New York Zombie Survival Index: 75/100

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The three tests

New York scored three times

A state that handles shamblers can get erased by sprinters. Here is how New York performs under each outbreak model.

Walking DeadThe Walking Dead

82

Slow zombies reward distance, terrain, food and freshwater. New York has about 20,002,427 people and 6.4 million acres in farm operations, plus 1.39 million cattle and calves and 16.568 billion pounds of milk. Against walkers there is time to turn all of that into a defensible long-term system.

World War ZWorld War Z

60

Fast zombies turn evacuation into a race against the road network, and 60 is the lowest fast score in the project so far. New York City scores a 1 out of 10 on metro exposure — the lowest single factor rating anywhere in the index — and the downstate bridges and tunnels are the only way out.

Last of UsThe Last of Us

82

Yes, we know they're not technically zombies. This asks whether a settlement can still work after modern supply chains stop, and upstate New York is genuinely excellent at it: elite freshwater, 16.5 billion pounds of milk, real winter suppression and Adirondack terrain.

What helps

Adirondacks, Catskills, Appalachian uplands, forests, river valleys and Great Lakes shoreline
Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, Hudson and St. Lawrence systems, reservoirs, rivers, groundwater and abundant precipitation
6.4 million acres in farm operations
1.39 million cattle and calves
16.568 billion pounds of milk in 2025 plus major hay, corn, apple, grape, cabbage and sweet corn production
A large diversified system with nuclear, natural gas, hydro, wind and solar resources, including major upstate hydropower
Fort Drum, West Point, Stratton Air National Guard Base, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and New York National Guard forces

What hurts

New York City metro exposure, the single worst factor score in the index
Winter storms, lake-effect snow, flooding, hurricanes and tropical remnants, severe thunderstorms and localised wildfire
Downstate bridges and tunnels are severe chokepoints
Regional spillover from New Jersey, Connecticut and the wider Northeast corridor

Do not attempt a late evacuation from New York City. Get north and west early, then favour an upstate community with freshwater, agriculture, forest cover, winter heat and routes that do not depend on one major bridge.

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The reason for the score

New York's zombie superpowers

Adirondacks, Catskills, Appalachian uplands, forests, river valleys, Great Lakes shoreline and dense downstate urban corridors determine movement, observation, evacuation and settlement options. The best refuge needs terrain plus water plus food plus energy plus access.

1 · Two New Yorks

Downstate is a nightmare; upstate is a completely different survival environment with farms, forests, lakes and mountains.

2 · Freshwater

The Great Lakes, Finger Lakes, rivers and reservoirs give New York an elite water position, scoring a perfect 10.

3 · Dairy and agriculture

USDA lists 6.4 million farm acres, 1.39 million cattle and more than 16.5 billion pounds of milk.

4 · Winter and terrain

The Adirondacks and North Country combine real winter suppression with defensible geography.

The catch

New York City

More than any other factor, NYC drags the statewide score down. It scores 1 out of 10 on metro exposure.

Bridges and tunnels

Downstate mobility depends on infrastructure that becomes terrifying under simultaneous evacuation.

Regional population spillover

New Jersey, Connecticut and the broader Northeast corridor amplify the first wave rather than absorbing it.

The framework

25 survival factors, scored 1–10

Every state is measured on the same 25 factors. Weighting shifts by scenario — terrain matters more against sprinters, agriculture matters more in a long collapse.

