Bolthole · New York

Best Places to Live in New York

Every New York county ranked by BoltScore — for land, water, freedom, and self-sufficiency. Lewis County leads at 65/100. No bunkers, no doom — just where the ground is worth standing on.

Nationally, New York ranks #33 for homesteading and #40 for off-grid living.

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New York
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Counties by BoltScore

    Off-grid & homestead laws in New York

    How New York treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. Scores feed the national rankings; 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 County65
    2. 2Orleans County64
    3. 3Franklin County64
    4. 4Hamilton County63
    5. 5Schuyler County62
    6. 6Seneca County61
    7. 7Schoharie County60
    8. 8Wyoming County60
    9. 9Allegany County60
    10. 10Herkimer County59
    11. 11Chenango County59
    12. 12Fulton County59
    13. 13Tioga County59
    14. 14Cortland County58
    15. 15Chemung County58
    16. 16Clinton County58
    17. 17St. Lawrence County58
    18. 18Otsego County57
    19. 19Jefferson County57
    20. 20Montgomery County57
    21. 21Cattaraugus County56
    22. 22Washington County56
    23. 23Genesee County56
    24. 24Chautauqua County56
    25. 25Essex County56
    26. 26Oswego County55
    27. 27Livingston County55
    28. 28Steuben County55
    29. 29Yates County55
    30. 30Cayuga County55
    31. 31Delaware County55
    32. 32Madison County55
    33. 33Wayne County54
    34. 34Sullivan County53
    35. 35Warren County52
    36. 36Ontario County52
    37. 37Broome County51
    38. 38Oneida County51
    39. 39Greene County51
    40. 40Tompkins County49
    41. 41Columbia County48
    42. 42Niagara County48
    43. 43Schenectady County47
    44. 44Rensselaer County46
    45. 45Saratoga County46
    46. 46Ulster County45
    47. 47Onondaga County45
    48. 48Putnam County44
    49. 49Erie County43
    50. 50Monroe County43
    51. 51Albany County42
    52. 52Dutchess County39
    53. 53Orange County38
    54. 54Richmond County38
    55. 55Bronx County38
    56. 56Rockland County37
    57. 57Nassau County36
    58. 58Queens County36
    59. 59Westchester County35
    60. 60Suffolk County35
    61. 61Kings County33
    62. 62New York County32

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