What it's like to live in Valley Stream
Valley Stream is a small city in New York with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Valley Stream deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, long average commutes, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Long commutes
- High rent burden for renters
How Valley Stream compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Valley Stream
Based on Valley Stream's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,248
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $84,960 a year
- 54% of Valley Stream renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$123,220
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $61,610
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 50% above US
$2,124/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,124 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $616,100. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $616,100 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 21% below US
3.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.4%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety
139 violent crimes per 100k, whole jurisdiction
Valley Stream doesn't have its own police department, so there's no crime rate for it alone. The figures shown are for the Nassau County Police Department jurisdiction as a whole, which runs below the national average for violent crime and covers many communities. Individual neighborhoods can differ a lot from that overall rate.
Property crime 963/100k · Policed by Nassau County Police Department (county-wide rate) · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 57% above US
41 min average commute
Commutes run long, averaging 40.7 minutes, and that's just the average, meaning a lot of people are doing significantly more. This isn't a city where living far from the office is a comfortable bet. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 20% take public transit; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 81°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 10% above US
40% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 40% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
7 public schools inside the boundary
There are 7 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Gateway National Recreation Area (13 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Valley Stream's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,124/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers and people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Valley Stream
All New York guides →Moving to North Valley Stream →
1 mi away · pop. 17,825
Rent $3,059/mo · Income $142,733
Compare with Valley Stream →Moving to Lynbrook →
2 mi away · pop. 20,325
Rent $2,230/mo · Income $136,696
Compare with Valley Stream →Moving to Woodmere →
2 mi away · pop. 18,061
Rent $2,720/mo · Income $172,537
Compare with Valley Stream →Moving to East Rockaway →
2 mi away · pop. 10,077
Rent $2,416/mo · Income $124,929
Compare with Valley Stream →Not sure Valley Stream is the one?
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