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Stony Brook claims the No. 1 spot — up from No. 2 last year
Stony Brook is Suffolk County’s best place to live — and it’s a new No. 1.
The North Shore community climbed from No. 2 in the county last year to dethrone Dix Hills and claim the top spot in Niche’s 2026 annual rankings. Stony Brook sits at No. 42 statewide.
Centerport moved up one slot to No. 2, while Dix Hills dropped to No. 3 in the county rankings, posted Friday by Niche.
Suffolk placed eight communities among the top 135 in the statewide rankings. Strength is concentrated along the North Shore, with Cold Spring Harbor at No. 121, Northport (No. 124), West Hills (No. 125), and Port Jefferson (No. 131).
Niche’s annual report uses a combination of federal and local data — including public school quality, crime rates, and housing trends — along with millions of resident reviews to determine its rankings.
CLICK: Nassau’s top 20 Best Places to Live in ’26
Nationally, Atlantic Station in Atlanta ranked as the best place to live in America, followed by Colonial Village in Arlington, Virginia, and Evergreen Park in Palo Alto, California.
Suffolk County: Niche’s top 20 Best Places to Live
| Suffolk Rank | Place | NY Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stony Brook | 42 |
| 2 | Centerport | 49 |
| 3 | Dix Hills | 91 |
| 4 | Poquott | 101 |
| 5 | Cold Spring Harbor | 121 |
| 6 | Northport | 124 |
| 7 | West Hills | 125 |
| 8 | Port Jefferson | 131 |
| 9 | Brightwaters | 148 |
| 10 | Melville | 157 |
| 11 | Village of the Branch | 161 |
| 12 | Halesite | 169 |
| 13 | Head of the Harbor | 174 |
| 14 | Elwood | 206 |
| 15 | Nesconset | 221 |
| 16 | Commack | 228 |
| 17 | Greenlawn | 231 |
| 18 | Old Field | 233 |
| 19 | Huntington Bay | 249 |
| 20 | E. Farmingdale | 256 |
Top: Stony Brook Village (Jessica Durso photo)
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