List of the Most Worst Small Towns in New York in 2023

As a non-resident of small town New York, it’s easy to overlook the charm and appeal of this hidden gem. But for those who call it home, it’s an incredible place to live.

While New York is a great state, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Like any other state, it has its own set of issues. In this article, we will be using Saturday Night Science to identify the worst small towns to live in the Empire State. But don’t worry, we will be using data to determine which places have high rates of crime, poverty, and unemployment.

We have scrutinized over 456 of the smallest cities in New York and compiled a list of the top 10 worst small towns in New York that you would never want to reside in. Based on the latest census data, it appears that Whitehall holds the title for the worst small town to reside in within New York for 2023.

It’s important to note that despite the fact that many of these small towns may have seen better days, they still have tight-knit communities filled with wonderful people. It’s crucial to acknowledge that this report is not meant to discredit or belittle the individuals who call towns like Whitehall their home.

If you’re curious about how we came up with these rankings, keep reading. Alternatively, if you’re eager to see where your town placed, feel free to scroll down to the bottom.

In case you are already aware of the small towns, explore some of the top-rated places to reside in New York or the places that are not recommended to settle in New York. If you’re seeking a broader perspective, take a look at the poorest cities in the United States or the least desirable states in the country.

Detailed List Of The Worst Small Towns In New York

Rank	Town	Population	Unemployment Rate	Home Value
1	Whitehall	2,407	9.0%	$88,500
2	Yorkshire	1,061	6.1%	$21,900
3	Wolcott	1,299	7.0%	$74,700
4	Loch Sheldrake	1,499	8.9%	$1,000
5	Whitney Point	1,087	31.8%	$115,800
6	Great Bend	1,348	21.6%	$111,700
7	Cohocton	1,068	8.9%	$73,500
8	Gouverneur	3,667	8.6%	$84,200
9	Little Valley	1,094	5.1%	$69,400
10	Fort Plain	1,833	7.1%	$64,400
11	Liberty	4,956	7.4%	$117,700
12	Cattaraugus	1,056	7.3%	$62,500
13	Delevan	1,312	7.7%	$86,700
14	Philadelphia	1,057	6.4%	$127,700
15	Montour Falls	1,888	6.6%	$96,900
16	Clyde	2,033	12.1%	$74,000
17	Stamford	1,163	6.8%	$156,700
18	Little Falls	4,634	6.6%	$69,400
19	Boonville	1,971	7.9%	$121,700
20	Shokan	1,308	18.5%	$217,000
21	Plattsburgh West	1,208	5.0%	$90,200
22	Sherburne	1,261	5.3%	$106,400
23	Carthage	3,398	7.8%	$113,900
24	Granville	2,291	4.3%	$105,500
25	Sodus	1,798	11.0%	$77,200
26	Brocton	1,467	4.7%	$87,600
27	North Collins	1,058	10.2%	$102,800
28	Munsons Corners	2,782	12.0%	$120,400
29	Ticonderoga	3,427	6.6%	$131,700
30	Mineville	1,159	5.4%	$78,200
31	Addison	1,880	8.0%	$79,900
32	Newfane	3,419	5.5%	$105,500
33	Tupper Lake	3,126	6.5%	$85,500
34	Rouses Point	2,319	6.1%	$139,800
35	St. Bonaventure	2,087	6.8%	$110,800
36	Williamson	2,620	6.7%	$108,500
37	Dundee	2,140	2.3%	$83,600
38	Angola On The Lake	1,550	7.0%	$135,200
39	South Fallsburg	1,066	2.2%	$216,500
40	Walton	3,186	3.9%	$88,600
41	St. Johnsville	1,838	7.7%	$74,200
42	Sidney	3,744	7.4%	$82,000
43	Watkins Glen	1,844	8.3%	$137,700
44	Nunda	1,124	4.9%	$89,100
45	Lake Katrine	2,465	5.8%	$171,000
46	Kerhonkson	2,328	9.0%	$204,500
47	Cobleskill	4,350	6.7%	$146,700
48	Deposit	1,389	3.3%	$93,800
49	Ellenville	4,209	1.6%	$148,700
50	Riverside	3,360	11.2%	$1,000
51	Oxford	1,392	6.4%	$92,500
52	Holland	1,226	7.3%	$152,700
53	Weston Mills	1,270	13.7%	$108,200
