20 Smallest Towns in the Southern Tier of New York

I grew up in a small river town just outside of Albany, and every time I head back home and drive those familiar roads, the memories come rushing in. It does not matter how long I have been gone. One turn down a side street or past an old landmark, and suddenly I am right back there again.

When Everyone Knew Everyone

The village I grew up in was tiny, the kind of place where everyone really did know everyone else. My school was about a mile from my house, and I learned very quickly that there was no such thing as getting away with anything. Even if I switched up my walking route to and from school, word still traveled faster than I did. Somehow, my mom always knew what I had been up to before I even got the front door open.

Why Small Town Life Still Hits Different

There is something truly special about small-town living. The sense of connection. The way people look out for each other. If you have ever thought about making the move to a smaller community, now might be the perfect time to start dreaming about it. City Data just released a list of the smallest towns in New York, and a few of them are right here in the Southern Tier. To make the list, a town simply had to have fewer than 1,000 residents.

Get our free mobile app

Small Towns All Across the Southern Tier

The Southern Tier of New York is made up of eight counties in the upstate region. Those include Broome, Tioga, Tompkins, Otsego, Cortland, Delaware, Schoharie, and Chenango. It is an area filled with charming little towns that still feel personal, familiar, and deeply rooted in community. If small town life is calling your name, this corner of New York has plenty of places worth a closer look.