Best Moving Companies in New York 2026

How much you pay for your move depends on whether you move yourself or hire movers, the move distance, how much you’re moving and any additional services (like packing or storage) you choose.

Local movers typically charge by the hour, with a team of two movers costing $80 to $100 per hour as of publishing. Long-distance movers typically charge a flat fee, which may range anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000. Packing and unpacking services will cost you more. Tipping movers is optional but customary (10% to 20% of the total cost).

Estimates for moving services from New York City (10001)

The figures below are based on current (as of publishing) industry estimates for a three-bedroom home with no additional services.

There are ways to ease the stress of a move and simplify the process — it just takes some planning.

1. Get an idea of the scope of the move

Think about how much time, energy and money the move will require. Evaluate your time frame, the number of items you need moved and your budget. Set aside extra funds for unexpected costs.

» SMART MOVE: How to make a moving budget

2. Declutter in advance

Reduce the weight and volume of your belongings to save on moving costs. Consider donating or selling items you no longer need. Your city or town may have local or national charities that offer donation pickup, including for larger furniture items.

3. Start packing early

Begin packing items from less frequently used areas or seasonal items first. As you get closer to your move-out date, aim to pack one room per day and label boxes clearly.

» MORE: How to pack for a move

4. Make sure your essentials are easily accessible

Pack a box or bag for each person in your household containing essentials for moving day and the following day. Include a change of clothes, toiletries and any necessary medications — you don’t want to be without these during the move, especially if you’re driving a long distance.

5. Know how to contact your mover

Have a reliable contact for the moving company so you can communicate logistics, ask questions and track your move. Some companies offer tracking via an app; find out ahead of time so you can download it and be ready for moving day.

» MORE DETAILS: Moving checklist

ConsumerAffairs carefully collects in-depth, verified reviews to tell each customer’s experience with a company. We believe customer experiences are a crucial indicator when evaluating companies, so these reviews are a significant factor when selecting our top picks.

To choose the top moving companies in New York, we started with the 80 popular providers listed in our main moving guide. First, we narrowed it down to the ones available in New York. We then weighted several key features to get our final rankings:

• Storage options: We looked at the availability of storage units and any free storage periods.
• Packing services: We considered the types of packing services offered, including whether a company offers packing services and whether it offers both full and partial packing.
• Deposit requirements: We prioritized companies that ask for 20% or less down versus those with higher deposit requirements.
• Discounts: We outlined how many discounts each company offers and what types (e.g., senior, military, student).
• App: We gave a company preference if it has an app with a useful service, like requesting a quote or tracking a move.

From the roar of Niagara Falls to the historic Saratoga Race Course, New York state offers far more than just the high-rise hustle of Manhattan. Even as the Big Apple’s population rebounds from pandemic-era losses, the state’s true appeal lies in its lesser-known towns and cities — many of which boast lower crime and better affordability while maintaining strong job markets.

If you’re thinking of relocating to New York, the first step is knowing which cities offer the best combination of what you’re looking for. Our research team determined the best places to live in New York for 2025 by analyzing the state's 35 largest cities based on five key factors: affordability, safety, economic strength, health care and education, and quality of life. Keep reading to discover which Empire State cities made the list and why.

The five best places to move to in New York

New York State has struggled with outbound migration in recent years, ranking second in our 2025 study. Much of the movement has come from New York City, but beyond its bustling, expensive streets, New York has vast, scenic landscapes and safe, affordable, hidden gems. It has the second-best public education system in the nation, making it appealing for families and young adults looking to take advantage of underappreciated areas.

1. Tonawanda

Nearly as far from New York City as you can get while staying within state borders, Tonawanda is ranked as the best place to move to because of its affordable housing, strong economy and safe communities.

In the Buffalo suburb, owning a home is also significantly more affordable than in other parts of the state, making it easy to settle down and enjoy the region’s vast outdoor opportunities, including visiting Niagara Falls, which is about a 20-minute drive away.

• Affordable housing options: Tonawanda has one of the lowest median rents in the state, at $1,265, and its median home sale price is just 3.2 times the median income, well below the state average.
• Strong economy: The city has the third-lowest unemployment rate in the state, at 3.5%, and its poverty rate is just 9.8%, eighth lowest.
• Safe community: Tonawanda reports lower-than-average crime rates, with just 2.7 violent crimes and 12.9 property crimes per 1,000 people.

2. Saratoga Springs

It’s off to the races with our second-best city to move to, Saratoga Springs, home to one of the oldest horse racing tracks in the nation. This small Capital District city of just over 28,500 earned its place for exceptional education and health care access, along with a strong economy and relatively safe environment. All this, combined with origins dating back to the late 18th century, makes it a place where you can enjoy historical charm and modern convenience.

