Do you live in one of the most miserable places in New York?
According to a Harris Poll taken in October of 2015, only a third of Americans say they are truly happy. That’s too bad, considering that Americans – especially folks in New York – don’t really have it too bad, in the grand scheme of things.
But, we were curious – which New York cities might be the most miserable? We’re about to find out, using science and data.
After analyzing the largest cities, we sadly present the most miserable cities in the Empire State:
- New York (Photos)
- Monticello (Photos)
- Hempstead (Photos)
- Newburgh (Photos)
- Poughkeepsie (Photos)
- Mount Vernon (Photos)
- Liberty (Photos)
- Beacon (Photos)
- Mechanicstown (Photos)
- Spring Valley (Photos)
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably don’t live in one of these cities.
Oh, and by the way, Niskayuna is the happiest place in New York.
Or check out the Most Miserable Cities In America.
If you’re looking for something more positive, check out the best states in America or the best places to live in America.
How We Measured The Most Miserable Cities In New York
In order to rank the unhappiest places in New York, we had to determine what criteria makes people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress free, and have a stable home life.
So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2010-2014 report for the criteria, flipped the list, and it spit out the answer. Like magic.
We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute times
- Unemployment rates
- Cost of living
- % of married couples
- % of home owners
- Poverty rate
After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 108 places in New York with over 2,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 402 for each of the seven criteria with a score of one being the most miserable (Any ties were given to the larger place).
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Miserable Index for each place with the lowest overall Miserable Index ‘earning’ the title ‘Most Miserable City In New York’.
If you’d like to see the complete list of states, most miserable to happiest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
1. New York
Population: 8,354,889
People Who Own Their Home: 29.01%
Married Adults: 39.0%
2. Monticello
Population: 6,780
People Who Own Their Home: 18.11%
Married Adults: 32.12%
3. Hempstead
Population: 54,801
People Who Own Their Home: 39.37%
Married Adults: 34.27%
4. Newburgh
Population: 28,614
People Who Own Their Home: 25.49%
Married Adults: 33.55%
5. Poughkeepsie
Population: 30,716
People Who Own Their Home: 33.4%
Married Adults: 32.85%
6. Mount Vernon
Population: 67,962
People Who Own Their Home: 34.69%
Married Adults: 35.3%
7. Liberty
Population: 4,281
People Who Own Their Home: 28.53%
Married Adults: 36.33%
8. Beacon
Population: 14,437
People Who Own Their Home: 47.41%
Married Adults: 37.43%
9. Mechanicstown
Population: 7,030
People Who Own Their Home: 41.26%
Married Adults: 39.53%
10. Spring Valley
Population: 32,007
People Who Own Their Home: 26.41%
Married Adults: 45.83%
There You Have It
Like we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in {state} is usually a subjective matter. But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.
If you’re curious enough, here are the happiest cities in {state}, according to science:
For more New York reading , check out:
- These Are The 10 Dumbest Cities In New York
- These Are The 10 Worst Places To Live In New York State
- These Are The 10 Safest Places In New York According To Science
Detailed List Of Miserable Places In New York
City | Rank |
---|---|
New York | 1 |
Monticello | 2 |
Hempstead | 3 |
