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 #26 for homesteading and #30 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. 2Franklin County71
    3. 3Steuben County71
    4. 4Allegany County70
    5. 5Washington County70
    6. 6Clinton County69
    7. 7Schoharie County69
    8. 8Cattaraugus County69
    9. 9Schuyler County69
    10. 10Yates County67
    11. 11St. Lawrence County67
    12. 12Jefferson County67
    13. 13Madison County67
    14. 14Otsego County66
    15. 15Warren County66
    16. 16Wyoming County65
    17. 17Oneida County65
    18. 18Herkimer County64
    19. 19Sullivan County64
    20. 20Saratoga County64
    21. 21Essex County64
    22. 22Ulster County64
    23. 23Livingston County64
    24. 24Chenango County63
    25. 25Chemung County63
    26. 26Oswego County63
    27. 27Greene County63
    28. 28Hamilton County63
    29. 29Fulton County62
    30. 30Chautauqua County61
    31. 31Seneca County61
    32. 32Cortland County61
    33. 33Delaware County60
    34. 34Tompkins County59
    35. 35Tioga County59
    36. 36Broome County59
    37. 37Cayuga County58
    38. 38Wayne County56
    39. 39Montgomery County55
    40. 40Ontario County54
    41. 41Orleans County53
    42. 42Niagara County53
    43. 43Genesee County52
    44. 44Albany County51
    45. 45Onondaga County51
    46. 46Erie County51
    47. 47Rensselaer County50
    48. 48Schenectady County50
    49. 49Dutchess County49
    50. 50Monroe County48
    51. 51Columbia County48
    52. 52Suffolk County46
    53. 53Orange County44
    54. 54Putnam County38
    55. 55Westchester County35
    56. 56Rockland County30
    57. 57Nassau County27
    58. 58Richmond County25
    59. 59Queens County23
    60. 60Bronx County20
    61. 61New York County13
    62. 62Kings County11

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