New York: elevation, cities and highest point
New York has 20,002,427 people (2025) and 62 counties. Its highest point is Mount Marcy, at 5,344 ft, and its lowest, the Atlantic Ocean, at sea level. Here you’ll find the elevation of its capital, its cities over 100,000 people and its summit, with a map of its counties.
By the All Map Tools Team
- Population (2025)
- 20,002,427
- The 4th most populous of the 50 states
- Land area
- 47,123 sq mi
- The 30th largest state
- Counties
- 62
- According to the Census (2025)
- Lowest point
- Sea level
- Atlantic Ocean
Map of New York’s counties
- Capital’s county
- County with a city page
- City, by elevation
- Highest point
Elevation
The capital, Albany, sits at 143 ft (44 m): the 38th highest of the 50 state capitals. New York’s highest point, Mount Marcy, is 101 mi away in a straight line and 5,201 ft higher.
Between its highest point (5,344 ft) and its lowest (sea level) there’s 5,344 ft of relief, according to the USGS table. Of the 50 state high points, New York’s is the 21st highest.
New York has 6 cities with a page. The highest is Buffalo, at 602 ft, and the lowest is New York, at 35 ft: 567 ft apart.
New York borders 5 states. Their highest points are Mount Davis, in Pennsylvania (3,213 ft), High Point, in New Jersey (1,803 ft), Mount Mansfield, in Vermont (4,393 ft), the south slope of Mount Frissell, in Connecticut (2,380 ft), and Mount Greylock, in Massachusetts (3,491 ft): New York’s is the highest of the 6. Their capitals: Harrisburg (334 ft), Trenton (60 ft), Montpelier (522 ft), Hartford (50 ft), and Boston (48 ft).
- Mount Marcy 5,344 ft
- Buffalo 602 ft
- Albany 143 ft
- New York 35 ft
Cities of 100,000 to 250,000 people (3)
Population
New York had 20,002,427 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 1.0% fewer than in April 2020 (20,203,696). Across 47,123 sq mi of land, that’s 424 people/sq mi.
Its most populous place is New York, with 8,584,629 people. The Census counts 1,291 cities, towns and census-designated places (CDPs) in New York.
| Place | Population | Land area | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 8,584,629 | 300 sq mi | 35 ft |
| Buffalo | 274,613 | 40.4 sq mi | 602 ft |
| Yonkers | 212,603 | 18.0 sq mi | 85 ft |
| Rochester | 206,108 | 35.8 sq mi | 504 ft |
| Syracuse | 144,896 | 25.1 sq mi | 400 ft |
| Albany | 101,698 | 21.4 sq mi | 143 ft |
| New Rochelle | 85,864 | 10.3 sq mi | — |
| Cheektowaga | 76,056 | 25.4 sq mi | — |
| Mount Vernon | 72,304 | 4.39 sq mi | — |
| Schenectady | 69,471 | 10.8 sq mi | — |
Neighboring states
Tools
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in New York?
Mount Marcy, at 5,344 ft, according to the USGS table. It’s the 21st highest of the 50 state high points.
What is the lowest point in New York?
The Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, according to the same USGS table.
What is the elevation of Albany, the capital?
143 ft above sea level, at its reference point in the USGS gazetteer. It’s the 38th highest state capital.
What is the highest city in New York?
Of the cities with a page (the capital and those over 100,000 people), Buffalo, at 602 ft. Some smaller towns are higher: look them up with the point elevation tool.
How many counties does New York have?
62, according to the Census Bureau in 2025.
Sources
- Population, land area and counties: U.S. Census Bureau (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2025 Gazetteer), public domain.
- Highest and lowest points: USGS, “Elevations and Distances in the United States” (and, for Denali, the 2015 survey), public domain.
- City elevations: USGS 3DEP at each city’s GNIS point, public domain.
- County map: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Cartographic Boundary Files (1:500,000).
Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know