© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Valley Stream.
About
Life in Valley Stream
If you're considering Valley Stream, understand that you're looking at a solidly middle to upper-middle-class suburban community with strong family demographics and decent transit access into the city. The median household income of $133,000 and median home values around $616,000 reflect a stable neighborhood, though you should know that rents are running about $2,124 monthly and housing inventory is tight with only 3.3% vacancy. The Long Island Rail Road serves three stations here, making a 41.5-minute commute to Manhattan feasible for many commuters, though that's a real consideration for daily work life.
Valley Stream at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
5.5%
Foreign-Born
41.2%
Broadband Internet
96.0%
of households
Population Growth
-0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics41.2% foreign-born, most often from Guyana
Who lives in Valley Stream: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Valley Stream, the largest foreign-born group is from Guyana (13.2%), and 18.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.5%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
16.6%
of households
Married Couples
57.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.26
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 31% above NY average
Rent, home values, and income in Valley Stream
In Valley Stream, rent runs 31% above the NY average, and home values are 45% above the NY average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
29.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
112.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Homeowners
78.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
4.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $766,502 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts below NY average
Unemployment in Valley Stream and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Valley Stream is 0.9 percentage points lower than the NY average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Valley Stream Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area
Commute40.7 min avg
How Valley Stream residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Valley Stream, most residents drive alone to work (55%), and 34% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Major hub30.8M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 58% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Nassau County Police Department, which covers Valley Stream, runs 58% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
138.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
963.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Nassau County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Nassau County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Nassau County, which includes Valley Stream, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | High Wind | $22,000 |
| 2024 | 17 | High Wind | $16,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2022 | 14 | Winter Weather | $8,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.3M |
| 2020 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $379,000 |
| 2019 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $325,000 |
| 2018 | 28 | Coastal Flood | $829,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Nassau County, county-wide
Valley Stream is about 3% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality29 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Nassau County, which includes Valley Stream, is typically good — 287 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
29
Good Days
287
per year
Moderate Days
77
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nassau County, county-wide
Valley Stream is about 3% of Nassau County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate81°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Valley Stream has warm summers (avg high 81°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
81°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
43.3"
Annual Snowfall
25.9"
Hot Days/Year
11
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
74
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
121
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 26°F | 3.23" |
| Feb | 42°F | 27°F | 2.76" |
| Mar | 49°F | 34°F | 3.94" |
| Apr | 59°F | 43°F | 3.55" |
| May | 68°F | 53°F | 3.66" |
| Jun | 78°F | 62°F | 3.85" |
| Jul | 84°F | 69°F | 3.86" |
| Aug | 82°F | 68°F | 4.11" |
| Sep | 76°F | 61°F | 3.58" |
| Oct | 65°F | 50°F | 3.72" |
| Nov | 54°F | 40°F | 3.07" |
| Dec | 45°F | 32°F | 3.96" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Valley Stream
Uninsured
3.2%
of residents
No hospitals inside Valley Stream's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Mount Sinai South Nassau
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Oceanside
Mercy Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4 mi away · Rockville Centre
Creedmoor Psychiatric Center
Psychiatric · 5.1 mi away · Queens Village
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.8:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Valley Stream
Valley Stream's student/teacher ratio is 12.8:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 39.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
39.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Valley Stream (within 15 miles)
CUNY New York City College of Technology
15 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 13,580 students · in-state tuition $7,332 · 32% graduate · median earnings $57,019 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 12,550 students · in-state tuition $7,538 · 57% graduate · median earnings $68,324 (10 yrs after entry)
CUNY LaGuardia Community College
13.3 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 11,254 students · in-state tuition $5,254 · 38% graduate · median earnings $48,879 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,630 students · in-state tuition $6,545 · 34% graduate · median earnings $53,866 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 10,543 students · in-state tuition $7,450 · 59% graduate · median earnings $66,519 (10 yrs after entry)
St. John's University-New York
6.3 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 9,477 students · in-state tuition $55,640 · 71% graduate · median earnings $77,281 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gateway National Recreation Area, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Valley Stream
Valley Stream has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gateway National Recreation Area (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
13 mi awayLower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayAfrican Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayFederal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
16 mi awayGovernors Island National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayStonewall National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayTheodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
16 mi awayCastle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
17 mi awayPublic Libraries in Valley Stream
Henry Waldinger Memorial Library
60 Verona Place, Valley Stream
Cities Near Valley Stream
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Valley Stream?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Valley Stream FAQ
Is Valley Stream, New York affordable?⌄
Valley Stream's median rent is $2,124/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $133,190/year. Median home value is $616,100.
Is Valley Stream, New York safe?⌄
Valley Stream is policed by the Nassau County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 139 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 963 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Valley Stream, New York?⌄
Valley Stream has an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Valley Stream, New York?⌄
The cost of living in Valley Stream is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,124/month and median household income is $133,190/year. The median home value is $616,100. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Valley Stream, New York?⌄
The average commute in Valley Stream is 41 minutes, which is significantly longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from