Four Upstate New York cities ranked in America’s top 100 cities list by worldsbestcities.com. The ranking was based on factors like livability, lovability, and prosperity, plus new measures such as housing affordability and healthcare access.
Data sources included Google, Tripadvisor, Instagram, and core statistics, looking at things like affordability, healthcare, air quality, nightlife, culture, jobs, and airports. New York City stood no.1 overall, but Upstate New York cities—Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse—also made the list, as per the report by NYup.com
The city’s housing market is booming—Monroe County was ranked the 5th-hottest U.S. real estate market in spring 2025. A $100 million Inner Loop North removal project will open land for housing, parks, and bike lanes. Other projects include a $38 million airport upgrade at Frederick Douglass International Airport and new hotels near the Strong National Museum of Play, as stated by NYup.com.
Major projects include the DL&W Terminal transformation into a public market and transit hub, a new pro soccer stadium, and Amazon’s robotics center, along with a new Lifco Hydraulics plant. Zillow named Buffalo the nation’s hottest housing market for 2025, with home values up nearly 9% but still below the national average, according to the report by NYup.com
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Downtown Albany is getting new restaurants, grocery stores, and the region’s first Costco.
The city scored no. 23 in Walkability and no. 29 in Housing Affordability, with a median home price of $269,000. More development is coming with affordable housing projects, hotel upgrades, and a $100 million airport modernization, as stated by NYup.com
It also earned strong rankings for air quality (no. 22), green space (no. 30), and housing affordability (no. 32). New restaurants and recreation spots are adding to the city’s culture and lifestyle appeal.
Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse made the top 100 cities ranking by worldsbestcities.com.
Q2. Why were these New York cities ranked among the best?
They were ranked for livability, housing affordability, walkability, culture, jobs, and big new projects.
Data sources included Google, Tripadvisor, Instagram, and core statistics, looking at things like affordability, healthcare, air quality, nightlife, culture, jobs, and airports. New York City stood no.1 overall, but Upstate New York cities—Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse—also made the list, as per the report by NYup.com
Rochester
Rochester ranked no. 28 in Livability, showing how the city has reinvented itself from its rustbelt past. It also scored no. 11 in Green Space and no. 21 in University, boosted by RIT and the University of Rochester, which attract tech and photonics employers. Rochester was recently named one of America’s top college towns.The city’s housing market is booming—Monroe County was ranked the 5th-hottest U.S. real estate market in spring 2025. A $100 million Inner Loop North removal project will open land for housing, parks, and bike lanes. Other projects include a $38 million airport upgrade at Frederick Douglass International Airport and new hotels near the Strong National Museum of Play, as stated by NYup.com.
Buffalo
Buffalo’s growth was called an “understated urban revival” in the report. It ranked no. 33 in Livability, helped by Walkability (no. 16) and Biking (no. 19) scores. The city’s art culture is rising, with the $230 million Buffalo AKG Art Museum expansion drawing global attention.Major projects include the DL&W Terminal transformation into a public market and transit hub, a new pro soccer stadium, and Amazon’s robotics center, along with a new Lifco Hydraulics plant. Zillow named Buffalo the nation’s hottest housing market for 2025, with home values up nearly 9% but still below the national average, according to the report by NYup.com
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Albany
Albany is shaking off its “sleepy” image with big semiconductor investments. Projects include the $614 million NanoFab Reflection building at SUNY-Poly and GlobalFoundries’ $13 billion Fab 8.2 facility, tied to the federal CHIPS Act.Downtown Albany is getting new restaurants, grocery stores, and the region’s first Costco.
The city scored no. 23 in Walkability and no. 29 in Housing Affordability, with a median home price of $269,000. More development is coming with affordable housing projects, hotel upgrades, and a $100 million airport modernization, as stated by NYup.com
Syracuse
Syracuse was called one of Central New York’s “savviest economic hubs.” It ranked no. 34 in Walkability, and the $2.25 billion I-81 Viaduct Project could make downtown more walkable by 2028. Syracuse got attention for Micron Technology’s $100 billion semiconductor investment, according to the report by NYup.comIt also earned strong rankings for air quality (no. 22), green space (no. 30), and housing affordability (no. 32). New restaurants and recreation spots are adding to the city’s culture and lifestyle appeal.
Poughkeepsie
Outside the Thruway corridor, Poughkeepsie also made the list at no. 82. Known as the “Queen City of the Hudson,” it scored no. 28 in Walkability and is popular for scenic spots like the Walkway over the Hudson, as stated by NYup.com.FAQs
Q1. Which Upstate New York cities are in the best cities list 2025?Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, and Syracuse made the top 100 cities ranking by worldsbestcities.com.
Q2. Why were these New York cities ranked among the best?
They were ranked for livability, housing affordability, walkability, culture, jobs, and big new projects.