• Strong economy: The city offers the lowest unemployment rate in the state, at 2.3%, complemented by a poverty rate below the state average (10.3%).
• Education and health care access: Saratoga Springs has a high share of residents 25 and older who have at least a bachelor’s degree (58.8%) and the second-highest density of health care professionals (43 per 1,000 people) on our list.
• Relatively safe: Saratoga Springs reports a lower-than-average violent crime rate, with just 2.7 violent crimes per 1,000 people.

3. North Tonawanda

North Tonawanda, just a couple miles from the No. 1 city on our list, is a small city of just over 30,000 that was once known for its lumber industry and at one point was the largest port on the Great Lakes. Today, it's an affordable New York destination with exceptional safety and access to job opportunities in and around Buffalo.

• Affordable housing options: The city offers the fifth-most affordable housing on our list, with a median rent of $1,126 and a median home sale price 3.7 times the median income.
• Outstanding safety: North Tonawanda also has the fifth-best safety, with only 1.6 violent crimes and 11.6 property crimes per 1,000 people.
• Good economy: Its unemployment rate (6%) and poverty rate (12.1%) are just below the New York averages.

4. Long Beach

While not the most affordable place to move in New York, Long Beach makes up for its high home prices with safety, a bustling economy, accessible health care, a well-educated population and high quality of life. It ranks among the top five in four categories, making it a no-brainer for anyone who can afford the cost. Unlike more rural areas, you’ll also have access to effective public transportation that connects to New York City (the Long Island Rail Road). Enjoy over 3 miles of immaculate beaches and a 2-mile boardwalk.

• Best safety: Long Beach is the safest city on our list, with only 0.7 violent crimes and 1.3 property crimes per 1,000 people.
• Strong health care and education: The city’s well-educated population (51.7% of people 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher) and excellent health care access (35 health care professionals per 1,000 people) earn it the third-highest ranking.
• High quality of life: Long Beach offers the highest quality of life among the top five cities, with 99% of residents living within a 10-minute walk to a green space.

5. New Rochelle

The second location on our list within close proximity of New York City, New Rochelle stands out for its booming economy, quality of life and safe streets. While the city is over 325 years old, its master developer agreement with RXR about a decade ago is what really kick-started growth. As of 2023, the city also introduced the New Rochelle Forward program, with the goal of helping train community members for opportunities in construction, clean energy and sustainability.

• Second-best economy: New Rochelle has the second-highest job growth rate on our list, at 15.4% from 2020 to 2024, as well as an unemployment rate (6.1%) and poverty level (10.6%) that are both below the state average.
• Safe community: The city reports lower-than-average crime rates, with just 1.8 violent crimes and 13.9 property crimes per 1,000 people.
• Education and health care access: It has a high share of residents 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher (49.1%) and good health care access (29 health care professionals per 1,000 people).

See how the rest of New York compares

The table below ranks the 35 most populous cities in New York across five key categories: affordability, safety, economic strength, health care and education, and quality of life. Whether you’re looking for safe, affordable cities or one of New York’s boomtowns, these cities offer diverse benefits. Check out our chart below to discover which city best suits your needs.

Methodology: Best cities to move to in New York

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team evaluated the 35 most populous cities in the state across five weighted categories to identify the best cities to move to in New York. In each category metric, the city that performed the best was given the highest possible score, with others getting relative scores. We added the category scores together to get an overall score, which is out of 100 points.

• Affordability (35 points): This category includes each city’s median rent for April 2025 (17.5 points) and an affordability ratio of median home price to median income (17.5). Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau (2023) and Zillow (2025).
• Safety (25 points): This score is based on rates of violent crime (12.5 points) and property crime (12.5) per 1,000 residents. Data is from NeighborhoodScout (2023).
• Economy (20 points): The economy score considers job growth percentage from 2020 to 2024 (10 points), unemployment rate (7) and percentage of residents below the poverty level (3). Data is from the New York Department of Labor (2020-2024) and the U.S. Census Bureau (2023).
• Health care and education (10 points): This category includes the number of health care professionals per 1,000 people (5 points) and the share of the population 25 and over that has attained a bachelor’s degree or higher (5). Data is from the U.S. Census Bureau (2023).
• Quality of life (10 points): The quality of life score considers walkability (5 points) and the percentage of the population living within a 10-minute walk of a green space (5). Data is from Walk Score (2025) and the Trust for Public Land (2025).

Note: City-level data was unavailable or missing for some categories in the following cities, so we substituted the data when appropriate:

• Median rent (substituted with county-level data): Brighton, Jamestown, West Seneca, Irondequoit
• Violent and property crime rates (substituted with metro-level data): Brighton, West Seneca, Irondequoit

For questions about the data or if you'd like to set up an interview, please contact rsowell@consumeraffairs.com.

Reference policy

We love it when people share our findings! If you do, please link back to our original article to credit our research.