Contrary to how it may seem when you consider New York City, there are many quiet places to live in New York, including charming small towns filled with familiar faces where no one is rushing around to get somewhere.

And some of the best small towns in New York don’t even require that you live here in order to take them in. Consider a day or road trip to one (or all) of these!

1. Keene
Keene, NY 12942, USA
Brandon Atkinson/Flickr
After going back and looking through all of the small town posts I've previously done in an attempt to never repeat myself, I was surprised to discover that I somehow have gone without mentioning my favorite town, Keene. Fitting the description to a T, there's no better quiet place in New York State to visit than this one if you're looking to find nothing but peace, truly. Up here in the Adirondack Park, you'll find nothing but our highest mountains and breathtaking sights waiting for you. Check out this beautiful hiking trail in Keene if you are ever in the area.
2. Babylon
Babylon, NY, USA
John Wisniewski/Flickr
Found on the southern shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, this scenic village is one of the best small towns in New York. Out here you'll be able to enjoy boat tours, fantastic areas for fishing, and small parks that are perfect for strolling through to see our wildlife. Grab a bite to eat at the Post Office Cafe when you're in town.
3. Garrison
Garrison, Philipstown, NY 10524, USA
Waywuwei/Flickr
Right on the Hudson River, you'll find the tiny area of Garrison, one of our best kept secrets. Just across the river from West Point, here, you can discover peaceful places like the Russel Wright Design Center (pictured above), Boscobel House & Gardens, and even the Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary! With so many relaxing places to check out in this town, it's the perfect spot for a quiet place to live in New York. Read about what a hike at Constitution Marsh has in store for you.
4. Lily Dale
Lily Dale, NY 14718, USA
Lisa G/TripAdvisor
There's more than a good chance that you haven't heard of this small little gem and quiet place in New York State. Right near Cassadaga Lake, this area is great to visit during the summer and warmer months. Known for being a spiritual community, there's plenty to see throughout the town like a quirky Fairy Trail! Discover more about Lily Dale, NY.
5. Cape Vincent
Cape Vincent, NY 13618, USA
Mike P/TripAdvisor
Right on the St. Lawrence River near all of our beautiful Thousand Islands, you'll find the small but breathtaking town of Cape Vincent. It's hard not to instantly feel peaceful once you're out near the water like this. This is one of the best small towns in New York. One of our favorite places to visit while we're here is the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse seen above. Get some more reasons to love Cape Vincent, NY.

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6. East Aurora
East Aurora, NY 14052, USA
Kim Carpenter/Flickr
Just outside of the big city of Buffalo, you'll discover one of the many hidden treasures being kept out in Western New York. This peaceful village features historic museums, wildlife centers, and places for you to stay that look like they've just come out of a storybook. Learn more about the little village of East Aurora.
7. Trumansburg
Trumansburg, NY 14886, USA
Doug Kerr/Flickr
Just west of Cayuga Lake, you'll find another quiet place to live in New York in the small village of Trumansburg. Here, there's a slow-paced lifestyle and old historic buildings. It's the perfect place to be if you're looking for something opposite of the big cities. One of the nearby attractions that draws in visitors to this place is the Taughannock Falls State Park, a beautiful place to get away from it all. Hungry? Check out some of the best restaurants in Trumansburg, NY.
8. Castile
Castile, NY 14427, USA
Lee Ruk/Flickr
Located out in Wyoming County, all you'll discover in this small village is open spaces, farmland, and a scenic state park. A great place for a getaway if you're looking to enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors. Take a trip to this quiet place in New York State and spend the day exploring the amazing Letchworth State Park. Discover some of the fun that can be had at Letchworth State Park.
9. Nyack
Doug Kerr/Flickr
Another remote village worth visiting along the Hudson River, Nyack isn't too far away from the big city, but distant enough that you'll be able to find peace and quiet here. Our suggestion for your visit to one of the best small towns in New York? Spend the day out near the water exploring the beautiful Nyack Beach State Park. Check out this fun weekend itinerary in Nyack.
10. Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, NY, USA
Nicole W/TripAdvisor
Generally speaking, almost all of our residents have a big sweet spot for this quiet place to live in New York. From an adorable farm sanctuary that's perfect for all animal lovers to visit, to our famous state park filled with waterfalls, there's plenty to enjoy out here in the Finger Lakes. Read more about Watkins Glen Park.

Have you been to any of these quiet places to live in New York State or have we missed any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments!

Didn’t see you favorite place included on this list? Then perhaps it made it’s way onto our list of 13 Super Tiny Towns That Most People Didn’t Know Existed!

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More to Explore

New York Fun Facts

Rachel Raimondi | September 14, 2022

Are there any animal encounters in New York?

You can certainly come across a great deal of wildlife in New York, such as bears, snakes, raccoons, and deer. But if you want to see the most animals all together in one spot in the Empire State, you’ve got to get to the Bronx Zoo. It is one of the biggest and most diverse of zoos in the US, with over 17,0000 animals among its 265 acres. Some of the most unique include snow leopards, red pandas, and gorillas. There are tons of special exhibits to explore and several fun events throughout the year, like Boo at the Zoo and holiday lights. While not as large, a few other notable zoos in New York are the Bear Mountain Zoo, Seneca Park Zoo, and Buffalo Zoo.

What stereotypes are there about New York?

One of the biggest stereotypes is that everyone from New York is from New York City. NYC is actually only 305 square miles. And since the entire state is 54,556 square miles, there is certainly a lot more to New York than just the Big Apple. From the scenery of the Hudson Valley to the massive Adirondack Park to the Finger Lakes, there is a lot more to see and a lot more to do in New York State than just what Manhattan has to offer.

Where can I find unique shopping destinations in New York?

New York is one of the premier places to shop in the U.S. But it’s not NYC we are talking about here. For some of the most unique shopping in NY, you’ll need to go a bit upstate to Hudson, located over 100 miles north of the city. For shopping, you’ve got tons of antique stores, boutiques, flower shops, furniture stores, and clothing stores. And if all that shopping works up an appetite, there are also a ton of restaurants, bakeries, and bars.

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