively for the same services. 

Smalltown vibes await you in Cortland, New York, where, as per Realtor.com, the median listing price of a home was just $192,500, with the median home sale rising to a still affordable $215,000. In Cortland, you can own a home for less than the median national home price as well as the state median price. Rent in Cortland, according to Zillow, is a cushy $1,390 per month, which is obviously much better than the aforementioned state and national averages. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average estimated expenses tied to living in Cortland County for two adults without children is $5,019 per month, or $60,231 per year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest consumer expenditure data for 2023, the average annual expenditure in the U.S. is $77,280, which means you'll spend around 22% less than the national annual average expense in Cortland.

Independent living in Cortland is where your value quickly evaporates according to a Place for Mom. The average cost of independent living is $7,005 per month, which is higher than the state average of $4,595 and the national average of $4,141 per month. It's also higher than the state median of $3,360. Neither assisted living at $7,441 per month, or memory care at $6,705 per month, are much better. Consider that health care over the next decade isn't getting any cheaper for seniors and adjust your retirement plans accordingly.  

Thanks to its proximity to Lake Erie and local wine country, Dunkirk, New York provides seniors with an array of activities all year round. While perfect for outdoor activities like kayaking or long walks along the pier, you'll still need to live somewhere. As per Realtor.com, median home price in Dunkirk is $142,500, with a median sold home price as of July 2025 of $154,800. This is wildly less than the state and national median cost of homes, making it another small town in New York state that won't drain your retirement savings. As per Zillow, renting in Dunkirk is even more affordable than owning, with a median rent as of July 2025 of $980 per month.

According to a Place for Mom, the average cost of independent living in Dunkirk is a manageable $2,643 per month. The state average of $4,595, and the national average of $4,141, make Dunkirk a relative steal by comparison. Assisted living and memory care cost, on average, $4,174 and $4,173 per month respectively. Again, this is lower than national and state medians for these services. 

According to Realtor.com, the median listing price for a home in Woodstock, New York is $899,000, which is pricey even by New York state standards. Where rent is concerned, Zumper shows things aren't much better with a median rent of $3,700 per month. However, this is still more than $300 per month cheaper in comparison to the state's $4,024 monthly average. If this works with your budget, renting could be a more affordable way to go than owning.  

There's a bright side where independent living is concerned since, as per a Place for Mom, the cost of living in a retirement community is almost on par with renting. The average cost of independent living per month is $3,877, offering retirees residential options that include community, meals, and activities, at a cost lower than both national and state averages. Assisted living averages $4,655 per month, and memory care costs an average of $4,764 per month. On the other hand, these costs offer steep discounts in comparison to state and national averages for both assisted living as well as for memory care.

A tiny population of around 1,000 people enjoy lakeside living — the town runs alongside Cayuga Lake — and more affordable living expenses in Aurora, New York. Aurora Senior Center offers recreational opportunities including day trips to casinos, gardens, restaurants, and events. Community ride programs for seniors needing transit for daily necessities like groceries, doctor's appointments, or banking, costs $3 to $8 depending on distance. With a brand new car being one of those things retirees should stop buying, this is a huge benefit in a small town. For a suggested donation of $3.50, they'll even serve you lunch Monday through Friday, except holidays.

Aside from the cheap lunches and rides, independent living in Aurora, as per a Place for Mom, will only set you back an average of $2,938 per month. Memory care and assisted living will cost you in the range of $4,550 to $4,560 per month, all of which are below national and state medians. Homes in Aurora, while not the most expensive in the state, aren't cheap either with Realtor.com placing the median price of a home at $623,900. On the other hand, Zillow sets the average rent at $1,550 per month, making Aurora one of those places in the U.S. where it's actually cheaper to rent than buy.

Wineries, distilleries, seasonal festivals, and eye-catching orchards await the retiree who makes the move to Warwick. According to Zillow, the privilege of enjoying all this natural beauty and manmade festivities will cost a prospective home owner an average price of $556,731. While still below the state average, this is higher than the national average. However, what's considered a deal in New York state versus the rest of the country should be a factor when considering cost and value. As per Realtor.com, the average rent in Warwick offers a slightly better deal at $2,650 per month, which is over $1,374 less than the state average of $4,024, and is a veritable steal for a state where retirement could cost you dearly.

Housing and renting may be the biggest measures of affordability in Warwick, unfortunately, since independent living, memory care, and assisted living, as per a Place for Mom, average $6,367, $7,216, and $6,266 per month, respectively. That's higher than state and national averages where independent living is concerned. It's also higher where assisted living as well as memory care is concerned too. So while Warwick does offer some New York sized discounts in terms of home ownership and renting, it may not be the destination for retirees seeking more affordable retirement communities or home care. 

After looking at home prices in Warwick, the average cost of a home in Olean could seem unbelievable. According to Zillow, $156,072 gains you access to all Olean has to offer, including no shortage of senior activities put on by the local City of Olean Senior Center, as well as your choice of retirement communities. Not to be outdone, the average rent as per Zillow, is a beyond reasonable $1,275 per month. This seems unreal in a state where averages tend to be over four times as much, while also being hundreds of dollars less than the national average.

