#1Shelter Island
Suffolk County · 3,351 peopleCivic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #274 of 745 in NY
Shelter Island, #1 on this list · Photo: Hayden Soloviev · CC BY 4.0New York rankings · Civic life
Towns with the most civic life in New York
Shelter Island ranks first on civic life among New York’s 751 towns of 2,500+; 168 of the 751 grade A− or better on civic life nationally.
The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. How grades work
#1A+
#2Woodstock
Ulster County · 6,215 peopleCivic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall B+ · #278 of 745 in NY
#3Rhinebeck
Dutchess County · 2,588 peopleCivic life grade, among the top in the U.S.·Overall A · #85 of 745 in NY
All 751 towns
Civic life grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 2 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
751 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
11PleasantvilleWestchester County · 7,391 peopleA+better than 97% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #84 of 745
15Croton-on-HudsonWestchester County · 8,282 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #24 of 745
18Cayuga HeightsTompkins County · 3,860 peopleA+better than 96% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #241 of 745
26White CreekWashington County · 3,274 peopleA+better than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #566 of 745
29Hoosick FallsRensselaer County · 3,171 peopleAbetter than 95% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #532 of 745
33Hastings-on-HudsonWestchester County · 8,440 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #5 of 745
44Silver CreekChautauqua County · 2,575 peopleAbetter than 94% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #645 of 745
55Cornwall-on-HudsonOrange County · 2,990 peopleAbetter than 92% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #15 of 745
89Hudson FallsWashington County · 7,333 peopleAbetter than 87% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #401 of 745
102New CastleWestchester County · 18,259 peopleA−better than 84% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #42 of 745
108ChautauquaChautauqua County · 3,995 peopleA−better than 83% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #334 of 745
118Canton College campusSt. Lawrence County · 6,894 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall B+
122Mount MorrisLivingston County · 2,857 peopleA−better than 82% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #571 of 745
124LewisboroWestchester County · 12,162 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #8 of 745
127JamestownChautauqua County · 27,663 peopleA−better than 81% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #736 of 745
128Highland FallsOrange County · 3,631 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #390 of 745
129Potsdam College campusSt. Lawrence County · 8,019 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall B+
130CanajoharieMontgomery County · 3,649 peopleA−better than 80% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #619 of 745
134PotsdamSt. Lawrence County · 14,367 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #404 of 745
139Saratoga SpringsSaratoga County · 28,768 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #199 of 745
140CanandaiguaOntario County · 10,347 peopleA−better than 79% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #421 of 745
146MiddleburghSchoharie County · 3,124 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #519 of 745
149AlexandriaJefferson County · 3,632 peopleA−better than 78% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #229 of 745
155TarrytownWestchester County · 11,890 peopleA−better than 77% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #49 of 745
160PierrepontSt. Lawrence County · 2,525 peopleA−better than 76% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #438 of 745
165Pleasant ValleyDutchess County · 9,822 peopleA−better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #449 of 745
172DuanesburgSchenectady County · 6,020 peopleB+better than 75% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #309 of 745
174ScarsdaleWestchester County · 18,194 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #3 of 745
177Mount MorrisLivingston County · 4,419 peopleB+better than 74% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #469 of 745
185East RockawayNassau County · 10,096 peopleB+better than 73% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #114 of 745
193East GreenbushRensselaer County · 16,561 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #132 of 745
198Rockville CentreNassau County · 25,770 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #37 of 745
202North SalemWestchester County · 5,181 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #48 of 745
203East RochesterMonroe County · 6,132 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #238 of 745
204GreenburghWestchester County · 94,537 peopleB+better than 72% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #230 of 745
209Mount PleasantWestchester County · 45,444 peopleB+better than 71% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #90 of 745
222East WillistonNassau County · 2,616 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #20 of 745
223East HamptonSuffolk County · 29,400 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #273 of 745
226Dobbs FerryWestchester County · 11,645 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #121 of 745
227BronxvilleWestchester County · 6,504 peopleB+better than 68% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #10 of 745
232East SyracuseOnondaga County · 2,973 peopleB+better than 67% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #156 of 745
244North CastleWestchester County · 12,360 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #34 of 745
246CortlandtWestchester County · 42,413 peopleB+better than 66% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #155 of 745