01 Population density Statewide density is moderate because of large upstate areas 5/10

02 Major city exposure NYC creates extreme metro exposure 1/10

03 Road escape capacity Huge road network, but downstate congestion is severe 7/10

04 Freshwater availability Elite Great Lakes, river, lake and reservoir access 10/10

05 Agricultural capacity 6.4 million farm acres 8/10

06 Food self-sufficiency Strong dairy, hay, fruit, vegetables and field crops 9/10

07 Wilderness & remote land Large Adirondack and northern forest areas 8/10

08 Natural defensive terrain Adirondacks and Catskills provide excellent terrain 9/10

09 Climate survivability Generally survivable climate 8/10

10 Winter zombie suppression Strong upstate winter suppression 9/10

11 Natural disaster risk Snow, flooding and coastal storms matter 6/10

12 Energy production Large diversified electric system 9/10

13 Off-grid energy potential Hydro, wind and solar options are strong 8/10

14 Medical resources World-class medical capacity 10/10

15 Military & Guard presence Major Army, academy and Guard assets 9/10

16 Emergency management Very strong emergency-management capacity 10/10

17 Supply & logistics Elite ports, rail, road and air logistics while functioning 10/10

18 Infrastructure vulnerability Dense downstate infrastructure is highly vulnerable 5/10

19 Survival resource availability Water, food, timber, fisheries and wildlife are strong 10/10

20 Evacuation & refuge potential Excellent upstate refuge potential 8/10

21 Natural barriers & water access Lakes, rivers and mountains create major barriers 10/10

22 Distance from population centers Upstate regions are far from giant metros 6/10

23 Chokepoint & bridge dependency Downstate bridges and tunnels are severe chokepoints 5/10

24 Hunting, fishing & foraging Excellent hunting and fishing 10/10

25 Long-term settlement potential Strong upstate long-term settlement potential 9/10

Tactics

What works, by scenario

Strategy	Walking Dead	World War Z	Last of Us
Rural farm or ranch with independent water	Excellent	Very good if reached early	Excellent
Small agricultural town	Very good	Good	Excellent
Remote site with no food system	Good early	Very good for isolation	Poor long-term
Major highway evacuation	Good early, bad late	Terrible late	Poor after collapse
Major metro shelter	Poor	Terrible	Poor
Distributed renewable power	Very good	Good	Excellent
Hunting and fishing supplement	Very good	Good	Very good
One-road refuge	Risky	Risky	Risky

Geography

Where to be

Best overall

North Country / Adirondack fringe

Water, forest, winter and lower density without abandoning agriculture entirely.

Adirondack terrain as a barrier
Lakes and rivers everywhere
Real winter suppression
Farms still working nearby

Runner-up

Finger Lakes agricultural country

Excellent freshwater, farms and smaller cities, though more populated than the North Country.

Third

Southern Tier hill country

Good farms, forests and hills with genuine distance from New York City.

Where not to be

Avoid immediately

New York City

Density, tunnels, bridges and regional movement make it one of the country's hardest first-wave environments.

Avoid early

Lower Hudson Valley

This is the escape funnel for a huge downstate population.

Avoid

Any single-bridge island or peninsula plan

Water is useful until the bridge becomes the only exit.

Verdict

75 out of 100 · Grade C · Rank #35

New York contains both one of America's worst zombie starting points and some of its best refuge territory. New York City creates extraordinary population, evacuation, bridge, tunnel, and supply-chain risks, but upstate offers farms, forests, mountains, freshwater, hydropower, cold winters, and large rural areas. The catch is getting north or west before the corridors close. Once outside the metro region, survivors have many strong long-term options.

Walking Dead 82. World War Z 60. Last of Us 82.

Do not attempt a late evacuation from New York City. Get north and west early, then favour an upstate community with freshwater, agriculture, forest cover, winter heat and routes that do not depend on one major bridge.

See the national survey board

Method & sources

Where the numbers come from

The Zombie Survival Index is a fictional entertainment ranking that uses real public data as its inputs. Every state is scored on the same 25 factors under three outbreak models, and the overall number blends those results. All fifty states have been assessed and normalised against the same national scoring set.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Population Estimates and QuickFacts
USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2025 State Agriculture Overview
U.S. Energy Information Administration, State Electricity Profile
State water-resource and environmental agencies
State emergency-management agencies
U.S. Department of Defense and National Guard installation sources
State wildlife, hunting and fishing agencies
NOAA and state climatology and hazard sources