These 10 counties are where your money goes the furthest in New York, according to a recently released study by SmartAsset.
The financial advisor guide analyzed paycheck friendliness of each U.S. county using four factors: semi-monthly paycheck amounts, purchasing power, or the value of goods and services $1 can buy, unemployment rate and income growth.
Here’s which New York counties topped the list.
No. 1: Nassau County
Nassau County, located on Long Island, scored 68.89 on SmartAsset’s paycheck-friendly index and has a purchasing power of 1.65, meaning money stretches farther compared to the state average of 1.31. Additionally, the county has an unemployment rate of 3.6% and an income growth rate of 5.4%.
No. 2: Suffolk County
Suffolk County has a purchasing power of 1.52 and scored 66.09 on the paycheck-friendly index. Additionally, the county, which is also located on Long Island, has an unemployment rate of 3.9% and an income growth rate of 5.7%.
No. 3: Saratoga County
Saratoga County, just north of Albany, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, an income growth rate of 4.6% and a purchasing power of 1.52. Overall, the county scored 66.05 on the paycheck-friendly index.
No. 4: Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County scored 64.50 on the paycheck-friendly index and has a purchasing power of 1.43. Additionally, the county, which is located just east of Albany, has an unemployment rate of 3.7% and an income growth rate of 5.8%.
No. 5: Westchester County
Westchester County, home to White Plains, Yonkers and Scarsdale, has a purchasing power of 1.49 and scored 64.42 on the paycheck-friendly index. Additionally, the county has an unemployment rate of 4.1% and an income growth rate of 5.0%.
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Which other NY counties are the most paycheck-friendly?
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Columbia County, ranked No. 6 with an overall score of 64.40
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Herkimer County, ranked No. 7 with an overall score of 64.34
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Dutchess County, ranked No. 8 with an overall score of 63.80
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Genesee County, ranked No. 9 with an overall score of 62.93
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Orange County, ranked No. 10 with an overall score of 62.64
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How does NY compare nationwide?
While they may be the top counties in New York state for paycheck friendliness, Nassau and Suffolk counties are much further down the national list as Nassau is ranked No. 985 nationwide and Suffolk lands at No. 1,257.
Five of the top 10 paycheck-friendly counties nationwide are located in Texas, with the No. 1 spot going to Winkler County. North Dakota counties claim the No. 4 and No. 8 top 10 spots, South Dakota counties take up No. 6 and No. 7 and Teton County in Wyoming fills the No. 9 slot.
Contributing: Des Moines Register reporter Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Here’s where your money goes the furthest in NY. See the list
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