264Massapequa ParkNassau County · 16,997 peopleBbetter than 63% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #66 of 745
267Mount KiscoWestchester County · 10,757 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #210 of 745
276MassenaSt. Lawrence County · 12,058 peopleBbetter than 62% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #628 of 745
284West BloomfieldOntario County · 2,723 peopleBbetter than 61% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #96 of 745
289GlenvilleSchenectady County · 29,701 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #162 of 745
290Clifton ParkSaratoga County · 37,775 peopleBbetter than 60% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #35 of 745
293NiskayunaSchenectady County · 24,211 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #131 of 745
301Fort EdwardWashington County · 5,943 peopleBbetter than 59% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #641 of 745
318White PlainsWestchester County · 62,871 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #324 of 745
324PoughkeepsieDutchess County · 32,499 peopleBbetter than 56% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #726 of 745
327StephentownRensselaer County · 2,782 peopleBbetter than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #284 of 745
330North HempsteadNassau County · 238,982 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #44 of 745
331MamaroneckWestchester County · 31,479 peopleB−better than 55% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #94 of 745
339Tupper LakeFranklin County · 5,056 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #603 of 745
340OssiningWestchester County · 39,964 peopleB−better than 54% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #258 of 745
343Port Washington NorthNassau County · 3,154 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #57 of 745
345StillwaterSaratoga County · 10,198 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #153 of 745
353Briarcliff ManorWestchester County · 7,481 peopleB−better than 53% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #179 of 745
364Sleepy HollowWestchester County · 11,474 peopleB−better than 51% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #248 of 745
367PortvilleCattaraugus County · 3,359 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #396 of 745
368NorthumberlandSaratoga County · 5,181 peopleB−better than 50% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #225 of 745
372OgdensburgSt. Lawrence County · 9,123 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #671 of 745
374ClarkstownRockland County · 89,659 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #201 of 745
377SalamancaCattaraugus County · 5,719 peopleB−better than 49% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #662 of 745
390CantonSt. Lawrence County · 11,256 peopleB−better than 47% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #447 of 745
393MamaroneckWestchester County · 19,896 peopleB−better than 46% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #138 of 745
402Pelham ManorWestchester County · 5,631 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #212 of 745
406Pound RidgeWestchester County · 5,057 peopleB−better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #45 of 745
407SouthamptonSuffolk County · 71,601 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #249 of 745
410CortlandvilleCortland County · 8,191 peopleC+better than 45% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #445 of 745
426WhitehallWashington County · 3,999 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #723 of 745
428BaldwinsvilleOnondaga County · 7,582 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #205 of 745
429New RochelleWestchester County · 85,864 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #336 of 745
430South Glens FallsSaratoga County · 3,704 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #402 of 745
434AmsterdamMontgomery County · 18,093 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #735 of 745
436FranklinvilleCattaraugus County · 2,715 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #461 of 745
437East BloomfieldOntario County · 3,614 peopleC+better than 43% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #103 of 745
445EastchesterWestchester County · 34,015 peopleC+better than 41% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #16 of 745
456German FlattsHerkimer County · 11,969 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #346 of 745
461Niagara FallsNiagara County · 47,255 peopleC+better than 40% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #710 of 745
467PoestenkillRensselaer County · 4,346 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #197 of 745
474Fort EdwardWashington County · 3,128 peopleC+better than 39% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #607 of 745
480WashingtonvilleOrange County · 5,640 peopleC+better than 38% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #161 of 745
484North TonawandaNiagara County · 29,806 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #427 of 745
489OssiningWestchester County · 27,579 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #433 of 745
491Blooming GroveOrange County · 18,418 peopleC+better than 36% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #319 of 745
519Great Neck EstatesNassau County · 3,139 peopleCbetter than 33% of U.S. towns·Overall A+ · #36 of 745
525Great Neck PlazaNassau County · 7,889 peopleCbetter than 32% of U.S. towns·Overall A · #81 of 745
540North DansvilleLivingston County · 5,223 peopleCbetter than 31% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #387 of 745
552East FishkillDutchess County · 29,801 peopleCbetter than 29% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #168 of 745
565Wappingers FallsDutchess County · 6,048 peopleCbetter than 27% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #235 of 745
