Cost to Own
United States › Rankings › New York Counties ranked 62 Data vintage NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals

Ranked from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals

Driest Counties in New York

The least rainfall in the country. Dry is easier on a building than wet, but it moves the cost somewhere else: irrigation, foundation movement in shrink-swell soils, and in the driest counties the price and reliability of water itself. Figures are NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals from the weather station nearest each county seat, so they describe a thirty-year average rather than any single year.

Where does yours land? Every county in America is somewhere on this scale, including the one you live in.

New York ranked

#County Annual rainfallFEMA risk ratingMedian home
1 Livingston County 29.0"Relatively Low$169,600
2 Schuyler County 30.2"Very Low$163,300
3 Seneca County 30.2"Very Low$142,700
4 Yates County 30.2"Relatively Low$178,000
5 Chemung County 32.4"Relatively Low$132,100
6 Steuben County 32.4"Relatively Low$128,600
7 Niagara County 33.0"Relatively Moderate$177,400
8 Monroe County 35.1"Relatively Moderate$197,100
9 Ontario County 35.2"Relatively Low$202,900
10 Orleans County 35.2"Very Low$126,200
11 Genesee County 36.6"Relatively Low$157,800
12 Essex County 36.6"Relatively Low$200,000
13 Franklin County 36.6"Relatively Low$128,600
14 Jefferson County 37.1"Relatively Low$181,000
15 St. Lawrence County 38.2"Relatively Low$119,800
16 Warren County 38.2"Relatively Low$247,600
17 Washington County 38.2"Relatively Low$185,000
18 Tompkins County 38.3"Relatively Low$271,500
19 Oswego County 39.6"Relatively Low$139,600
20 Onondaga County 39.9"Relatively Moderate$185,300
21 Wayne County 39.9"Relatively Low$163,400
22 Allegany County 40.2"Relatively Low$97,900
23 Albany County 40.7"Relatively Moderate$277,400
24 Erie County 40.7"Relatively High$217,400
25 Schenectady County 40.7"Relatively Low$223,100
26 Schoharie County 40.7"Very Low$182,000
27 Orange County 41.0"Relatively Moderate$361,100
28 Cortland County 41.7"Relatively Low$158,100
29 Lewis County 41.8"Very Low$158,000
30 Broome County 42.0"Relatively Moderate$145,100
31 Tioga County 42.0"Relatively Low$153,200
32 Queens County 43.3"Relatively High$699,200
33 Clinton County 43.4"Relatively Low$175,100
34 Hamilton County 43.5"Very Low$242,000
35 Oneida County 43.8"Relatively Moderate$171,100
36 Columbia County 44.1"Relatively Low$309,800
37 Cayuga County 44.3"Relatively Low$164,200
38 Wyoming County 45.2"Very Low$154,700
39 Chenango County 45.3"Relatively Low$128,100
40 Nassau County 45.3"Relatively High$658,700
41 Chautauqua County 45.7"Relatively Moderate$119,300
42 Dutchess County 45.8"Relatively Moderate$368,100
43 Saratoga County 46.4"Relatively Low$324,800
44 Richmond County 46.6"Relatively Moderate$658,500
45 Kings County 47.1"Relatively High$889,700
46 Rensselaer County 47.1"Relatively Moderate$244,300
47 Cattaraugus County 47.2"Relatively Moderate$109,400
48 Suffolk County 47.2"Relatively High$539,500
49 Otsego County 47.6"Relatively Low$175,900
50 Rockland County 47.8"Relatively Moderate$564,200
51 Westchester County 47.8"Relatively High$638,400
52 Madison County 48.1"Relatively Low$176,800
53 Delaware County 48.6"Relatively Moderate$176,200
54 New York County 49.5"Relatively High$1,108,900
55 Herkimer County 49.8"Relatively Low$135,000
56 Bronx County 49.9"Relatively High$517,000
57 Putnam County 50.4"Very Low$448,000
58 Fulton County 50.7"Relatively Low$156,100
59 Montgomery County 50.7"Relatively Low$141,600
60 Sullivan County 53.1"Relatively Low$234,800
61 Greene County 56.0"Relatively Low$248,300
62 Ulster County 63.1"Relatively Moderate$315,100

Every figure is modelled on the county's own median home with 20% down at 7.03%. Property tax and electricity are county and state specific; homeowners insurance uses the NAIC average premium for that state, which ranges from 0.16% of home value in Hawaii to 1.16% in Oklahoma. Maintenance and water are national estimates. Full methodology.

Nationwide

Driest Counties across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in New York

Other rankings

All 31 rankings