Want to live off the grid? Head to these NY counties

Emily Barnes, New York State Team
Updated ·3 min read

Mountainous regions in New York just may be the perfect places for those looking to embrace an off-grid lifestyle.

A recent study released by BusinessElectric.com includes three New York counties located in the Adirondacks and Catskills as some of the best locations to live off-grid in the U.S.

Here's what to know.

Top NY counties for off-grid living

In its poll of 3,000 people nationwide, BusinessElectric.com says these counties were the most popular choices in the Empire State:

  • No. 11, Lewis County: Located in northwestern New York, with the eastern part of the county in the Adirondacks, Lewis County is the state's largest producer of maple syrup and has the largest concentration of milk production, according to ny.gov. The county covers 1,290 square miles and is populated by just 26,548 people, as of 2023.

  • No. 114, Hamilton County: One of two counties to lie entirely in the Adirondacks, Hamilton County is the most sparsely populated county in the eastern half of the U.S., ny.gov states. With a population density of just over three people per square mile — 5,082 total as of 2023 — Hamilton County has no traffic lights and no colleges or institutions of higher learning. But it does have water — 77 major lakes, to be exact, across its 1,808 square miles.

  • No. 119, Delaware County: Separated from Pennsylvania by the Delaware River, Delaware County is the largest of the four counties in the Catskills, the county's website says. It has a population of 44,410 as of 2023 and spans 1,468 square miles, according to ny.gov.

A section of the Adirondack Mountains in New York.
A section of the Adirondack Mountains in New York.

Top 5 locations nationwide to live off the grid

  • No. 1, Wasco County, Oregon: The county gained significant attention as the setting for the Netflix series "Wild Wild Country," which documents the controversial Rajneeshpuram community led by Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in the 1980s. Despite the community's tumultuous end, the show has appeared to have sparked renewed interest in off-grid lifestyles in Wasco County, according to Business Electric.

  • No. 2, Hot Springs County, Wyoming: Ranked second, Hot Springs County in central Wyoming offers a rural environment enriched with natural hot springs, rivers, and mountains. The county's remote areas provide the essential seclusion and resources necessary for off-grid living.

  • No. 3, Meriwether County, Georgia: Located in west-central Georgia, Meriwether County offers a rural setting with large parcels of land available for purchase. The county's strong agricultural community and abundant natural resources support a sustainable off-grid lifestyle.

  • No. 4, Bienville Parish, Louisiana: Situated in northern Louisiana, Bienville Parish provides a rural environment with access to plentiful natural resources like forests and bodies of water. The parish's remote areas offer privacy and opportunities for alternative living.

  • No. 5, Somerset County, Maine: Completing the top five, Somerset County in central Maine boasts a rural environment with vast forests and access to rivers and lakes. The county's low population density and natural beauty make it an ideal location for off-grid living.

Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Chad Murphy contributed to this report.

Emily Barnes is the New York State Team consumer advocate reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Barnes at [email protected] or on Twitter @byemilybarnes.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Want to live off the grid? Head to these NY counties

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