City profile
Valley Stream, NY
Queens County · Population 40,315
Valley Stream is a town in Queens County, NY with about 40,315 residents and a typical home value near $616,000. It is 16 miles from New York City, NY, which shapes its climate, healthcare access and amenities.
Climate
Climate type
Four seasons
Winter avg
35°F
Summer avg
77°F
Sunny days / yr
230
Home prices & cost of living
Median home price
$616,100
Typical monthly housing
$4,137
Cost of living (100 = U.S.)
154
Taxes
- Property tax
- 1.54%
- State income tax (top)
- 10.9%
- Social Security
- Not taxed
- Pensions
- Partly exempt
- Sales tax (state + avg. local)
- 8.53%
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively High · county score 97/100
Top hazards: Winter weather, Ice storm, Coastal flooding
Nearest major airport
4 mi to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Political lean (2024 county vote)
Leans Democratic · 62% Democratic / 38% Republican
Community
Population
40,315
Black population
26.5%
County
Queens County
Detailed crime figures are available for our 201 hand-researched cities.
2025–2026 trends
2026 market trends
- ▸More retirees are leaving NY than arriving, mostly over cost
- ▸Home prices are still rising in 2026 — good for long-term value, less room to negotiate
- ▸Climate/cost risks to check: winter storms, high taxes
Highlights
- About 40,315 residents
- Typical home value about $616,000
- 16 miles from New York City, NY
Trade-offs
- Scores for this place are estimated from Census data and the nearest major city
Figures are estimates from public sources (see How we match). Verify before making decisions.