As the nerve center of the nation; New York City is the leader in manufacturing, trade, theatre, and book publishing.
City: New York
State: New York
Best Cities Overall Rank: 29
About New York: New York City was the U.S. capital from 1789 to 1790.
New York City is the nerve center of the nation; it is a leader in manufacturing, trade, theatre, and book publishing. The city’s public school system, the New York City Department of Education, is the largest in the world, and New York is home to some of the most important libraries, universities, and research centers in the world. The city has a 10.2 percent unemployment rate, which is higher than the national average of 9.7 percent. However, this rate has been decreasing since January, when it stood at 10.4 percent.
County: New York
Population: 8,363,710
Official website for city visitors’ bureau/city: Visitor’s bureau website
Newspaper with the largest circulation: The Wall Street Journal
New York blogs: NYC Moms Blog, Manhattan Mom, Mommy Poppins
New York‘s Facebook page: Follow NYC on Facebook
New York‘s Twitter page: Follow NYC on Twitter
Education rank: 72
High School graduation rate 2008: 56.39%
Blue Ribbon Schools, 2003-2009: 10
Blue Ribbon Schools per 100,000 people: 0.12
NEAYC-accredited preschools: 77
NAEYC schools per 100,000 people: 0.92
NAEP State proficiency reading, grade 8: 264
Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 17.1
Total Expenditures Per Student: $19,214
Health rank: 66
Quality children’s hospitals: 8
Hospitals per 100,000 people: 0.10
Quality Pediatricians: 106
Quality Pediatricians per 100,000: 1.27
Average number of Unhealthy Air Quality days between 2006-2008, by county: 0
Safety rank: 9
Violent Crimes, 2008: 48,430
Violent Crime Rate per 100,000: 579.05
Sex Offenders: 5976
Sex Offenders per 100,000: 71.45
Economy rank: 31
Travel time to work, 2006-2008, in minutes: 39.39
Percent of labor force unemployed, January 2010: 9.69
Best Performing Cities Job Index: 653.47
Median Home Sale Price: $482,500
5-Year Home Value Index: 0.59%
Percent of homes sold for a loss: 13.21%
Recreation Rank: 90
Parkland acreage, 2008 (includes pools and playgrounds): 29,084
Parkland per 100,000: 347.74