According to a Place for Mom, these outrageous savings don't necessarily translate to independent living with an average cost of $6,266 per month. Higher than both the state and national averages, independent living seems like the wrong financial move for seniors in Olean. In fact, if you owned a home in Olean already, this is one of those times when selling your home as a retiree would be a mistake. Ironically, it's actually a better deal for seniors needing assisted living aid or memory care. Assisted living costs $4,729 per month, which is higher than the national average by less than $100 monthly but less than the state average by $956 per month. Meanwhile, memory care at $4,755 per month is lower than both state and national averages. 

As the home of Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs is one of the best college towns for retirees to move to, at least where independent living, memory care, or assisted living is concerned. According to a Place for Mom, the average cost of independent living in Saratoga Springs is $3,564 per month. That's just over $1,000 worth of savings per month compared to the state, and just over half that amount in savings compared to the national average. Assisted living at $4,879 per month, is an $804 discount from the state average, and although it's slightly higher than the national average, a difference of $186 is somewhat negligible compared to the state average of $5,683 per month. Memory care costs a few dollars more than assisted living at $4,903 monthly, and beats both the national and state averages of $4,919 and $5,767 per month.

With the average home costing, as per Zillow, $621,931, and an average rent of $2,140 per month, it's clear that living in a retirement community of some sort is your more affordable option in Saratoga Springs. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average monthly cost of living for two adults without children in Saratoga Springs is $5,961 per month, or $71,529 per year. That's lower than U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 data placing the average annual household expenditure in the U.S. at $77,280, representing an annual savings of $5,751, or around $479 per month.  

Massena is another winner when it comes to living in a retirement community, according to a Place for Mom, which puts the average cost of independent living at $3,277 per month. Considering the state average is $4,591 and the national average is $4,138 per month, Massena offers a clear discount on independent living in the range of $861 to $1,314 per month. That's $10,332 to $15,768 in annual savings, which helps you avoid the reasons half of Americans retiring at a certain age run out of money. Memory care at $3,389 and assisted living with an average of $3,362 per month is also beyond competitive. In comparison to the state and national averages for both assisted living as well as memory care, you're looking at potentially thousands of dollars worth of savings annually.

If that's not enough, according to Zillow, owning a home on the cheap is also a benefit to living here. The average home value is a paltry $117,000, while the average rent is still well below the state average and just below the national average at $2,069 per month. According to the Economic Research Institute, the cost of living in Massena is 31% lower than the state's and 13% lower than the country's, offering a trifecta of cheap housing, affordable living, and low-cost homecare. 

While it may make sense to employ house hacking strategies to offset the cost of your home if the cost is steep, Seneca Falls may not require you to worry about that. As per Zillow, the average home value is $196,653, which puts a U.S. median of $435,300, as well as a state median of $850,000, to shame. According to ZillowRentals, renting your residence in Seneca Falls follows the same pattern of affordability, with an average of $1,300 per month. Again, the average rent in the U.S. is $2,100 per month as of July 2025, while the average rent in New York costs $4,024 per month by comparison.

The Economic Policy Institute estimates the cost of living per month for two childless adults at $4,982, or $59,788 per year. This falls well below the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) average annual household expenditure of $77,280 per year, with a difference of $17,492 representing a windfall of $1,457 per month in Seneca County. Where community living and assistance are concerned, according to a Place for Mom, the average cost of independent living is $3,822 per month — lower than the state and national average — while assisted living and memory care are tied at $4,851 per month. Memory Care beats the national and state average, while assisted living is a negligible $158 above the national average but a whopping $838 per month cheaper than the state average.

If an average housing value below the national and state averages in New York is a selling feature for you, this charming college town is another great place to retire. According to Zillow, home values in Ithaca are around $352,899, a far cry from the $435,300 national median or the state median of $850,000. As of June 2025, rent averages out at $1,851 per month, so even if you want to avoid the hidden cost of home ownership that keeps people house poor, rents below national and state medians make that more possible. Ithaca's location in the Finger Lakes region also means there's a number of wineries to spend some of those savings on and keep yourself entertained. 

According to a Place for Mom, independent living is pricey even by New York or national standards at $5,314 per month. However, assisted living offers a slight discount to the state average with a cost of $5,447 to the state's $5,683 per month. Memory care at an average $5,582 per month also offers a small reprieve to the state average of $5,771. While not the least expensive place on this list, when stacked against the rest of New York state, Ithaca earns a passing grade for affordability of housing and rentals. 

According to Realtor.com, the median listed value of homes in Syracuse is around $200,000, less than ¼ of the state median. As of July 2025, Apartments.com places the average rental cost at $1,206 for a 663 square foot apartment, to up to $2,088 per month for a 1,103 square foot, three-bedroom apartment. A three-bedroom townhome with 1,488 square feet of space will only set you back $1,990 per month. Assuming you even needed that much space in retirement, whether a three-bedroom apartment or townhome, you could have either for less than the national and state average rental costs of $2,109 and $4,024 respectively.

As per the Economic Policy Institute, as of July 2025, the monthly cost of living in Syracuse is $5,216, or $62,593 per year. Comparing these amounts to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 data, where the average household expenditure is $77,280, the cost of living in Syracuse is another benefit. A $14,687 discount on your expenses leaves an extra $1,224 in your bank account, which is money you can keep in your retirement savings.