578Schuyler FallsClinton County · 4,955 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #429 of 745
581StockholmSt. Lawrence County · 3,857 peopleCbetter than 25% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #635 of 745
588Valley StreamNassau County · 40,379 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #140 of 745
594Stony PointRockland County · 15,335 peopleC−better than 24% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #280 of 745
602New York MillsOneida County · 3,162 peopleC−better than 23% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #297 of 745
611PeekskillWestchester County · 25,891 peopleC−better than 22% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #495 of 745
613SchaghticokeRensselaer County · 7,297 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #222 of 745
617South Blooming GroveOrange County · 3,810 peopleC−better than 21% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #731 of 745
621NorfolkSt. Lawrence County · 4,313 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #400 of 745
624SchenectadySchenectady County · 69,471 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #729 of 745
625Wesley HillsRockland County · 6,477 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #386 of 745
630North SyracuseOnondaga County · 6,773 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall B · #287 of 745
631MechanicvilleSaratoga County · 5,021 peopleC−better than 20% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #553 of 745
T638Kiryas JoelOrange County · 47,147 peopleC−better than 19% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #458 of 745
646PoughkeepsieDutchess County · 45,986 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #406 of 745
647RensselaerRensselaer County · 9,421 peopleC−better than 18% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #494 of 745
651New York CityKings County · 8,584,629 peopleC−better than 17% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #651 of 745
661North GreenbushRensselaer County · 13,523 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall A− · #151 of 745
662BrunswickRensselaer County · 12,626 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #276 of 745
663St. JohnsvilleMontgomery County · 2,589 peopleC−better than 16% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #654 of 745
670LouisvilleSt. Lawrence County · 2,974 peopleC−better than 15% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #618 of 745
677West HaverstrawRockland County · 11,025 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #596 of 745
679YorkshireCattaraugus County · 3,733 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #627 of 745
683RotterdamSchenectady County · 31,065 peopleDbetter than 14% of U.S. towns·Overall B+ · #271 of 745
687OswegatchieSt. Lawrence County · 3,976 peopleDbetter than 13% of U.S. towns·Overall B− · #381 of 745
691GouverneurSt. Lawrence County · 3,560 peopleDbetter than 12% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #744 of 745
696Elmira HeightsChemung County · 3,716 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall C− · #655 of 745
700GouverneurSt. Lawrence County · 6,414 peopleDbetter than 11% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #730 of 745
708Port ChesterWestchester County · 32,303 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall C+ · #467 of 745
710Mount VernonWestchester County · 72,304 peopleDbetter than 10% of U.S. towns·Overall D · #684 of 745
727Spring ValleyRockland County · 34,482 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall D− · #740 of 745
731Chestnut RidgeRockland County · 10,987 peopleDbetter than 6% of U.S. towns·Overall C · #526 of 745
749HornellsvilleSteuben County · 3,892 peopleD−among the lowest in the U.S.·Overall B− · #399 of 745
Not ranked
7 towns without a civic life grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which New York town has the most civic life?
Shelter Island (Suffolk County) ranks first on civic life among 751 towns, with an A+; Woodstock and Rhinebeck follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Civic life grade, a character grade (not part of the overall): library visits per resident (IMLS), community nonprofits (IRS) and volunteering groups. Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a civic life grade (751 in New York). 7 towns of 2,500+ lack the figures and are listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the New York page.
Go deeper
All New York rankings →More New York lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live745 towns · #1 BrookvilleBest small towns508 towns · #1 BrookvilleMost affordable towns757 towns · #1 OswegatchieSafest towns236 towns · #1 HighlandsTowns with the best schools755 towns · #1 Kiryas Joel and Palm TreeHealthiest towns755 towns · #1 ScarsdaleBest towns for jobs & income758 towns · #1 LawrenceMost walkable towns758 towns · #1 LarchmontTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk758 towns · #1 BrockportBest towns for the outdoors758 towns · #1 HaverstrawMost historic towns758 towns · #1 OtsegoTowns with the least snow737 towns · #1 BayvilleDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns737 towns · #1 CarthageDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters691 towns · #1 Hempstead and Long BeachDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers691 towns · #1 PiermontDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers691 towns · #1 North ElbaDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes757 towns · #1 Brookville and 11 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes619 towns · #1 BuffaloDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns764 towns · #1 Kiryas Joel and Palm TreeDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries241 towns · #1 Shelter IslandDescribed, no letters
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