P5270147 LIRR 7774 Valley, 2007
Valley Stream’s story
156 years in pictures
Census counts: 605 in 1880, 40,634 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1873 and 5 maps from 1897 on.
- 1870Valley Stream is settled
Valley StreamNY
A town of 40,379, settled in 1870.
Population
40,379
2025 Census estimate · −0.6% since 2020
Typical home
$767K
+5.2% in a year
Household income
$133K
median
Median age
40.9
years
Jobs based here
18,102
Balanced
TownGrade
A−
#140 of 745 in NY
Is Valley Stream a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Valley Stream grades A− overall, 140th among New York's 745 graded towns. It is among the most walkable places in the country. The median household earns $133K and residents are healthier than 83% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. The trade-off is money: the typical home is worth about $766K, 7.7 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income. Valley Stream’s average trip to work is 41 minutes, above both the New York town median (25 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Only 76 of New York’s 1,216 towns score lower on history. Valley Stream's schools outperform 80% of the state's.
What makes Valley Stream stand out
Where Valley Stream beats most towns.
How Valley Stream grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Valley Stream is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 99% of comparable towns) to D− for cost of living (better than 2%), so the A− overall blends very different results.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 15.7 of 20; 5.6% of households have no carA+Open →Cost of livingD−Open →Jobs & incomeA+Open →HealthMercy Medical Center 3.5 miles awayA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 36% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 4% conserved landBOpen →History11 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life1.7 library visits per resident; 5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 608 attractions →Central Park and 513 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Valley Stream. Close and well known come first.
Big draw16 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year
Big draw16 mi Stadium & arenaMadison Square Garden
Big draw16 mi TheatreStudio 54
Big draw16 mi MuseumMetropolitan Museum of Art2.0M visitors a year
Big draw16 mi BeachConey Island
Big draw22 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Central Park: Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Madison Square Garden: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Studio 54: Americasroof (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Metropolitan Museum of Art: Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Coney Island: OptimumPx, Public domain · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0
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Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Valley Stream: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Valley Stream, and how to reach them.
PowerPSEG Long Island26.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLiberty Utilities New York - Lynbrook5 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Valley Stream’s trash rules yet
SchoolsValley Stream Central High School DistrictValley Stream Union Free School District 30Valley Stream Union Free School District 243 districts serve Valley Stream; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereNassau County Board of ElectionsNassau County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2019
ZIP codes11580, 1158111580 69% · 11581 31%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Valley Stream.
Valley Stream trades workers with New York City and other neighbors, but it has homes that cost more against local pay than most of New York and has a long record of flood insurance claims.
OutdoorsB
3.9% of Valley Stream is conserved land
2.3 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Arthur J Hendrickson Park, at 45 acres. The trail density in Valley Stream is 0.7 miles per square mile.
#216for trails in NY
| Valley Stream | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 3.9% | 5.2% | 4.3% |
3.9%
conserved · 87 of 2,224 acres
2.3 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Village Green Park | 0.9 mi | 15 |
| 2. Arthur J Hendrickson Park | 0.6 mi | 45 |
| 3. Edward W. Cahill Memorial Park | 0.2 mi | 15 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade D−
For cost of living, Valley Stream earns a D−
At 7.7 years of the New York metro’s $99K median household income, the typical home (about $767K) costs more against local pay than in 88% of New York towns; that ratio is one input to its D− for cost of living.
Valley Stream’s median rent is $2,124 a month. Typical home values rose 5.2% in the year to September 2026.
$767KZillow home value
| Valley Stream | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,124 a month | $1,098 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 79% | 75% | 73% |
Typical home value
Valley Stream$767K
New York$525K
Market temperature
42
days on market
97.7%
sale-to-list price
+5.2%
value change, 1 year
17
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
HealthA−
A smaller share of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Valley Stream than in most of New York or the rest of the country
Against the 4,239 U.S. towns with household incomes like Valley Stream’s, it is less healthy than 51%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
13% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Valley Stream. Valley Stream beats the New York average on 11 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 30% of adults have obesity in Valley Stream.
83%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Valley Stream | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 21% | 23% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 37% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 9.1% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
32 measures vs. New York
11 better20 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Valley Stream | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 8.4% | 12.8% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 12.7% | 17.5% |
| More adults sleeping under 7 hours | 43.9% | 37.9% |
Mercy Medical Center
In Rockville Centre · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
69th
percentile among NY towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Valley Stream has four seasons and pleasant summers
Valley Stream has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 27° and about 26 inches of snow falls in a winter.
