New York State Has More Than One Personality
Think you really know New York? It's a state with Niagara Falls that could pressure wash the moon, dollar slices that you'll have to devour to understand, and Broadway lights that are glittering like caffeinated constellations. Let's run through the facts, stats, and (literal) peaks and valleys that showcase what makes New York's swagger irresistable.
Alexa, Our Local Expert Guiding Your Move
Alexa is a lifelong New Yorker that never left because... well, why would anyone!? She has access to oceans, lakes, vineyards, breweries, museums, and world-class restaurants and entertainment all in her home state. Her most memorable move was buying her first home mid Covid which taught her that hope is not a strategy. She treats BECSPK and everything bagels like fuel, philosophy, and emotional support all in one bite. As the "real Alexa" she has learned to not answer every "Hey Alexa" question within earshot, even though she probably knows the answer. At Snappy Scout she gets to let that knowledge loose, turning lived experience into guidance that actually helps make New York feel a little easier to navigate.
Read moreWritten with local insight from Snappy Scout relocation experts
What Makes New York New York?
The weird, useful, and surprisingly relevant facts that shape everyday life here.
Common nicknames for New York
The Empire State, The Big Apple
Local Reality Check
It isn't just NYC. Mountains, farms, Finger Lakes, ocean beaches, wine country.
You're most likely moving from
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida, and international arrivals.
Strangely large concentration of
diners, volunteer fire halls, Stewart's Shops, and delis/bagel stores.
Music scene
NYC hip hop roots, punk legacy, Rochester jazz, Brooklyn indie, Woodstock lore.
You'll have to see it to believe it
Times Square at 2 am, Niagara Falls mist, Manhattanhenge lighting up avenues.
Unique Geography
Adirondacks High Peaks, Hudson Valley, Great Lakes shorelines, Atlantic coast on Long Island.
New York is home to
United Nations HQ, Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Cornell, Central Park
Well known for its
bagels and pizza, upstate apples, Broadway, craft breweries, relentless sports debates.
Fun history fact
Erie Canal opened in 1825, linking the Hudson River to the Great Lakes.
Celebrity sightings
SNL cast in Midtown, film crews all over, Governors Ball headliners wandering NYC.
Noteworthy Census stat
New York City houses over 8.5 million, one in three residents foreign born.
Most interesting sub-culture within New York
Bills Mafia tailgates and snow games in Buffalo.
Population
4th by population, 27th by land size
New York is roughly the same geographic size as
Greece
Locals Know Best
Queens is part of NYC, even though it's ~geographically~ connected to Long Island. Oh, and it's "on" Long Island, not "in".
— Alexa Matthews
New York Local Expert
Ready to See If New York Fits You?
Compare cities, check the routes, or head back to the full New York guide for the bigger picture.