Why Living Without Clutter Can Feel Harder in New York State

Clutter is not always about too many shoes, boxes, or holiday decorations. Sometimes, it is about not having enough room, time, or money to keep up with everyday life. A study from StorageCafe looked at 345 cities across the country to find the places where people may have the most room to breathe.

It looked at home size, housing costs, commute times, jobs, parks, health care, safety, and storage space. While the study ranked cities, not states, its findings may feel familiar to many people across New York State.

No New York City Made the Top 20

No New York city made the study’s top 20 list for uncluttered living. In fact, no city in the Northeast made the top 20. The top cities were mostly in the Midwest and South. The study found those places had a mix of bigger homes, lower housing costs, and shorter commutes. Plano, Texas, ranked number one, followed by Boise, Idaho, and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Space Matters for New York Families

New York State has big cities, small towns, suburbs, and rural communities. But in many parts of the state, especially near larger cities, housing can be expensive and space can be hard to find. People in the highest ranked cities had an average of 402 square feet of living space per person.

In the lowest ranked cities, people had an average of 256 square feet per person. That can make a real difference for families trying to find room for coats, school supplies, sports gear, toys, family keepsakes, and everything else that comes with daily life.

Long Drives and High Costs Add Up

For many New Yorkers, the day can already feel full before we even get home. A long commute, high rent or mortgage payments, and busy family schedules can leave little time or money to deal with the things piling up around the house.

The study found that cities with shorter commutes and more affordable homes often ranked higher. When people have more time and money left after their basic bills are paid, it may be easier to keep up with life.