Howell Township is part of the New York area. This page covers the whole metro.
Everyday life
Shops, cafes, and daily routines
Hobbies & activities
Trails, parks, and pastimes
Nearby scenery
Lakes, overlooks, and drives
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Ranks the towns around it by your budget and what you love doing.
A first look. Only 5 resident comments about New York so far, so this is a starting point, not the full picture. The page grows as more residents talk about it.
Tends to love it
Tends to struggle
Where locals disagree: Weather and seasons. One resident finds both summer and winter unpleasant while still preferring winter, contrasting with a positive view of daily commuting life.
The vibe
Relaxed commuting
"One resident says public transit makes for a relaxed commute if you live outside the tourist hubs"
Wealthy concentrated crowd
"One resident felt New York had a different vibe due to the concentration of wealthy, well connected and well educated people."
Harsh seasons
"One resident thinks New York has terrible summers and disgusting winters but is still better in winter overall."
A day in the life
No moments yet for your selected interests. Try the full feed below for all resident comments.
One resident thinks New York has terrible summers and disgusting winters but is still better in winter overall.
In their words
“I feel like in New York, we experience terrible summers, and disgusting winters. However still, I do think nyc is personally better during the winter.”
Of about 3,471,500 rented homes in the New York area, 61% rent for under $2,000 a month and 86% for under $3,000.
Under $1,000: 16%
$1,000 to $1,499: 20%
$1,500 to $1,999: 24%
$2,000 to $2,499: 17%
$2,500 to $2,999: 9%
$3,000 or more: 14%
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Hiring movers
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
Moving in as a renter
The middle rented home in the New York area rents for $1,500 to $1,999 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $3,000 to $3,998 before you get the keys.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Your first weeks in New York
Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the New York DMV.
19,799 students · 11.2 students per teacher · 52 schools · grades Pre-K to 12
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
Daycare and preschool
New York keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
Private nonprofit, 4-year · 4,050 students · $34,535 a year
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.
The facts behind it
Typical home value
$735,075
What a typical home sells for across the New York area.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026
Cost of living
About 13% above the U.S. average
Everyday prices (rent, groceries, services) run about $113 here for what costs $100 nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis price index 112.6 (U.S. = 100), 2024
Average commute
36 minutes one way
How long residents' trips to work take on average, counting every job and way of getting there. U.S. average: about 27 minutes.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Homeowners insurance
About $1,683 a year
The statewide average for a typical policy in NY. Your own quote will depend on the home.
Source: Statewide estimate, 2026
Natural disaster risk
Relatively High
FEMA's overall rating for the county, covering floods, storms, wildfire, earthquakes and more.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hail risk
Relatively High
Hail is a real cost here: roof claims are common and some insurers charge a separate, higher deductible for wind and hail. Covered parking helps protect a car.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Hospitals nearby
36 within 5 miles
Hospitals mapped within 5 miles of the center. Emergency and specialty care vary, so check which ones fit your needs.
Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
Drug overdose deaths (county)
17.2 per 100,000 people a year
449 deaths in the 12 months ending March 2026. NY average: 8.9 per 100,000. U.S.: 19.9. Counts are by where people lived, and recent months may still be updated.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, provisional counts through March 2026; Census population estimates 2024
Median household income
$78,548
Half of households in the county earn more than this, half earn less.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
Property tax
0.69% of home value a year
About $690 a year for every $100,000 of home value.
Source: U.S. Census (American Community Survey), 2023
State income tax
Graduated, up to 10.90%
NY's state income tax. Some cities and counties add their own.