A new study reveals which New York counties offer the best value for your paycheck
New York: A recent study by SmartAsset shows the top 10 counties in New York where your paycheck stretches the most. They looked at factors like how much you earn, what you can buy with that money, and job growth.
Nassau County leads the pack with a score of 68.89, meaning your dollar goes further there. It has a purchasing power of 1.65, which is better than the state average. Plus, the unemployment rate is 3.6%, and income is growing at 5.4%.
Suffolk County isn’t far behind, scoring 66.09 with a purchasing power of 1.52. It has a slightly higher unemployment rate at 3.9% but a solid income growth rate of 5.7%.
Then there’s Saratoga County, just north of Albany, with a score of 66.05. It boasts a 3.2% unemployment rate and a purchasing power of 1.52.
Rensselaer County, east of Albany, scored 64.50, with a purchasing power of 1.43 and an income growth rate of 5.8%. Westchester County, home to places like White Plains and Yonkers, scored 64.42, with a purchasing power of 1.49.
Other notable mentions include Columbia, Herkimer, Dutchess, Genesee, and Orange counties, rounding out the top ten.
Even though these counties are the best in New York for paycheck friendliness, they don’t rank as high nationally. Nassau is at 985, and Suffolk is at 1,257.
Interestingly, Texas has five of the top ten paycheck-friendly counties in the U.S., with Winkler County taking the top spot. North Dakota and South Dakota also have a couple of counties in the mix.