Newburgh | 4 |
Poughkeepsie | 5 |
Mount Vernon | 6 |
Liberty | 7 |
Beacon | 8 |
Mechanicstown | 9 |
Spring Valley | 10 |
Rochester | 11 |
Granville | 12 |
Syracuse | 13 |
Schenectady | 14 |
Riverside | 15 |
Middletown | 16 |
Inwood | 17 |
Manorhaven | 18 |
Peekskill | 19 |
Buffalo | 20 |
Whitehall | 21 |
Yonkers | 22 |
New Paltz | 23 |
Roosevelt | 24 |
Endicott | 25 |
Wyandanch | 26 |
Albion | 27 |
Phoenix | 28 |
Salamanca | 29 |
Gloversville | 30 |
Binghamton | 31 |
Troy | 32 |
Haverstraw | 33 |
Amsterdam | 34 |
Mastic Beach | 35 |
Cobleskill | 36 |
Hudson Falls | 37 |
Albany | 38 |
Pulaski | 39 |
Utica | 40 |
Kingston | 41 |
Port Jervis | 42 |
Boonville | 43 |
Mechanicville | 44 |
Ossining | 45 |
Arlington | 46 |
Walton | 47 |
Fulton | 48 |
Freeport | 49 |
Herkimer | 50 |
Ballston Spa | 51 |
Mount Ivy | 52 |
Elmira | 53 |
Hudson | 54 |
Rensselaer | 55 |
Riverhead | 56 |
Auburn | 57 |
Chester | 58 |
Lyons | 59 |
Palmyra | 60 |
Niagara Falls | 61 |
Lackawanna | 62 |
Jamestown | 63 |
Long Beach | 64 |
Oneonta | 65 |
Medina | 66 |
Port Chester | 67 |
Cohoes | 68 |
Glens Falls | 69 |
Camden | 70 |
Central Islip | 71 |
Uniondale | 72 |
North Bellport | 73 |
Perry | 74 |
Lincoln Park | 75 |
Sleepy Hollow | 76 |
Oswego | 77 |
Delhi | 78 |
Watertown | 79 |
Brentwood | 80 |
Carthage | 81 |
Hornell | 82 |
Massena | 83 |
Elmont | 84 |
Mount Kisco | 85 |
Ilion | 86 |
Walden | 87 |
Little Falls | 88 |
New Rochelle | 89 |
Johnstown | 90 |
Lockport | 91 |
Ontario | 92 |
Canton | 93 |
Port Jefferson Station | 94 |
Bay Shore | 95 |
Wappingers Falls | 96 |
Nyack | 97 |
Warsaw | 98 |
Norwich | 99 |
Groton | 100 |
Plattsburgh | 101 |
Lakeview | 102 |
South Lockport | 103 |
Frankfort | 104 |
Ticonderoga | 105 |
Patchogue | 106 |
South Valley Stream | 107 |
Huntington Station | 108 |
Dunkirk | 109 |
Geneva | 110 |
Tuckahoe | 111 |
Penn Yan | 112 |
Valley Stream | 113 |
Viola | 114 |
Ithaca | 115 |
Canandaigua | 116 |
New Cassel | 117 |
Corning | 118 |
Johnson City | 119 |
Waterford | 120 |
Bath | 121 |
North Amityville | 122 |
Cedarhurst | 123 |
Warrensburg | 124 |
Mahopac | 125 |
West Haverstraw | 126 |
Ogdensburg | 127 |
North Bay Shore | 128 |
North Lindenhurst | 129 |
Mattydale | 130 |
Saranac Lake | 131 |
Brockport | 132 |
Geneseo | 133 |
Yorkville | 134 |
Solvay | 135 |
Glen Cove | 136 |
Webster | 137 |
Newark | 138 |
Cortland | 139 |
White Plains | 140 |
New Windsor | 141 |
Olean | 142 |
Orangeburg | 143 |
Sidney | 144 |
East Rochester | 145 |
East Garden City | 146 |
Scotchtown | 147 |
Brookhaven | 148 |
Great Neck Plaza | 149 |
Batavia | 150 |
Mamaroneck | 151 |
Baldwin | 152 |
Coram | 153 |
Malone | 154 |
Copiague | 155 |
Homer | 156 |
Springs | 157 |
Monsey | 158 |
East Patchogue | 159 |
University At Buffalo | 160 |
Lynbrook | 161 |
North Gates | 162 |
Highland | 163 |
Lake Mohegan | 164 |
Seneca Falls | 165 |
Saratoga Springs | 166 |
North Valley Stream | 167 |
Hampton Bays | 168 |
Fredonia | 169 |
Rome | 170 |
Baldwin Harbor | 171 |
Warwick | 172 |
Harrison | 173 |
Tonawanda | 174 |
Amityville | 175 |
Mastic | 176 |
Caledonia | 177 |
Calverton | 178 |
Goshen | 179 |
Lancaster | 180 |
Suffern | 181 |
Baywood | 182 |
Rocky Point | 183 |
Carmel Hamlet | 184 |
New Square | 185 |
Croton-On-Hudson | 186 |
Waverly | 187 |
Great Neck | 188 |
North Tonawanda | 189 |
Morrisville | 190 |
West Glens Falls | 191 |
Gardnertown | 192 |
Lake Carmel | 193 |
Oneida | 194 |
Selden | 195 |
East Farmingdale | 196 |
North Syracuse | 197 |
Harriman | 198 |
Hartsdale | 199 |
Middle Island | 200 |
Greenlawn | 201 |
Shirley | 202 |
Lindenhurst | 203 |
New Hempstead | 204 |
Franklin Square | 205 |
Cheektowaga | 206 |
Valley Cottage | 207 |
Baldwinsville | 208 |