26″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter29–43°
Spring43–60°
Summer66–82°
Fall50–65°
Nov 14
typical first frost
Apr 2
typical last frost
+2.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A+
More than half of Valley Stream’s working residents commute to New York City
Valley Stream has about as many jobs (18,102) as working residents, but only 1,148 people both live and work here. The average commute takes 40.7 minutes, against 32.6 across New York.
Most working residents leave Valley Stream for work: only 6% work in town. Since 2013, Valley Stream has added 6,908 jobs, to 18,102 in 2023. 5.5% of Valley Stream residents live below the poverty line.
6%work in town
| Valley Stream | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $133,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 9.5% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 6.1% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Valley Stream6%
New York52%
Hempstead23%
North Hempstead8%
Oyster Bay4%
12 mi
median commute distance
18,102
jobs based in Valley Stream
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: among the most walkable U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B
Low risk in Valley Stream, with inland flooding at the top
232 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 30 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 64% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 232 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Valley Stream.
36risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingEarthquakesHurricanes
232
paid flood claims since 1978
9
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
An age mix much like New York’s
The median household earns $133,190, against $85,974 across New York, one input to its A+ for jobs and income.
No broad age group is more than 4 points off the New York average. 40% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 40% across New York.
40.9median age · NY 39.8
| Valley Stream | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 40% | 32% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 20% | 18% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 20% | 22% |
| Median age | 40.9 years | 43 years | 40.5 years |
Valley StreamNew YorkUnited States
Ages · share of residents
14%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma11%
High school24%
Some college14%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
52% women, 48% men
About 91 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.7 points). Across New York, 51.2% of residents are women. Median age: women 42.5, men 39.3.
| Valley Stream | NY | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 8.7% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.8% | 9.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 8.9% | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 13.9% | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 13.3% | 13% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.2% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 14.1% | 13.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.3% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 5.8% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 10.6% | 12% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.4% | 24.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 14.4% | 14.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.9% | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 25.1% | 22.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.6% | 17.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Valley Stream
19pages on Valley Stream
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
62 within 15 miles of the center of Valley Stream
Molloy UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Rockville Centre4.4 mi$39,790 tuitionCUNY York CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Jamaica5.4 mi$7,358 in-state tuitionCUNY Queensborough Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Bayside6.8 mi$5,210 in-state tuition
About 9 of every 100 Valley Stream residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.
Famous people from Valley Stream
11 notable people were born in Valley Stream.
P
Peter BartonAmerican actor · born 1956C
Carolyn CraigAmerican actress · 1934–1970M
Madeline Amy SweeneyAmerican flight attendant · 1965–2001
C
Claudia CagninaPeruvian association football player · born 1997About Valley Stream
Village in New York, United States
Valley Stream is a village in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population in the Village of Valley Stream was 40,634 at the time of the 2020 census. The Incorporated Village of Valley Stream is within the Town of Hempstead, along the border with Queens, and is served by the Long Island Rail Road at the Valley Stream, Gibson, and Westwood stations.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 16 ft
- ZIP code
- 11580, 11581, 11582
Valley Stream’s neighbors
8 towns share a border with Valley Stream.
North Valley StreamSouth Valley StreamWoodmereLynbrookHewlettMalverneHempsteadNew YorkValley Stream
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NY rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Stream | #140 | A− | D− | — | A− | A− |
| North Valley Stream | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| South Valley Stream | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Woodmere | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Lynbrook | #149 | A− | D− | — | A | A− |
| Hewlett | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Malverne | #134 | A | D− | — | A− | A |
| Hempstead | #118 | A | D− | — | A | A |
Valley Stream, Lynbrook, Malverne and Hempstead report no FBI crime data of their own. North Valley Stream, South Valley Stream, Woodmere and Hewlett aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Valley Stream with a neighbor →
Questions about Valley Stream
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Valley Stream, NY a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Valley Stream grades A− overall, better than 84% of U.S. towns and #140 of 745 in New York. It grades A− for health and A− for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D−.
Is Valley Stream, NY expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D−.
What is Valley Stream, NY known for?
11 notable people were born here, including Jim Breuer and Peter Barton.