Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · New York

Best Places to Live in New York

Every New York county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. Lewis County leads at 74/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, New York ranks #25 for homesteading and #25 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in New York

    How New York treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 62 New York counties, ranked

    1. 1Lewis County74
    2. 2Herkimer County73
    3. 3Franklin County72
    4. 4Steuben County69
    5. 5St. Lawrence County69
    6. 6Allegany County68
    7. 7Clinton County68
    8. 8Washington County68
    9. 9Schoharie County68
    10. 10Cattaraugus County67
    11. 11Schuyler County67
    12. 12Hamilton County65
    13. 13Yates County65
    14. 14Jefferson County65
    15. 15Otsego County64
    16. 16Warren County64
    17. 17Madison County64
    18. 18Wyoming County64
    19. 19Oneida County63
    20. 20Sullivan County62
    21. 21Saratoga County62
    22. 22Essex County62
    23. 23Ulster County62
    24. 24Chemung County62
    25. 25Chenango County62
    26. 26Livingston County62
    27. 27Oswego County61
    28. 28Greene County61
    29. 29Fulton County60
    30. 30Chautauqua County60
    31. 31Cortland County59
    32. 32Seneca County59
    33. 33Delaware County58
    34. 34Tompkins County58
    35. 35Tioga County57
    36. 36Broome County57
    37. 37Cayuga County56
    38. 38Wayne County54
    39. 39Montgomery County53
    40. 40Ontario County52
    41. 41Suffolk County52
    42. 42Orleans County51
    43. 43Niagara County51
    44. 44Genesee County50
    45. 45Onondaga County50
    46. 46Albany County50
    47. 47Erie County49
    48. 48Rensselaer County49
    49. 49Schenectady County48
    50. 50Dutchess County47
    51. 51Monroe County46
    52. 52Columbia County46
    53. 53Orange County43
    54. 54Putnam County36
    55. 55Westchester County34
    56. 56Rockland County29
    57. 57Nassau County26
    58. 58Richmond County24
    59. 59Queens County22
    60. 60Bronx County19
    61. 61New York County12
    62. 62Kings County9

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