54	Mount Morris	3,427	5.8%	$79,200
55	Green Island	2,957	10.9%	$134,300
56	Wayland	1,670	4.0%	$83,900
57	Northampton	1,302	10.4%	$327,700
58	Bainbridge	1,021	5.5%	$98,100
59	Philmont	1,403	15.1%	$163,600
60	Lake Erie Beach	3,266	3.5%	$102,900
61	Phoenix	2,600	8.4%	$110,600
62	Elmira Heights	4,265	4.4%	$85,600
63	Catskill	3,841	5.9%	$171,100
64	Franklinville	2,019	7.0%	$78,900
65	Port Byron	1,013	0.9%	$91,800
66	Alexandria Bay	1,097	7.1%	$119,900
67	Sand Ridge	1,189	12.4%	$151,900
68	Falconer	2,301	7.7%	$75,300
69	Middleburgh	1,346	2.5%	$147,300
70	Richfield Springs	1,256	0.5%	$99,900
71	Waverly	4,329	6.9%	$107,200
72	Canisteo	2,281	8.8%	$90,700
73	Middleport	1,824	6.4%	$90,400
74	Mcgraw	1,331	5.7%	$88,300
75	Seneca Knolls	1,949	8.6%	$105,900
76	Cuba	1,677	7.7%	$74,300
77	Akron	2,901	9.1%	$169,700
78	Arcade	2,168	5.7%	$125,400
79	Hillburn	1,110	6.0%	$349,400
80	Jordan	1,527	8.1%	$114,100
81	Lincoln Park	2,371	9.5%	$206,100
82	Dryden	2,004	7.5%	$192,500
83	Black River	1,754	19.8%	$187,700
84	Lowville	3,592	7.1%	$142,200
85	Morrisville	1,885	2.3%	$115,900
86	Dolgeville	2,402	1.7%	$85,100
87	Dannemora	4,016	5.2%	$104,900
88	West Carthage	1,468	0.9%	$135,700
89	Stottville	1,196	1.8%	$164,600
90	Elbridge	1,313	7.4%	$130,000
91	Pine Bush	1,674	20.7%	$227,600
92	Wellsville	4,741	3.2%	$72,400
93	Verona	1,644	24.9%	$153,000
94	Greene	1,653	6.4%	$123,900
95	Canajoharie	1,608	5.0%	$88,000
96	Apalachin	2,149	4.5%	$124,100
97	Arlington	2,651	9.5%	$214,800
98	Marion	1,210	2.0%	$124,800
99	Coxsackie	2,765	11.9%	$179,700
100	Springville	4,218	4.7%	$147,000

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Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in New York is lousy or not?

In order to determine the worst small towns to live in New York, we had to identify the factors that people consider when deciding whether a place is desirable or not. It’s safe to assume that low crime rates, quality education, ample entertainment options, and a thriving economy are some of the key factors that people value in a community.

Using the Saturday Night Science approach, we analyzed the criteria and concluded that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime, assuming all other factors are equal. Even your eccentric Uncle would likely agree with this common-sense observation.

We utilized the FBI’s crime data and the American Community Survey from 2017-2021 to establish our criteria.

- Population Density (The lower, the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime

We examined numerous cities with populations ranging from 1,000 to 5,000, totaling 456 in all.

The FBI is the source of crime statistics, and they obtain this information from the cities. It’s important to note that the dropout figures are calculated based on the entire adult population, and not solely on the graduation rates of high school students.

Our approach to research is grounded in factual information, with a focus on providing engaging and informative content. As we revisit our rankings for the tenth time in 2023, we have updated this article to reflect the worst small places to live in New York.

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There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In New York

If you’re looking into the small towns in New York that have the most challenging economic conditions, high crime rates, and lack of entertainment options, then this list provides accurate information.

Science has identified the best small towns to live in New York and for those who are curious, here they are: