The Empire State, explained
Straight answers for life in New York
Plain answers for New Yorkers, from the city to the North Country: the best of the state, and the money and legal questions that come with living here.
- Sources cited on every page
- Updated October 27, 2026
- No paid rankings
New York by the numbers
Figures checked October 25, 2026 against state sources. Tap one for the full guide and citations.
Latest guides
Written for people who live here, with the law and the numbers cited.
New York Eviction Process 2026: Step-by-Step Timeline
How an eviction works in New York, step by step: the 5-day late notice, the 14-day rent demand, Housing Court, the warrant of eviction and its 14-day notice, and the tenant protections added in 2019.
MoneyNew York Minimum Wage 2026: $17 Downstate, $16 Upstate
New York's 2026 minimum wage is $17.00 an hour in NYC, Long Island and Westchester and $16.00 everywhere else. Tipped wages, fast food, overtime, salary thresholds and what changes in 2027.
LegalNew York Small Claims Court: Limits, Fees and How to File
New York small claims limits depend on the court: $10,000 in New York City, $5,000 in city and district courts, $3,000 in town and village courts. Filing fees, commercial claims for businesses, and what to expect.
Best of New York
Coming soon. We publish only after we've checked it ourselves.
Money
How we work
Every number on BestNewYork links to the law, the agency or the official report it came from. Best-of lists come from our own visits, and no business can pay to be on one.
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