Nanuet | 209 |
West Hempstead | 210 |
Springville | 211 |
South Hill | 212 |
Westbury | 213 |
Akron | 214 |
Ronkonkoma | 215 |
Lansing | 216 |
West Babylon | 217 |
Waterloo | 218 |
Stony Point | 219 |
Dobbs Ferry | 220 |
Lima | 221 |
Wheatley Heights | 222 |
Mineola | 223 |
Medford | 224 |
Kiryas Joel | 225 |
Hamilton | 226 |
Bayport | 227 |
Roslyn Heights | 228 |
Rye Brook | 229 |
Hillcrest | 230 |
East Moriches | 231 |
Depew | 232 |
Farmingdale | 233 |
Brighton | 234 |
Garden City Park | 235 |
Lake Grove | 236 |
Manhasset | 237 |
Sound Beach | 238 |
Rotterdam | 239 |
Corinth | 240 |
Washingtonville | 241 |
Westfield | 242 |
Bohemia | 243 |
Orange Lake | 244 |
Port Washington | 245 |
Monroe | 246 |
Yaphank | 247 |
Albertson | 248 |
New Hyde Park | 249 |
Chestnut Ridge | 250 |
East Massapequa | 251 |
Carle Place | 252 |
South Huntington | 253 |
Williamsville | 254 |
Holtsville | 255 |
Hamlin | 256 |
Holbrook | 257 |
Southport | 258 |
Lakewood | 259 |
Thomaston | 260 |
North Babylon | 261 |
Glens Falls North | 262 |
East Rockaway | 263 |
Port Jefferson | 264 |
Pleasantville | 265 |
Babylon | 266 |
Fairmount | 267 |
Lake Ronkonkoma | 268 |
Kenmore | 269 |
East Meadow | 270 |
Westmere | 271 |
Oyster Bay | 272 |
Deer Park | 273 |
Pomona | 274 |
Scotia | 275 |
Eggertsville | 276 |
Rockville Centre | 277 |
Irondequoit | 278 |
Islip Terrace | 279 |
West Seneca | 280 |
West Point | 281 |
Southold | 282 |
Thiells | 283 |
Centereach | 284 |
Hastings-On-Hudson | 285 |
Wesley Hills | 286 |
Stony Brook University | 287 |
Horseheads | 288 |
Bronxville | 289 |
Farmingville | 290 |
Huntington | 291 |
Nesconset | 292 |
Williamson | 293 |
Avon | 294 |
North Patchogue | 295 |
Terryville | 296 |
Ridge | 297 |
Fort Salonga | 298 |
Northport | 299 |
Hicksville | 300 |
Williston Park | 301 |
Islip | 302 |
Montgomery | 303 |
Woodbury | 304 |
Pelham | 305 |
Hewlett | 306 |
North Bellmore | 307 |
Larchmont | 308 |
Fairport | 309 |
Scottsville | 310 |
Malverne | 311 |
East Islip | 312 |
Tonawanda | 313 |
Kings Park | 314 |
Bayville | 315 |
Blauvelt | 316 |
Woodmere | 317 |
Salisbury | 318 |
Hilton | 319 |
Pearl River | 320 |
Montrose | 321 |
Lewiston | 322 |
East Northport | 323 |
Floral Park | 324 |
Congers | 325 |
Smithtown | 326 |
Sayville | 327 |
Oakdale | 328 |
East Aurora | 329 |
Hawthorne | 330 |
Manorville | 331 |
Endwell | 332 |
Greece | 333 |
Bethpage | 334 |
Rye | 335 |
Fayetteville | 336 |
Colonie | 337 |
Massapequa Park | 338 |
Oceanside | 339 |
Sea Cliff | 340 |
Centerport | 341 |
Kings Point | 342 |
East Glenville | 343 |
North New Hyde Park | 344 |
Briarcliff Manor | 345 |
Jefferson Valley-Yorktown | 346 |
Levittown | 347 |
Center Moriches | 348 |
New City | 349 |
Merrick | 350 |
Airmont | 351 |
Commack | 352 |
Dix Hills | 353 |
Lakeland | 354 |
Myers Corner | 355 |
Irvington | 356 |
Old Bethpage | 357 |
Elwood | 358 |
Hamburg | 359 |
Eden | 360 |
Miller Place | 361 |
Jericho | 362 |
Seaford | 363 |
Chittenango | 364 |
Mount Sinai | 365 |
Stony Brook | 366 |
North Massapequa | 367 |
Melville | 368 |
Woodbury | 369 |
Bellmore | 370 |
Lawrence | 371 |
South Farmingdale | 372 |
Massapequa | 373 |
Scarsdale | 374 |
Brookville | 375 |
Garden City | 376 |
East Hills | 377 |
Clarence | 378 |
Syosset | 379 |
Hauppauge | 380 |
Montebello | 381 |
East Shoreham | 382 |
West Islip | 383 |
Eastchester | 384 |
Big Flats | 385 |
Wading River | 386 |
Plainedge | 387 |
Pelham Manor | 388 |
Wantagh | 389 |
Bedford | 390 |
Plainview | 391 |
Cold Spring Harbor | 392 |
North Merrick | 393 |
West Hills | 394 |
Tappan | 395 |
North Hills | 396 |
North Wantagh | 397 |
Setauket-East Setauket | 398 |
Harris Hill | 399 |
Melrose Park | 400 |
Westvale | 401 |
Niskayuna | 402 |