New York elevation
New York runs from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 5,343 ft at Mount Marcy, with an average of about 1,108 ft.
Highest point: Mount Marcy
5,343ft
1,629 m above sea level
NGS survey mark MARCY (PID PG2096), Essex County · NAVD 88 (current U.S. vertical datum)
Source: NOAA National Geodetic Survey datasheet PG2096 (mark last recovered 1975)
- Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean
- 0 ft (sea level)
- Source: USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001)
- Average elevation (sampled)
- 1,108 ft (338 m)
- Mean of 234 USGS points about 24 km apart; an estimate, not a published figure.
- Source: USGS 3DEP + 2024 Census boundary
- USGS table figure for the high point
- 5,344 ft
- Older survey on the NGVD 29 datum.
- Source: USGS Elevations and Distances (revised 2001)
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made
New York places on this site
Cities and towns (USGS, downtown)
- Albany143 ft
Mountains and peaks
- Mount Marcy5,343 ft
New York elevation facts
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Highest point: Mount Marcy | 5,343 ft (1,629 m) | NOAA National Geodetic Survey datasheet PG2096 (mark last recovered 1975) |
| Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean | Sea level | USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) (revised edition 2001) |
| Vertical range | 5,343 ft (1,629 m) | Difference of the two figures above |
| Average elevation (sampled) | 1,108 ft (338 m) | USGS 3DEP, 234 grid points |
| USGS 3DEP value at the high point | 5,334 ft (1,626 m) | USGS 3DEP, within 250 m of the GNIS summit |
| Capital: Albany | 143 ft (44 m) | USGS 3DEP at the city center |
| Land area | 47,123 sq mi (122,049 km²) | Census 2024 boundary file |
Life at 1,108 ft
Standard-atmosphere estimates for the state's sampled average elevation (1,108 ft). Weather moves the real values a little from day to day.
- Oxygen per breath
- 96 % of sea level
- Air is still 20.9% oxygen; there is just less air.
- Oxygen calculator
- Home canning
- Above 1,000 ft, USDA processing times and pressure-canner pounds go up.
- Canning adjustments · Baking
Sources: pressure from the U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA, NASA, USAF); boiling point from the Antoine equation for water (Lange's Handbook of Chemistry); canning thresholds from the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning. Not medical or food-safety advice; follow the tested USDA recipe for your altitude.
City elevations in New York
- Buffalo602 ft
- Rochester504 ft
- Syracuse400 ft
- Albany (capital)143 ft
- Yonkers85 ft
- New York35 ft
Largest places in New York
The five incorporated places by 2024 Census population estimate.
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 35 ft (11 m) · pop. 8,478,072 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Buffalo | 602 ft (184 m) · pop. 276,617 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Yonkers | 85 ft (26 m) · pop. 211,040 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Rochester | 504 ft (154 m) · pop. 207,282 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
| Syracuse | 400 ft (122 m) · pop. 146,097 | USGS 3DEP; Census 2024 estimate |
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in New York?
Mount Marcy at 5,343 ft (1,629 m), from NOAA National Geodetic Survey datasheet PG2096 (mark last recovered 1975). The USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001) lists 5,344 ft, an older survey on the NGVD 29 datum.
What is the lowest point in New York?
Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, per the USGS Elevations and Distances table (2001).
What is the average elevation of New York?
About 1,108 ft (338 m): the mean of USGS 3DEP elevations at 234 points on a regular grid about 24 km apart inside the state boundary. It is our estimate, not a published figure.
Which New York city on this site is highest?
Albany, at 143 ft downtown (USGS).
Does altitude affect cooking in New York?
At 1,108 ft, water boils at about 210.0 °F (98.9 °C) and standard air pressure is 28.74 inHg (973 hPa), so each breath holds about 96% of the oxygen it would at sea level. That is for the state's average elevation; check your own town, because New York spans 5,343 ft from lowest to highest.
Sources
- NOAA National Geodetic Survey datasheet PG2096 (mark last recovered 1975) — highest point
- USGS, Elevations and Distances in the United States (highest and lowest elevations) — lowest point
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service (3DEP) — average elevation, city-center values and the high-point check
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Cartographic Boundary Files (places, states; 1:500,000) — state boundary and land area
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files (places) — city locations
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 Population Estimates (cities and towns, July 1, 2024) — largest cities by population
- Wikidata (elevation statements that cite a source; the cited source is listed with each value) — state capital name
- U.S. Standard Atmosphere, 1976 (NOAA/NASA/USAF); water boiling point by the Antoine equation (Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry) — boiling point, air pressure and oxygen
How each number is produced: methodology and data sources.
Every state: US elevation by state · Highest point in each state
Data updated · By Ankit Kumar, compiled from public U.S. government and open datasets · How these numbers are made