Best Places To Live, Work, Play In NYC: 2025 Recap

NEW YORK CITY — Some of the best places to live in the country are in New York City, according to a handful of national rankings released in 2025 that look at quality of life indicators.

While there is no single quality that makes a town or city a great place to live, high-caliber schools, hospitals and medical facilities, and a robust cultural and dining scene all matter. So do good jobs and places to play and have fun.

Publications such as the U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, Conde Nast, Time Out, as well as Michelin awards and the James Beard awards, used different methodologies to compile their lists on the best places to live.

Read more about why New York City was mentioned.

• These Are The Best NYC Neighborhoods For Buying A Home: See List
• Rent Prices Are Declining In These 8 NYC Neighborhoods: See Where
• NYC Named The Wealthiest City In The World: See New Rankings
• See Which NYC Neighborhoods Have The Longest And Shortest Home Ownership: Study

Generally speaking, great workplaces are those where employees feel respected and valued, have growth opportunities and competitive salaries, and work–life balance is more than a slogan. Here’s where various New York City employers rank in issues that matter to their workers:

• These Are The Top 40 Employers In NY In New Forbes Ranking

There are also plenty of places to play and relax in New York City, according to lists from publications, review sites and other sources.

• This NYC Street Was Named One Of The Coolest In The World: See List
• NYC Named Best U.S. City For Food + Drink In Global Tastemakers Awards
• 20 NYC Restaurants, Chefs Named 2025 James Beard Semifinalists
• This NYC Restaurant Was Named The Most Festive In The US
• 10 NYC Restaurants And Chefs Are James Beard Award Nominees
• Here Are All The NYC Restaurants That Earned Michelin Stars
• 10 NYC Restaurants Ranked Among America's Best, New OpenTable Ranking Says
• This NYC Restaurant Is The Best In North America, New Ranking Says
• 10 NYC Pizzerias Ranked Among Top 50 In U.S.

The city also has some of the best hospitals and schools, according to annual rankings.

• 3 NYC Hospitals Among Best In U.S.: New Rankings Show
• 65 NY Colleges Among 500 ‘That Shine’ With Top Salaries For Grads: Forbes
• These Are The Top Elementary Schools In NY, U.S. News Says In New Ranking
• These NYC High Schools Made The State's Top 25, New Report Says

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.